02 November 2020

Rathkeale and Kilnaughtin
Group parish notes in
‘Newslink’ November 2020

Flowers among the Harvest decorations in Saint Mary’s Church, Askeaton

Rathkeale and Kilnaughtin Group of Parishes

Rathkeale, Askeaton, Castletown and Kilnaughtin

Priest-in-Charge: Revd Canon Patrick Comerford,
The Rectory, Askeaton, Co Limerick.

Parish Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RathkealeGroup/

November is a traditionally a month of remembrance, giving thanks for the saints and those who have gone before us in life.

These themes are reflected in many of the planned services for November – although, once again many of these plans may have to change and adapt with new Covid-19 regulations.

Sunday 1 November, All Saints’ Day: 9.30, HC Askeaton; 11.30, MP Tarbert.

Sunday 8 November, Remembrance Sunday: 9.30, HC Castletown; 11.30, MP (and Remembrance commemorations), Rathkeale.

Sunday 15 November: 9.30, MP Askeaton; 11.30, HC Tarbert.

Sunday 22 November, the Kingship of Christ: 9.30, MP Castletown; 11.30 HC, Rathkeale.

Sunday 29 November, Advent Sunday: The fifth Sunday of the month, united group service in Saint Mary’s Church, Askeaton (HC).

On-line sermons:

During the lockdown, when church buildings are closed, the Parish Eucharist continues to be celebrated in the Rectory, and both the Sunday sermon and the intercessions go online, including the recorded sermon, with access through the Parish Facebook page.

The Parish Facebook page often gets 1,000 to 2,000 hits in a week, and the sermons and intercessions are viewed by more people than the numbers who ever come to church.

Harvest Thanksgiving:

Because the Covid-19 restrictions were difficult to predict in advance, the planned Harvest Thanksgiving Service in Rathkeale on 2 October was cancelled after lengthy consultation with the invited preacher, the Very Revd Paul Bogle, Dean of Clonmacnoise, Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Trim, Co Meath.

Instead, harvest was the theme of the services in Askeaton and Tarbert, the Sunday following, with some imaginative Harvest-themed decorations, including turf from a bog.

Meanwhile, Dean Bogle hopes to visit this parish on another, future occasion.

Rectory insights:

In the past month, the Rectory in Askeaton has again been a hive of activity. Meetings of various school boards, diocesan clergy and the Rathkeale Pre-Social Cohesion Group, and a training course for school chairs and principals, all at the centre of Zoom meetings that have had unusual insights into life in the Rectory.

Turf from the Scotland Bog in Carrigkerry among the Harvest decorations

This is an edited version of the Rathkeale and Kilnaughtin Group parish notes in the November 2020 edition of ‘Newslink,’ the Limerick and Killaloe diocesan magazine.

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