04 February 2019

A day of workshops
on Celtic Spirituality

The Revd Anne-Marie Stuart (centre) with participants in the January workshop on ‘Celtic Spirituality’ at the Rectory in Askeaton

Continuing Ministerial Education

The Revd Anne-Marie Stuart, of Kilcolman Union of Parishes, led a day of workshops on ‘Celtic Spirituality’ in the continuing education programme for all clergy and readers in the diocese resumes in January.

Readers and clergy from across the diocese took part in these workshops in the Rectory in Askeaton, and were joined by two visitors who had travelled from Germany to learn more about Celtic Spirituality.

The February programme, on Monday 11 February, looks at the practice of the Jesus Prayer and using icons in prayer. These programmes are offered at the Rectory in Askeaton 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.

Tea/coffee/biscuits are provided, but participants are asked to bring sandwiches.

On 4 March, the Revd Anne-Marie Stuart returns to facilitate a morning workshop on 4 March on ‘The Adventure of Prayer’ and a second workshop in the afternoon on ‘Faith Development.’

Meanwhile, Canon Patrick Comerford publishes online resources every Monday morning that are suitable for clergy and readers planning services the following Sunday. These are available online at: https://cmelimerick.blogspot.com/

This news report is published in the February 2019 edition of ‘Newslink’, the Limerick, Killaloe and Ardfert diocesan magazine, pp 10-11

Rathkeale and Kilnaughtin
notes in ‘Newslink’ February 2019

Christmas morning 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.

Moving from Epiphany to Easter:

The Christmas season comes to an end with the feast of Candlemas, which links Christmas with Easter, the incarnation with the crucifixion and the resurrection.

Epiphany was marked in a new way this year, drawing on old traditions, when the lintels of the Church doors in Askeaton and Kilnaughtin were chalked with the traditional Epiphany blessing 20 + C + M + B + 19, representing the numerals of the year, the initials of the Three Wise Men or Magi – Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar – who came to visit the Christ Child in his first home, and abbreviating the Latin blessing, Christus Mansionem Benedicat, ‘May Christ bless the house.’

Chalking the traditional Epiphany blessing above the door at Saint Mary’s Church, Askeaton

Askeaton scaffolding:

In the past few weeks, scaffolding has been erected on the west front of Saint Mary’s Church, Askeaton, as the first stage in securing the church façade. Simon White and Ralph Drew have been busy working on the project, and we should soon know the news.

Congratulations:

Congratulations to Nicky and Robert Daniel Foley from Cork on the birth of their daughter Tamsin on 7 January. They were married last year in Saint Mary’s Church, Askeaton, earlier last year.

Killaloe visitors:

As the deans and chapter members continue the chapter programme of exchanges between the deans and the canons, Canon Patrick Comerford is visiting the Killaloe Cathedral group of parishes on 17 February, and the Dean of Killaloe, the Very Revd Gary Paulsen, is visiting this group of parishes.

Ministry training in the Rectory:

The Revd Anne-Marie Stuart spoke on Celtic Spirituality in the Rectory during the training day for clergy and readers on 14 January. The next day in this programme, on 11 February, looking at the Jesus Prayer and Praying with Icons.

Fresh shoots:

Congratulations to Valerie and Tommy Downes whose garden in Ballysteen has been the focus of recent media acclaim.

Tommy Fleming Concert:

The evening with Tommy Fleming in Holy Trinity Church, Rathkeale, on Saturday 8 December was an exceptional evening of music and song. This fundraising concert raised over €2,000 in aid of Rathkeale Number 2 National School.

February Services:

Sunday 3 February (Epiphany 4, the Presentation): 9.30 a.m., Saint Mary’s Church, Askeaton, Holy Communion; 11.30, Saint Brendan’s Church, Kilnaughtin (Tarbert), Morning Prayer.

Sunday 10 February (4 Before Lent): 9.30 a.m., Castletown Church, Kilcornan, Holy Communion; 11.30, Holy Trinity Church, Rathkeale, Morning Prayer.

Sunday 17 February (3 Before Lent): 9.30 a.m., Saint Mary’s Church, Askeaton, Morning Prayer; 11.30, Saint Brendan’s Church, Kilnaughtin, Holy Communion. With the Dean of Killaloe, the Very Revd Gary Paulsen.

Sunday 24 February (2 Before Lent): 9.30 a.m., Castletown Church, Kilcornan, Morning Prayer; 11.30, Holy Trinity Church, Rathkeale, Holy Communion.

Sunday 3 March (Sunday before Lent): 9.30 a.m., Saint Mary’s Church, Askeaton, Holy Communion; 11.30, Saint Brendan’s Church, Kilnaughtin (Tarbert), Morning Prayer.

Lent 2019:

Lent and Easter are relatively late this year, with Ash Wednesday on 6 March 2019 and Easter Day on 21 April.

Ash Wednesday (6 March): 8 p.m., Saint Mary’s Church, Askeaton, Holy Communion and Ashing.

Tommy Fleming in concert in Holy Trinity Church, Rathkeale

These parish notes are published in the February 2019 edition of ‘Newslink,’ the magazine of the Church of Ireland United Dioceses of Limerick, Killaloe and Ardfert