THE PARISH OF Difficulties with “Covid-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021: Pastoral Message from the Bishops The Path Ahead” LISDOONVARNA AND KILSHANNY of the Six Dioceses of the We recognise the need for prudence and caution at the present SERVING THE CHURCHES OF time, in the light of the terrible loss of life in January and Province of the Archdiocese of Tuam February, and we accept absolutely that now is not the time for CORPUS CHRISTI; LISDOONVARNA ST. AUGUSTINE; KILSHANNY a major reopening of society. We have carefully considered the HOLY ROSARY; DOOLIN OUR LADY OF LOURDES; TOOVAHERA five stage plan “Covid-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021: The Path Ahead”, published by the Government last week. www.lisdoon.ie www.facebook.com/lisdoon The Third Sunday of Lent, 7th March 2021 There are two things in this plan which we find very difficult to support. Parish Priest Notes from One of those is the fact that at level 5, all funerals are still Conor Cunningham IN LOVING MEMORY the Parish Priest’s Desk… limited to 10 people. We believe that a modest increase to 25 065 - 7074142 would, without compromising safety, bring much consolation to [email protected] a cháirde, grieving families. Parish Clerk Mary Mooney It is now a year since our lives were turned upside-down Our second concern is that public worship is still excluded (9.00am-5.00pm) by the pandemic. On Wednesday the Bishops of the West of even at level 3. This would suggest that we may not have the 086 - 4084728 Ireland issued a reflection on this poignant anniversary. It is very opportunity to celebrate Mass together for months to come. It Mass Times well worth reading, and I have included it here in full for you. ignores the important contribution of communal worship to the Our bishops’ reflection also contains a significant Sunday Masses: (Suspended) mental and spiritual well-being of people of faith. The Toovahera Church announcement for families who are celebrating the joyful occasion Saturday Vigil Mass 5.00pm Lisdoonvarna of a family First Holy Communion or Confirmation this year. I have fundamental importance of Holy Week and Easter for all of first Sunday of every month. (Suspended) Monday 15th already written directly to our families directly affected by this Christians, makes the prohibition of public worship particularly Kilshanny Church news, with suggestions on how we might present it cheerfully and painful. While, as Christians, we are obliged to obey these Saturday Vigil Mass 7.00pm Daniel and Mary Garrihy (A) Nellie, Nora, Mai, Paddy and John positively to junior parishioners - especially to the younger regulations, we believe that it is our responsibility as Church Doolin Church children. leaders to make the case for change. We will continue to make Sunday 10.00am Garrihy (A) fair and reasonable representation and we encourage you to do Lisdoonvarna Church Buíochas mór! Sincerest thanks to all parishioners Sunday 11.30am likewise. + who are faithfully continuing to support our parish financially Weekday Masses: (Suspended) Mass is still being offered in our parish during this challenging time by using their registered parishioner Dear Parishioners, brother Priests and Deacons, Religious, and Friends, Sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation Lisdoonvarna Church every day for the protection, blessing, envelopes, or online bank transfer, or through iDonate. A once-off Ordinarily, except for on days of parish funerals, and special intentions or a recurring donation is very easy to set up online or on your Covid-19: A Year On In so far as the Government plan currently offers no clarity and other occasional exceptions: of all our parishioners, banking app. All you need is our parish IBAN which is about when we might expect to return to public Sacramental Monday 7.00pm IE40BOFI90422930184883. May your goodness be blessed and This week we mark the first anniversary of the appearance of the Tu e s d ay 1 0 . 0 0 a m and for anniversaries, life, we find it difficult to have any confidence that the months mind remembrances, rewarded. Covid-19 pandemic in Ireland. As we consider how this has touched Sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation can be Thursday 7.00pm our parish communities, particularly given the tragic loss of so many Friday 10.00am and all your other requested intentions. God bless you all, and all your loved ones, celebrated before the end of the present school year. As of now, Please contact Mary Mooney lives, we wish to share some thoughts with you, the people of the six we have decided to defer the Sacrament of Confirmation for the Liturgy Planning: All Eucharistic during office hours if you would like any of Dioceses of the Tuam