GOOD
SHEPHERD (VOCATIONS) SUNDAY
Pope
Paul VI instituted the World Day of Prayer
for Vocations (the 4th Sunday of Easter) on
the 11th April 1964 by saying;
“O
Jesus, divine Shepherd of the spirit, you
have called the Apostles in order to make
them fishermen of men, you still attract to
you burning spirits and generous young people,
in order to render them your followers and
ministers to us”
In
the 43 years since, successive pontiffs have
called on the Church to focus and pray for
vocations. “Heavenly Father, You have
created each of us to love You and your people.
You have chosen some to serve by responding
to the particular call to the priesthood and
religious life. Send your Holy Spirit to stir
the hearts of those You have designed to follow
this path of spiritual leadership. We pray
this petition, faithful and most gracious
God, in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ,
Our Lord. Amen.
LONGFORD
PARISH FAMILY DAY
Longford
Town FC have a long and close association
with Longford parish having been founded in
the Temperance Hall and wearing an image of
the St. Mel’s Cathedral on their club
crest. In the aftermath of the fire at the
Cathedral the club have kindly offered to
host a Parish Family Day at Flancare Park
on Sun 9th May to celebrate the life of the
parish and to support the refurbishment of
the Cathedral. We are very grateful to all
at the club for taking this initiative. Details
of the day are as follows:
Celebration
of Mass – 1.00 p.m.
with Longford St. Mel’s Cathedral Folk
Choir
followed
by Country Music Legends
Declan Nerney, Mick Flavin, Larry Cunningham,
Dermot Hegarty
Frankie Flaherty, Paschal & Sean, Liz
& David, Padraig Farrell, Pat Gavigan,
T.J. Walsh, Paul Gurney, Tommy Flaherty, Denis
Hughes & Many More
FREE
ADMISSION - Donations to St. Mel’s
Cathedral Restoration ‘Reserve Fund’
welcome.
See local press for more details. Please note
that 1.00 p.m. Mass at Flancare Park will
replace 1.00 p.m. Mass at the Cathedral Centre.
INFORMATION
NIGHT - An information night on the
Cathedral fire and report on progress so far
will take place at the Assembly Hall in St.
Mel’s College on Monday May 10th @ 8.30
p.m. All are welcome to attend.
CHILDREN’S
MASS – The second Children’s
Mass will take place at the 10.00am Mass on
this Sunday 25th April in St. Mel’s
Cathedral Centre. Our first Mass was a great
success in March. This is aimed at children
who are in Junior Infants, Senior Infants,
1st class and 2nd class at school. So please
just come along with your child to the 10am
Mass at the Cathedral Centre on the last Sunday
of every month (September – June).
MONTHLY
HOLY HOUR – will take place
on Sat. 8th May at 8.30pm in St. Mel’s
College Chapel. Please note change of date.
This hour will be dedicated to all families
in our community and to remember in a special
way all our young people who are preparing
for exams at this time. Please join us in
prayer. This will be the last Holy Hour until
September. I would like to say a very special
word of thanks to each one of you and all
our young people who participated in this
Holy Hour, those involved in music, candle
procession, hospitality and welcome. Thank
you for your support and prayer - Fr.Brendan.
PARISH
WEBSITE - WWW.LONGFORDPARISH.COM -
There is copy on our website of the presentation
on the fire and emergency works at the Cathedral
given by Danny Donohoe of OSG Chartered Loss
Adjustors to representatives and priests from
all parish pastoral councils of the diocese
on 10 April last. There are also links to
national TV and Radio programmes which have
featured St. Mel’s Cathedral and the
Cathedral Centre, such as the well-received
item on the RTE Nationwide programme from
last March.
NOVENA
TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY will
take place during the month of May at 7.30pm
on Tuesdays in Clondra and 7.30pm on Fridays
in Killashee.
TRÓCAIRE
has extended its sincere thanks to all who
gave to their Haiti Emergency Appeal. Thursday
marked 100 days since the disaster and Trócaire's
work continues, thanks to the kind donations
of parishes all over the country. In all over
€6 million was given to Trócaire
and already, working with the Caritas network,
900,000 people have been provided with shelter,
one million have been given health care, one-and-a-half
million have been given regular food supplies
or hot meals and over 200,000 people have
already been given access to clean water or
have been provided with hygiene kits. None
of this could have been possible without your
help. Go to www.trocaire.org to find out more
about where your money is being spent. Go
raibh míle maith agaibh. Please return
your Trocaire boxes if you have not already
done so.
