Parish Priest: Fr. Christy O’Byrne Tel: (090) 968 5613 Mobile: (086) 344 9345 Email: cvob@eircom.net You can read our weekly Parish Newsletter for this week or last week The parish of Lawrencetown and Kiltormer has two Holy Wells, Tobar Mhuire in Ballymore in Lawrencetown and Saint Patrick's Well near the new cemetery in Kiltormer. When the churches were being built, they were dedicated to these two saints, so Lawrencetown church (pictured right) is Saint Mary's and Kiltormer church (below right) is Saint Patrick's. This parish consists of the people from the two villages of Lawrencetown and Kiltormer and the surrounding area. Lawrencetown has a very active Community Enterprise Company and they have their own prize-winning website where you will find the Parish Newsletters for the past twelve months. Kiltormer gives its name to the local GAA club (which also includes the neighbouring parish of Clontuskert) and the Kiltormer hurling team has produced many top-class players and won many trophies down the years.         Lawrencetown Kiltormer Patron of Church Our Lady St. Patrick Masses     Saturday Evening — 8.00 p.m. Sunday 11.30 a.m. — Weekdays Wednesday: 9.00 a.m. Mon., Fri. 7.00 p.m. Tue. 7.00 p.m. Thu. 6.00 p.m. First Friday 8.00 p.m. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament   Thursday, 3.00 - 6.00 p.m. Some of the History of the Parish of Lawrencetown & Kiltormer Names The name of the parish, according to the Catholic Directory is ‘Lawrencetown and Kiltormer (Kiltormer and Oghill)’. The name ‘Lawrencetown’ comes from the Lawrence family who lived in the area in the eighteenth century. Walter Lawrence first erected the village about 1700. It was enlarged by Rear Admiral Peter Lawrence in 1750 and rebuilt by Col. Walter Lawrence in 1765, to promote the linen industry in the West of Ireland. Near the town are the ruins of the castle of O’Hill from which it formerly took the name of Ohill (Ochill, Oghill, Ohillmore). The Irish name of the area is Baile Mór Síol Anmchadha. John O’Donovan in his “Tribes and Customs of Hy Many” translates Síol Anmchadha as “the descendants of Ambrose”, i.e. Ambrose O’Madden, a local Chieftain. The name in full would therefore translate as “the big town of the descendants of Ambrose”. Síol Anmchadha referred to a much larger area than just Lawrencetown in the past. It entailed what is now known as Longford Barony. (JD) It is thought that the name “Kiltormer” in Irish means “the church of the big bush”. It is said to have originated from the townland of “Kill” where according to legend, the people once tried to build a church secretly in medieval times. The local people used to gather each evening and started the church building operations. Each morning they were dismayed and shocked to discover that their work was levelled to the ground. However they continued to build for a few evenings but the destruction continued. So three or four men decided to watch it one night and everything was quite normal until about 1.00 a.m. At that time a big black bull came rushing across the fields and ran straight for the building and demolished it with his horns. The people followed the bull with all kinds of weapons but he mysteriously disappeared into the ground. This particular phenomenon frightened the people and they gave up the work as they looked on the bull as a four-legged demon. Finally the church was erected in the village centre. (TML) Early History Tradition says that both St. Patrick and St. Bridget passed through the Síol Anmchadha and Cinéal Feihin territories on their specific missions. There are two wells in the district known as St. Patrick’s Well and St. Bridget’s well. It is said that St. Patrick was on his way to meet the King of Connacht on conversion business and it is likely that St. Bridget had her own little conversion business to see to. (TML) It is thought that Christianity was introduced in both Kiltormer and Lawrencetown in the sixth and seventh centuries. Tradition also has it that St. Feichin and St. Brendan were the first to spread the Christian faith in the area and the Clonfert monks and the Augustinians from Clontuskert contributed to the early mission work, which finally came under the Diocesan control of the Bishops. According to local lore small Mass houses were built in both