03 September 2018

Rathkeale and Kilnaughtin
notes in ‘Newslink’ September 2018

Samuel Jacob Teskey with his parents, Sandra Teskey and Dr Garrett Teskey, at his Baptism in Holy Trinity Church, Rathkeale

Rathkeale and Kilnaughtin Group of Parishes

Rathkeale, Askeaton, Castletown and Kilnaughtin

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

Summer is coming to an end, the school is reopening, parish activities are getting back to their usual routines, and for many us memories of holidays, sunshine and hurling finals many be beginning to come to fade.

But the summer fun in the parish this year is worth remembering. It included baptisms, engagements, weddings and choir visits, the fun of the parish barbeque. Summer visitors to the parish and the rectory included the Kirwan and Bailey families from England, and the Revd Kevin Conroy and Olive Conroy from Co Wicklow.

Sunday School in Rathkeale:

Now that children are returning to school, Shirley Sheahan is organising the Sunday School in Rathkeale. The start-up date is Sunday 9 September, at Morning Prayer in Holy Trinity Church, Rathkeale. All children in the Group of Parishes are welcome.

Holy Baptism:

Samuel Jacob Teskey, son of Dr Garrett Teskey and Sandra Teskey (nee Mulvehill) of Ardnaveagh, Rathkeale, was baptised in Holy Trinity Church, Rathkeale, on Sunday 24 June. The sponsors are Shane Teskey of Swords, Co Dublin, and Dr Maeve Mulvehill, Adare. Sam’s grandparents, John and Rae Teskey of Reens, Ardagh, and Dr Patrick and Maria Mulvehill of Adare were present, with the wider circle of family members and friends.

Marriage:

Nicola Catherine (Nicky) White of Nantenan and Robert Daniel (Rob) Foley of Cork were married in Saint Mary’s Church, Askeaton, on 7 July. Nicky, a nurse now living in Cork, is the daughter of Simon and Hilary White of Nantinan. The reception afterwards was held at Nantenan.

Nicky White of Nantenan and Rob Foley of Cork at their wedding in Saint Mary’s Church, Askeaton

Newcastle font:

The old font from Saint Thomas’s Church, Newcastle West, has been refurbished, restored and is now on view in the Desmond Castle in Newcastle West. This font was presented to Saint Thomas’s Church by the Earl of Devon, and was used in the church for baptisms until the church was deconsecrated in 1958 and demolished in 1962.

Canon Patrick Comerford spoke at the event on 27 June, and the attendance included Bishop Kenneth Kearon, Dean Niall Sloane, and Grellan Rourke and John McMahon of the Office of Public Works.

From Saint Mary’s to Saint Mary’s:

The choir of Saint Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick, visited Saint Mary’s Church, Askeaton, on Sunday 24 June and sang Choral Evensong to celebrate the Feast of the Birth of Saint John the Baptist.

Greek fire:

The joint group service for the fifth Sunday of the month this summer was a celebration of the Eucharist in the rectory gardens on Sunday 28 July, followed by the parish summer barbeque. €250 was raised to help the victims of the recent fires in the Athens region in Greece.

‘A Mother’s Journey’:

Friday 28 September: clothes swap and gathering at 8 p.m. in the Rectory, Askeaton. Women of the parishes and friends are invited to a fun evening to help ‘A Mother’s Journey’ build a playground for children in Morocco.

September services:

September has five Sundays in the month, so there is a joint group celebration of the Eucharist in Castletown Church on Sunday 29 September at 11 a.m.

Sunday 2 September (Trinity XIV): 9.30, the Eucharist (Holy Communion), Saint Mary’s Church, Askeaton; 11.30, Morning Prayer, Saint Brendan’s Church, Kilnaughtin, Tarbert.

Sunday 9 September (Trinity XV): 9.30, the Eucharist (Holy Communion), Castletown Church; 11.30, Morning Prayer, Holy Trinity Church, Rathkeale.

Sunday 16 September (Trinity XVI): 9.30, Morning Prayer, Saint Mary’s Church, Askeaton; 11.30, the Eucharist (Holy Communion), Saint Brendan’s Church, Kilnaughtin, Tarbert.

Sunday 23 September (Trinity XVII): 9.30 a.m., Morning Prayer, Castletown Church; 11.30, the Parish Eucharist (Holy Communion 2), Holy Trinity Church, Rathkeale.

Sunday 30 September (Trinity XVIII): Fifth Sunday joint group celebration: 11 a.m., Parish Eucharist (Holy Communion 2), Castletown Church.

Advance notice:

Harvest Thanksgiving Service: Friday, 5 October, 8 p.m., Holy Trinity Church, Rathkeale.

Waiting for the Parish Eucharist and Barbecue in the Rectory gardens … £250 was raised for the victims of the recent fires in Greece

Training days for
everyone in ministry

The cloisters in the ruins of the Franciscan Friary in Askeaton … being visited on the September training day (Photograph: Patrick Comerford

The following report is published in the current edition [September 2018] of ‘Newlink’, the Diocesan Magazine for the United Dioceses (page 12):

Continuing Ministerial Education

The training days for people in ministry in the dioceses resume after the summer break with workshops in Askeaton Rectory on the topic of Spiritual Tourism and preparing for Remembrance Day.

Spiritual Tourism

On Monday 3 September, Canon Patrick Comerford and Archdeacon Simon Lumby are leading a working day on bringing spiritual tourism to our parishes. This day includes a field trip to two or three sites in Askeaton linked to Spiritual Tourism, including the ruined Templar Tower at Saint Mary’s Church and the cloisters in the ruins of the 15th century Franciscan Friary. Participants are asked to bring with them examples two opportunities for spiritual tourism they have experienced during their summer holidays: one positive and one negative. The programme is offered in two sessions: from 11 am to 3.30 for day-time participants, and from 7 pm to 9.30 pm for people in ministry who are also in secular ministry.

Preparing for Remebrance Day

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, and Remembrance Day this year falls on a Sunday, Sunday 11 November 2018. A working day in the Rectory in Askeaton on Monday 15 October looks at how to plan for Remembrance Day on this year’s centenary. Where do I find resources and readings? What is appropriate in a parish church on this Sunday? How can we be sensitive to a variety of views and challenges to this day in a parish? Once again, this programme is offered in two sessions: from 11 am to 3.30 for day-time participants, and from 7 pm to 9.30 pm for people in ministry who are also in secular ministry.

Although these days are designed for priests and readers, spouses, partners and friends are always warmly welcome. Further details are available from Patrick Comerford.