All our Ministers of Holy Communion are asked to watch this video, and it would be good for everybody to view it, so as to receive Communion as safely as possible during this period.

Thanks to the school principals for great cooperation in getting the dates sorted. Please note that we will have to abide by whatever COVID-19 restrictions on Church capacity that will be in place at the time of the ceremonies. At present, the policy from 20th July 2020 will be for 2 metre distancing with a limit of 100 in the Church. This means that each pupil can only be accompanied by a very small number of family members, possibly three. The principals and teachers will advise families of the exact number closer to the time.

Confirmation:
Saturday 8th August – Northampton N.S. – St Colman’s Church, Kinvara – 11am
Saturday 22nd August – St Joseph’s N.S. – St Joseph’s Church – possibly two ceremonies to allow more to attend, therefore times will be announced later.
Saturday 29th August – Doorus N.S. – Doorus Church or St Colman’s Church, Kinvara, depending on capacity limits at the time – 11am

First Holy Communion:
Saturday 5th September – St Joseph’s N.S. – St Joseph’s Church – possibly two ceremonies to allow more to attend, therefore times will be announced later.
Saturday 12th September – Ballinderreen N.S. – Ballinderreen Church – 11am
Saturday 19th September – Doorus N.S. – Doorus Church or St Colman’s Church, Kinvara, depending on capacity limits at the time – 11am
Saturday 26th September – Northampton N.S. – St Colman’s Church, Kinvara, 11am.

Now that plans are taking shape for us to implement the diocesan plan for the return to the public pastoral life of the Church from 29th June 2020, please consider volunteering for one of the tasks needing to be carried out. The public celebration of the Eucharist in any Church will be authorised only if the elements of the diocesan plan are demonstrably in place.
Volunteers are needed for the support teams in Ballinderreen and Kinvara Parishes. In particular:

Volunteers for sanitising the Churches:
The sanitisation of each Church will need to take place after Mass and any other public gatherings. It is advised that it be done at least an hour after the last person leaves after Mass, so that any possible presence of the virus load in the air will have reduced. It will be crucial that we have an adequate number of people willing to undertake this task, and being able to re-start and continue public Masses will depend on it.

Volunteers for stewarding:
Tasks of the stewards will include: ensuring the correct distancing in the seating inside the Church, monitoring capacity, guiding people safely to their places, ensuring distanced and safe queuing for those entering the Church, ensuring movement at Communion time happens in a safe manner, helping those in attendance to avoid crossover and pinch-points, guiding anybody participating outside the Church regarding physical distancing.

The Diocese will provide training videos, and the parish will provide guidance on applying this training to the specific situation of the Churches here.
People with particular expertise in the medical / nursing areas, health and safety, sanitisation, etc., are invited to volunteer your help to be part of the parish support teams.
A register of volunteers will be kept for the purpose of contact tracing.

To volunteer, please email the parish at bkpp@parishes.galwaydiocese.ie or bkoffice@parishes.galwaydiocese.ie or send a direct message to the Facebook page or telephone Fr Hugh, with your name, contact phone number, your email, and please mention which Church you are volunteering for.

A short video to reflect on God the Trinity and to mention that Mass will be live-streamed again on this Facebook page at 10.30am this Sunday, 7th June 2020, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity.

If you are not on Facebook, you can access the streaming through your internet browser at www.facebook.com/BallinderreenandKinvaraParishes/

Traditionally, the month of June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 478 says,

‘Jesus knew and loved each and all during his life, his agony and his Passion, and gave himself up for each one of us: “The Son of God… loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20) He has loved us all with a human heart. For this reason, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, pierced by our sins and for our salvation, is quite rightly considered the chief sign and symbol of that… love with which the divine Redeemer continually loves the eternal Father and all human beings without exception” (Pope Pius XII).’

We celebrate Pentecost this Sunday, 31st May 2020. Here’s a short video about Pentecost and to let you know that Mass will be live-streamed on the Ballinderreen and Kinvara Parishes Facebook page at 10.30am on Sunday. If you are not on Facebook, you can access the streaming through your internet browser at www.facebook.com/BallinderreenandKinvaraParishes/