Bishop Fintan Monahan will visit our parish on Friday 10 March, 2017 to celebrate the sacrament of confirmation with the sixth class children from Kildysart and Coolmeen-Cranny parishes in St Michael’s Church, Kildysart.

These final months of preparation will involve the families, schools and parish working together for the good of the young people preparing to receive the sacrament. The parish part of our preparation will include the ceremony of enrollment which will take place during Sunday Mass and a liturgy of light which will take place during a special liturgy.

The list of dates is as follows:

• Enrollment Mass on Sunday, 27 November 2016 at 7pm in St Michael’s Church, Kildysart;
• Ceremony of Light on Tuesday, 7 February 2017 at 7pm in St Michael’s Church, Kildysart;
• Confirmation Friday on 10 March, 2017 in St Michael’s Church, Kildysart.

We are also planning a retreat for the young people preparing for confirmation. .

During our meeting with parents on 19 October last it was suggested that our confirmation class might wish to adopt a confirmation project. One proposal is that after their confirmation, each child is invited to make an anonymous donation (€10 is suggested as a guide) to help the people of Haiti. That country has suffered several natural disasters including an earthquake in 2010 and a hurricane in October 2016. Our diocese has a link with Haiti through Archbishop Eugene Nugent who is Papal Nuncio there and is from Scariff, Co Clare.

Arianna Dolly on her baptism day.

Nova Erin Maxwell on her baptism day.

Darragh on his baptism day.

Gracie Abigail Garry on her baptism day. 28 May 2016

Diarmuid on his baptism day.

Doireann Charlotte Cleary on her baptism day 23 April 2016

Sarah Louise O’Sullivan on her baptism day.

Tadgh Seamus Power with his parents Eimear and Seamus and his brothers Liam and Oisin on his baptism day.

We welcome Nova Erin Maxwell into the Chrstian family. Nova was baptised on 12 Novembrr, 2016 in St Michael’s Church, Kildysart. We congratulate her parents Lisa and Daryl, Ennis Road and pray God’s blessing on the family.

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We welcome Tadhg Seamus Power into the Christian family. Tadhg was baptised on 17 September, 2016 in St Michael’s Church, Kildysart. We congratulate his parents Eimear and Seamus, Erribul and pray God’s blessing on the family

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We welcome Daryl Billy Keane into the Christian family. Daryl was baptised on 3 September, 2016 in St Michael’s Church, Kildysart. We congratulate his parents Annette and Brian, Shanahea and pray God’s blessing on the family.

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We welcome Arianna Dolly Purcell into the Christian family. Arianna was baptised on 7 August, 2016 in St Michael’s Church, Kildysart. We congratulate her parents Mary and Keith, Shannonview and pray God’s blessing on the family.

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We welcome Gracie Abigail Garry into the Christian family. Gracie was baptised on 28 May, 2016 in St Michael’s Church, Kildysart. We congratulate her parents Yvonne and Michael, Cappanavarnogue and pray God’s blessing on the family.

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We welcome Doireann Charlotte Cleary into the Christian family. Doireann was baptised on 23 April, 2016 in St Michael’s Church, Kildysart. We congratulate her parents Rebecca and Seán, Ballynacragga and pray God’s blessing on the family.

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We welcome Sarah Louise O’Sullivan into the Christian family. Sarah was baptised on 17 April, 2016 in St Michael’s Church, Kildysart. We congratulate her parents Ann and Dermot, Coolteengowan and pray God’s blessing on the family.

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We welcome Darragh William Moloney into the Christian family. Darragh was baptised on 2 April, 2016 in St Michael’s Church, Kildysart. We congratulate his parents Louise  and Joseph, Dun Gleanna and pray God’s blessing on the family.

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We welcome Diarmuid John O Connell into the Christian family. Diarmuid was baptised on 27 February, 2016 in St Michael’s Church, Kildysart. We congratulate his parents Owen and Niamh, Ennis Road and pray God’s blessing on the family.

For baptisms in 2015 and previous years please cick here

Fr Liam Lawton

Well known singer and composer Fr Liam Lawton will be the guest speaker at a liturgy in the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Ennis, on Sunday, 20 November at 3.30 p.m. to mark the closing of the Year on Mercy.

Liam is well known as an award winning multi-platinum, singer-songwriter but less well known for his reflective writing and inspirational speaking. Two of Liam’s books where God Hides and The Hope Prayer hit the publishers best sellers list in recent years. During the Liturgy in the Cathedral at which Bishop Fintan Monahan will preside, Liam will reflect on the meaning of mercy and on how it has touched his life.

