Mountrath – Ballyfin Parish News – 22nd – 23rd January 2022
3rd Sunday – 3rd Week in Ordinary Time

St. Fintan’s Parish, Mountrath – Ballyfin

Sat. 22nd – Sun. 23rd Jan. 2022 – 3rd Sunday – Week in ordinary Time.

Fr. P.J. Fitzgerald C.C. (087) 605 5783 Fr. Joe (087) 2411 594

Mountrath Parish Radio transmits on FM 104.5

www.ballyfinparish.ie – www.mountrathparish.ie – Email jmbrophy2@gmail.com

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Safeguarding Children Parish Representatives
Ballyfin Parish Triona O’Rourke and Peter Byrne
Mountrath Parish Caroline Moore and Pachelli Walsh
Diocesan Designated Liaison Person: Ms Kathleen Sherry
Deputy Diocesan Liaison Person: Ms Michelle Hughes, c/o Bishop’s House, Dublin Rd, Carlow Ph: 085 802 1633

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For Anniversary Mass Remembrances see Parish Newsletters – Click link on Right.

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We remember in our Prayers

People, their families and carers, who are ill – at home, in Hospital or in a Nursing Home at this time

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New Envelope Boxes (Ballyfin Parish)
Distribution of Envelope Boxes for 2022
If you wish to help with the distribution of envelope boxes this year you are invited to contact Fr. Joe by phone 087 2411 594 – to arrange collection of boxes.
A note to say that beginning this year, we have a new system of recording Parish contributions, made through the envelopes each week. This new system is required to help us comply more fully with GDPR regulations. With this new system, there will be just one slight difference – Each family receiving a Box of Envelopes will be allocated a different number than perhaps they have become used to over the years.
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Many thanks for your generous contributions to Parish Funds throughout the year. Your generousity is much appreciated. We rely totally on the Contributions made through the Envelopes and the Offertory Collection each week to run the Parish and keep the bills paid, so thank you for your contrubitions to Parish Funds each week over the past year.

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2022 Diary Dates
Tues. 1st Feb. Feast of St. Brigid
Principal Patron of our Diocese
Wed. 2nd Feb. Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. – Blessing of Candles
Thurs. 3rd Feb. Feast of St. Blaise
Blessing of the Throats
As we are still very much in “Covid 19 Pandemic mode” and in interests of Safety – the ceremony of the Blessing of the Throats will be a general or communal Blessing this year. (No Individual Blessings)
Wed. 2nd March Ash Wed.
Mountrath – Masses 10.0 am and 7.30 pm
Ballyfin – 7.30 pm
As we did last year, we will be preparing small sachets of Bless Ashes for you to collect at our Churches on Ash Wednesday.

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Blessing of Throats and Distribution of Blessed Ashes
Isn’t it great to see many of the restrictions which were so much part of our lives for almost 2 years now being lifted from this weekend.
However we still need to keep safe and continue to look out for each other so the ceremony of the Blessing of the Throats will be a general or communal Blessing on the Feast of St. Blaise – and as we did last year, we are preparing small sachets of Bless Ashes for you to collect at our Churches on Ash Wed. (3rd March)

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Apostolate of Santification begins Mon 17th Jan. — Ballyfin Church.
Intercession for Bishops and Priests, through Our Lady of Knock takes place each Monday night at 6.45pm in our parish church, St.Fintan’s Ballyfin. All are invited to join in the two hour session which consists of community prayer, reciting -The Divine Mercy Chaplet,meditations on The Holy Rosary and a chaplet offered for our Bishops and priests in the presence of The Blessed Sacrament. When we pray for our priests, Our Lady of Knock blesses us and our families abundantly. All most welcome! Admissions/Enrolments to Ballyfin N.S. will open on January 13th 2022 until February 13th 2022. Forms will be available on the school website from January 13th 2022. Our school website is www.ballyfinns.ie Our Admission’s Notice will appear on the school website from January 6th 2022

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Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2022 – 18th – 25th Jan.
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity will begin on Tuesday next, 18 January, and last until 25 January. The theme this year is “We saw the star in the East, and we come to worship him” (Mt 2:2).
The resources for this year were compiled in Lebanon and reflect the civil conflict and experiences of the people there; a yearning for a light leading to the Saviour who overcomes darkness.
Resources, including pamphlets in Irish and English, can be found via Resources for Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2022 (ctbi.org.uk)

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Ballyfin Parish Lotto
19th Jan.
Nos. Drawn 7 14 19 23
2 Winners shared €17.000 Jackpot – Received € 8,500 each
33 Match 3 Rec. €31 each
New Jackpot € 10,000
Sincere thanks to everyone involved in Ballyfin Parish Lotto – Organising Committee, Promoters, Shops and others who facilitate the sale of Lotto Tickets and most importantly, you, who purchase a Lotto ticket every week. We extend a very sincere “thank you” for your loyal support and your unending generoousity.

