Th_ 2019 Kilk_nny Union of P[rish_s s Kilm[n[gh St. C[ni]_ s C[th_^r[l St. John s Kilk_nny St. L[]ht[in s Fr_shfor^

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1 Th_ 2019 Kilk_nny Union of P[rish_s s Kilm[n[gh St. C[ni]_ s C[th_^r[l St. John s Kilk_nny St. L[]ht[in s Fr_shfor^ Dear Friends Step into the journey of Holy Week You are invited to take the journey that takes us home and to new places. As the church around the world gathers for worship from Palm Sunday to Easter Day, there is a particular focus that brings to corporate memory the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. This faith walk reminds us of who we are and challenges us to renew our understanding of what it means to follow Christ. The liturgy of the Church if full of drama in this week and I can't emphasise enough the spiritual rewards of participating as fully as possible. On Palm Sunday we gather in our various churches at the usual times to recall Jesus entry into Jerusalem with the blessing of palms and a procession. The joyful arrival shifts to drama as we read the story of Christ s Passion and death. This year a procession of palms is planned in the Cathedral Close and at the medieval gates and steps the children will read the Gospel of the Palms. In this act we quite literally get up off our backsides and walk with Christ, entering symbolically into the journey of Holy Week. On Monday - Wednesday of Holy Week at 7pm we have a quiet and contemplative service of Sung Compline in the chapter house of St Canice's. The Chapter House was in medieval times the Lady Chapel and it lends itself well to smaller intimate forms of worship. A large cross will be placed in the centre of the room and will remain our focus for the week. On Maundy Thursday the 8pm service at the Cathedral will be like countless others globally, as we reflect on how Jesus shared his last meal with his disciples, charging them in the future to eat bread that would be to them his body, and to drink wine that would be to them his blood only possible because of the appalling death he would suffer the following day. And at that same evening meal, Jesus took the role of the servant by washing his disciples feet here was a profound lesson in the most enduring and effective style of leadership.

2 At this service the choir will sing some beautiful pieces of music as the clergy wash feet and after the joyful celebration of the Eucharist the altars will be stripped of their ornaments and the cathedral symbolically plunged into darkness. The Traditional Three Hour Devotion of Good Friday begins at midday and includes a sequence of Readings, Poetry and Music, the reading of the Passion, Choral Evensong and the singing of the Litany. This year our guest preacher is the Rev'd Canon Marie Rowley Brooke and after the service we walk to the bottom of the hill to greet the parishioners of St Canice's RC church. The curate Rev'd David Compton has again organised the ever popular and engaging "At Home" in the cathedral on Holy Saturday. This has proven very popular with families in recent years. It is a hands on and fun hour and a half of activities, crafts, storytelling and games and is the perfect prelude to our joyful celebrations the next day. On Easter Day we enter into full joyful mode with our gold Festival Frontals, arrays of flowers, joyful hymns and music. A celebration of will take place in all of our churches and Bishop Burrows will lead us in our celebrations in St Canice's, which also, appropriately, includes a baptism. In these ancient liturgies, we are immersed in the very mystery of God. Experiencing the story through this week s worship can deepen our faith and transform our lives. And so this Holy Week, we invite you to walk with Christ join us on the journey. With every blessing Dean David Condolences to Beverley Huston on the death of her father James, our thoughts are with her mother Ida, and Emmet, Lydia, Charlotte Henry and her wider family circle. Our sympathy goes to Celine and Glen Collins on the recent death of Celine s mother in the US. Congratulations to Mervyn and Orla Ryan on the birth of their son Sam William, a grandson for Daphne and Ken. Congratulations to Colin and Amy Pollock on the birth of their son Rowan, a brother for Jay and Tom and grandson for Matt and Joan.

