Castlemagner
CHURCH NOTES
EASTER GREETINGS FROM FR. TOBY AND FR. JOHN–Fr. John and Fr. Toby send Easter greetings to you all. We hope this Easter you will experience the love, compassion and inner peace that the Risen Lord promises at this difficult time.
We are Easter people. We are called to be hopeful. Hope tells us to do our best each day and trust in God to do the rest; to bring us safely through.
Hope tells us that there is nothing that can happen in our lives today, with which we cannot cope, with the help of God.
God bless all of us, as together we journey through the days and weeks ahead. May we continue to support one another in every way we can. Let us continue to pray for each other. Beannachtaí na Cásca oraibh go léir.
EASTER 2020 REFLECTION– Christians have always seen Lent as a journey. From the day of Ash Wednesday when we wore our ashes on our foreheads with a sense of genuine repentance, we regarded ourselves as journeying towards Easter with its joy and celebration. In the meantime, we would have shared our sacred meal on Holy Thursday and would have stood by the cross of Jesus on Good Friday. Light and hope would arrive for us on Holy Saturday night and then all we had left was to eat our Easter eggs.
What a changed journey Lent has been for all of us this year. Living in the shadow of the Coronavirus we travelled differently. We heard the statistics, the bad news, the numbers dying and, frankly, we were at least nervous, perhaps even afraid. But we shouldered on, we had to. Life had to be lived, even in a different way, a very different way.
Yet, in spite of all, indeed because of all, we learned something very precious. Firstly, that we have wonderful people in all of the ranks of the health services. Their dedication to caring for those who were sick, even at a risk to themselves, left us all in admiration of them and, it must be said, deep in their debt. Can we ever repay what they have done for us? And beside them stand, too, all those who keep essential services going, either at the front line or hidden from view. People whose work we take for granted. Thank you, thank you, from us all.
Secondly, we learned that we need each other. We belong together. We have always believed this as Christians; this is what brings us together to pray, to celebrate Mass together. Now, in these times we know our mutual need in a way we never did before.
Our Lenten journey was to accompany Christ on his way. It is he who is accompanying us now in these dark and uncertain days. He is beside us as never before because we need him. And, just as Lent finally ends with the glory of the Resurrection, these days of worry and anxiety will come to an end also. There is a hope out there that we can grasp on and all will be well in its own time.
Castlemagner Pastoral Council
extends Easter greetings to all parishioners at this special time. May the glory of the Risen Lord renew our faith in God’s promise as he assured us; “and remember! I will be with you always, yes, even until the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)
SINSIR CLUB
Catslemagner Sinsir Club sends Easter greetings to all its members and their families at this time. Let us sustain each other in prayer during these days.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION
Castlemagner Community Development Association (CCDA) would like to send best wishes to the whole of the Castlemagner parish, we hope you are all keeping safe and well. We have put together some useful phone numbers, information and tips to help you through these difficult times. If you don’t have anyone to collect medicines or groceries contact your local garda station or the local meals on wheels.
Daily Mass is being shown on News Now, Channel 21 Mon to Fri at 10.30am. Holy Thursday Mass will be shown on RTE @ 4.40pm and Good Friday Mass will be on @ 3pm on RTE. Keep an eye out in your post for a leaflet with more useful info.
HSE Coronavirus helpline (8am - 8pm Mon - Fri & 10am - 5pm Sat & Sun) 1850 24 1850.
Kanturk Area:Mercy House Support Group - 029 51161 & 087 2309159. Garda Station 029 50002/20680. St Vincent De Paul 087 1037186IRD Meals on Wheels 029 76375IRD Community Laundry 029 60633 (collect & delivery service)Living alone and feeling isolated and lonely contact IRD Newmarket on 029 60633
Mallow Area: Garda Station 022 31450Link Worker - Eithne Foley 087 7193257St Vincent De Paul 022 51769Mallow Meals on Wheels 085 2414879Alone support line (mon - fri 8am to 8pm) 0818 222024Pieta House (freephone 24/7) 1800 247247Samaritans (freephone 24/7) 116123
Seniors Helpline (10am - 10pm) 1800 804591. Cork Volunteer Centre on North Main St, Cork (to give or receive help) 086 8523470 / 0868523462 or 021 4251572
Do remember that help & advice is only a phone call away. Do make yourself aware of contact numbers for vital services & keep these numbers handyDo keep in touch with neighboursDo ask to see identification if a stranger calls to the door. Do remember to practice social distancing, keeping a space of 2m between you and others. Do follow HSE guidelines around hand washing, sneezing and coughing in your arm or a tissue.
Don’t answer the door to strangers unless you feel comfortable to do so.Don’t shake hands with anyone.Don’t let anyone into your home unless you know them or it is absolutely necessary. Don’t give personal details (bank details or credit/ debit card info) to anyone you don’t trust either over the phone or in person. Don’t interact with other vulnerable members of your community if you have symptoms of the illness. Don’t be alarmed by FALSE information on social media - stick to HSE advice.Stay safe and keep your distance for your health and the health of others.