Saturday, 15^th August 2026 is the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven. It is a holy day of obligation. The annual Mass at the Grotto in Ballinderreen is always a happy occasion as we celebrate this highpoint of Summer devotion to Our Lady. Because of the Assumption being on a Saturday this year, the Ballinderreen Grotto Mass will be celebrated as the Vigil Mass of the Solemnity on the Friday evening. There will be tea and light refreshments for all in the Acorn Centre meeting room after the Mass.

The Mass times will be:

Friday 14^th August:

7pm: At Our Lady’s Grotto outside Ballinderreen Church.

Saturday 15^th August:

10am: St Joseph’s Church, Kinvara

(Please note that the 7pm Mass on Saturday in St Joseph’s, Kinvara will be the Vigil Mass of the Sunday.)

‘Finally, the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into Heavenly glory and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her son, the Lord of Lords and conqueror of sin and death.’

(Pope Pius XII, Munificentissimus Deus 44, 1^st November 1950.)

The 12 noon Mass on Sunday 9th August 2026 will be celebrated in conjunction with the Cruinniú na mBád festival at the Pier in Kinvara, and not in St Colman’s Church. Our parish congregation and the visitors for the Cruinniú come together for this special Mass. Cuirimíd fáilte chuig ár gcuairteoirí ó Chonnamara agus áiteanna eile. Mass will be celebrated in Irish, but both billeoga in Irish and the usual English language Mass sheet will be available, so please take both so you can follow the Mass. The blessing of the boats will take place after the Mass.

Please note that the date of the Blake Manor Nursing Home Mass has changed since the newsletter was prepared. The Mass will now be celebrated on Wednesday 5th August at 3pm.

Mass is celebrated in Foy’s Cemetery every second year. This year, the Mass will be celebrated on Friday 24^th July 2026 at 7pm. The Mass will be offered for all those buried in the cemetery in both long ago and recent times, and we will remember those who were buried there at the time of the famine, in difficult times. 

As usual, the blessing of the graves will take place in the cemetery after the Mass.

May their souls, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

The annual cemetery Mass at Drumacoo Cemetery in Ballinderreen parish will be celebrated on Friday 17th July 2026 at 7pm. The Mass will be offered for all who are buried in the cemetery and those buried in smaller burial grounds in Ballinderreen Parish where Mass is not being celebrated this year. Fr Hugh will do the blessing of the graves after the Mass.

As the weather looks set to be very sunny and warm, all who attend are advised to take the usual precautions for the sun: using sun screen, protection for the head, bring water, etc, as is appropriate to each person.