3 St. Lachtain s Church and Arts Centre, Freshford willl host the second of a series of lectures on Tuesday, April 23 rd. The title of the lecture is Lá na mban the Kilkenny Anti- will be delivered conscription Women of The lecture by Ms. Ann Murtagh. A ledger in the KAS archives at Rothe House contains the signatures of 1015 women who marched through Kilkenny on 9 June When they got to the Tholsel, they signed their names and addresses under a pledge opposing conscription to the British army. They pledged they would not take men s jobs if conscription was introduced. Many of the women, nearly all of whom had addresses in Kilkenny city, signed their names in Irish. Ms. Murtagh, with members of Kilkenny Archaeological Society, is currently researching the ladies behind the list. They were ordinary women with extraordinary courage and self-belief. Their stories make for a fascinating study of this unique event in Kilkenny s history. The lecture will begin at p.m. Admission is 5. Concert: There will be a concert on Friday 26 th April. Details later. The Dean of Ossory pays a courtesy visit to Iman Ebrahim Ndure at an exhibition of Islamic literature and artefacts in the Rivercourt Hotel. Dean David offered his solidarity and support to the Islamic Community in Kilkenny in the wake of the recent terrorist attack in Christchurch, New Zealand. Archbishop John Neill will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of his ordinationn and will celebrate and preach at the Sung Eucharist in St Canice's on Low Sunday 28th April. Cathedral Tower during summer months. If anyone would be free to volunteer especially over lunchtime please contact Celine in the Cathedral office. Always interesting chatting with the tourists and locals about their travels and the climb ahead... St.John s Church Bluebell walk Sunday 28 th April at 3pm in Jenkinstown Park. This is always an enjoyable afternoon of fund raising with tea served in the Park. Do come along...

4 Mothers Union: Many thanks to Eva Holmes who gave us a great afternoon on Spring in the garden during March. In April our meeting will follow the Compline Service in St John s on Wednesday 10 th April. Compline is at 7.30 and at 8.15pm Heidi Good will chat to us about her role as a DJ on Kilkenny Community radio. Thanks to Daphne and Dick for hosting a coffee morning on 28 th March. Over 800 was raised for MU funds, a beautiful spring morning was enjoyed by all. Congratulations to Mabel Williams on winning the beautiful silver pendant created by Jane Huston for the occasion. Christian Aid Many thanks to all those who contributed to Christian aid at events or by donations. The generosity has totalled from March 2018/March 19. The work of our parish representative Hazel Dickenson is much appreciated. Young at Heart Group: thanks to Jean for hosting the tea party in March. In April Louise will welcome the group to her home on Tuesday 23 rd at 3pm.

5 SATURDAY 15 th June a.m to 4pm. A day for alll your family and friends to enjoy time in the Deanery Garden and browse the basement boutiques. How can you help? Keep free the evening of Friday 14th June for set up, pitching tents etc. Volunteer to help distribute flyers, posters etc. Please keep the date free and lend a hand in whatever way. Please contact the Dean on if you are willing to take on a stall or have an idea. Do you have a gazebo or marquee that we could borrow? Items such as excellent quality clothing, bric a brac, good quality children's toys, small to medium sized antiques, books etc may be delivered to the deanery and stored in the basement. Electrical items not accepted. The committee reserve the right not to accept items that are deemed unsuitable. Please contact the dean to make a delivery. The next meeting will be in the Deanery on Thursday 11 April at 7.30pm. Come along and get involved. (Dick and Daphne Sewell once again will have some antique furniture and collectables. Dick is prepared to upcycle any small items of furniture that could be used on the stall. Note no large items.)

6 We wish the Cathedral Administrator Elizabeth Keyes well as she departs on her maternity leave. The staff of the Cathedral all enjoyed a meal out to send her on her way. Confirmation: Please note that Confirmation will be at 4pm on Sunday 19 th May and not at 3pm as printed in the last edition of The Loom Lenten series Compline continues : St John's 7.30pm on Wednesdays 3 rd and 10 th April. Fun for all Generations! As part of the Make Yourself at Home initiative, the parish will host an Easter Family Fun event at St. Canice s Cathedral on Easter Eve (Saturday, 20 April) from noon to 1.30pm. Families and people of all generations are invited to engage in fun activities such as building an Easter Garden, making cool crafts, eating seasonal snacks, and learning about Jesus and the Easter story. This year we are adding a fun clue-hunt in the cathedral to earn a chocolate Easter egg. Teas/coffees will be on offer. Come to participate or catch up with old friends throughout the parish union. (Suggested donation 2/person, 5/family.)

7 Palm Sunday April 14 th 8.00am 10.00am 10.00am 10.00am 11.30am St. Canice s St. John s St. Lachtain s St. Aidan s St. Canice s Family Service Procession of Palms and Sung Eucharist Monday 7.00pm St. Canice s Sung Compline April 15 th Tuesday 7.00pm St. Canice s Sung Compline April 16 th Wednesday 10.30am 7.00pm St. Canice s St. Canice s April 17 th Thursday April 18 th 8.00pm St. Canice s Sung Compline Maundy Thursday Eucharist of the Last Supper, Foot Washing & Stripping of the Altars Friday April 19 th 12 noon St. Canice s Vigil - Three Hours before the Cross will be held on Good Friday. Preacher Rev'd Canon Marie Rowley Brooke Saturday April 20 th 12 Easter Sunday April 21 st 1.30pm St Canice s Easter Family Fun 8.00am St. Canice s 10.00am St. John s 10.00am St. Lachtain s 10.00am St. Aidan s 11.30am St. Canice s (Traditional) Sung Festival Eucharist with Baptism Easter Vestry: Thursday 25th April at 8pm in the Library. All parishioners are invited to attend this important meeting in our church calendar.

