Castleisland Parish 2014

Castleisland Parish 2014

2 Castleisland Parish News 2014 Happy Christmas And every blessing for 2015 From Fr Dan and the Parish Staff Parish Council 2014 Jack Shanahan. The last year has been an eventful one for the parish council. While there was an obvious highlight in the form of the mission, it was not regarded as the only success. Nevertheless, the mission was a revelation for all that participated. The memories of Redemptorist hellfire and brimstone were put firmly in the past. The three mission leaders were engaging and inspiring, delivering the Gospel in a way that was especially motivating. The participation of parishioners, young and old, in all aspects of the week was particularly notable and the positive effects continue to echo around the pastoral area. The birth of the Parish Baptismal team is an important achievement. Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole of Christian life. Parents will be helped to prepare for this this key sacrament through the good work of this group. The Parish Council are continuously monitoring and planning for the future. We welcome all suggestions that will benefit the parish, the parishioners and the Church.

Castleisland Parish News 2014 3 Programme of Masses for Christmas 2014 Castleisland Parish Church Christmas Eve Wednesday 24th December: 7.00pm Mass and 9.00pm Mass Christmas Day Thursday 25th December: 11.30am Mass Cordal Church Christmas Eve Wednesday 24th December 12 Midnight Mass Christmas Day Thursday 25th December 9.30am Mass Scartaglen Church Christmas Eve Wednesday 24th December 8.30pm Mass Christmas Day Thursday 25th December 10.30am Mass Christmas Parish Confessions: Will take place after all Masses in the parish on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th December 2014 and on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st December 2014. Fr. Eoin Mangan and Joan Walsh in the Sacristy.

4 Castleisland Parish News 2014 Remembering our Dead Marguerita de Frein, Sheila Stack, Catherine (Kitty) McCarthy, John Kearney, Dan Coffey, Sheila Brosnan, Nicholas Foran, Joan O Sullivan, Margaret (Peg) Enright, Sean McGlynn, Patricia McElligott, James O Connor, Mary Curtin, Sr Maryanne Sugrue, Denis Broderick, Kitty (Jackie) Brosnan, Peggy O Leary, Michael (Mick) Horan, Bill Tangney, David O Connor, Senior, Dan O Donoghue, Eileen Foran, Patrick Kearney, Donal O Loughlin, Dan Riordan, John Crowley, James (Jimmy) O Connor, Dan Leahy, Phil O Mahony, Denis (Denny) O Sullivan, Tom Greaney, Lawrence (Larry) Prendiville, Eddie Griffin, Kathleen Reidy, Mollie Moynihan, Denis Kelliher, Michael (Mickey) Donovan, Chrissie Horan, Sonny Costello, Sean WH O Connor, Hannah O Connell, Mary Kelly May they Rest in Peace. Sacred Space in memory of those who died during the year.

Castleisland Parish News 2014 5 On Losing my Spouse A parishioner coping with grief It is now over a year since I lost my spouse. The death has changed my life completely. The link that bonded us together is broken. During the removal and burial people were wonderful. The sincere expressions of sympathy, prayers and good wishers eased my pain of loss. After a few days I was faced with reality. I find it difficult to live each day since. I had thought that the grief would ease and wear away with time but at times even now I find it harder to bear. Why this is so I cannot understand as we had a wonderful married life together. Things were not easy in the beginning. We worked hard together to pay off loans and raise a family. We had our ups and downs. We had our differences of opinion at times too. We had a good social life and went together on many outings. My spouse was also a deeply religious person and after we retired life was sheer bliss. Then one day my spouse suffered a brain haemorrhage which necessitated being looked after at home and eventually in hospital and was making a good recovery. I had visited every day and expected we would be at home together again. Then early one morning I got a phone call that left me devastated. My loving spouse had died while asleep. I am still haunted by the regret of not being there to help and support in the final moments of life. My only consolation now is that someday we will meet and be together in God s home and ours in Heaven. R.I.P.

6 Castleisland Parish News 2014 Castleisland Parish Office For a warm welcome at all times Hours of opening: Monday to Friday from 10.00am to 2.00pm Parish office - provides a large selection of Mass Cards (Sympathy, Get Well, Birthday, Retirement, Weddings, Exam, Christmas Mass Bouquet etc) Office Activities: Parish Newsletter Castleisland Parish Office Church Street Castleisland Co. Kerry Telephone Number: 066 7141241 Email: castleisland@dioceseofkerry.ie The Parish Office provides a large selection of Mass Cards etc

