A pastoral letter from Bishop Fintan Monahan

Going forward in Faith, Hope and Love – A Pastoral Letter

We congratulate the organisers of the 2023 Kildysart Agricultural Show. There was a wonderful display of horses, cattle, sheep and other livestock in the field, in addition to the exhibition of fruit, flowers, baking and so much else in the indoor section.

The results of the show may be found at the link below.

https://www.kildysartshow.ie/file/AHhDLDT2fUyTHQArDQwrh4qC1KdXPKq4pFqyYpDR

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We congratulate Eimear Conway and Kieran Clancy who celebrated the sacrament of marriage at The Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea, Quilty on Saturday, 29 July 2023.

May the Lord continue to bless the couple as they wil out in love the promises they exchanged.

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We congratulate Jenny McNamara and James B. Casey who celebrated the sacrament of marriage on 31 March, 2023 in St Michael’s Church, Kildysart.

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May the Lord continue to bless them as they live out in love the promises they exchanged.

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For weddings in 2022 and previous years please click here

Weddings in 2022

Canons’ Island in the Shannon estuary is  the largest in a cluster of over twenty islands that occupy the expansive stretch of water formed by the confluence of the Shannon and Fergus estuaries. The island is the site of a medieval Monastery and a traditional pilgrim site for people on both sides of the estuary. The Canons Regular of St Augustine who lived in the Abbey provided pastoral care for the nearby parishes until its suppression during the rule of Henry VIII. The Island has continued to serve as a place of burial up to the present.

In 1990 the late Fr Michael Hillery, PP revived the tradition of going on pilgrimage to the Canons’ Island   A large number of pilgrims travel to the island each year for the annual Mass.

Mass will be celebrated in the ruins of the old Monastery on the island on Sunday, 2 July 2023. Boats will leave Crovraghan Pier at 3pm.          All are welcome.                                                                             We are indebted to the dedicated group who organise the pilgrimage each year and to the choir and to all who contribute to the success of the pilgrimage.

Irish law  reqires that life jackets be worn – a limited number will be available at the pier

We congratulate the students from Kildysart school who received the sacrament of confirmation this morning.

We thank Bishop Monahan for visiting our pastoral area to confer the sacrament and all who contributed to the liturgy and celebrations.

May the Holy Spirit always find a dwelling place in their hearts.

We congratulate the children who received Holy Communion for the first time this morning in St Michael’s Church, Kildysart.

May the Lord continue to bless the children, their parents, families, teachers and all who form their circle of love and care.

During the month of May, we pray the rosary each Wednesday at 8pm at Our Lady’s Shrine on the Ennis Road. All are welcome.

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The Rosary helps us keep in mind certain principal events or mysteries in the history of our salvation, and to thank and praise God for them. There are twenty mysteries reflected upon in the Rosary, and these are divided into the five Joyful mysteries, the five Luminous mysteries,  the five Sorrowful mysteries, and the five Glorious mysteries. As suggested by the Pope John Paul, the Joyful mysteries are said on Monday and Saturday, the Luminous on Thursday, the Sorrowful on Tuesday and Friday, and the Glorious on Wednesday and Sunday.

The Joyful Mysteries

1. The Annunciation: Mary learns that she has been chosen to be the mother of Jesus.
2. The Visitation: Mary visits Elizabeth, who tells her that she will always be remembered.
3. The Nativity: Jesus is born in a stable in Bethlehem.
4. The Presentation:Mary and Joseph take the infant Jesus to the Temple to present him to God.
5. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple: Jesus is found in the Temple discussing his faith with the teachers.

The Mysteries of Light

1. The Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan: God proclaims that Jesus is his beloved Son.
2. The Wedding Feast at Cana: At Mary’s request, Jesus performs his first miracle.
3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom: Jesus calls all to conversion.
4. The Transfiguration: Jesus is revealed in glory to Peter, James, and John.
5. The Institution of the Eucharist: Jesus offers his Body and Blood at the Last Supper.

The Sorrowful Mysteries

1. The Agony in the Garden: Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night before he dies.
2. The Scourging at the Pillar: Jesus is lashed with whips.
3. The Crowning With Thorns: Jesus is mocked and crowned with thorns.
4. The Carrying of the Cross: Jesus carries the cross that will be used to crucify him.
5. The Crucifixion: Jesus is nailed to the cross and dies.

The Glorious Mysteries

1. The Resurrection: God the Father raises Jesus from the dead.
2. The Ascension: Jesus returns to his Father in heaven.
3. The Coming of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit comes to bring new life.
4. The Assumption of Mary: At the end of her life on earth, Mary is taken body and soul into heaven.
5. The Coronation of Mary: Mary is crowned as Queen of Heaven and Earth.