People from across the diocese are invited to assemble at the Hands of Compassion outside the Cathedral from where we will process into the Cathedral through the Room of Mercy. The liturgy will include brief accounts of experiences of mercy in the lives of people, a video presentation of mercy made visible. The evening will conclude with a ritual of anointing with each member of the congregation being anointed with oil on the forehead and sent forward in mercy.

The Holy Year of Mercy began in December 2015 will conclude in our diocese on Sunday, 20 November 2016. The Year of Mercy was declared by Pope Francis as an invitation to renew our sense of God’s mercy in our lives and to celebrate the mercy and goodness we experience in the people around us.

All are welcome to attend and a cup of tea will be served afterwards.

We pray for the children in our parish who are preparing to receive the Lord in Holy Communion for the first time on 28 May 2017.

May the Lord bless them, their parents, families and teachers during this important time in their lives.  As we discussed at our parents’ meeting with Joanne O’Brien and Cora Guinnane, preparation for sacraments is a three way partnership between home, parish and school.

Our parish preparation programme will include the following liturgies:

• Enrolment Mass                       Sunday 13 November 2016 at 11am;
• Preparation Mass                     Sunday 11 December 2016 at 11am;
• Preparation Mass                     Sunday 15 January 2017 at 11am;
• Preparation Mass                     Sunday 19 February 2017 at 11am;
• Preparation Mass                     Sunday 26 March 2017 at 11am;
• Sacrament of Reconciliation    Wednesday 3 May 2017 at 7.00pm;
• First Holy Communion             Sunday 28 May 2017 at 11am.

We thank the group of parents who are organising these liturgies and pray God’s blessing on all our children, their families and all who care for them.

The Diocese of Killaloe and the parish of Kildysart value and encourage the participation of  children and young people in parish liturgies and other activities. All children and young people who are involved in the life of our diocese and parish should be treated with respect and their dignity should be cherished. All staff/volunteers involved in our parish are asked to read the attached code of behaviour and to respect it.

code-of-behaviour-for-staff-and-volunteers-2014

Wednesday 2 November is the feast of All Souls, when we remember our beloved dead.

Mass will be celebrated in St Mary’s Church, Cranny on that morning at 9.30am and in St Michael’s Church, Kildysart that evening at 8pm.

On Sunday, 6 November we will have a moment of prayer in the cemeteries in Kildysart and Coolmeen-Cranny parishes at the following times:

• Kildysart  cemetery:                      Immediately after 11am Mass;
• Kilfiddane cemetery:                    12.30 pm;
• Cranny cemetery:                          1.15 pm.

Prayer by Cardinal Newman

May He support us all the day long,

till the shades lengthen and the evening comes,

and the busy world is hushed,

and the fever of life is over,

and our work is done.Then in His mercy may He give us a safe lodging,

and a holy rest and peace at the last.

Congratulations to the Kildysart Tidy Town Group and to the entire community on the progress made in enhancing our village during 2016.

The Tidy Towns Judges awarded the village 290 point – an increase of 2 on 2015.

The Judges concluded that ‘Kildysart is a charming country town which benefits from a high standard of presentation’. The Report also impressed by the new bilingual street signs and the work done by the GAA Club. They were impressed by our Marian Grotto ‘The grotto was admired and was looking really well on adjudication day’. They also commented on several other positive features including ‘Flower displays around the bust of Pheadar Mac Flannchada work well in drawing attention to this area. Many homes and businesses were admired throughout the town and well done to those who made an effort to put out colourful displays of flowers.’

The report also contains several suggestions which will help us make further progress. The full text may be read here kildysart-tidy-towns-report-2016

Our new Bishop Fintsn Monahan will be ordained in The Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Ennis on Sunday, 25 September at 3pm.

You may view the liturgy by clicking here http://view-source:http://jwp.parishes.tv/embed/25/

Traditionally  in the Church most bishops and the Pope have a personal Coat of Arms. Originally used to mark or seal documents they now serve to identify people and dioceses. They often reflect the story of a Bishop’s ministry or express his hopes for the future. In preparation for his episcopal ordination, which will take place on September 25th, Bishop-Elect Fintan has prepared his personal Coat of Arms and Motto.

Coat of Arms

The Bishop-Elect’s Coat of arms consists of: on the left hand side, the ancient arms of the Diocese of Killaloe, and on the right, the personal coat of arms, chosen by the bishop himself.

