WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

Saint Mary’s, Saint Michael’s, & Ss John & Ailbe

th
17 March 2024: Saint Patrick’s Day / The Fifth Sunday in Lent
Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig!
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COLLECTS AND READINGS

Collect: Almighty God, in your providence you chose your servant Patrick to be the apostle of the Irish
people, to bring those who were wandering in darkness and error to the true light and knowledge of your
Word: Grant that walking in that light we may come at last to the light of everlasting life; through Jesus
Christ our Lord.
First Reading ~ Tobit 13: 1b-7
Tobit said: “Blessed be God who lives for ever, because his kingdom lasts throughout all ages. For he
afflicts, and he shows mercy; he leads down to Hades in the lowest regions of the earth, and he brings up
from the great abyss, and there is nothing that can escape his hand. Acknowledge him before the nations,
O children of Israel; for he has scattered you among them. He has shown you his greatness even there.
Exalt him in the presence of every living being, because he is our Lord and he is our God; he is our Father
and he is God for ever. He will afflict you for your iniquities, but he will again show mercy on all of you.
He will gather you from all the nations among whom you have been scattered. If you turn to him with all
your heart and with all your soul, to do what is true before him, then he will turn to you and will no longer
hide his face from you. So now see what he has done for you; acknowledge him at the top of your voice.
Bless the Lord of righteousness, and exalt the King of the ages. In the land of my exile I acknowledge him,
and show his power and majesty to a nation of sinners: ‘Turn back, you sinners, and do what is right before
him; perhaps he may look with favour upon you and show you mercy.’ As for me, I exalt my God, and my
soul rejoices in the King of heaven.”
Psalm 145: 1-13 (BCP p. 760)
I will exalt you, O God my King, ♦︎ and bless your name for ever and ever.
Every day will I bless you ♦︎ and praise your name for ever and ever.
Great is the Lord and highly to be praised; ♦︎ his greatness is beyond all searching out.
One generation shall praise your works to another ♦︎ and declare your mighty acts.
They shall speak of the majesty of your glory, ♦︎ and I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
They shall speak of the might of your marvellous acts, ♦︎ and I will also tell of your greatness.
They shall pour forth the story of your abundant kindness ♦︎ and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
The Lord is gracious and merciful, ♦︎ long-suffering and of great goodness.
The Lord is loving to everyone ♦︎ and his mercy is over all his creatures.
All your works praise you, O Lord, ♦︎ and your faithful servants bless you.
They tell of the glory of your kingdom ♦︎ and speak of your mighty power,
To make known to all peoples your mighty acts ♦︎ and the glorious splendour of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom; ♦︎ your dominion endures throughout all ages.
Epistle Reading – 2 Corinthians 4: 1-12
Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. We have
renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practise cunning or to falsify God’s word; but
by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of
God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this
world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the
glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as
Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness’,
who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus
Christ. But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power
belongs to God and does not come from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed,
but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying
in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. For while
we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible
in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.
Gospel/New Testament Reading ~ St John 4: 31-38
Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, ‘Rabbi, eat something.’ But he said to them, ‘I have food to eat
that you do not know about.’ So the disciples said to one another, ‘Surely no one has brought him
something to eat?’ Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his
work. Do you not say, “Four months more, then comes the harvest”? But I tell you, look around you, and
see how the fields are ripe for harvesting. The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for
eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, “One sows and
another reaps.” I sent you to reap that for which you did not labour. Others have laboured, and you have
entered into their labour.’
Post-Communion Prayer: Hear us, most merciful God, for that part of the Church which through
your servant Patrick you planted in our land; that it may hold fast the faith entrusted to the saints and in
the end bear much fruit to eternal life: through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Hymns Saint Mary’s 464 609 322 (omit vv 6& 7, v 8 choir) 460 (t. 204), vv 1, 2c & 3

Saint Michael’s 611 471 665 464

Services will be recorded and may be viewed online on www.churchservices.tv/limerickstmarys and www.saintmaryscathedral.ie within the
following 90 days. After that time recordings will be destroyed; however, exceptions may apply and recordings could last longer if the Cathedral
requires it. Occasional services may be recorded and will be advertised on www.churchservices.tv and www.saintmaryscathedral.ie/other
Cathedral communication channels. If you would like further information on a particular event, please contact the Cathedral office. If you do
not wish to appear, please advise Churchwardens who will guide you to an area which will not be filmed. NRSV (Anglicized Edition), copyright
1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America; Material
in this service reproduced from BCP under licence © RCB 2004; One License Number: A-738650; Use QR code to donate to St Mary’s online