Province. Ministers, Readers, Offertory Basket - Conor 2021 class until the Autumn, and we encourage our parishes to these Masses offered for a very special Collectors, Offertory Gift Bearers and Further to Climb consider doing the same in relation to First Holy Communion. Servers are reminded to kindly volunteer intention or remembrance. A Reflection on this Sunday’s Scriptures… Should the circumstances change for the better, this decision can and sign the planning sheet in the sacristy Many of us will be familiar with the experience of arriving at what we be revisited in each diocese. In the meantime, we encourage before each Mass. The Word of God this Sunday, the Third Sunday of Lent, thought was the top of a mountain only to discover that there is still young people and their parents to continue with their The Sacrament of Confession at presents a portrait of our Saviour that we are not too familiar with further to climb. Sometimes the last bit can be the hardest of all. We and that challenges us hugely, but which is also an honest and preparation. We have provided online resources to support the moment is available outdoors after understand the experience of disappointment and frustration that what is being done through the Religious Education programme each Sunday Mass, and on request. inspiring snapshot of Jesus in a particular frame-of-heart which many people feel, at the news of an indefinite extension of lockdown. most of us can readily identify with and understand. with the teachers in the schools. Eucharistic Adoration We are delighted, however, that children have the opportunity to We hear the story of Jesus showing his holy anger at the (Suspended) return to school and we wish them and their teachers every blessing. Continuing Pastoral and Sacramental Care Toovahera Church hypocrisy and lack of reverence that defiles God’s house and God’s Sundays 3.00pm to 4.00pm people. Until we are all “Ok” Bearing all of the foregoing in mind, it is also important for us to Kilshanny Church The first reading from the book of Exodus recounts the do as much as we can within the current restrictions to provide Fridays 7.00pm to 8.00pm giving of the ten commandments. It recalls God’s offering of his All of us appreciate the efforts and the sacrifices of those in our pastoral and sacramental care to our parishioners. Experience Lisdoonvarna Church sure and loving moral guidance of his sons and daughters as they community who provide essential services. For many people, teaches us that with suitable precautions, the individual Mondays and Wednesdays learn to know what way of living is right, and what is wrong, for however, the continued high level of restriction poses practical and celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation is possible, as is 6.00pm to 7.00pm those who have discovered that they are God’s own children. emotional challenges. We want to say very clearly that, in the In the Gospel of John today we see Jesus revealing - in his the sacramental care of the sick. These, together with various Most Holy Rosary of the Christian vision of things, every person is essential and no person is other pastoral initiatives, can supplement the various online Blessed Virgin Mary righteous anger - the heartbreak and pain of God who sees his more important or necessary than any other. When we pray the Lisdoonvarna Church (Suspended) children more interested in legal loopholes, empty ritual, money, outreaches that have proved so helpful and successful. Mondays 6.00pm Stations of the Cross, we celebrate people like Veronica, who wiped and superstition than they are in knowing his love and in living out the face of Jesus and Simon of Cyrene who shared with Him the Towards Easter 2021 Doolin Church (Suspended) that love for others. Sundays 9.25am Anger is not a sin. In fact, sometimes anger is a very burden of the cross. None of us can say “I’m ok” until we are all God’s love for us is revealed in the life, death and resurrection of Child Safeguarding: Our parish appropriate emotional response to evil, hypocrisy, and injustice. It “ok”. Jesus, who shared our human condition, with all its joys and implements the Diocesan Child is an energy that can be put to work in advancing God’s Kingdom Serving the Common Good and Supporting Restrictions sorrows. As his disciples today, we can have confidence in his Safeguarding Policy. A summary is on the of love, truth, justice, and peace. promise to be with us always, even to the end of time. During Church noticeboards, and a full copy is The Gospel calls us all to be people of holiness, As Church leaders, we have consistently supported the public health this season of Lent, He walks the way of the cross with us and available online at www.galwaydiocese.ie/ reverence, and integrity.