CORPUS CHRISTI PROCESSION 2010 – A sincere thanks to all who participated in our Corpus Christi procession on a beautiful summer’s evening last Sunday. Thanks to all the residents and businesses on route who prepared altars and flags and welcomed our parish community as we brought the Blessed Sacrament along the streets of our town. This year members of Longford Pipe Band accompanied the procession and the hymns played enriched the occasion for all involved and their contribution was greatly appreciated. The canopy which is carried in the procession was destroyed in the fire in Christmas, so sincere thanks to those who built a new frame and prepared and embroidered the beautiful cloth cover.

A special word of gratitude to An Garda Siochana, our altar servers and First Holy Communion children and their parents, our sacristan, those who carried the canopy, John Farrell for provision of sound, and our pastoral council for their help on Sunday and throughout the year. Photos taken by Tiernan Dolan of the procession can be viewed on www.longfordparish.com – our parish website.

PARISH WEBSITE - WWW.LONGFORDPARISH.COM

More photos from inside the Cathedral taken in May have been uploaded onto our parish website www.longfordparish.com. These show the work going on in the Cathedral to stabilise the pillars and arches of the internal walls which have continued to deteriorate. This work has now been completed and allows the temporary steel roof which can be seen rising above the town in recent weeks to be completed. This will be an important protection against the elements over the next few years.

The completion of the roof by mid-July will mark the end of the emergency phase of the long and detailed restoration process. Over these months the Cathedral has been secured and made safe and protected from the weather conditions. A conservation architect has overseen the removal of debris and so all items of value have been cataloged and stored.

The next phase will involve the much less visible but more important work of detailed preparation and planning – office work rather than site work. The steering committee meets every two weeks and with the assistance of the recently-appointed Project Managers work is continuing in preparing for the establishment of the design team that will ultimately chart the restoration project.

 

CHILDREN’S MASS – The parish will again host the Children’s Mass at the 10.00am next Sunday 27th June in St. Mel’s Cathedral Centre. Previous Children’s Masses were well attended and the children enjoyed the activities. The Mass is led by two teams of lay people, many of whom have crèche and teaching experience. Parents are invited to bring their children to a room within the same building where they engage in religious activities suitable for their age. The children will go out at the start of the Readings and come back in at the Our Father. The children must already be in primary school - in Junior Infants, Senior Infants, 1st class or 2nd class. So please just come along to the 10am Mass at the Cathedral Centre on Sunday 27th June if you would like your children to take part.

 

LONGFORD PRAYER GROUP hold their Monthly Mass on Monday at 8.00pm in St. Joseph’s Hospital. All are welcome to come along as we pray for family, friends and all the people of our community.

 

 

TAX RELIEF SCHEME - THANK YOU to the many people who have returned Tax Relief Forms over recent weeks. Under this scheme ‘PAYE only’ Taxpayers who have contributed over €250 to the Parish in 2009 can make the tax they have paid on earning that money, available to the parish. We would be delighted to receive any outstanding forms so as to submit our claim to the Revenue Commissioners.

 

SAFETALK PROGRAMME – SUICIDE ALERTNESS FOR EVERYONE – The HSE Suicide Prevention Officer is running SafeTALK training in Longford on Thursday 17th June. In SafeTALK you will learn how to provide practical help to persons who are having thoughts of suicide. SafeTALK aims to identify and engage with people who are contemplating suicide and to connect them with further help and care.

SafeTALK training will take place on Thursday 17th June 2020, from 10am to 1pm in the Family Centre, Longford. There are limited places so please book your place by phoning or texting Felicia (LCRL) on 087 9478650 or Josephine (HSE) on 086 8157850.

 

ARDAGH & CLONMACNOIS YOUTH MINISTRY

Knock Summer Festival 2010 - Prayer/music, talks, workshops and more. Speakers include Sr. Helen Prejean (Author, Dead Man Walking). 25th to 27th June 2010. 18 - 35 year olds. Cost €70 inc. food and accomodation. If you prefer not to stay you can also come and go for the day only. Please phone us on 090 6473358 or email info@aym.ie if you are interested.

 

Join us also on our visit to Taize, France from 15th to 23rd August 2010. Rediscover an inner peace, a meaning to life. Cost approx. €350, minimum age 17 years. Limited to 20 places. Contact 086 8255178 or email info@aym.ie.

 

CLONMACNOIS PRAYER VIGIL – Night Prayer Vigil, Clonmacnois, Cluain Chiarain Prayer Centre. Fri. 18th June. Mass at 10pm, Adoration follows, finishes at 3.10am. All welcome. Enquiries Dave 085-7746763

 

PILGRIMAGE TO FATIMA 23rd – 30th September, 7 nights full board at Cinquentenario Hotel. Spiritual Director: Fr. Eamonn O’Connor, €779 fully inclusive. Please contact Fr. Eamonn O’Connor at 043 3326020.

 

PILGRIMAGE TO MEDJUGORJE 14th – 21st August. Spiritual Director: Fr. Vincent Connaughton. To book a place please contact Fr. Vincent 087 9563668 or Carmel 087 6593484. The all inclusive cost is €670.

 

SVP PILGRIMAGE TO KNOCK – The annual SVP pilgrimage to Knock takes place from 14th – 18th June. Cost including transport is €225 per person, The trip is subsidised by St. Vincent de Paul so pilgrims are only expected to pay €115 per person. To book a place contact any member of the society or leave your name and ‘phone number on our help line 3342084. It is essential to book soon.

 

 

REVAMP FURNITURE - We are appealing for good quality furniture suitable for re-use. Restored and second-hand furniture for sale at our Showroom open at Mastertech Business Park, Mon. to Sat. Free collection and delivery. The project is doing vital work reducing, re-using and recycling. Tel: 3348876; Web: www.revamp3rstore.com

 

 

PIONEER NEWS - The Annual Presentation of awards to Jubilarians took place on Sun. 30th May at the 10.00am Mass in St. Mel's Cathedral Centre. Congratulations to all who received awards and their families and everyone in Longford Pioneers.

 

PRAYER FOR EXAM STUDENTS

Heavenly Father,
we pray to you for three things for students doing exams:
- the strength to handle the pressure that they feel,
- the confidence to feel secure in their knowledge and preparation,
- and the ability to keep an appropriate perspective on it all.
Help them to keep in mind what is really important;
grant them the love of Christ for all whom they meet
and the powerful grace of your Spirit at all times.
Amen.

 

Please pray for our departed parishioners:

Sr. Aloysius Nerney, Mohill & Convent of Mercy, Longford

Noel Kelly, McEoin Park

Paddy Regan, Lisduff