Services & Events

Date Time Event Venue
Sunday 17th 10.00 Morning Prayer Ss John & Ailbe, Abington
Saint Patrick / Lent V 10.00 Morning Prayer Saint Michael’s
Passion Sun 11.15 Holy Communion The Cathedral
Monday 18th 10.30 Morning Prayer The Cathedral
Tuesday 19th 10.30 Morning Prayer The Cathedral
10.30 Morning Prayer The Cathedral
Wednesday 20th
17.30 Sung Compline (with Peregryne) The Cathedral
Thursday 21st 10.30 Holy Communion The Cathedral
Friday 22nd 10.30 Morning Prayer The Cathedral
Saturday 23rd 10.30 Morning Prayer The Cathedral
14.30 Free Concert The Cathedral
10.00 Morning Prayer Ss John & Ailbe, Abington
Sunday 24th 10.00 Holy Communion Saint Michael’s
Lent VI/ preceded by fire drill
Palm Sun 11.15 Holy Communion The Cathedral
preceded by fire drill
 THIS WEEK’S NOTICES
Sunday Club: meets on first and third Sundays of the month, in the Cathedral. Godly Play on 1st Sundays.
Easter General Vestry: The meeting of the Easter General Vestry will be held after Easter – a new
date will be circulated in due course. This is an annual meeting, at which all those whose names appear in
the Register of Vestry Members for the parish are entitled to attend and vote.
Health and Safety Notices: Saint Michael’s: due to a fallen monument, the side aisles will not be in use
until inspections, remedial works, etc are completed. An update on this is attached (ezine). Cathedral: From
mid-March on Sundays, the West door will be closed at 11.30am (to avoid disruption to worshippers from
those wishing to tour the building). Those arriving after 11.30, please use the South West Porch Entrance.
Defibrillator Training in Cathedral on Sat 13th April, 11.30-1pm. Please let the Dean know if you are
able to attend.
The Evergreens: will hold their next meeting is on Tuesday, 26th March, 2024 at 2:30pm in the
Cathedral. (This is during Holy Week and the Dean has agreed to this date.)
Riverfest Car Show: will be held again this year in the Cathedral grounds, on Saturday 4th May. Rare
and important automobiles, motorbikes and motoring memorabilia will be on show. The Dean would be
very glad to hear from anyone willing to volunteer to help set up, take tickets at the door, and act as a
steward during the day. Please let him know if you are available.
The Leamy Protestant Board of Education Limerick: The Leamy Protestant Board of Education,
Limerick is a long-established Trust which has had a certain amount of finance available for the distribution
of Education Grants, to those who meet the necessary criteria set down by the Trust’s Constitution. If
you or a family member wish to make an application, please contact the office in Saint Mary’s Cathedral,
Limerick. 061 310293 – cathedral@limerick.anglican.org. Closing date for applications is Sunday 31st
March 2024.

Electrical engineer: the Dean would be grateful to receive recommendations of a reliable person.

Murroe-Boher Historical Society: Our next talk will take place at the Fitzgerald Room, Muintir na
Tíre Hall, Murroe, on Thursday, March 28, 2024, at 8p.m. sharp. Gerard Canning will give a talk on his
research into the Royal Munster Fusiliers at Gallipoli, Salonica and Palestine during the Great
War. Admission €5 to non-members including refreshments. Annual membership €20. If you would like
to receive email notifications of our events, please contact murroeboherhs@gmail.com to have your
name included on our mailing list or, if you would like to be contacted via text please contact PRO Michael
Hassett on 089 6132507.

Limerick Early Music Festival: the 2024 festival theme is JOURNEYS, celebrating sacred and secular
music about travel, pilgrimage, and transformation, spanning 1000 years of music, diverse cultures, and
geographical areas from Africa to the Middle East to Europe. Two events take place in the Cathedral:
Wednesday 20th March, 5:30pm, Sung Compline with Peregryne (featuring Medieval chant and
Renaissance polyphony, and crowned with a large scale anthem from the Eton choirbook (c.1500)).
Friday 22nd March, 8pm, Journeying with Bach (this concert brings together Ancór, Saint Mary's
Cathedral Choir, Sagittarius Hiberniensis, the Limerick School of Music Senior Choir, and the LEMF
chamber orchestra under co-directors Cecilia Madden and Peter Barley).