Lawrencetown and Kiltormer but they gradually became outdated. (TML) In the townland of Oghil Beg are some traces of the ruins of the medieval Convent of St. Mary, a foundation which may have been in existence in the early Christian period. All we know is that it came under the jurisdiction of the convent of Kilcreevanty, near Tuam, before the year 1223, together with St. Mary’s Clonfert and a number of other houses in Connacht. The nuns were then Canonesses Regular of St. Augustine of the Arrosian Congregation. Their rules and observances had been introduced by St. Malachy who visited Arrouaise in 1139, and later established houses of the order in Ireland. They continued at Oghil until the Reformation, when Kilcreevanty with its possessions were surrendered to the Crown, to be later granted to the earl of Clanrickard. It remained part of the Clanrickard estate until the last (20th) century, an isolated area within O’Kelly territory. (PKE) The progress of Catholicism continued without interruption up to the sixteenth century when the suppression of religion began to show itself. This continued unabated under the penal system up to the Emancipation Act of 1829 which gave Catholics freedom to practise religious services. (TML) Initials in italics at the end of the above paragraphs are acknowledgements of items copied from published works: (TML) — The Parish of Lawrencetown and Kiltormer by Tadhg Mac Lochlainn (PKE) — Past & Present.... Lawrencetown Community Hall by V. Rev. Dr. P.K. Egan (JD) — Past & Present.... Lawrencetown Community Hall and/or Echoes by John Downey The Famine The following tables give the numbers of baptisms and marriages in the parish in the 30 years from 1834 to 1863. Baptisms showed a slow but steady decline from 1834 to 1848. Then in the three years 1848–1851 the numbers dropped by over 60%. Marriages were around 20 per annum up to 1846 and they dropped to 5 in 1850. This information is shown graphically in the chart below.   Year 1834 1835 1836 1837 1838 1839 1840 1841 1842 1843 Baptisms 104 112 138 97 99 104 102 89 85 80 Marriages 14 24 32 16 21 22 22 16 14 22     Year 1844 1845 1846 1847 1848 1849 1850 1851 1852 1853 Baptisms 66 75 75 62 73 46 42 28 34 34 Marriages 25 20 19 12 9 9 5 10 4 5     Year 1854 1855 1856 1857 1858 1859 1860 1861 1862 1863 Baptisms 35 31 37 36 49 25 30 25 23 29 Marriages 11 7 10 15 6 9 9 14 9 7   Priests The Baptismal and marriage registers of the parish date back to 1834. From these it is possible to glean information about the names of the priests who served in the parish since that time. At the start of the Marriage register is written ‘A list of marriages commenced by me the 9th February 1834, Revd. P Galvin’. The priest’s name is not given with the baptism or marriage records until July 29, 1842, when baptismal records are signed by James Usher PP whose signature appears until November 9, 1854. The name of Richard Rafterty RCC appears between September 17, 1854 and June 3, 1855. James Cavanagh (probably PP) celebrated baptisms in the parish between June 10, 1855 and November 13, 1858. Thomas Coen’s name appears between January 18 and June 29, 1859. Baptismal records are unsigned from this to September 9, 1879 and D. Coghlan CC signed the records from this date to June 6, 1880. A plaque in the church says that Fr. Melvin was parish priest for 14 years until his death in 1894. The next signature is that of Thomas Bowes who was in the parish from December 19, 1893 to June 21, 1913. Parish priests last century were: Fr. P.J. Nagle (1924–1946), Fr. E. Hughes (1946–1964), Fr. M. O’Connor (April–September 1964), Fr. M.J. Walsh (1964–1990), Fr. C. O’Byrne (1990– ). Curates in the last century were: Fr. T. Melvin (1904–1905), Fr. M. Fulham (1905–1908), Fr. D. McHugh (1908), Fr. P.J. Mulkern (1909–1913), Fr. P.J. Leahy (1913), Fr. P.J. Nagle (1913–1915), Fr. H. Brennan (1915–1921). There was no curate between 1921 and 1942. Then the following were curates: Fr. J. Conniffe (1942–1943), Fr. P.J. Cuffe (1943–1946), Fr. P.J. Dunning (1946–1950), Fr. M.L. O’Meara (1950–1959), Fr. J. Solon (1959–1966), Fr. H. Flynn (1966–1973), Fr. T. Keyes (1973–1974), Fr. S. Slattery (1974–1981), Fr. V. Twohig (1981–1983), Fr. B. Costelloe (1983–1985), Fr. B. Kennedy (1985–1991), Fr. S. Neylon (1991–1996), Fr. H. Briody (1996–2004).