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Mountrath Lotto – 20th Jan.
Nos. Drawn 7 18 21 24
No Winner of €12,000 Jackpot
16 Match 3 Rec. €63 each
8 Mountrath Match 3 Winners
Grainne Phelan Promoter, Eddie Phelan
Mary Delaney. Promoter, Margaret Doheny
McDermott Family. Promoter, Teresa Morrin
James Dunne. Promoter, Rita Holland
Paul Doheny. Promoter, Margaret Doheny.
Liam Kelly. Promoter, Anne Kelly.
Hugh and Margaret McGrath,
Promoter, Margaret McGrath.
Michael Hosey. Promoter, Pam Killeen

Thanks for your continued and generous support

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New Envelope Boxes for Mountrath Parish
Many thanks for your generous contributions to Parish Funds throughout the year. Your generousity is much appreciated. We rely totally on the Contributions made through the envelopes each week to run the Parish and keep the bills paid, so thank you for making your contrubitions to Parish Funds throught the Envelopes each week over the past year.
If you wish to continue to contribute to Parish Funds through the envelopes system, the new Envelope Boxes are now available to collect. (They are on the Tables at the back of the Church)
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If you know a friend who would like to receive a Box of Envelopes (but may feel uncomfortable stirring out during these Covid times) you might consider dropping them in a box. Your kind gesture would be much appreciated.

If you wish your contributions to Parish Funds to be recorded, just write your name and address on the first envelope you return to us and we will take it from there.
Receipts for all contrubutions to Parish Funds are always available. (Just Ask)

Once again, Sincere thanks for your generous support of Mountrath Parish throughout the year.

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Dates for Confirmation and 1st Holy Communion Celebrations in 2022.
We have made the following arrangements for the celebration of the Sacraments of Confirmation and 1st Holy Communion during 2022.
While putting these arrangements in place we are mindful that we are still very much in “Covid 19 Pandemic mode” – Once again the safety of our children and their families and indeed, the safety of everyone involved in the preparation and celebration of these sacraments has been (and must be) our priority and first consideration.
Ballyfin Parish
Confirmation – St. Fintan’s Church, Ballyfin. 2 Celebrations of Confirmation
Time of each Ceremony 11.00 am.
Sat. 26th March 2022 (Last Sat. in March) – Sat. 2nd April 2022 (First Sat. in April)
Celebration of 1st Holy Communion. 2 Ceremonies. Time of each Ceremony 2.00 pm
Sunday 22nd May 2022 Sunday 29th May 2022

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Mountrath Parish
Confirmation – St. Fintan’s Church, Mountrath. 2 Ceremonies.
Scoil Naomh Bríd. Wed. 16th March. Time 11.00 am
St. Fintan’s Boys Nat. Sch. Wed. 16th March 2.00 am

Celebration of 1st Holy Communion – 2 Ceremonies. Time of each Ceremony 2.00 pm
Sunday 8th May 2022 Sunday 15th May 2022

Where there are more than one in a family intending to receive the Sacraments next year (For example – one family member receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation and another member of family, receiving 1st Holy Communion) families are most welcome to combine these ceremonies and have these 2 Celebrations during one Ceremony of their choice. If a family prefers to bring their son or daughter to any of our Parish weekend Masses to receive either of the Sacraments, they are most welcome to do so. Just contact Fr. Joe.
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Once again, this year, despite all the odds, we managed to celebrate all our Sacraments with respect, dignity and meaning and in a timely way – all in a safe and secure environment for everyone. This in no small way was due to the cooperation and goodwill of everyone involved, Candidates for the Sacraments, parents and families of Candidates, Our teachers and schools staff, Sacramental coordinators and people who prepared our churches and kept them safe for us.
Once again, I wish to express sincere thanks to everyone involved in the celebration of Sacraments of 1st Penance, 1st Holy Communion and Confirmation this year – With your help, goodwill and cooperation, we can (and Please God, we will) do the same again next year. Fr. Joe
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Ballyfin Community Alert Seniors Alert Scheme
Personal monitored alarms offer security & peace of mind particularly during Winter season. If you are aged 65 or over and would like more information on applying for a government grant aided alarm,
Please contact Sheila on 086 1570145

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Ballyfin Ladies Football Club, whose junior team recently won the county championship want to celebrate this amazing achievement by hosting a Christmas Draw. Win a nights accommodation in Ballyfin Demense for two people in one of the deluxe rooms the prize also includes an a la carte meal and a full breakfast the following morning. Tickets are on sale for €10 each and can be bought by texting or calling Clare Brennan 087 7641184 or Clare Carroll 086 3584777 or contacting anyone on the Committee.
Thanks so much for your support

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A Prayer for Healthcare Workers and front-line workers.
Loving God, we place into your care
All our doctors, nurses and all hospital staff and healthcare workers.
Give them courage of heart
And strength of mind and body
Keep them safe from harm
May they know our deep gratitude
For all they are doing
To heal and care for those affected by The Coronavirus
God of all consolation,
May they know your protection and peace
Continue to bless them in these very challenging days
And bless their families. Amen.