WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

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

th
10 March 2024: The Fourth Sunday in Lent / Mothering Sunday
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COLLECTS AND READINGS

Collect: God of compassion, whose Son Jesus Christ, the child of Mary, shared the life of a home in
Nazareth, and on the cross drew the whole human family to himself: Strengthen us in our daily living
that in joy and in sorrow we may know the power of your presence to bind together and to heal; through
Jesus Christ our Lord.
First Reading ~ Exodus 2: 1-10
Now a man from the house of Levi went and married a Levite woman. The woman conceived and bore
a son; and when she saw that he was a fine baby, she hid him for three months. When she could hide him
no longer she got a papyrus basket for him, and plastered it with bitumen and pitch; she put the child in it
and placed it among the reeds on the bank of the river. His sister stood at a distance, to see what would
happen to him. The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her attendants walked
beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid to bring it. When she opened it,
she saw the child. He was crying, and she took pity on him. ‘This must be one of the Hebrews’ children,’
she said. Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, ‘Shall I go and get you a nurse from the Hebrew
women to nurse the child for you?’ Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, ‘Yes.’ So the girl went and called the
child’s mother. Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, ‘Take this child and nurse it for me, and I will give you your
wages.’ So the woman took the child and nursed it. When the child grew up, she brought him to Pharaoh’s
daughter, and she took him as her son. She named him Moses, ‘because’, she said, ‘I drew him out of the
water.’
Psalm 34: 11-20 (BCP p. 628)
Come, O children, listen to me; ♦︎ I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
Which of you desires life, ♦︎ and covets many days to enjoy good?
Keep your tongue from evil, ♦︎ and your lips from speaking deceit.
Depart from evil, and do good; ♦︎ seek peace, and pursue it.
The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, ♦︎ and his ears are open to their cry.
The face of the Lord is against evildoers, ♦︎ to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, ♦︎ and rescues them from all their troubles.
The Lord is near to the broken-hearted, ♦︎ and saves the crushed in spirit.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous, ♦︎ but the Lord rescues them from them all.
He keeps all their bones; ♦︎ not one of them will be broken.

Epistle Reading – 2 Corinthians 1: 3-7

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all
consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any
affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God. For just as the sufferings of
Christ are abundant for us, so also our consolation is abundant through Christ. If we are being afflicted, it
is for your consolation and salvation; if we are being consoled, it is for your consolation, which you
experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we are also suffering. Our hope for you is
unshaken; for we know that as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our consolation.
Gospel/New Testament Reading ~ St Luke 2: 33-35
And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed
them and said to his mother Mary, ‘This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and
to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will
pierce your own soul too.’
Post-Communion Prayer: Loving God, as a mother feeds her children at the breast, you feed us in
this sacrament with spiritual food and drink. Help us who have tasted your goodness to grow in grace
within the household of faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Hymns Saint Mary’s 350 (t. 189) 462(i) 361
Saint Michael’s 541 472 350 372

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 10th 10.00 Morning Prayer Ss John & Ailbe, Abington
IV in Lent / 10.00 Holy Communion Saint Michael’s
Mothering Sunday 11.15 Morning Prayer The Cathedral
Monday 11th 10.30 Morning Prayer The Cathedral
Tuesday 12th 10.30 Morning Prayer The Cathedral
Wednesday 13th 10.30 Morning Prayer The Cathedral
Thursday 14th 10.30 Holy Communion The Cathedral
Friday 15th 10.30 Morning Prayer The Cathedral
Saturday 16th 10.30 Morning Prayer The Cathedral
14.30 Free Concert The Cathedral
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
THIS WEEK’S NOTICES
Sympathies: We extend our deepest sympathies to Philip & Barbara Bingham, and their family, on the death
of John David Francis Bingham, and we hold them in our prayers.
St Michael’s Table Quiz: Another Successful social event – a fun table quiz was held on Friday night in
Saint Michael’s Church hall with 50 odd people attending. This was a very enjoyable evening with a lot of
positive feedback. Thank you to Quiz master Philip Cullen and his helpers. A big thank you to all who
attended adding to the enjoyment of the evening. Thank you to the sponsors of the table and raffle prizes
and to the bakers for the delicious supper. Congratulations to the winning team “The Philistines” led by
Richard Allen and second place “The imposters” led by Michael Hogan from the Evergreens. Happy also
to say €785 was raised on the night.

