By Marian Harnett

PROLOGUE: Every storm runs out of rain.  Maya Angelou.

DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY: Mass, Rosary, Confessions in the Church of the Assumption on Sunday next, April 24 beginning at 2.30pm.

FUNDRAISER FOR CRUMLIN:  In memory of baby Layla McKenna, 23/02/’21 to 28/02/’21, lines are being sold locally in aid of Crumlin Hospital. Your support would be greatly appreciated.

GLÓRACH BINGO:  Great crowds are attending our indoor Bingo, it’s a relief to be protected from the elements and even better when you have a raffle of numerous Easter eggs between the games as we did last week.  Bingo continues every Monday night at the Glórach Theatre at the usual time of 8.00 pm.

WEST LIMERICK SINGING CLUB:  Delighted to announce that the club will reopen in Philip Enrights’ Ramble Inn on Friday, April 29 for the Fleadh by the Feale and then the regular monthly club will take place on Friday, May 6 at 8pm.

KNOCK PILGRIMAGE & MAYO: Escorted Pilgrimage to Knock Shrine and Mayo, 25th April. Return bus (various pickups) with 4 Nights Full Board in Knock House Hotel. Day trips to Westport, Ballintubber Abbey, Croagh Patrick, Fr. Peyton Centre & National Museum. Contact Patricia on 087 1890 236.

A CHANCE TO WIN TWO GARTH BROOKS CONCERT TICKETS:  PRO of the Christmas Lights committee Wioleta Kelly has been in touch:  Hi, I’m Wioleta and I’m messaging you on behalf of the Abbeyefeale Christmas Lights Committee. We have a raffle where you are in with a chance to win 2 tickets for the Garth Brooks concert this September. All money from the raffle will go towards buying more lights for our town.  Here is a link to our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Win2xGarthBrooksConcertTickets

LOUGH DERG:  Sunday 1st May this year’s Pilgrimage season opens with a full Pilgrimage programme and booking is now live on our website!  This includes the One Day Retreats, the Three Day Pilgrimage from 1st June – 15th August and the new Pilgrimage experience along the Lough Derg Pilgrim Path. One day retreats will also take place during the months of August and September. Three Day Pilgrimages will commence in July and continue in July and August.  Saturday, August 13 is the last day for pilgrims to begin the Three-Day Pilgrimage.  Easter Monday, April18 is Pilgrim Path Day. Join the Prior and Lough Derg Team for a guided walk on the lakeshore around Lough Derg. This is one of the events marking Pilgrim Path Week in Ireland. Registration essential. For further information log on to www.loughderg.com or ring 071 9861518.

SOCIAL DANCE CLASS:  Fr. Casey’s Clubhouse every Tuesday from 8.30 – 10.30pm. Further information from 087 7206449.  Timmy Woulfe has resumed classes in Moyvane Hall every Monday night at 8.30pm.

CHURCH NEWS:   Fr Tony Mullins 0872600414, Fr Dan Lane (Retired) 087/2533030, Fr Denis Mullane 087/26219.  Fr Dan Lane will be on call every Wednesday. Fr Mullins will not be available on Wednesdays. Fr Lane can be contacted on 087-2533030  www.abbeyfealeparish.ie email [email protected] Church Sacristy 068 -51915 Parish Office 068 -31133. To book a |Mass intention contact the church before or after Mass on 0668 51915.  Mass Intentions:  Thursday 10am Gerry O’Connor Anniversary.  Saturday6.30pm Bridie & Joe Fitzgerald, Clash and deceased family members.  Patrick Lane Grogeen and deceased family members.  Ita Corbett 1st Anniversary.  Sunday10am Kathleen Kelly, Letterkenny.  Josie Doherty, Tournafulla, Will Joe & Mary Collins and their sons Billy & Tom.  Michael O’Hanlon , Collins Park Anniversary.  Fr.  Peadar De Burca.   12noon Anthony Coleman, Month Mind.  John Broderick, Ballaugh 1st Anniversary.  Monday, April 25 Richard Tobin and deceased members of the Tobin & Keogh families.   Fr Brendan Duggan leaves the parish of Athea today.We wish Fr. Brendan all the best for the future. Fr. Tony and Fr. Denis Mullane will be taking over responsibility for theparish of Athea from this weekend onwards. The local Pastoral Area includes the parishes of Abbeyfeale,  Athea,Tournafulla, Mountcollins and Templeglantine. Fr. Denis and Fr. Tony are assisted in the overall running of the five churches in the pastoral area by the Pastoral Area Council.  The Pastoral Area Council is comprised of representative of the five churches in the area along with the priests of the area.
There are 16 Pastoral Areas in the diocese. In the very near  future there will be just two priests serving in each pastoral area in the diocese. As Fr. Duggan returns to his religious congregation, a number of readjustments will be made in all the parishes in the area to enable Fr Tony and Fr. Denis provide all the necessary pastoral services to parishioners in all five parishes. Some of the changes taking place in the parish of Abbeyfeale from this weekend onwards include new arrangements for funerals and baptisms.

After consultation with the Pastoral Area Council, and the parish councils in each of the five parishes, it was agreed, that due to the number of Sunday Masses celebrated in the five churches in the area, it will no longer be possible to have funeral Masses on a Sunday. This has been the case in the diocese of Kerry for some years. We are also asking families who are bereaved, where possible, to continue with the practice of bringing the remains of the deceased to the church  on the morning of the funeral Mass, rather than the night before. Over the coming weeks we will see a greater involvement of lay people in the leading of the prayers at funerals, such as the prayers for the deceased in funeral homes, in the family home of the deceased and at the burial ceremony. New arrangements for times of baptisms will be announced next weekend. We thank parishioners for their understanding and support in these new arrangements.

WEST LIMERICK SINGING CLUB:  Delighted to announce that the club will reopen in Philip Enrights’ Ramble Inn on Friday, April 29 for the Fleadh by the Feale and then the regular monthly club will take place on Friday, May 6 at 8pm.

NEW SKILL:  There’s a course starting shortly at the old Tech, Abbeyfeale on how to convert a van into a working camper van. Ring 068 31198 for all the details.