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BIRR PARISH Parish Office: 057 9122028 Parish Mobile: 086 3531955

Website: www.stbrendansbirr.ie Email: info@stbrendansbirr.ie Priest on Duty - Please call Parish Mobile - 086 3531955

Fr. David Carroll—057-9120098 Fr. Michael Reddan—057-9121757

Fr. Pat Gilbert—057-9120098

Parish Office Opening Hours Monday, Tuesday,

Thursday, Friday & Saturday 9.45 a.m. - 12.30 p.m.

St. Brendan’s, Birr Church of the Annunciation, Carrig

Remembered in Mass this week

Sat 3nd 7.30 p.m. Olive Byrne (MM) Teresa Milne (1st Anniversary) & husband Michael & Raymond & Michael Jr.

Sun 4th 10.30 a.m. Corrigan family Paschal & Noreen Coolahan & son Fred

12 noon Ryta O’Connor (1st Ann) Mary Coolahan Eamon Hensey Josie Lawlor Rodney Anderson

Tues 6th 10.00 a.m. People of the Parish

Thurs 8th 10.00 a.m. Olive Byrne

Fri 9th 10.00 a.m. Mick Roche Patsy Gleeson

Sat 10th 7.30 p.m.. Martin Rice Brendan & Bernadette Corboy Ann Calvey

Sun 11th 10.30 a.m. John Joe, Marie & Pat Sheeran & family Peter King & son Charles James & Annie Kearns

12 noon Paschal Campbell (MM) Frank McGregor & Ned King Tom Pardy

Carrig 9.30 a.m. Bernadette Turner

Sunday Mass Times 9.30 a.m.

Sunday Mass Times Vigil: 7.30 p.m.

Sun: 8.30 a.m., 10.30 a.m. and 12 noon

Sponsored By

Birr Red Cross

Meetings - Wed Night @ 7.30 p.m. Presbytery, John’s Mall. New Members Welcome

Parish Fund Counters for September 11th M. O’Gorman & R. O’Brien

Basket Collection Last Sunday - €1,942

Pope Francis will declare Blessed Teresa of Calcutta a Saint in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican during Mass on this Sunday. Mother Teresa has inspired thousands of people across the world and her order has 19 mission homes in Kolkata, as well as several others around the world. The Missionaries of Charity also operate schools, care for ex-prostitutes and run soup kitchens. Mother Teresa often struggled with faith but knew that regardless of feeling God's pres-ence, there was a form of right and wrong that had to be obeyed. She knew that right required charity. She demonstrated that a person can live a faith-filled life even when filled with doubts. Her message is universal. No matter what religion a person is, or if they don't believe at all, Mother Teresa's life message, to embrace suffering, especially that of the poor. Mother Teresa is important because she lived her life in such a way as to inspire kindness. Thank you to all who returned their CHY taxback forms. We recently received €422.32 from Inland Revenue in addition to the €11,028.46 received earlier in the year. This was at no cost to the 59 individuals concerned and we really do appreciate all those who took the time to com-plete the forms. We are making a fresh appeal to people who have not completed a form to consider doing so. If you pay tax (either self-employed or PAYE) and give an average of €5.00 a week to the church either in the basket collection, parish development fund envelopes or priests collection we ask that you complete a form to help parish funds at a time when contributions are dropping and our costs are on the increase. Many thanks. 9 September is the feast day of St Ciaran of Clonmacnois. Born in Roscommon he studied with Enda of Aran and Senan of Scattery Island before being ordained a priest. The monastery he founded at Clonmacnois became one of the most important in Europe, though at the age of 33 he died before the building was completed. Why not take a trip to the monastery and learn more about this great monastic site? Thank you for your contributions to the Priests Benevolent Fund collection which is being tak-en up this weekend. Your generosity will help sick and retired priests of the Killaloe diocese. "What is Catholic Social Teaching and why is it Important to us Today as Church". The Killaloe Diocese Justice and Peace Group are organising a talk on this subject by Dennis Bates from Shannon parish. It will be held in the Conference Room of St Brendan's on Thursday 29 September at 8pm and all are welcome. Search for them on Facebook. Parents of children who are receiving Sacraments in 2017 are asked to note the following dates:

Monday 26 September for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion Tuesday 27 September for Confirmation

Meetings will be held in the County Arms Hotel at 8pm on these nights and it is important that every family who are celebrating the Sacraments in 2017 are represented. If you are unable to attend the meeting please contact Fr. David on 086 3531955 or Joan Hogan our Sacramental Co-ordinator on 089 4400853.

The Birr Review 2016 is currently being compiled . If you have had a family member who has passed away since 1 November 2015 and who either had their Funeral Mass cel-ebrated in Birr or Carrig churches or were buried in Clonoghill or Carrig cemeteries and would like to have them included in this year's publication, please contact us at birrreview@gmail.com before Monday 12 September. Going to UCC this year? Pop into the chaplaincy on Col-lege Road for a cuppa. The full-time chaplains are always available to listen, and to provide you with whatever guid-ance and help you need on your university journey. At the Honan Chapel we welcome you to daily and Sunday Mass, prayer services, or for some quiet time on your own.

Irish National Grandparents Pilgrimage to Knock takes place on next Sunday, 11 Sept. Anointing of the Sick will take place at 2.30pm and the Pilgrimage Mass will begin at 3pm with Archbishop Michael Neary as chief celebrant.

Speak Bright speech & drama classes with Sarah Gene Loughnane LLSMD begin in the County Arms Hotel on Tuesday 20th September. To book please call 085 2389292. Oxmantown Singers - classes resumes for Autumn/Winter term on September 19th. Further enquiries to Deirdre Han-niffy on 086-8495231. Sarah Molloy School of Speech and Drama - Classes resume Saturday, September 17th in the Marian Hall. Call 086 8107883 for more information. Knitting & Crochet Circle in Birr Library every Wednesday from 5.30 p.m. - 7.30 p.m. New members welcome. Contact 086 8792096 for more details.

In response to a number of queries the Blessing of Graves will take

place in both Carrig and Clonoghill on Sunday 6 November.

Please have consideration for those attending church to pray and make

sure that you have switched off your mobile phones before Mass.