COUNTY
LONGFORD SOCIAL SERVICES FLAG DAY –
3rd April, the Chairman and Committee would
like to extend sincere thanks to all our supporters
and voluntary collectors. The collection raised
€2,981.00.
LONGFORD
FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN OF CHERNOBYL
are looking for families to host visiting
children for two weeks during the month of
July. For further information please call
Joan at 043 3345021 or 085 8372144.
CHRISTIAN
MEDITATION GROUP continues to meet
each Tuesday evening from 7.15 – 8.00pm.
Their new venue is The Prayer Room, St. Mel’s
College (entrance by the main front door of
the College). “Come Apart and Rest Awhile”
– whether you have experienced meditation
before or are just beginning, everyone is
most welcome.
LONGFORD
PRAYER GROUP meet this Monday at
8.00pm in St. Joseph’s Hospital. All
are welcome to come along as we pray for family,
friends all the pe0ple of our community.
EDDIE
STONE will hold a prayer meeting
in St. Mary’s Church, Newtownforbes
from 2 – 6 pm on Saturday 1st May. All
welcome.
THE
THRIFT SHOP (SVP) is appealing for
good quality ladies, gent’s and children’s
clothes, domestic goods, shoes, unwanted gifts,
small pieces of furniture, books, bric-a-brac
etc. The Thrift Shop is run by volunteers
at a minimum cost and depends on donations
for all stock and is worthy of your support.
Everything will be gratefully accepted. Location:
18 Dublin Street, Longford. Open: Mon –
Fri 10.30am – 5.30pm and Sat. 10.30am
– 3.30pm.
ARDAGH
& CLONMACNOIS PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES 2010
27 May
– 1 June, 5 nights, fully inclusive
price €715. Places available, please
contact Joe Walsh Tours, 143 Lr. Baggot Street,
Dublin 2. Tel: 01 2410812 / 2410811. Pilgrimage
Director: Msgr. Bernard Noonan P.P. Moate,
Co. Westmeath. Tel: 090 6481180. Director
Invalid Section: Fr. Michael Scanlon P.P.,
Cloghan, Co. Offaly: Tel: 090 6457122.
ARDAGH
& CLONMACNOIS YOUTH MINISTRY –
Join us 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.
THE
IRISH FAMERS’ ASSOCIATION –
Public meeting on Tues. 27th April at 8.30pm
sharp in Longford Slashers GAA Club to deal
with all farming issues. Guest Speaker is
Mr. John Bryan, IFA President. All farm families
are welcome to attend.
SCOIL
EIMEAR’S N.S. ENROLMENT - April 30th,
2010 is the closing date for applications
for admission to Scoil Eimear for September
2010. No applications will be accepted after
that date. Application forms are available
in School Office - 043 3341188. Admission
Policy is available on request.
ST.
JOSEPH’S N.S., DUBLIN ROAD ENROLMENT
will take place from Monday April 26th to
Friday 30th April. Admission forms are available
at the school during the school hours 9.20
a.m.- 3.00 p.m. and should be returned by
Friday with birth cert.
LONGFORD
BEALTAINE FESTIVAL 1 – 31st May 2010
Celebrating
creativity in older age – The theme
of the National Festival this year is “Have
Dreams and Speak Them Without Fear”
so if your dream is to write your own masterpiece
or to try your hand at learning new skills
then there should be something for you. All
events are free and all are welcome. Please
book your place/group by contacting Fiona,
Longford Library 043 3341124 or Margaret,
Longford Community Resources Ltd., 043 3345555
or drop into your local library.
LONGFORD COMMUNITY RESOURCES LIMITED
– The Social Inclusion Network in conjunction
with Declan Sheerin Electrical Services is
organizing a demonstration workshop on ‘Using
Storage Heaters’ on Wed 28th April in
the Family Centre, St. Mel’s Rd (behind
St. Mel’s Cathedral) and Thurs. 29th
April in 59 Springlawn Community House. All
workshops will begin at 7.00pm. Refreshments
will be served. Further info from Felicia
at 097 9478650.
