Patrickswell news for w/e June 8th.

CHURCH NOTICES: Listed readers for this weekend, June 9-10, Corpus Christi, The Body and Blood of Christ, are as follows, Saturday at 7pm Dan Riordan, Sunday at 10am PJ O’Grady, and Sunday at 12noon Michael Punch. Eucharistic Ministers, Saturday at 7pm Mary Collins, Mary Bennis and Breda Carroll, Sunday at 10am Michael O’Mara, Mary Enright and Michael Punch, Sunday at 12noon Seamus Enright, Patricia Barry and Rory Bennis. Please arrange a replacement if you are unable to fulfill any duty allocated to you. Weekday masses are at the usual time of 9-30am Monday to Friday. The weekly prayer meeting takes place on Monday at 8pm and all are welcome. In honour of the Feast of Corpus Christi, there

will be Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on Sunday morning after the 10am mass until 12noon.

ADAPT SERVICES: Adapt Services work to support women and children who experience domestic abuse across Limerick City and County. We will be holding our Annual Church Gate Collection in your parish this Saturday June 9 and Sunday June 10. We have had amazing support from local people, over the past couple of years. Our Church Gate Collections raise vital funds to keep the service running and volunteers are essential. It only takes one person in the parish to get enthusiasm going in order to make a Church Gate Collection a success. Raising as much as €250 on the day, will allow us to meet women anywhere in the county and offer support or will provide the children of our Refuge with two weeks activities. If you think you can give us an hour on the day, or get a group together in your area, please contact  Laura Bohan on (061) 412354 or by email @ volunteercoordinator@adaptservices.ie.

SOLEMN NOVENA: This year’s Limerick Solemn Novena in honour of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, commences at Mount St. Alphonsus next Friday June 15 until Saturday June 23. Fr. John Goode, CSsR was in attendance at all masses last weekend to extend a warm invitation for all to attend this annual festival of faith, and to  encourage participation in the celebration of prayer and devotion. This year’s theme is, “The Gospel Virtues, giving us a path to true happiness”. Leaflets are available with details of times, support services and special events during the nine day festival. The novena can also be seen and heard live on the internet at  www.novena.ie

TIDY TOWNS: It was all systems go last week for a few days with the arrival of the flowers for the summer planting scheme. All the beds and containers from the roundabout to Lucey’s were planted out on Tuesday night, with all hands on deck at all locations, ensuring an efficient and smooth operation. On Wednesday nearly fifty  baskets were planted and distributed to temporary accommodation, to be nursed and matured ready for hanging in a week or so. Then on Thursday morning, over sixty grow bags were installed on the wall at the roundabout, in somewhat unpleasant conditions unfortunately, and many thanks to Jim Doherty for completing that rather arduous task for us, sorry about the weather Jim. Finally, on Thursday night, the wall was planted with approximately two hundred plants. We were reminded of our previous efforts at that location a few years ago, with some stunning photographs from one of our members, and we are really hoping for a similar result or even better this year. John Enright has been beavering away quietly and efficiently on his own, edging all the grass at Lucey’s Cross, and Paddy Kiely has given a fresh coat of paint to the derelict house opposite the entrance to Rossville, ready for some fresh art work there. The mowers and strimmers have been out in force also, and thanks to Des Fitz, Mossie, Jimmy Mulqueen, Liam Foley, and Paddy Kiely for their continuing efforts, as well as Vince Doherty and Pat Mackessy for spraying some of the more difficult weed infested areas. Everyone’s effort is beginning to make an impression, and now we are ahead, we need to keep ahead. Would all residents and businesses please be  mindful that we are entering the national Tidy Towns competition this year, as well as Limerick in Bloom, and we urge you all to play your part by keeping your own areas clean and tidy, and especially litter free.

CARDS: The Thursday Night 45Drive,which is held in the Resource Centre, will resume in the second week of September.

COMMUNITY PLAYSCHOOL: Free ECCE Pre-School places, are now available for enrolling for September this year and 2013. Situated on the grounds of  Patrickswell N.S. the facility is an ideal introduction into school. Feel free to call in or contact any of the staff who are all qualified, on 086-107410, or patrickswellcommunityplayschool@yahoo.com

SUNFLOWER DAYS: The National Sunflower fund raising campaign in support of the Irish Hospice Foundation, will take place this Friday and Saturday June 8 and 9. All money raised locally will be for Milford Hospice, and sunflowers will be available to purchase in numerous locations throughout the city and county. Fundraising plays an important ongoing role in the financing of current and developing Palliative Care Services provided by Milford Care Centre throughout Counties Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary. This is the twenty second year of the campaign, and the national target is to raise one million euro. For more information contact Milford on 061- 485860 / 485800, or e-mail: fundraising@milfordcarecentre.ie

GARDEN WALK: On Sunday June 17, Fathers’ Day, Lady Harrington of The Glen, Knockfirna, Ballingarry, extends an invitation to a Floral and Vegetable Garden Walk from 2 to 6pm, which will be in aid of Kilpeacon Church Fabric Fund and Granagh Development Fund. Afternoon teas will be served, and there will also be a plant stall and display by Steve Redden and Pamela Davis of the The Mint Garden, Ashfort, Patrickswell. Admission for adults will be €5, with children free, and free parking will be available on the grounds. Signage and location directions from Limerick, Cork, Newcastlewest, and Adare will be on display.