Accommodation wanted: a doctoral researcher at the University of Limerick is seeking short-term

accommodation, for the months of April and May only. If anyone has an available room for rent, please let
Rev Dr Leonard Madden know and he will pass on the relevant contact details to you.
 Lectio Divina for Lent: “Lectio Divina is a method of reflecting on the Word by allowing the piece of
Scripture to speak to our lives today. No knowledge of Scripture required to take part. We read a passage,
listen to what it says to us and as the Spirit of God leads us, we listen to each other to find deep meaning
in what it says. The group will be facilitated by two people from two different Christian traditions
(Protestant and Roman Catholic). We will meet in the Side Chapel in the Augustinian Church on
O’Connell Street at 11.15am on Tuesdays during Lent. For more info, phone Rosie 085 2520650.”

Remembrance Book: Please remember those whose anniversaries occur at this time. Among them:
Robin Wakely, Mabel O'Toole, Michael Holland, Connie Gardiner, Teresa Barry, Marianne Fenner, Harold
Gordon Brown, Ruth Giralano and John Gordon Brickenden.

Diocesan cycle of prayer: the Bishop writes: “We give thanks for the richness of our Christian heritage
and for the beauty of our island home. We pray for those who strive to ensure that the voice of faith and
the rumour of God continue to resound across the public square. We remember all in authority, both
here and in Northern Ireland, and across the European Union. We recall in a special way how Patrick
came to this land as a stranger, and our own consequent duty of care towards the stranger and the refugee
and those who find themselves in exile in our own time.” Anglican Cycle of Prayer: The Church in Wales.

Prayers for the Sick: Your prayers are asked for the sick in our community, especially, Emily; Mac; Alan
Kennedy; Zandra; Kathleen Leddin; Martha McDermott; Sandra Pragnell; Danny Stone; Josh Stone; Terry
Gibson; Sarah B; Cyril Foster; Frances (Kokie) Moore, Patrick Hastings; Patricia Bourke; Jim K, Marie M,
Gerry Grace, Mary Grace, Liz Kaldor, Trevor Richmond, Martin Hogan, Garrett Ryan, BO’D, Sue Gibson,
Denis O’Connell, John Moore, Baby Sloane O' Hanlon, Edel, Doris, Mary Catherine Finnegan, Jerry
Murphy, and Frank O’Connor. NOTE: If you wish to place a name on the list, please email it to Pl. Under GDPR please ensure
you have the consent of the named person(s). For confidentiality reasons the clergy would appreciate NOT being asked on the status of
people. Whilst we appreciate people are showing care and concern, it can compromise the relationship between pastor and parishioner.
Thank you.
Rota of Readers, Refreshments, and Flowers
17th March 24th March 31st March 7th April 14th April
REFRESHMENTS
Saint Justin & Edel
J & K Shier R & M Brickenden TBC TBC
Michael’s O'Connor
The Shawn & Carrie Lillian
Keith O’Neill Brian Sheppard Alyson McHugh
Cathedral Jamieson Okechukwu
READERS
Saint Daire
Lucy Kavanagh Sheelagh Morrow TBC TBC
Michael’s McNamara
The Gillian
Lindsay Boyle Alan Bunworth TBC TBC
Cathedral Sheehan

CONTACT DETAILS
• The Very Rev’d Niall J.W. Sloane (Dean): The Deanery, 7 Kilbane, Castletroy
Email: dean@limerick.anglican.org; Tel: 061-338697. Day off: Friday
• The Rev’d Dr Leonard Madden (Curate-Assistant): The Curatage, 50 Ballinvoher, Fr Russell Rd
Email: curate@limerick.anglican.org; Tel: 061-302038. Day off: Monday
• Clergy Emergency Number: Tel: 087-3524046. (Strictly Emergency Calls Only).
• The Parish Office: Saint Mary’s Cathedral, Bridge Street, Limerick, V94 E068.
Email: cathedral@limerick.anglican.org; Tel: 061-310293. www.lcp.limerick.anglican.org
Limerick City Parish ~ Weekly Newsletter – Deadline for notices 12 noon every Wednesday.
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