The arms of the Diocese consist of a Latin cross between four trefoils with the emblem of the key occupying the chief position. The arms connote the guardianship of Christ’s Kingdom, with special reference to St. Peter.

The personal dimension of the new Bishop’s Coat of Arms represents his origins and ministry. It consists mainly of the Monahan family Coat of Arms with representations of faith, generosity and protection.

The three mullets (the term mullet in heraldry refers to a star with straight sides, typically having five points) wish to recall the three figures of the apparition of Knock; Our Lady, St. John the Evangelist and St. Joseph.

The arms also include the broken chariot wheel of St. Jarlath which represents the new Bishop’s priestly ministry in the Archdiocese of Tuam and long association with St. Jarlath’s College prior to his appointment as Bishop of Killaloe.

The Coat of Arms is surmounted by the Galero which was originally a pilgrim’s hat and is ornamented by twelve tassels called fiocchi.

Motto

Bishop Elect Fintan has chosen as his motto; “Críost Liom Críost Romham” – Christ with me, Christ before me. These words are taken from Lúireach Phádraig, (St. Patrick’s Breastplate), a 5th Century Irish Hymn whose lyrics were traditionally attributed to St. Patrick and his ministry. The words reflect Bishop Fintan’s prayer and hope for his ministry as Bishop of Killaloe.

Monday 15 August 2014 is the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is a holy day of obligation and celebrates Mary’s role as mother of the Saviour and her union with her Son in eternity.

The Feast of the Assumption is the traditional day to visit the Blessed Well at Lacknashannagh, Kildysart and we will celebrate Mass there on Monday at 11am.

Mass will also be celebrated on Monday in St Benedict’s Church, Coolmeen at 9.45am and in St Mary’s Church, Cranny at 8pm.

Fr Fintsn Monahan

His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed Fr. Fintan Monahan (a priest of the Archdiocese of Tuam), as Bishop of Killaloe. The appointment was announced at 11.00am on 29 July 2016 at a press conference held in the Ennis Parish Pastoral Centre.
Fr. Fintan Monahan was born in Tullamore, Co Offaly, on 23 January 1967. His parents are Tom and Peg Monahan and he has one brother, Seán, and one sister, Caitríona, who is married to Dominic. From 1980-1996 the family lived in Carraroe, Co Galway where his father was principal teacher at Scoil Chuimsitheach Chiaráin, An Cheathrú Rua. In 1996 the family moved to Castlegar, Galway City, the native home of his mother.
Primary education was in Tullamore and secondary education was in Carraroe before studying for the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Tuam in Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth in 1984. In 1987 he completed a B.Sc. in NUI Maynooth, a B.D. in the Pontifical University in 1990, an S.T.L. in Biblical Theology in 1992 and a H.Dip. in Education in NUI Galway in 1993.
Fintam was ordained  to the priesthood was in Séipéal Mhic Dara, An Cheathrú Rua on 16 June 1991 by Archbishop Joseph Cassidy. While studying for the H.Dip. in Education in Galway he was curate in An Tulach, Baile na hAbhann, Conamara from 1992-1993. From 1993-2006 he taught Science, Irish and Religion at the diocesan college, Saint Jarlath’s College in Tuam, along with coaching basketball and hurling.
In 2006 Archbishop Michael Neary appointed him chaplain to Saint Jarlath’s College and diocesan secretary. During that time he also worked in the area of communications, vocations promotion and served as editor of the Tuam Diocesan Magazine, New Dawn. In recent years he joined the Communications Council of the Irish Episcopal Conference. Bishop-elect Monahan is an Irish speaker and enjoys the outdoor life, hill walking, jogging, cycling, swimming and gardening.

The Administrator of the Diocese Killaloe, Fr Des Hillery had made a series of appointments in the Diocese.

They come into effect on Monday 1 August 2016.

To view the full list please click here Diocesan Appointments 2016

We wish everyone who is beginning a new stage in their ministry and the people with whom they will work, every happiness and blessing.

On Sunday 26 June, 2016 Maureen Kelly, Pastoral Worker with the Diocese of Killaloe spoke at Mass in the parish at the invitation of our Parish Pastoral Council.

Maureen presented a vision for the future of our parish as a praying community with a particular focus on Sunday liturgies led by lay people.

Here is the text of her reflection M Kelly Putting the hand to the plough and turning back