Category Archives: Uncategorized
First Holy Communion and Confirmation 2020
Due to the public health crisis the 2020 celebration of the sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation had to be deferred. In consultation with the schools we have set the following target dates for the celebration of these sacraments.
We wish the children, their parents, families and teachers every blessing as they look forward to welcoming the Lord into their lives through the sacraments.
| First Holy Communion | Coolmeen | Saturday 26 September |
| KilmurryMcMahon | Saturday 26 September | |
| Lissycasey | Saturday 26 September | |
| Ballynacally | Saturday 26 September | |
| Kildysart | Saturday 3 October | |
| Confirmation | Kilmurry McMahon | Saturday, 15 August |
| Cranny | Saturday 22 August | |
| Ballynacally | Saturday, 19 September | |
| Lissycasey | Saturday, 12 September | |
| Kildysart | Saturday 10 October |
Keeping Safe As We Gather
The attached resource, designed by the Diocesan Pastoral Council was distributed to parishes around the diocese. It is hoped that it will serve as an aid to parishioners as we gather to pray.
Diocese of Killaloe Keeping Safe As We Gather
Kildysart Cemetery Mass – 8pm Friday, 3 July 2020
We will celebrate Mass in Kildysart cemetery at 8pm on Friday, 3 July. This is an opportunity for us to pray for all who are buried there and for our deceased parishioners, relatives and friends.
So that we can care for each other by respecting social distancing, it is suggested that each family stand by their family grave. We should also be careful not to gather in groups as we arrive for or depart from Mass.
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. Amen
John Henry Newsman (1801-1890)
Re-opening of Churches for Public Worship – 29 June 2020.
COVID 19 and the Resumption of Public Liturgy:
It is envisaged that the celebration of Mass with a congregation present will resume on 29 June, 2020. We look forward to onCe again gathering as a praying community.
The Irish Bishops have issued a detailed framework documents to help resume the celebration of public liturgies.
The principal points include the following:
- Each Church should appoint a group to oversee the safe return to public liturgy;
- The dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass is extended;
- Anyone who is unwell should not attend Mass but continue to take part through live-streaming;
- Adequate and appropriate signage should be displayed in each Church;
- Social distancing (at present 2 metres) will apply. This will considerably reduce the capacity of our churches;
- The seats which are available for use should be clearly indicated;
- Stewards may be necessary to guide people to the available seats;
- Holy Communion may only be received on the hand and reception of the chalice is suspended;
- Priests and Eucharistic ministers should wear face covering when distributing Holy Communion;
- Hand sanitisers should be installed and used at every Church entrance;
- Holy Water fonts should not be used;
- The collection basket should not be distrib
- Church doors should be open so that people do not need to touch them;
- Seats and other areas that are frequently touched should be cleaned after each time the church is used.
The Bishops stress that public health is paramount and only Churches which are able to fulfil the above requirements should resume the public celebration of liturgy.
If you would like to volunteer to assist with the preparations for the resumption of public Mass or act as a steward etc you are very welcome to contact our pastoral office.
The full text of the Bishops’ framework document may be found here.
Reopening of Churches for individual prayer.
Bishop Monahan has given permission for our Churches to re-open for individual prayer.
Our parish Church will open each day from 10am to 5pm. You are welcome to pay a brief visit to our parish Church to offer a prayer or light a candle.
We are asked to use hand sanitiser, avoid touching surfaces and not to gather in groups. The Church doors will be left open to reduce the danger of transmitting infrstion.
We pray that may all be safe in this time of danger.
Pastoral Letter from Bishop Monahan.
Pastoral Letter – May 2020
Re-opening of Churches for Personal, Private Prayer – Killaloe Diocese from May 18th, 2020 – A message for the People of the Diocese – Bishop Fintan Monahan
The decision to close church buildings in Killaloe was an act of solidarity and commitment to the national effort required to suppress the Corona Virus. Closing Churches was a demonstration of the depth of commitment (not just compliance) required to safeguard the health of all in our society, both the vulnerable and the strong. I fully recognise the huge sacrifice that closing churches has been for parishioners and priests alike.
At this point, following consultation at many different levels and much advice – it is time to consider reopening our churches in a responsible manner for private and personal prayer from the date of May 18th, 2020. In order for this to happen, each parish would need to ensure a safe environment for both parishioners and parish staff. This will require looking at the geography/layout of the church and putting in measures that will help facilitate social distancing and hygiene.
In order for churches to re-open in a responsible manner, the following need to be considered:
- Availability of hand sanitisers in appropriate locations in the church.
- Access to and flow of people within the building: If there are two entry points, could one be designated as an entrance and the other as an exit? How will social distancing be facilitated in the space? Can doors be left open to minimise the amount of touching?
- Signage: reminding people of distancing, hand hygiene, minimum touching of surfaces etc.
- Cleaning of the church: Can measures be put in place to ensure that surfaces are cleaned at least once a day? Who will do this? Can this be done by our parish staff or volunteers? Might the parish enlist the help of extra volunteers?
Masses will continue to be celebrated behind closed doors, but I look forward to a later stage in the roadmap, at the designated phase where it will be possible to recommence weekday Masses, and other liturgies with small numbers present, but we are not anywhere near this yet.