Castleisland Parish News 2014 7 My Lord Is Always There My Lord is light inside my darkness And a Saviour standing by my side, My Lord is always there to help me He s my friend, my teacher and my guide. Happy are the poor in heart, the gentle and the meek, Happy are the people seeking peace; He spoke to us in parables and taught us how to pray, He told us that His love will never cease. Chorus: But when we falter from the way We must take His hand and say: My Lord is light inside my darkness And a Saviour standing by my side My Lord is always there to help me He s my friend, my teacher and my guide. our lives with love, Freedom from the wicked chains of sin, Follow Him for ever in a life of love and peace, And let the light of Jesus always win Chorus: He s living now Risen from the tomb on Easter Morn, So now we eat His bread of life and drink the precious cup Remembering that we have been reborn. Chorus: Peter Howarth 2014 The Pilatus Club from Lucerne, Switzerland who sang at the 11.30am Mass and preformed on the grounds of Castleisland Parish Church on Sunday 20th July.

8 Castleisland Parish News 2014 Castleisland Parish Mission Opening Precession Kilmurry National School pupil, Siobhan O Donoghue, Cross-bearer. Fr Sean Horgan, John Pender, Fr Dan O Riordan and Eileen Kennelly. An occasion for all ages. Scoil Muire Gan Smál principal, Leona Twiss (left) pictured with Canon Denis O Mahony and Mary McGaley. Charlie Farrelly (left) Castleisland Races Committee and Billy O Connor, Kerry Fire and Rescue Service. Redemptorist Mission team member, Sarah Smyth, leading the hymns at the opening ceremony.

Castleisland Parish News 2014 9 Ceremony Sunday 23rd February 2014 Photographs by John Reidy Scoil Muire, Kilmurry NS principal Therese Kearney with pupils: Holly Anne Smith, Aoife Kerins and Ava Fitzmaurice. Nora Anne Hartnett represented Scoil Muire Gan Smál in the opening procession. Eucharistic minister, Pat Tarrant (left) pictured with: Kerry ICMSA representative, Jimmy O Connell and Desmonds GAA Club representatives, Eilish O Leary and Timmy Nelligan. John Skevena O Sullivan, St Patricks Day Parade Committee; Walter Costello, Castleisland Coursing Club; Jack Shanahan, Noreen O Sullivan and Nora Fealey. Siobhán O Donoghue, Cross-bearer; Tom Wrenn, Cordal church clerk; Monica Prendiville, representing Castleisland Day Care Centre and Richard O Donoghue, Cordal GAA Club. Full House: The scene in the Church of Saints Stephen and John on Sunday evening as the community group emblems were being presented. Catherine O Callaghan Nash providing the music for the opening ceremony.

10 Castleisland Parish News 2014 Castleisland Parish Mission Photographs by Nora Fealey Fr. Derek Meskell, Redemptorist Mission Team with Altar servers. Some young early risers from St. Patrick s Secondary School enjoying some refreshment after the 7.30am Mass in Castleisland Parish Church. Caroline O Connor and her daughter with Fr. Derek after Mass in Cordal Church. The Reidy Family at the Mission Cafe.

Castleisland Parish News 2014 11 Helen Barrett and the O Mahony family with Mary Geaney. Enjoying refreshments at Cordal Church, Marian Prendiville, Brid Wrenn, Mary O Donoghue, Jack Flynn, Mary O Sullivan and Breda Wrenn. Eilish Moynihan with Carmel and Jerome O Driscoll. Young parishioners enjoying themselves after the closing ceremony. Planting a tree in remembrance of the Mission in the grounds of the Presbytery, Sarah Smyth, Dan O Donoghue, Fr. Brian Nolan, Fr. Derek Meskell and Fr. Dan O Riordan

12 Castleisland Parish News 2014 David and Joan Fleming with Joan Fitzgerald and Annie O Connor. Monica Prendiville with Kitty and Michael Griffin. Dan O Sullivan and Donal Nelligan. Dan and Michelle Reidy with Mary O Sullivan at Scartaglen Church. Mary Murphy with daughters Joan and Kathleen. Liz Brosnan, Fr Brian Nolan, Sheila Kearney and Breda Wrenn. Remembering our Dead in Scartaglen Church. Harvest Mass in Scartaglen Church.

Castleisland Parish News 2014 13 Mary O Neill, Phil O Mahony RIP, and Bertha O Sullivan at the River Island Hotel, after the Parish Mission Betty O Rourke and Eileen O Brien. Kathleen Herlihy and Hanna O Connell. Dan and Helen O Connor. The Mission Flower still in bloom. Young students enjoying the entertainment at the River island Hotel after the closing ceremony of the Castleisland Parish Mission. The Sacred space for the Mission. The Harvest Mass in Castleisland Church.