Lawrencetown & Kiltormer

Fourth Sunday in ordinary time – 29 January 2012

Confessions: On request.

An Induction Loop System has been provided in Lawrencetown church to assist Hearing Aid Users. Please switch your Hearing Aid to the ‘T’ position.

There will be adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Kiltormer church next Thursday from 3.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. Please give some of this time to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

Next Friday is the first Friday of February. First Friday Holy Communion calls will begin as usual at 9.30 a.m.

Next Thursday is the feast of the Presentation of the Lord (Candlemas day) and Friday is the feast of St. Blaise. In Lawrencetown, candles for home use and sanctuary candles will be blessed at the Mass on Friday. Candles for the Altar are not needed this year. Please leave candles to be blessed in the box at the front of the Church. If you wish to sponsor a sanctuary candle, please write your name on the label on a candle and put €2.50 in the candle shrine. The traditional blessing of throats will take place during – not after – the Friday Mass. In Kiltormer candles for home use and sanctuary candles will be blessed at the 6.00 p.m. Mass on Thursday. If you wish to sponsor a sanctuary candle, please write your name on the label on a candle and put €2.50 in the box. The traditional blessing of throats will take place during the Mass on Friday.

Mass servers this week: Kiltormer–Áine Curley, Sasha Markham, Shauna Ryan. Lawrencetown–Fred Sargaison, Cathal Dolan, Cathal Whyte, Rachel Whyte. Next week: Oisin’s group and Liam’s group. Readers next weekend (K)–Mary Fahy, (L)–Colette Breheny. Eucharistic minister (K)–Mary Hayes. Door collector for February (K)–John Larkin. Altar ladies (K)–Phyllis Ryan and Helen Kilkenny.

Next Sunday is the fifth Sunday in ordinary time. The readings at Mass are Job 7:1-4.6-7, I Corinthians 9:16-19.22-23, Mark 1:29-39.

Eucharistic Congress 2012: If you wish to attend all or part of the Eucharistic Congress, you should book now. The opening Liturgy of the Congress will be in the RDS arena on Sunday June 10th. From Monday June 11th to Saturday June 16th there will be liturgies, catechesis, testimonies, workshops and addresses, see notice in church porch. The themes for each day are: Monday–Communion in one Baptism, Tuesday–Communion in Marriage and Family, Wednesday–Priesthood and Ministry in the Service of Communion, Thursday–Reconciliation in our Communion, Friday–Communion in Suffering and in Healing, and Saturday–Communion in the Word through Mary. You may book on line until May 9th at www.iec2012.ie/registration for one day – €30, Concession €28 or for any three consecutive days, 10th to 16th June – €60 or for 7 days – €95. Family tickets (2 adults and up to 4 children) cost €285 for 3 days or €95 for a single day. Onsite booking costs extra. If you book for either 7 or 3 days you may also book a ticket for the closing ceremony in Croke Park on Sunday June 17th for an additional €10. Accommodation is not included in any of the above. Tickets are also allocated to the diocese for the closing ceremony. Eight of these tickets have been allocated to this parish. If you would like to apply for one (or more) of these tickets, please give your name and contact details to me not later than Saturday February 12th. If more than 8 apply, all the names will be put in a hat and 8 will be drawn at the end of the 11.30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, February 13th. Further information on www.iec2012.ie.

Learning about the Mass with Kath and Qumen WHAT IS A DEACON The word ‘deacon’ comes from the Greek word ‘diakonia’, which means ‘service’. The work of the deacon is an act of service to the community. Deacons can read the Gospel, preach the homily, baptise and perform other ceremonies where there is no Mass. There are two types of deacon who minister in the church. The first is someone who is training to be a priest and this is the last step before finally being ordained a priest. The second is called a Permanent Deacon and he is not going to be ordained a priest. We know that priests cannot get married but a married man can be ordained a Permanent Deacon. At the moment we have very few Permanent Deacons in our country. But this may change in the next few years.

