Rotation weekend

Fr Barry Horan

The priests of the parishes of Kilmacduagh deanery (i.e. South Galway) are having a rotation weekend, this 9th-10th March 2024, and so Fr Barry Horan, Parish Priest of Clarinbridge and Craughwell, will celebrate the Masses in Kinvara and Ballinderreen, while Fr Hugh visits Gort and Kilbeacanty.

Mass times and intentions for the week from 9th March 2024

Saturday 9th March, 7pm, St Joseph’s, Kinvara: Paddy Joe Callanan, Caherglissane, 1st anniversary;

Mary and Pat Keane, Caheravoneen, anniversary.

Sunday 10th March:

9am, Doorus: Willie Kavanagh (4th anniversary), and his daughter Joan Kavanagh (27th anniversary), Mountscribe, and deceased family members;

Nora Keane, Aughinish, and deceased family members.

10.30am, Ballinderreen: Lily Hynes, Pollough, 1st anniversary, and deceased members of the Hynes and Lane families;

J.P. Bermingham, Killeenavara, his parents Margaret and Pat, his sister and brother-in-law Mary and Norman Riddel, anniversary;

Anna Thomasa Quinn, Ballinderreen, anniversary;

Michael Lyons, Toureen, anniversary.

12 noon, St Colman’s, Kinvara: Dr Vivian Greene, Kinvara, anniversary;

Johnny Killeen, Roo Demesne, 34th anniversary.

Tuesday 12th March, 7pm, Ballinderreen: Mass.

Wednesday 13th March, 9.15am, Ballinderreen: People of Ballinderreen and Kinvara Parishes.

Thursday 14th March, 10am, St Joseph’s, Kinvara: Mass.

Friday 15th March, 10am, St Joseph’s, Kinvara: Mass.

Saturday 16th March, 7pm, St Joseph’s, Kinvara: Vigil Mass of St Patrick’s Day: Betty Hanlon, Carnamadra, 7th anniversary.

St Patrick’s Day, Sunday 17th March 2024 (Parts of the Masses will be through Irish.):

9am, Doorus: Mass.

10.30am: Patrick (Patie) Kelly, Killeenaran, months mind;

Kenneth Hanley, Ballina, 2nd anniversary.

12 noon, St Colman’s, Kinvara: Patrick Murray, Kinvara, 3rd anniversary;

Mrs Gerry Greene, Kinvara, anniversary.

 

Mass times and intentions for the week from 2nd March 2024

Saturday 2nd March, 7pm, St Joseph’s, Kinvara: Mary O’Connor, 1st anniversary, and Michael O’Connor, 31st anniversary, Ardnagrove;

William and Bridget Hackett, and Maura Dunn, Dublin, anniversary;

Pádraig and Kathleen Naughton, Shanclough, anniversary;

Vincent Keane, Cartron, anniversary;

Angela Callanan, Convent Road, anniversary.

Sunday 3rd March:

9am, Doorus: Mass.

10.30am, Ballinderreen: Patrick Linnane, Clough Road, 8th anniversary;

P.J. and Kathleen Larkin, Aran, anniversary;

Bertie Helebert, Clough, anniversary;

Michael Corless, Ballyclera, and deceased family members, anniversary;

Helena and John Murphy, Kiltiernan, anniversary.

12 noon, St Colman’s, Kinvara: Annie Keto, 2nd anniversary;

Adrian, Margaret, and John Joe Flaherty, Cappamore, anniversary;

Rose Glynn, Aughinish, 4th anniversary.

Tuesday 5th March, 7pm, Ballinderreen: Michael Barry, Cartron, anniversary.

Wednesday 6th March, 9.15am, Ballinderreen: Mass.

Thursday 7th March, 10am, St Joseph’s, Kinvara: People of Kinvara and Ballinderreen Parishes.

Friday 8th March, 10am, St Joseph’s, Kinvara: Mass.

Saturday 9th March, 7pm, St Joseph’s, Kinvara: Paddy Joe Callanan, Caherglissane, 1st anniversary;

Mary and Pat Keane, Caheravoneen, anniversary.

Sunday 10th March:

9am, Doorus: Willie Kavanagh (4th anniversary), and his daughter Joan Kavanagh (27th anniversary), Mountscribe, and deceased family members.

10.30am, Ballinderreen: Lily Hynes, Pollough, 1st anniversary, and deceased members of the Hynes and Lane families;

J.P. Bermingham, Killeenavara, his parents Margaret and Pat, his sister and brother-in-law Mary and Norman Riddel, anniversary;

Anna Thomasa Quinn, Ballinderreen, anniversary;

Michael Lyons, Toureen, anniversary.

12 noon, St Colman’s, Kinvara: Dr Vivian Greene, Kinvara, anniversary;

Johnny Killeen, Roo Demesne, 34th anniversary.

Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference Statement on the Family and Care Referendums

• The proposed Family amendment to the Constitution diminishes the unique importance of the relationship between marriage and family in the eyes of Society and State and is likely to lead to a weakening of the incentive for young people to marry.

• The Care amendment would have the effect of abolishing all reference to motherhood in the Constitution and leave unacknowledged the particular and incalculable societal contribution that mothers in the home have made and continue to make in Ireland … The role of mothers should continue to be cherished in our Constitution.

Statement

Upon his arrival in Ireland for the World Meeting of Families on 25 August 2018, Pope Francis met at Dublin Castle with representatives of civil, cultural and religious life, including the Taoiseach and members of the Government. Pope Francis said he was visiting Ireland to help families “reaffirm their commitment to loving fidelity, mutual assistance and reverence for God’s gift of life in all its forms, but also to testify to the unique role played by the family in the education of its members, and the development of sound and flourishing social fabric”. He added, “Families are the glue of society, their welfare cannot be taken for granted, but must be promoted and protected by every appropriate means”.
In this context, we wish to comment on the two important referendums on family and care which are taking place on 8 March 2024.

The Family Amendment – 39th Amendment
(amending Article 41)

The Family, based on the exclusive, life-long and life-giving public commitment of Marriage, is the foundational cell of society and essential to the common good. This reality of the Family corresponds to the unchanging plan of God for humanity and the importance of the Family continues to be acknowledged by people of good will, whether they be persons of faith or not.
The family is acknowledged as the place where generosity, tenderness, forgiveness, stability, care, love and truth can best be taught and learned by children. We recognise, of course, that there are families in all our communities which are not founded on marriage. They form part of the reality of family life, which Pope Francis described as “a challenging mosaic made up of many different realities, with all their joys, hopes and problems”.
We believe, however, that the commitment of marriage contributes to the common good in a unique way, by bringing stability to the family and to society, and that it consequently deserves the protection of the State, which is currently guaranteed in the Constitution of Ireland. The Constitution rightly qualifies the Family as a “moral institution” and one that enjoys “inalienable and imprescriptible rights, antecedent and superior to all positive law”. We are concerned that the proposed Family amendment to the Constitution diminishes the unique importance of the relationship between marriage and family in the eyes of Society and State and is likely to lead to a weakening of the incentive for young people to marry.
While ‘Marriage’ entails a public and legal commitment, the term ‘durable relationship’ is shrouded in legal uncertainty and is open to wide interpretation. It does not make sense that such an ambiguous reality would be considered ‘antecedent and superior to all positive law’ and acquire the same ‘inalienable and imprescriptible’ rights as those ascribed to the ‘family founded on marriage’. Various commentators have suggested that the term ‘durable relationship’ risks leading to unforeseen and unintended consequences.

The Care Amendment – 40th
(deleting Article 41.2 and inserting a New Article 42B)

In an age when people, and especially women, often emphasise the desirability of balancing work and domestic commitments, it is noteworthy that the Constitution already recognises and seeks to facilitate the choice of mothers who wish especially to care for the needs of the family and the home. Contrary to some recent commentary, the present constitutional provision emphatically does not state that “a woman’s place is in the home”. Neither does it excuse men of their duties to the home and family.
It is reasonable to ask what benefit is it to Irish society to delete the terms ‘woman’ and ‘mother’ from the Constitution of Ireland? People generally recognise the enormous commitment that women in Ireland have given, and continue to give, in relation to care, love and affection in the home. Pope Francis has said “Families and homes go together”(AL44). We therefore have similar concerns about the removal of the term ‘home’ from this article.
In contemporary society there now exists a welcome co-responsibility between women and men for every aspect of domestic life, including the provision of care in the home. We believe that, rather than removing the present acknowledgement of the role of women and the place of the home, it would be preferable and consistent with contemporary social values that the State would recognise the provision of care by women and men alike. Care, both inside and outside the home, is at the core of compassion. Without such care in the family, the common good of society cannot be achieved. The State has to date failed to financially acknowledge the role of women in the home; once again there is no indication that there will be provision for the adequate financial remuneration of carers. The proposed term ‘strive to support’ appears to weaken the State’s constitutional responsibility to materially and legislatively support such care. Indeed, the proposed new Article 42B does not actually confer any enforceable rights for carers or for those being cared for.
It is right to recognise that care within the family and the wider community takes many forms and is provided by a wide variety of people. In the words of Pope Francis speaking at the Festival of Families in Croke Park on 25 August 2018 “in any family celebration, everyone’s presence is felt: fathers, mothers, grandparents, grandchildren, uncles and aunts, cousins, those who cannot come and those who live too far away”.
The proposed amendment would have the effect of abolishing all reference to motherhood in the Constitution and leave unacknowledged the particular and incalculable societal contribution that mothers in the home have made and continue to make in Ireland. The present constitutional wording does not in any way inhibit women from working or taking their proper place in social and public life. It does, however, respect the complementary and distinct qualities that arise naturally within the Family. The role of mothers should continue to be cherished in our Constitution.