Mass for the feast of St Patrick will be celebrated in our pastoral area at the following times.

Cranny	Thursday	7pm		Kildysart	Friday	11am
Coolmeen	Friday	9.30am		Lissycasey	Friday	11am
Labasheeda	Friday	9.30am		Kilmurry McMahon	Friday	11am
Ballynacally	Friday	9.30am

The Future of our Faith Communities.

After initial meetings in the East and West of the Diocese, Bishop Monahan will visit each Pastoral Areas to discuss the future of our faith communities and how best the available resources can be used in the service of the local Church.

The meeting of our Pastoral Area (Radharc na nOileán) with the Bishop will take place at 7.30pm on Wednesday, 1 March in the Community Centre, Kildysart.

Pastoral Council members and everyone interested in the future of our faith communities are welcome to attend our meeting with Bishop Monahan.

A summary of areas for discussion as raised at initial meetings can be found on www.killaloediocese.ie.

Conversations about the Future – Killaloe Diocese

There was a wonderful turn-out for our annual Christmas Day swim at Gortglass Lake.

The proceeds are donated to West Clare Cancer Care and greatly assists cancer patients together with their families and carers in our region.

The video was filmed by Sarah and Thomas Keane.

On the feast of the baptism of the Lord at our Sunday Mass we prayed for and with the families who has a baby baptised during 2022 and blessed the babies.
May the Lord continue to bless and protect all our families.

Friday, 6 January is the Feast of the Epiphany which celebrates the visit of the Three Wise Men to the child Jesus and the revelation of the birth of the saviour to all people.

The Epiphany is Holy Day of obligation and Mass for the feast will be celebrated in our pastoral area at the following times:

Coolmeen – 7pm Thursday (vigil)
Ballynacally – 7pm Thursday (vigil)
Cranny – 9.30am Friday
Kilmurry McMahon- 9.30am Friday
Lissycasey- 10am Friday
Kildysart- 11am Friday
Labasheeda – 7pm Friday

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We welcome Oliver Aidan O’Sullivan into the family of faith and congratulate his parents, Lianda and Ryan, Main Street.

Oliver was baptised in St Michael’s Church, Kildysart on 30 December 2022.

May the Lord continue to bless the family.

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We welcome Séadna John Flanagan into the family of faith and congratulate his parents Patti and Ian, Clonsnaughta.

Séadna was baptised in St Michael’s Church, Kildysart on 28 December 2022.

May the Lord continue to bless the family.

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We welcome Ada Louise Clancy into our family of faith and congratulate her parents Edel and Brian and her sister Amelia, Derrylea.

Ada was baptised in St Michael’s Church, Kildysart on 26 November 2022.

May the Lord continue to bless the family.

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We welcome Oran McCarthy into our family of faith and congratulate his parents Emma and David, Ballylean.

Oran was baptised in St Michael’s Church, Kildysart on 5 November, 2022.

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May the Lord always bless the family.

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We welcome Jude Anthony Gerard Pio O’Sullivan into the family of faith and congratulate his parents Ann-Marie and Aidan, Rosshill.

Jude was baptised in St Michael’s Church, Kildysart on Saturday, 17 September 2022.

May the Lord continue to bless the family.

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We welcome Cillian Clarke into the Christian family and congratulate his parents Meredith and Shane and his brothers Niall and Declan.

Cillian was baptised during our annual pilgrimage to Canon Island on 10 July, 2022.

May the Lord continue to bless the family.

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We welcome Séimí Christopher Hanrahan into the family of faith and congratulate his parents Hazel and Aidan, Gortnafrehanne and his brother Cónall.

Séimí was baptised in St Michael’s Church, Kildysart on 25 June 2022.

May the Lord continue to bless the family.

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We welcome Saibh Therese Mairéad McNelis into the family of faith and congratulate her parents Nichola and Shane.

Saibh was baptised in St Michael’s Church, Kildysart on Saturday, 21 May 2022.

May the Lord continue to bless the family.

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We welcome Cian John Eyres into the family of faith and congratulate his parents Christine and Thomas.

Cian was baptised in St Michael’s Church, Kildysart on 12 March 2022.

May the Lord continue to bless the family.

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We welcome Matea Normoyle Tysoe into the family of faith and congratulate her parents Zoë and Darragh.

Matea was baptised in St Michael’s Church, Kildysart on 5 March, 2022.

May the Lord continue to bless the family.

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We welcome Eli John Christopher Cullinan into the Christian family and congratulate his parents Deirdre and Christopher and his brothers Bobby and Evan, Sceach Geal.

Eli was baptised in St Michael’s Church, Kildysart on Sunday, 27 February 2022.

May the Lord continue to bless the family.

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For baptisms in 2021 and previous years please click here

Baptisms in 2021