Rathkeale and Kilnaughtin Group parish notes in ‘Newslink’ April 2021

The church bells have been rung in Askeaton every Sunday during the lockdown

Rathkeale and Kilnaughtin Group of Parishes

Rathkeale, Askeaton, Castletown and Kilnaughtin

Priest-in-Charge: Revd Canon Patrick Comerford,

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

The Church is not closed:

The doors of the churches may have been closed throughout the latest phase of the pandemic lockdown, but the Church has remained open. Sunday worship has continued, the Eucharist has been celebrated, we have been ringing the church bells, and sermons have been streamed on Facebook and YouTube.

The schools have reopened (albeit partially), there have been funerals and there have been promises of new life, with plans for marriages and discussions about Baptisms, and the parish was part of the Lenten study group on the five points of Anglican mission, organised by the Dean and Chapter of Saint Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick.

In recent weeks, repair work has been carried out on the slates at Saint Mary’s Church, Askeaton, and Holy Trinity Church, Rathkeale, and there are proposals to redecorate the church in Rathkeale.

The busy cycle of parish and diocesan life continues, with diocesan council and clergy meetings – even though they are ‘virtual’ meetings – and preparations for the upcoming Easter vestries and elections. In addition, Zoom meetings have introduced a multitude of people and organisations into the Rectory, including members of school boards and trustees of the mission agency USPG (United Society Partners in the Gospel).

In a time of pandemic lockdowns and partial lockdowns, in times of uncertainty about the future, it is important to be reminded of and to rejoice in the promises of new life in the Resurrection.

Planning ahead … with hope:

The Covid-19 pandemic restrictions make it difficult to know when Church services with congregations are going to resume. Should restrictions ease in time for Easter and April, these are the times of planned services:

Saturday 3 April (Easter Eve): 7 pm: The Easter Eucharist (HC 2), Kilnaughtin (Tarbert); 9 pm: The Easter Eucharist (HC 2), Askeaton.

Sunday 4 April (Easter Day): 9.30 am: the Easter Eucharist (HC 2), Castletown; 11.30 am: the Easter Eucharist (HC 2), Rathkeale.

Sunday 11 April (Easter II): 9.30, HC, Castletown; 11.30, MP, Rathkeale.

Sunday 18 April (Easter III): 9.30, MP, Askeaton; 11.30, HC, Tarbert.

Sunday 25 April (Easter IV): 9.30, MP, Castletown; 11.30, HC, Rathkeale.

On-line sermons:

Meanwhile, during the lockdown, while church buildings remain closed, the Parish Eucharist continues to be celebrated, and the Sunday sermon and the intercessions go online through the Parish Facebook page and through Patrick’s blog (www.patrickcomerford.com). The sermons are also made available on YouTube.

Church repairs and decorating have continued during the lockdown … repairs to the church roof in Askeaton

This is an edited version of the Rathkeale and Kilnaughtin Group of Parishes parish notes in the April 2021 edition of Newslink, the Limerick and Killaloe Diocesan Magazine