The importance of voting

Pope Saint John Paul II said in Ireland back in 1979: “The family is the true measure of the greatness of a nation”. In a democracy that guarantees the freedom to vote, it is important that citizens cast their ballot on 8 March with matters of such importance at stake. As pastors, concerned for the common good as well as the moral and spiritual well-being of God’s people, we offer these reflections in order to help inform the consciences of Christians and others who are concerned to preserve and foster the dignity and value of family life and motherhood.

Mass times and intentions for the week from 24th February 2024

Saturday 24th February, 7pm, St Joseph’s, Kinvara: Carmel Sexton, Downtown, Kinvara, 1st anniversary;

Tommie and Mai Forde, Killina, and deceased family members, anniversary;

John McCormack, Cahermore, anniversary.

Sunday 25th February:

9am, Doorus: Mass.

10.30am, Ballinderreen: Geraldine Bourke, Cartron, anniversary;

Laura Shiels, Mulrook, anniversary.

12 noon, St Colman’s, Kinvara: Geraldine Linnane, Parkmore, Doorus, months mind.

Tuesday 27th February, 7pm, Ballinderreen: People of Ballinderreen and Kinvara Parishes.

Wednesday 28th February, 9.15am, Ballinderreen: Mass.

Thursday 29th February, 10am, St Joseph’s, Kinvara: Mass.

Friday 1st March, 10am, St Joseph’s, Kinvara: Finula Hackett, recently deceased.

Saturday 2nd March, 7pm, St Joseph’s, Kinvara: Mary O’Connor, 1st anniversary, and Michael O’Connor, 31st anniversary, Ardnagrove;

William and Bridget Hackett, and Maura Dunn, Dublin, anniversary;

Pádraig and Kathleen Naughton, Shanclough, anniversary;

Vincent Keane Cartron, anniversary;

Angela Callanan, Convent Road, anniversary.

Sunday 3rd March:

9am, Doorus: Mass.

10.30am, Ballinderreen: Patrick Linnane, Clough Road, 8th anniversary;

P.J. and Kathleen Larkin, Aran, anniversary;

Bertie Helebert, Clough, anniversary;

Michael Corless, Ballyclera, and deceased family members, anniversary;

Helena and John Murphy, Kiltiernan, anniversary.

12 noon, St Colman’s, Kinvara: Annie Keto, 2nd anniversary;

Adrian, Margaret, and John Joe Flaherty, Cappamore, anniversary.

Mass times and intentions for the week from 17th February 2024

Saturday 17th February, 7pm, St Joseph’s, Kinvara: Monica Forde, 4th anniversary, and her son John Forde, 8th anniversary, Cartron;

Peter & Kate Waters, Ballybuck, anniversary;

Karen Horn, Ballybuck, 3rd anniversary;

John Paul O’Connor, Leeha South, and deceased members of the O’Connor family, anniversary.

Sunday 18th February:

9am, Doorus: Deceased members of the Curtin family, Newtownlynch, anniversary;

Martha (née Glynn) and John Neylon, Traught and Oranmore, anniversary.

10.30am, Ballinderreen: Tom Feeney, Athlone, anniversary;

Tom Sweeney, Toureen, anniversary;

John and Ann Conneely, Rosmuc, anniversary.

12 noon, St Colman’s: Michael Hastings, Crushoa, 3rd anniversary;

Deceased members of the Curtin family, Roo Demesne, anniversary.

Tuesday 20th February: No Mass and no Adoration in Ballinderreen this Tuesday.

Wednesday 21st February: No Mass in Ballinderreen this Wednesday.

Thursday 22nd February, 10am, St Joseph’s, Kinvara: People of Kinvara and Ballinderreen Parishes.

Friday 23rd February, 10am, St Joseph’s, Kinvara: Parish Mass cards for the deceased.

Saturday 24th February, 7pm, St Joseph’s, Kinvara: Carmel Sexton, Downtown, Kinvara, 1st anniversary;

Tommie and Mai Forde, Killina, and deceased family members, anniversary;

John McCormack, Cahermore, anniversary.

Sunday 25th February:

9am, Doorus: Mass.

10.30am, Ballinderreen: Geraldine Bourke, Cartron, anniversary;

Laura Shiels, Mulrook, anniversary.

12 noon, St Colman’s, Kinvara: Geraldine Linnane, Parkmore, Doorus, months mind.

Ash Wednesday 2024

Ash Wednesday, 14th February 2024: Mass with distribution of ashes at 9.15am in Ballinderreen Church and at 7pm in St Joseph’s Church, Kinvara. Fr Hugh will visit the schools and Blake Manor nursing home with ashes during the day. The season of Lent, our penitential journey of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, towards the joy of Easter, begins. Trócaire boxes are available at the Churches.

Website of Kinvara & Ballinderreen Parishes