Mass Bookings.
The booking of anniversary masses for the months of April, May and June took place last weekend but there are still dates available. If you would like to book a mass for a loved one please contact Linda Spillane on 051-399925 or 087-9838392.
Community Centre News.
The community centre committee would like to say a big thank you to all who supported their Easter Egg hamper raffle. €640 was raised and the committee are very grateful. The lucky winner of the hamper was Deirdre O Connor from Fan Glas and we hope she enjoys her lovely prize.
The next event to mark in your diary is a disco to kick off the Easter holidays from school. The disco will take place on Thursday March 26th from 6.30pm to 8pm in Ballyduff Community Centre. Grab your friends and come along for a boogie!!
Paintball Trip.
Our local GAA club are organising a trip to the IPG Paintball on Good Friday. The minimum age for this trip is 14. If you are interested in going please contact Alan Dempsey.
Football Training.
Girls football training has now resumed on Saturday mornings in the GAA pitch in Kildermody at 10am sharp. All girls aged 8 to 13 years are welcome to attend including those who turn 13 in 2015.
Reconciliation Service.
With Easter just around the corner there is a need for us all to pull out all the stops to do the best we can for the glorious season of Easter. A reconciliation service will take place in our church on Tuesday March 24th at 7.30pm. This is open to everyone whether you are a church goer or not. Gods forgiveness is there for everyone.
Holy Week Ceremonies.
The list of times for the Holy Week ceremonies are as follows:
Holy Thursday: We celebrate mass of the Last Supper at 7.30pm. This mass will include the washing of the feet with the pupils from the First Holy Communion class playing the role of the apostles.
Good Friday: Kissing of the cross, reading of the Passion and Holy Communion at 3pm and at 7.30pm the stations of the cross will take place.
Holy Saturday: Mass of the ressurection and the blessing of the Easter fire, candle and water at 9pm and we are also delighted this year to have a baptism during the mass too.
Easter Sunday: There will be morning mass as normal at 10am.
It is a good time Holy Thursday to return your Trocaire boxes, there will be a basket in front of the altar to place them in.
The Easter collection for the support of the priests of the parish will be taken up during the Easter masses and you are asked to be as generous as possible. Fr. Mick and Fr. Richard have asked me to wish you all a very happy and peaceful Easter.
Portlaw Parade.
I really want to say a big well done to all who organised and participated in the Saint Patricks Day parade in Portlaw. The sun shone beautifully as the array of clubs, businesses and organisations marched up Queen Street and back down Brown Street and then came to pass the viewing stage situated in the Square. A large number of people attended far more than was expected and they were not left disappointed. The sence of community spirit was abundant and as the musicians played from the stage people chatted and laughed in the sunshine. As you all know my dad is a Portlaw man and so I have grown up hearing him tell stories of parades gone by so it was nice to stand with him and my aunties watching the return of the Portlaw Parade after 30 years of an absence. Congratulations to all who were involved and we look forward to a bigger even better parade next year.