We offer our deepest sympathy to Annette Lynch and her family on the death of her mother Kathleen Donohue and also to Maura Healy and her family on the death of her brother Harry Connor. Please pray for the happy repose of their souls. May they rest in peace.

Thank you for your contributions to the door collection last weekend–€158.40 (L) and €174 (K) and to the CURA collection–€153 (L), €116.81 (K).

Fr. Anthony Kelly Homes and Hope 100 Club. Winner of the November 2011 draw was No. 59–Paul Tansey, Dublin and winner of the December 2011 draw was No 75–Eileen Curley, Chapelpark, Clontuskert.

Lenten Stations: Ash Wednesday is on February 22nd this year and it is time to start planning for the Lenten Stations. The Stations are in Kiltormer this time. If it is your turn to have the Station, please get in touch with me to arrange the date. Ideally stations should be on or before March 30th (Friday before Palm Sunday), but not on Saturdays, Sundays or first Fridays. Stations will normally be at 8.00 p.m. Stations may be before Lent. Thanks to the following who have arranged their Stations:

Skycur	Gerald and Margaret Egan	Fri., Feb. 24	8.00 p.m.
Kiltormer Village	Pauline Curley	Fri., Mar. 9	8.00 p.m.
Derreen and Maddenstown	Thomas and Monica Brennan	Fri., Mar. 30	8.00 p.m.

Parish workers in Lawrencetown for February:

	Altar Society		Mona Cogavin and Marie Naughton
	Door Collectors:	Sunday:	John Cunningham and Brendan Corcoran
	Eucharistic Minister:	Sunday:	Eileen Tully

My deepest thanks to all who help so generously, year after year.

As part of Catholic Schools week, Kiltormer N.S. will have a “Grandparents’ day” in the school on St. Brigid’s Day– Wed 1st Feb. This will include a displaying of skills, chat about the old days and ending with a prayer service.

EWTN programmes this week include: Children’s programmes each weekday at 4.00 p.m. with Mass: Unveiled for Children on Tuesday, Close Encounters with the Commandments on Wednesday and The Mysteries of Light on Thursday. Cenacolo: From Darkness to Light [Knock] is today (Sunday) at 7.00 p.m. and Monday at 12.00 noon. Demographic Winter, Demography and Destiny is on Monday at 11.00 a.m. A series Founders of Church Orders is on Monday to Friday at 10.30 a.m. and 9.00 p.m. Mysteries of the Rosary, the Presentation is on Thursday at 7.30 p.m. Living the Scriptures is on Saturday at 5.00 p.m.

Doctor on duty this weekend (28-29 Jan.): Dr. Murphy ☏ 968 5714, 968 5645, 086 2533063, next weekend (4-5 Feb.): Dr. McGauran ☏ 967 5107.

Handball coaching in the Complex on Sunday 29th January for under 8, 10 and 12 at 6.00 p.m. and for under 13, 14 and 16 at 7.00 p.m. All are welcome.

Kiltormer GAA Club Lotto: Last week’s numbers: 6, 23, 24, 26. No jackpot winner. Lucky dip: Keith Kilkenny, Caroline Murphy, Peter Dolan Jnr., Mary T. Kelly, Michael Heffernan. Seller’s prize: Maura Hanley. House prize: Sinead McDermott. The draw this Sunday for €14,800 is in The Hill Bar.

The Irish Heart Foundation Church gate collection is this weekend. Please be generous.

Banagher College Coláiste na Sionna. OPEN NIGHT for sixth class students and their parents/guardians takes place on Thursday, 2nd February commencing at 7.30p.m.

Portiuncula Hospital Pastoral Care Department are holding a Remembrance Service for parents who have suffered a bereavement through the death of their children, miscarriage or stillbirth on Wednesday, 1st February at 7.30 p.m. in the Hospital Chapel.

Lawrencetown & Kiltormer

Fifth Sunday in ordinary time – 5 February 2012

Confessions: On request.

An Induction Loop System has been provided in Lawrencetown church to assist Hearing Aid Users. Please switch your Hearing Aid to the ‘T’ position.

