Our Parish Newsletter will take a Summer break from this week onwards. Since last September we hope you have been informed, sometimes inspired and occasionally humoured by our offerings. We say thanks to Parish Secretary Helen, and to all at Rapid Print who ensure that the weekly Newsletter reaches you. We look forward to resuming our service in September.

 

CEMETERY SUNDAY MASS

takes place in Ballymacormack at 1.00 pm on Sun. 22nd Aug.

 

 

EXHIBITION ON ST.MEL’S CATHEDRAL – An exhibition hosted by Longford Library will be on display in the local library from this week until the end of July. Held in conjunction with the Diocese it will explore the history of the Cathedral and reflect on the tragic fire. You are warmly invited to call in to the exhibition which talks of what the Cathedral means to us all.

 

UPDATES ON WORKS AT THE CATHEDRAL will continue to be posted on our parish website www.longfordparish.com throughout the summer. Thank you to Fr. Padraig and Tiernan Dolan for all of their help with this.

 

 

PASTORAL COUNCIL – We extend our thanks to the members of our Pastoral Council who have met fortnightly through the year to organise parish activities. We are very grateful for your generosity of spirit and commitment to parish life. Thank you also to the many people who play active roles in all the various groups in our parish. Your involvement is very much recognised and appreciated.

 

USHERS – We would like to take the opportunity to thank the teams of ushers who assist in the seating arrangements at the Cathedral Centre on Sundays. We ask you to give them your fullest co-operation. It would be beneficial to fill up the seats at the left hand side of the altar as you look up so that those who come later can be facilitate with a minimum of movement.

 

 

FR. PAUL KANGKAI – We would like to welcome Fr. Paul Kangkai from Nigeria back to us for the third time this summer. Fr. Paul was with us in 2006 & 2008 so is a familiar face in our parish. We look forward to having him with us and know that you will make him welcome.

 

COELIAC COMMUNION – IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

Up to the present Coeliac very-low gluten hosts communion have been distributed after communion in the Cathedral Centre and St. Mel’s College Chapel. This meant that those who have the Coeliac condition had to come up at a separate time after everyone else.

We have now adapted a ciborium so that the pyx with the Coeliac hosts is attached to it: the two hosts do not come into contact with each other. So we now invite those who require these communion hosts to come to the celebrant of the Mass to receive holy communion. In the Cathedral Centre the celebrant always gives out communion to the two centre sections. It is necessary for those with the Coeliac condition to seat themselves in this part of the Centre or to make their way and join the queue here if seated elsewhere. It is also necessary to tell or indicate to the celebrant that you require the Coeliac hosts. Only the priest who is celebrating the Mass and none of the other priests or Eucharistic Ministers will have the Coeliac hosts. We will try this new approach for a while – it has the advantage of allowing all the congregation to receive communion at the same time and without the need for people to stand up separately.

 

CHILDREN’S MASS – The parish will again host the Children’s Mass at the 10.00am on 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 up until they make their First Holy Communion. So please just come along with your child to 10am Mass next Sunday 27th June. Sincere thanks to those who have led our Children’s Mass over the last 4 months. After next week the following one will be in September.

 

ST. MEL’S CATHEDRAL ON WWW.LONGFORDPARISH.COM

This week has seen the installation of netting all along the roof for safety reasons. The apex of this temporary roof is higher than the original roof – this allows space for potentially building the new roof under it when that times comes.

More photos from inside the Cathedral taken in May have been recently uploaded onto our own parish website www.longfordparish.com. and more will go up over the summer months. These show the work going on in the Cathedral to stabilise the pillars and the arches of the internal walls which have continued to deteriorate. This work is now complete and allows the building of the temporary steel roof, grey in colour, to be finished over the next few weeks.

There is also links still on the homepage to all TV programmes which featured the Cathedral and the Cathedral Centre since Christmas, particularly the RTE Nationwide programme enjoyed by many. Images from the recent Corpus Christi Procession are also on the website along with galleries of photos from before and after the fire at the Cathedral.

 

 

LONGFORD PRAYER GROUP meets throughout the summer on Mondays 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. The monthly Masses for July and August will take place on Monday 12th July and Monday 9th August.

 

 

ST. JOSEPH’S YOUNG PRIESTS’ SOCIETY – Annual Pilgrimage to Knock on Sat. 26th June. Bus leaving Cathedral car park at 10am. Booking at Doyle’s, Dublin St. Fare adults: €15, children €10.00.

 

 

ARDAGH & CLONMACNOIS YOUTH MINISTRY - Knock Summer Festival 2010 - Prayer/music, talks, workshops and more. Speakers include Sr. Helen Prejean. 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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

YOUTH 2000 SUMMER FESTIVAL, CLONMACNOIS, CO. OFFALY – Thurs. 12th – Sun. 15th Aug. For young people aged 16 – 35 years, an opportunity not to be missed to experience the Catholic faith and meet many new friends. Donation only. Free buses available from around the country. Further information: 086 3025442 or 01 6753690 or www.youth2000.ie

 

IRISH BLOOD TRANSFUSION SERVICE – Mobile unit at Longford Arms Hotel on Tues. 22nd, Wed. 23rd and Thurs. 24th June from 4.30 – 8.00 pm. sharp.

 

ST VINCENT DE PAUL – we encourage and appreciate the participation of volunteers. We are currently recruiting Volunteers for both male and female hostels, St. Martins Community Centre, St. Mel’s Visitation Conference and our busy Thrift Shop. If you are willing to give your time and commitment you will receive full training and support and an opportunity to take part in very rewarding and fulfilling work. Please contact Mary Cronin 087 7901598.

 

LONGFORD FLOWER CLUB – Annual outing on Sat. 26th June to the Gardens of Longford. Booking at Harney’s Jewellers - telephone: 043 3346458.

 

 

We welcomed the following children into our Christian Community:

Jakub Kowal, Shannon Park
Paddy Lawrence, Palace Crescent
Callum Reilly, Ardeevan
Kai Bailey, Ardeevan
Orla Brady, Teffia Park
Lyndsey Lee Feeley, Annaly Park
Rhys Stokes, Camlin Meadows
Benjamin Trappe, Brickfield, Abbeycartron
Fay Nowell, Bawn, Moydow