8 The Youth Club plans as in previous years to participate in the Kilkenny city Annual Darkness into Light Walk. This year this takes place on Saturday 11 th May at 4.15 am. Everyone needs to register themselves online and those under 18 need to be registered with an accompanying adult. Junior Badminton: Congratulations to our boys who have been doing well at County level. Also big thanks to the coaches and parents who look after them. Winners of U14 County Blitz Runners up in U12 league final

9 Well done to some of St Mary s Juniors who have moved on to Kilkenny College and having won the Leinster title they took part in the U14 All Ireland Schools event in March and received silver medals under the coaching of Shirley Parr and Heather Sharman, a wonderful achievement. Model School: Ms. Bolts 2nd & 3rd classes held a Pennies4Plastics assembly in the Model School on Thursday 21st March. The children spoke about waste management in the Gambia and how we should stop using single use plastics as per our Green Schools code. They are holding up pictures of their favourite natural places in the world.

10 Cathedral Choir Happenings The Cathedral Choir travelled to the southern side of the Blackstairs Mountains in Co. Wexford in February to do a benefit concert for a local parish church in Killanne, and the parish community rolled out the red carpet of hospitality and gracious fellowship! The Saturday event included an afternoon rehearsal, followed by tea, soup, and sandwiches kindly provided by the church, 7:30 concert to a packed audience, and a Wine & Cheese Reception afterwards. The concert was the choir s final performance under the masterful direction of David Forde, who will be greatly missed after serving nearly 8 years as Director. Many thanks to Lesley Morris and her brother David, who put their heads together to make the event a reality. The warm reception by the Killanne Parish Union was greatly rewarding to all involved in the effort, which raised 2,100 for the church fund. Reports from Killanne were that absolutely everyone was talking about it at church in Killanne yesterday and all were so very impressed by the performance and the way that choir members mixed with the locals at the parish hall after. In particular the solo piece by returning Choral Scholar Hannah Traynor moved one parishioner to remark to a chorister afterwards: "I've never heard anything like that in my life. I didn't know anyone could sing like that; it was like something straight from Heaven." Choristers past and present: Former Choral Scholars Ciaran Fennelly and Hannah Traynor (soloist), with chorister Vicky Wellwood and new Choral Scholars Jessie Lennon and Meabh Treacy. A family affair: The driving force behind the event, choir member Lesley Morris and her brother David, shown here with Lesley's daughter, a member of the Junior Choir.

11 Cathedral Choir (Senior & Junior) after the concert at Killanne Church. We warmly welcome Mr Harry Meehan as interim choral director. Harry has a wealth of experience in Anglican Choral music. Doing overtime Some of our junior (and not-so-junior) choristers come in on Saturdays to work on their RSCM Voice For Life programme.

12 Parish Pastoral Emergencies always rings directly to clergy on duty: (087) Cathedral office: Cathedral Parish Union Parish Mobile: (087) NOTE Calls only this phone does not take texts Cathedral Parish Administrator: Elizabeth Keyes deputy Celine Collins Dean/Rector: Dean David McDonnell (087) (Urgent Calls ONLY) Deanery (056) David McDonnell Assistant Priest/Bishop s Vicar: Revd David Compton (087) revdavidcompton@gmail.com Website: Parish Facebook: Kilkenny Parish Union Tourist Facebook: Saint Canice's Cathedral and Round Tower Choir Facebook: St.Canice's Cathedral Choir LOOM: To be included in the LOOM that is published near the beginning of the month, send information and pictures to Heather by the 20th of the previous month: heathersharman@gmail.com DIOCESAN MAGAZINE: Please send any information and /or pictures by 9 th of the month to the Dean to be included in the Parish Notes in the magazine. SUNDAY SERVICES St Canice s Cathedral 8a.m. and 11.30a.m. St John s Church - Kilkenny 10a.m. St. Lachtain s Church - Freshford 10a.m. St Aidan s Church - Kilmanagh 10 a.m. MIDWEEK HOLY COMMUNION is celebrated in St. Canice s Cathedral on Wednesdays at 10.30am. On the first Wednesday of the month, this service also recognises the special role of family as the Mothers Union joins us, followed by fellowship with coffee to which everyone is invited.