06 March 2021

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

Holocaust Memorial Day was remembered in an empty church at the end of January

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/

Lenten Study Groups

During Lent, members of the Joint Chapter of Saint Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick, and Saint Flannan’s Cathedral, Killaloe, are offering a Lenten Study Course based on the Anglican Communion’s Five Points of Mission.

These Lenten study evenings at 8 p.m. on Tuesdays began on 23 February: ‘Proclaim the Kingdom’s Good News,’ Canon Jane Galbraith (Roscrea). It is not too late to join these Tuesday evenings:

2 March: ‘Baptise and nurture new believers,’ Canon Liz Beasley (Adare); 9 March: ‘Respond to human need by loving service,’ Archdeacon Terry Mitchell (Cloughjordan); 16 March, ‘Change society’s unjust strictures,’ Canon Patrick Comerford (Rathkeale Group); 23 March: ‘Safeguard the integrity of creation,’ Canon Jim Stephens (Tralee).

To join these talks, please email the Dean of Limerick for a Zoom link.

Planning ahead … just in case:

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

Sunday 7 March (Lent III): 9.30, Askeaton, Parish Eucharist (HC 2); 11.30, Kilnaughtin (Tarbert), Morning Prayer.

Sunday 14 March (Lent IV): 9.30, Castletown, HC 2; 11.30, Rathkeale, MP.

Wednesday 17 March (Saint Patrick’s Day): 11, Askeaton, HC 2.

Sunday 21 March (Lent V): 9.30, Askeaton, Morning Prayer; 11.30, Kilnaughtin (Tarbert), Parish Eucharist (HC 2).

Thursday 25 March (The Annunciation): 11, Askeaton, HC 2.

Sunday 28 March (Palm Sunday): 9.30, Castletown, MP; 11.30, Rathkeale, HC 2.

Holy Week:

Monday 29 March Evening Prayer, Askeaton (8 pm); Tuesday 30 March, Late Evening Office, Tarbert (8 pm); Wednesday 31 March, Compline, Rathkeale (8 pm); Maundy Thursday 1 April, Maundy Eucharist, with Washing of the Feet, Castletown (8 pm); Good Friday 2 April, The Three Hours, Askeaton (12 to 3 pm).

Easter:

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.

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.

Linda Smyth:

Linda Smyth of Deegerty, Askeaton, died on 13 February. Her funeral service took place in Castletown Church, and she was buried at Saint Mary’s Church, Askeaton.

Candlemas on 2 February marked the end of the Christmas season in an empty church

This is an edited version of the Rathkeale and Kilnaughtin Group parish notes in the February 2021 edition of ‘Newslink,’ the Limerick and Killaloe diocesan magazine.

Praying in Lent and Easter 2021:
18, Saint Peter’s Church, Drogheda

Saint Peter’s Church, Drogheda, Co Louth, served as the Pro-Cathedral of the Diocese of Armagh for centuries (Photograph: Patrick Comerford)

Patrick Comerford

During Lent and Easter this year, I am taking some time each morning to reflect in these ways:

1, a photograph of a church or place of worship that has been significant in my spiritual life;

2, the day’s Gospel reading;

3, a prayer from the prayer diary of the Anglican mission agency USPG (United Society, Partners in the Gospel).

This week I am offering photographs from seven churches I recall from my childhood. This morning’s photographs (6 March 2021) are from Saint Peter’s Church, Drogheda, Co Louth, which I knew well during my schooldays nearby in Gormanston.

Luke 15: 1-3, 11-32 (NRSVA):

1 Now all the tax-collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, ‘This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.’

3 So he told them this parable:

11 … ‘There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.” So he divided his property between them. 13 A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and travelled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. 14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. 16 He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. 17 But when he came to himself he said, “How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands’.” 20 So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. 21 Then the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” 22 But the father said to his slaves, “Quickly, bring out a robe – the best one – and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!” And they began to celebrate.

25 ‘Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. 27 He replied, “Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.” 28 Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. 29 But he answered his father, “Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!” 31 Then the father said to him, “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found”.’

Prayer in the USPG Prayer Diary:

The Prayer in the USPG Prayer Diary today (6 March 2021) invites us to pray:

Let us pray give thanks for those who work in ministry spreading the mission of the church across the world.

Yesterday’s reflection

Continued tomorrow

Inside the Saint Peter’s, Drogheda … the large mediaeval church had six chapels (Photograph: Patrick Comerford)

Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition copyright © 1989, 1995, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. http://nrsvbibles.org