All of this will be open to ongoing review. Our first stage must be a gentle reopening of churches responding to the deep need for parishioners, some who have perhaps been in isolation for weeks, to call into their local church and offer a prayer.
At a time like this we as a diocese and Church Community redouble our efforts to look out for each other and continue to pray for each other at this challenging time.
Our thoughts, prayers, sympathies go out to anyone who has experienced illness, loss or bereavement during this difficult time, especially those affected by the Corona Virus.
The Prayer of Pope Francis for the month of May helps us in our time of challenge:
O Mary,
You shine continuously on our journey
as a sign of salvation and hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick,
who, at the foot of the cross,
were united with Jesus’ suffering,
and persevered in your faith.
“Protectress of the Roman people”,
you know our needs,
and we know that you will provide,
so that, as at Cana in Galilee,
joy and celebration may return
after this time of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform ourselves to the will of the Father
and to do what Jesus tells us.
For he took upon himself our suffering,
and burdened himself with our sorrows
to bring us, through the cross,
to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen.
We fly to your protection, O Holy Mother of God;
Do not despise our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always
from every danger, O Glorious and Blessed Virgin.
.
First Confessions & First Holy Communion.
Due to the public health emergency First Confessions & Holy Communion in St Michael’s Church, Kildysart are rescheduled.
The new dates are:
- First Confessions Wednesday, 16 September at 7pm;
- First Holy Communion Sunday, 27 September at 11am.
We apologise for the inconvenience and we wish parents every blessing as you help your children prepare to receive the sacraments.
Holy Week and Easter 2020
The Holy Week and Easter Liturgies will be celebrated in St Michael’s Church, Kildysart at the following times:
Holy Thursday – Mass of the Lord’s Supper, 8pm;
Good Friday – The Passion of the Lord, 3pm;
Holy Saturday – Easter Vigil, 9pm;
Easter Sunday – Mass of the Resurrection, 11am.
All liturgies will be live-streamed on the Kildysart Parish Facebook page. Copies of the booklet containing the Holy Week liturgies are available in the Post Offices and shops in our pastoral area. We thank the shop owners for their help in this regard.
May the Lord be close to us as we relive in our homes his victory over sin and death.
Mass for Palm Sunday – Kildysart Facebook
Next Sunday, 5 April 2020 is Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion. It is the beginning of Holy Week, the most sacred week of the year for Christians. Mass on Sunday will include the blessing of Palm in commemoration of Christ’s entry into Jerusalem.
Unfortunately, our Churches remain closed due to the COVID 19 emergency. Mass, without a congregation will be celebrated in St Michael’s Church, Kildysart on Palm Sunday at 11am and will be live streamed on the Kildysart Parish Facebook page.
Copies of the booklet containing the readings for Palm Sunday and copies of our newsletter are available in the grocery shops snd post offices in our pastoral area. We thank the shop owners and post offices for faciliting this.
Reflection for Fifth Sunday of Lent – 29 March 2020
The following is a reflection shared at Sunday Mass without a congregation in St Michael’s Church, Kildysary on 29 March, 2020. Parishioners and others took part in Mass by means of Facebook live.
Fifth Sunday of Lent – 29 March 2020
Sunday Mass from St Michael’s Church, Kildysart
Each Sunday at 11am while the present health emergency persists we plan to live stream Mass at 11am from St Michael’s Church, Kildysart on the Kildysart parish facebook page.
Sunday, 29 March 2020 – Fifth Sunday of Lent A.
COVID 19 – Staying Safe
Updated guidelines from Bishop Monahan issued on 28 March 2020 are available here
Sadly from 29 March until further notice all our Churches will be closed.
Sunday Mass from St Michael’s Church, Kildysart will be live-streamed on the Kildysart parish face book page each Sunday at 11am.
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COVID-19: To help counter the spread of infection, we are asked to:
- suspend shaking hands at Mass as a sign of peace;
- suspend the distribution of the chalice;
- receive Holy Communion only on the hand;
- suspend the use of holy water fonts;
- request eucharistic ministers to use hand cleanser before and after distributing Holy Communion;
- suspend the circulation of the collection basket. You may place your envelope/donation in the basket/box at the entrance to the Church;
- use all the space in the Church so as to ensure (in so far as possible) a distance of one meter between people, other than family members;
- use the hand sanitiser placed at the Church doors.
If anyone would like to have holy water blessed for use in their own home, the priest celebrating Mass is happy to do so after Mass.
Ash Wednesday- 26 Feb 2020
Ash Wednesday:
Next Wednesday (26 February) is Ash Wednesday, the first day of the season of Lent.
It is a day of fast and abstinence. Mass including the blessing and distribution of ashes will be celebrated in St Mary’ Church, Cranny on Wednesday at 9.30am and in St Michael’s Church, Kildysart at 8pm.
Christ spent 40 days fasting in the desert, where he was tempted by Satan. Lent originated as a mirroring of this, fasting 40 days as preparation for Easter. Every Sunday is a commemoration of the Sunday of Christ’s resurrection and so as a feast day on which fasting was inappropriate.
Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of blessing ashes made from the palm branches blessed on the previous year’s Palm Sunday, and placing them on the foreheads of Christians to the accompaniment of the words “Repent, and believe in the Gospel” or “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return”.
Parish of Kildysart 
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