Rathkeale and Kilnaughtin Group of Parishes
Rathkeale, Askeaton, Castletown and Kilnaughtin
Priest-in-Charge: Revd Canon Patrick Comerford,
The Rectory, Askeaton, Co Limerick.
Methodist exchanges:
The Church of Ireland and the Methodist Church in Ireland are moving closer in our links with one another. But long before this there were warm relationships between the two traditions in this area.
The two churches have agreed on the interchangeability of ministry, although this still remains to be worked out in practice. Two years ago, the General Synod of the Church of Ireland encouraged parishes to celebrate John Wesley Day on 24 May.
The Revd Ruth Watt is well-known to many parishioners, and as a practical outworking of the links between the Methodist Church and the Church of Ireland in this area, Ruth and Patrick are doing a ‘pulpit swap’ a little ahead of John Wesley Day, on Sunday 12 May. On that Sunday, Ruth is going to lead the services and preach in Castletown and Rathkeale, while Patrick is visiting the Methodist Churches in Adare and Ballingrane.
Ascension Day:
Because Lent and Easter came relatively late this year, the Easter Vestries are late this year too, taking place at the beginning of May.
A late Easter also means Ascension Day is also late this year, coming at the end of May. Ascension Day will be celebrated in Saint Mary’s Church, Askeaton, at 11 a.m. on Thursday 30 May in Saint Mary’s Church, Askeaton, followed by tea and coffee in the Rectory.
During Lent, we had four Lenten study evenings in the Rectory during Lent, looking at the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed, the Athanasian Creed and the 39 Articles.
Thank you too to the Revd Joe Hardy who looked after services in the parish in the week after Easter.
Ministry training in the Rectory:
The next training day and workshops take place in Askeaton Rectory on Monday 13 May. This month, the day offers readers and clergy an opportunity to explore and enjoy ‘Anglican culture.’
Services in May 2019:
Sunday 5 May (Easter 3): 9.30, the Parish Eucharist (Holy Communion 2), Saint Mary’s Church, Askeaton; 11.30, Morning Prayer, Saint Brendan’s Church, Kilnaughtin (Tarbert).
Sunday 12 May (Easter 4): 9.30, Holy Communion, Castletown Church; 11.30, Morning Prayer, Holy Trinity Church, Rathkeale, with the Revd Ruth Watt of Adare and Ballingrane Methodist Churches.
Sunday 19 May (Easter 5): 9.30, Morning Prayer, Saint Mary’s Church, Askeaton; 11.30, the Parish Eucharist (Holy Communion 2), Saint Brendan’s Church, Kilnaughtin (Tarbert).
Sunday 26 May (Easter 6, Rogation Sunday): 9.30: Morning Prayer, Castletown Church; 11.30, the Parish Eucharist (Holy Communion 2), Holy Trinity Church, Rathkeale.
Thursday 30 May (Ascension Day): 11 a.m., The Eucharist (Holy Communion 2), Saint Mary’s Church, Askeaton, followed by tea/coffee in the Rectory.
Easter Vestries 2019:
● Kilnaughtin (Tarbert): Sunday 5 May, after Morning Prayer at 11.30.
● Askeaton and Castletown: Monday 6 May, 7.30 p.m., in the Rectory, Askeaton.
● Rathkeale: Tuesday 7 May, 7.30 p.m., in the Rectory, Askeaton.
This is an edited version of the parish notes for the Rathkeale and Kilnaughtin Group of Parishes in the May 2019 edition of ‘Newslink,’ the magazine of the Church of Ireland United Diocese of Limerick, Killaloe and Ardfert (p 25), with additional photographs included in the Easter feature.
