Patrickswell notes 8th March 2011

CHURCH NOTICES

Listed readers for this weekend, March12-13, The First Sunday of Lent are as follows, Saturday at 7pm Doireann Foley, Sunday at 10am P.J.O’Grady, Sunday at 12noon Dan Riordan. Eucharistic Ministers, Saturday at 7pm, Eileen O’Byrne, Rita Madigan, Joe Tierney. Sunday at 10am, Noreen Murray, Eileen Nally, P.J.O’Grady, Sunday at 12noon, Patrick Kirby, Noreen Quinn, Birdie Enright. Please arrange a replacement if you are unable to fulfill any duty allocated to you. Weekday masses are at the usual time of 9-30 am Monday to Friday. The weekly prayer meeting takes place on Monday at 8pm and all are welcome. There will be Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament each Sunday in Lent after the 10am mass.

ST. PATRICKK’S DAY MASSES

 Masses for St.Patrick’s Day will be celebrated at the following times, Vigil Mass Wednesday March 16 at 7pm, Eucharistic Ministers, Rose Kelliher, Sam Milburn, Maria Bucke. Thursday March 17, morning mass at 10am, Eucharistic Ministers, Eileen Nally, Mary Enright, Joanne Tierney.  

PARISH NEWSLETTER

Items for inclusion in the weekly Parish Newsletter should be handed into the sacristy by 9-30am each Friday, or contact Fr. Muiris O’Connor on 353711 or 0866075628. Alternatively they can be emailed to muirisoc@eircom.net

TROCAIRE

 The annual Trocaire Lenten campaign was launched on Saturday, and is centred this year on the community of La Conflianza in Honduras. The name means “trust”, and that is what their community is built on. They work together to support one another, even though they live in poverty and have no access to life’s basics such as adequate nutrition, health, education and land. Trocaire boxes are now available, and your contributions will help to lift this community out of poverty. In the last four decades
Irish people have collected €250m through the Trocaire campaigns, which director Justin Kilcullen said was an extraordinary tribute to the generosity of Irish people.
He said the money allowed Trocaire to operate in more than twenty seven countries around the world, helping poor people to break out of poverty, and to tackle oppression and injustice.
 

GAA

The annual church gate collection for Patrickswell GAA will be taken up at all masses this weekend, and your generous support would be gratefully appreciated. A table quiz is also scheduled for Thursday April 7, in the Cu Chulainn commencing at 8pm.

TIDY TOWNS

The deadline for General Election candidates to take down their posters has expired, and any which remain, are now in breach of the Litter Pollutions Act. This also includes the poster ties. Thankfully all posters appear to have been removed from the locality, but some cable ties remain. Lets hope that the successful candidates have more integrity than their agents who left the ties behind them. The recent spell of fine Spring weather enabled the completion of another minor project, the transplanting of a tree from the green area near the roundabout to the verge adjacent to the wall at the shrine. Thanks to Mossie Carmody and Richie Bennis for their endeavours, and to Pat Fitzgerald for his assistance. The four flower containers can now be removed, as they were frost damaged during the winter. National Spring Clean month commences on April 1 promoted by An Taisce and the local authority. It is Ireland’s largest anti-litter campaign, and we will be out in force to tackle litter blackspots as in previous years, and this will mark the start of our programme for the year.

WORLD DAYS

Next Tuesday, March 15, is promoted as World Consumer Rights Day, which dates back to March 15, 1963, when President John F Kennedy gave an address to the US Congress in which he formally addressed the issue of consumer rights. He was the first world leader to do so, and the consumer movement now marks March 15 every year as a means of raising global awareness about consumer rights. This year’s theme is “Consumers for Fair Financial Services”, as it feels that consumers have been getting a bad deal on financial services for too long. More information about WCRD is available on the Consumer International website.

GOLF SOCIETY

Our golfing season gets underway this Sunday, March 13, at Adare Manor Hotel and Golf Resort, from 9am -11am. This will be preceeded by the Captain and President’s Drive In.

HEAD SHAVE

Charles (Charlie) O’Neill, former illustrious barman at  the Cu Chulainn, recently took up the TodayFM challenge to Shave or Dye in aid of the Irish Cancer Society. Not one to take a challenge lightly, Charlie was one of  317 volunteers from around the country who offered their heads for shaving, and in so doing created  a new World Record for the most heads shaved in the same place in one hour only. A team of twenty barbers started  at 7am on February 18 at the Style Club in Dublin,  as men and women from the four corners arrived  ready to sacrifice their hair all for a good cause. To date nearly half a million euro has been raised for the Irish Cancer Society and Charlie’s contribution came to     and he would like to thank all those who sponsored him. Well done Charlie. Any one else for a short back and shine?

RESOURCE CENTRE

A free course on Skin Care, Make Up and Healthy Eating is available for those in receipt of Social Welfare Payments at the Resource Centre on Monday evenings from 7-30 until 9-30pm, places can be booked by ringing Irene on 069-66298. The weekly 45Drive takes place every Thursday commencing at 9pm sharp, and everbody is welcome. Information Services at the centre include all HSE and Social Welfare forms. The FAS Jobs Board is updated daily, and a photocopying and typing service is also available. The Citizens’ Information Service also holds weekly consultations every Tuesday from 12noon until 1pm. Professional staff  deliver a free, confidential and impartial service, and no appointment is necessary. Computer and Internet access is available for over eighteens costing 1Euro for thirty minutes, and 2 Euro for a full hour.

FRIDAY CLUB

An eight week Aroma Therapy Course has been secured by the Friday Club as part of the VEC Community Education Programme. It is available to all Senior Citizens in the area, and runs from 2 to 4pm, which is the normal time for the club’s weekly get together. New members are always welcome to join, to meet up for a friendly chat and cuppa, and to keep in touch with other members of the community.