December 28th 2014

SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS: FEAST OF THE HOLY FAILY

28 December 2014

New Years Greeting.

I wish to extend New Year’s greeting and good wishes for 2015 to you all.  I hope the year ahead will bring you health and happiness and I pray for God’s blessings on all your work and undertakings. May God guide and direct all our efforts during the New Year.  I pray God’s Blessings on all families and I pray especially for children in examination classes and those who are seeking employment; may you all be successful in your endeavours.  I welcome all who have recently come into our community.  I wish those people and their families happiness and success in our parish.  With God’s help and guidance may the year ahead be a good year for us all.                                                                                     Fr. Joe.

MASS INTENTIONS:                                                                          BALLINLOUGH

Sat.	27	Dec.	8 pm.	Mass for all the people of the parish and especially for all the young people who died in the parish.
Tues.	30	Dec.	10 am.	Private Intention.
Wed.	31	Dec.		No Mass.
Thur.	1	Jan.	10 am.	Feast of Mary, Mother of God.
Sat.	3	Jan.	8 pm.	Jimmy Joyce 1st Anniv. and his sons Brendan & Séamus, The Avenue. Eileen O’Connor, 2nd Anniv. and deceased members of the family, Ballinlough. Vincent Kelly, Cloonalough, 3rd Anniv. Jimmy Hayden, Clooninsla.

Offertory Collections:       

Sat & Sun. 20^th & 21^st Dec.

 Ballinlough:  € 640.          Granlahan:  €513.

	Eucharistic Ministers:		Church Readers
Ballinlough Church:
Sat. 3 Jan. 8 pm.		Christina Gormley. Helen Finnegan.	Gerty Finan.
Granlahan Church:
Sun. 4 Jan. 12 noon.		John Maloney. Maura Caulfield.	Bernie Burke.

 MASS   INTENTIONS:                                GRANLAHAN

Sun.	28	Dec.	12 noon.	Tom Bailey Anniv. John snr. Ellen and John Doherty, Ballyglass, Anniv. John Joe & Helen Lynch, Lowberry, Anniv. Margaret Moran & Austin & Nora Moran, Lisnagroobe, Anniv.
Fri.	2	Jan.	10 am.	Private Intention.
Sun.	4	Jan.	12 noon.	Mary Cregg, Derryvounge, 4th Anniv. Pat Gormley, Ballybane, Anniv. Michael & Anne Sheil & their daughter, Mary Bernadette, Altore.

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Mary Connaughton, Tubberclare, Athlone, mother of Patricia McHugh, Carraghs, who died recently.  Please also pray for the repose of the soul of Helen Adams, niece of Kate Hopkins, Carrick, who died in England recently.  Please pray also for the repose of the soul of Mike Kumar.  It was due to his inspiration and hard work that Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament started in an organised way throughout the diocese.  May they rest in peace.

Many thanks to all the people who contributed so generously to the Christmas collection for the support of the priest of the parish.

Thanks also to those who organised the Holy Hour on Christmas Day in Ballinlough and Granlahan and to those who visited the churches during the Holy Hour.

Christian Unity Week begins Sunday 18 January 2015.  Pray for unity among all Christians and peoples.

Granlahan Card Game:  Winners: 1^st  Gerard Vizard, Michael Hussey.  2^nd  Tom & Michael Finnegan.  3^rd Jackie Finan, Jimmy Burke.  Raffle Winners: Paddy Conroy, Tommy McDermott, Tommy Geraghty, Mary Birmingham, Pádraic Gallagher, Gerard Vizard.

Thursday 1 January is World Day of Peace and the Feast Day of Mary the Mother of God.  We pray for peace throughout the world and especially in war-torn countries.

Ballinlough Parish is part of a cluster of parishes called St. John’s Cluster.  That cluster of parishes is having its mass for New Year on Thursday 1^st January in Ballyhaunis church at 12 noon.  All are invited to attend.

Ballyhaunis Community School Class Reunion.  The Leaving Cert class of 1985 will hold their reunion on Sunday 31 May 2015.  Further details to follow.

Trócaire thanks all clergy and parishioners for their amazing support this year without which Trócaire would not have been able to help some of the most vulnerable individuals, families and communities in the world’s poorest countries.  We wish everyone a peaceful New Year.  May you receive every blessing in 2015.  www.trocaire.org/gifts.

The Meaning of Marriage.  Marriage is a unique relationship different from all others.  Married love is a unique form of love between a woman and a man which has a special benefit for the good of society.  From a pastoral statement by the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference published 2 Dec. 2014.