There will be adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Kiltormer church next Thursday from 3.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. Please give some of this time to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

Mass servers this week: Kiltormer–Oisin Flood, Linda Harewood, Michelle Winters. Lawrencetown–Liam Downey, Cían Campbell, Rory Campbell, Anna McCann. Next week: Jessica’s group and Seán’s group. Readers next weekend (K)–Ailish Glynn, (L)–Ciara Heaney. Eucharistic minister (K)–Frances Cullen.

Thanks to all who sponsored sanctuary candles in Lawrencetown and Kiltormer.

Next Sunday is the sixth Sunday in ordinary time. The readings at Mass are Leviticus 13:1-2.45-46, I Corinthians 10:31-11:1, Mark 1:40-45.

Following representations by parents of the Confirmation classes, bishop Kirby has agreed to have separate Confirmation ceremonies in Lawrencetown and Kiltormer this year. Both Confirmation ceremonies will be on Sunday March 25th, with Kiltormer at 11.30 a.m. and Lawrencetown at 2.00 p.m.

Church Music Workshop will take place on Sunday, Feb. 26th in Gullane’s Hotel, Ballinasloe from 2 – 6p.m. It will be facilitated by Mr. Ian Callanan, Composer and member of Dublin Diocesan Committee. All are most welcome. More details later.

Thank you for your contributions to the door collection last weekend–€196.55 (L) and €219 (K), to the church refurbishment/plate collection–€70.70 (L), €61.03 (K) and to CURA–€20 extra (K).

Eucharistic Congress 2012: If you wish to attend all or part of the Eucharistic Congress, you should book now. The opening Liturgy of the Congress will be in the RDS arena on Sunday June 10th. From Monday June 11th to Saturday June 16th there will be liturgies, catechesis, testimonies, workshops and addresses, see notice in church porch. The themes for each day are: Monday–Communion in one Baptism, Tuesday–Communion in Marriage and Family, Wednesday–Priesthood and Ministry in the Service of Communion, Thursday–Reconciliation in our Communion, Friday–Communion in Suffering and in Healing, and Saturday–Communion in the Word through Mary. You may book on line until May 9th at www.iec2012.ie/registration for one day – €30, Concession €28 or for any three consecutive days, 10th to 16th June – €60 or for 7 days – €95. Family tickets (2 adults and up to 4 children) cost €285 for 3 days or €95 for a single day. Onsite booking costs extra. If you book for either 7 or 3 days you may also book a ticket for the closing ceremony in Croke Park on Sunday June 17th for an additional €10. Accommodation is not included in any of the above. Tickets are also allocated to the diocese for the closing ceremony. Eight of these tickets have been allocated to this parish. If you would like to apply for one (or more) of these tickets, please give your name and contact details to me not later than Saturday February 12th. If more than 8 apply, all the names will be put in a hat and 8 will be drawn at the end of the 11.30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, February 13th. Further information on www.iec2012.ie.

We offer our deepest sympathy to Johnny Keating and Pauline O’Leary and Mary Mannion and their families on the death of their aunt Eileen (Dot) Kelly. Please pray for the happy repose of her soul. May she rest in peace.

Learning about the Mass with Kath and Qumen THE HOMILY We all sit down to listen to what the priest/deacon has to say about the readings we have heard and how we might be able to put this into practice in our everyday lives. We call this the homily. The priest/deacon normally stands at the ambo to give the homily. At the end of the homily the priest may sit down and we can spend a few minutes in quiet prayer. This time lets us think about what the priest has said and ask God to help us to live as he would want us to.

The Prayer Intentions of Pope Benedict XVI for February 2012 are: General intention: Access to Water. That all peoples may have access to water and other resources needed for daily life. Missionary Intention: Health Workers. That the Lord may sustain the efforts of health workers assisting the sick and elderly in the world’s poorest regions.

Bishop Kirby has asked that the annual collection for the Clonfert diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes should be taken up next weekend. Every year the diocese subsidises invalids and helpers who wish to go to Lourdes on the diocesan pilgrimage. Clonfert brings more invalids per capita than any other diocese, so please be generous. The basket/plate collection next weekend is for Lourdes pilgrimage.