14 Castleisland Parish News 2014 Musicians Cormac O Mahony, Denis O Connor, Jackie O Connor, Con Moynihan and Terence McQuinn perform after the mission at the River Island Hotel. Fr. Dan O Riordan with the Redemptorist and Scala School Retreat teams. Chairperson of the Parish Council Jack Shanahan makes a presentation to Fr. Derek. Bishop Ray Browne lends a hand. Richard Hartnett, David Geaney, John Pender and Donal O Connor at the River island Hotel after the Mission. Liz and Eamonn O Connor. Sr. De-Lourdes Fleming and Maura Walsh at the social evening.

Castleisland Parish News 2014 15 Mary O Connor, Helen O Connor and Peggyann O Sullivan at the Mission Cafe. Eoin McSweeney, John Murphy with his daughter with Bridget Horgan in Scartaglen Church. The O Donoghue and O Connor Families with Denis Moynihan. Ellen O Sullivan, Marie O Connor and Carmel O Driscoll lend a hand at the Mission Cafe in Scartaglen Church. Nora Murphy from St Joseph s Secondary School chats with Elma Walsh before the youth night of the Mission.

16 Castleisland Parish News 2014 Michael Broderick with Betty McAuliffe and Kathleen Brandon. P.J. Walsh with John Flaherty after the evening Mass in Cordal Church. Jimmy Cullnane and Jerome O Driscoll at Cordal Church The Mission Committee.

Castleisland Parish News 2014 17 Parish Mission Survey Rachel McDonnell (left) and Caitlin Nolan from Castleisland Community College with Redemptorist Mission Team Leader, Fr. Brian Nolan at the mission launch in the River Island Hotel. Photograph: Nora Fealey night without exception was favourably commented upon but in particular Keeping Faith and Finding Hope and Remembering our Faithful Departed. Nolan got the most mention and the highest praise! Elma Walsh s input was also valued and appreciated. services were welcomed. The early morning Masses were much appreciated. congregational singing was both welcomed and encouraged to be carried forward. Brian was both evident and appreciated. of all ages in preparation, presentation, and attendance was praised. thought highly of both in terms of their personalities as well as their ministries. Fr. Derek came out on tops for his sermons! Sarah s dealing with the children as well as engendering congregational singing was no mean achievement. commented upon and the social contact it afforded. same degree. for a funeral were delayed in accessing the church until the Mission ceremony was completed. Oh, Fr. Dan was held responsible by one person for the poor weather! Every night was better than the night before. Thanks, to all who made it possible. I loved every minute of it. It was meaningful, realistic and relevant I don t think it was possible to improve anything everything was excellent A Week in Castleisland BY FR BRIAN NOLAN MISSION DIRECTOR Castleisland during the last week of February 2014 was alive with faith. The week of Parish Mission was the final piece in a planning process that spanned the previous five months. What s different in Parish Missions today is the level of involvement of members of the wider parish community. At the early planning stages an invitation was extended to anyone who wanted to be involved in the planning of the mission. The parish responded very positively and the Mission Planning Group was formed. It was this group of 30/40 people who were responsible for every aspect of the week of mission with guidance, encouragement and support offered by the Redemptorist Mission Team. Preaching the Gospel today can be difficult. It can be difficult to compete with so many other things that happen in the daily lives of people. It seemed however that people put aside some of those things in order to make time to reflect on their lives as followers of Christ at the Mission. What s unique about a week like this is that is can attract people from all walks of life and from all backgrounds. There were the faithful regular mass attendees and well as those who don t attend regularly sitting side by side filling the pews of the church and singing the hymns loudly. It was a wonderful week of prayer. It was a week that lifted people spiritually and socially. One highlight of the week was the opportunity for people to gather and chat around a cup of tea after each session of the mission. Young and old mixed easily together and chatted about the happenings of the mission. The youth night and input from Donal Walsh s Mom, Elma, will be special memories for me. Castleisland was alive with faith on the last week in February and the Parish continues to be alive with faith today because of the legacy left behind after the mission ended. May the Parish continue to reap the benefits of the Parish Mission and may it continue to share those benefits with God s people.

18 Castleisland Parish News 2014 Sheila Crowley, Mary Howarth and Joan Walsh who completed the Pastoral Ministry Course earlier this year. Micky Murphy and Danny Loughlin - helpful and cheerful at all times. Confirmation Day March 18th 2014. Confirmation Day March 18th 2014. The Parish Baptism team Francis Moynihan, Margaret McCarthy, Anna Brosnan, Tara Howarth, Noreen Horan, Mary McCarthy, Nora Walsh, Anne McCarthy, Sheila McSweeney and Fr. Dan O Riordan

Castleisland Parish News 2014 19 Views from the Spire of the Church of Saints Stephen and John Photographs by Nora Fealey