Conservation Management Plan: thanks to all who assisted, served refreshments, and turned up to
support the launch of the Conversation Management Plan for Saint Mary’s, which was held in the Cathedral
on Wednesday last. The Conservation Management Plan is the work of a group under the direction of
architect Ms Margaret Quinlan. It is a comprehensive review of the fabric of Saint Mary's Cathedral and
will now act as a 'handbook' for any future work on the building. The plan has been fully paid through a
grant from the Dept. of Heritage. If anyone would like a digital copy of the plan, please email request it
from cathedrallimericksecretary@gmail.com

Sunday Club: meets on first and third Sundays of the month, in the Cathedral. Godly Play on 1st Sundays.
Parish Survey: To help discern the needs of the parish for the future, the Dean and Select Vestry have
invited Canon Michael Cavanagh to conduct a survey. Attached with paper copies available in the churches.
Closing date for responses: 15th March. Completed surveys may be given to the Churchwardens or left in
the appropriate basket in the churches (these will be posted to Canon Cavanagh).

Easter General Vestry: The meeting of the Easter General Vestry will be held on Sunday 10th March
at noon in the Cathedral (although this meeting will be adjourned until a later date, according to provisions
made in the Constitution). 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.

Saint Michael’s Committee Meeting: will be held on Wednesday 13th March at 8:00pm in Saint
Michael’s (Sunday School Room).

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. 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.)

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.

World Day of Prayer services in Villiers Square and Holy Rosary church were well attended and warm
thanks are due to all who participated and read at the services and also to those who made us so welcome
at each venue. Prepared four years ago by the Christian women of Palestine their words were particularly
moving at this very difficult time for all in the Holy Land.

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

Volunteer list for Cathedral: the Dean would be glad to hear from anyone who is available to be on
a volunteer list for Cathedral events that require extra help at the door, setting up chairs, etc.

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).

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:
Albert Lyttle, Chris Rice, Peggy Kavanagh, George Mc Elmurry, Ivor Wills, Arthur Knight, Michael (Mike)
Pomeroy, Swig Stokes, William (Bill) Gilmore, Joe Boyle and Tom Marsden.

Diocesan cycle of prayer: the Bishop writes: “We give thanks for experiences of wholesome and happy
family life, while praying for those whose family life has met with adversity and irretrievable breakdown.
We think particularly of those for whom Mothering Sunday is frankly very painful ... those who have lost
children through stillbirth or neo natal death, those who have never been able to have children of their
own, parents and children who are estranged, those who gave up babies for adoption perhaps many years
ago. There are so many other examples of people who need our prayer and care on this day when the
church often appears to gather around a rather idyllic picture of family. We also pray for our mother
churches , our six cathedrals , in their distinctive roles as focal points of beauty, holiness and gathering in
our very dispersed diocese.” Anglican Cycle of Prayer: The Episcopal Church.

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, and Jerry
Murphy. 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
10th March 17th March 24th March 31st March 7th April
REFRESHMENTS
Saint R&M Justin & Edel
K & S Morrow J & K Shier TBC
Michael’s Brickenden O'Connor
The Shawn & Carrie
Liz Lynam Keith O’Neill Brian Sheppard Lillian Okechukwu
Cathedral Jamieson
READERS
Saint Margaret Sheelagh
Lucy Kavanagh Daire McNamara TBC
Michael’s Brickenden Morrow
The Gillian
Frank Sheahan Lindsay Boyle Alan Bunworth 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
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