Lenten Stations: Ash Wednesday is on February 22nd this year and it is time to start planning for the Lenten Stations. The Stations are in Kiltormer this time. If it is your turn to have the Station, please get in touch with me to arrange the date. Ideally stations should be on or before March 30th (Friday before Palm Sunday), but not on Saturdays, Sundays or first Fridays. Stations will normally be at 8.00 p.m. Stations may be before Lent. Thanks to the following who have arranged their Stations:

Skycur	Gerald and Margaret Egan	Fri., Feb. 24	8.00 p.m.
Kiltormer Village	Pauline Curley	Fri., Mar. 9	8.00 p.m.
Derreen and Maddenstown	Thomas and Monica Brennan	Fri., Mar. 30	8.00 p.m.

EWTN programmes this week include: Children’s programmes each weekday at 4.00 p.m. with The Joyful Mysteries on Monday, First Communion on Tuesday, Close Encounters with the Beatitudes on Wednesday and The Donut Man on Thursday. Healing and Miracles at Lourdes is today (Sunday) at 11.30 a.m. and Saturday at 7.00 p.m. Catholic Apologetics is today at 7.00 p.m. and Monday at 12.00 noon. Bernadette of Lourdes is on Friday at 10.30 a.m. and 9.00 p.m. Meditation on Our Lady of Lourdes is on Saturday at 11.30 a.m. The Lourdes Experience is on Saturday at 3.30 p.m. Living the Scriptures is on Saturday at 5.00 p.m.

Doctor on duty this weekend (4-5 Feb.): Dr. McGauran ☏ 967 5107, next weekend (11-12 Feb.): Dr. Robinson ☏ 962 7318, 086 898 5479.

Kiltormer GAA Club Lotto: Last week’s numbers: 3, 6, 10, 22. No jackpot winner. Lucky dip: Valerie Dermody, Michael Broderick, Helen Kilkenny, Dylan Cox, Stacy Broderick. Seller’s prize: Pascal Claffey. House prize: Noel Kenny. The draw this Sunday for €15,000 is in Mother’s Bar.

Official Juvenile Registration in the Complex on Sunday 12th Feb. at 12.00 noon. €10 per child, €20 per family. All welcome.

If you wish to enrol your child in Kiltormer N.S. in Sept 2012, please contact the school anytime during school hours @090-9627109.

Enrolment of new pupils in Lawrencetown N.S. for Sept. ’12 will take place in the school on Tuesday 7th Feb. at 2.00 p.m. Your child’s Birth Certificate and Baptismal Certificate are required. Enrolment will be followed by a presentation from Anne O’Rourke, psychologist. The presentation is open to parents of new entrants and also parents of current pupils in Junior – Senior Infants and 1st Class.

Lawrencetown Community Enterprise Race Nite winners were Joe Campbell, Michael Larkin, Lismany, Peter Campbell, Justin Donnelly, Ted Larkin, Ned Black, Michael Larkin, Eyrecourt, Seán Horan, Abbie Cox, Lar Kelly, Lawrencetown Syndicate c/o Pardy’s, Deirdre Finnerty, Loraine Treacy, Terry B. c/o Pardy’s, Mona Goode, P. J. Moran, Conor Casey, Joan & Angie Burgoyne, Mary Kenny, Martin Staunton, Margaret Pardy, Eileen Kelly, Pakie Dervan, J. McGuire, Danny Lynch. Thanks to all who made it a great success, all who bought horses and sponsors.

Discovering the Core of My Personality: 5 Monday nights, beginning Feb 6 at the Carmelite Abbey Residence, Loughrea. Time: 7pm to 10.15pm. You can to explore your unique positive core of giftedness and strength. For further information or to register please contact: Mary Silke PRH Educator 090 6624937. www.prhireland.ie.

Ballinasloe Flower & Garden Club presents a Flower Arranging Demonstration by Syra Reid, Athlone in Gullanes Hotel next Wednesday at 8.00 p.m. Arranger’s Comp: “Say it with Flowers”. Adm: non-members €5.

A number of vacancies exist in Acorn to Oak, Portumna. Details from Acorn to Oak or email acorn2oak2@eircom.net. Some roles involve afternoon hours & childcare qualification. Closing date 8th Feb.

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