The Occasional Newsletter
of
Drogheda, Ardee and Kilsaran Unions of Parishes
Click here to view in Microsoft Word February 2022 In Touch
We can smile at the expression ‘a grand stretch’ in the evenings, but it lifts the spirits to see some extra daylight, the new snowdrops, the first crocus and to hear the good news on the covid front. We will not dispense with all of our covid mitigations: please continue to wear masks in church, to sanitize and when we have the space, to maintain social distancing. Many of our parishioners do not yet feel safe venturing into crowded spaces; those small mitigations are little trouble and might go some way to allay fears.
PUBLIC HOLIDAY 18 MARCH
At a Zoom meeting with the clergy on Thursday 27th January, the Archbishop said that he would like us to mark the public holiday with a service to acknowledge the lifting of restrictions. He will attend the service; it will be one for the whole of Co. Louth. The themes will be remembering all who have died in loneliness and fear during the pandemic, acknowledgement of the difficulties people have experienced, the extraordinary dedication to duty many have shown, and thanksgiving for coming safely thus far. Further information will be published in next month’s ‘In Touch’.
CONDOLENCES
We were saddened by the death of Mrs Helen Fryer, of Moorehall, who died on 2nd January. Helen had organised for her body to be given to medical research, a Memorial Service was held in St Mary’s Church, Ardee on 14th January. We extend our prayers and sympathies to her husband, Blaise, her son David, her grandchildren Elaine, Siobhan, Mark and Michael.
FORTHCOMING WEDDING
As the country re-opens again we are delighted to write that a wedding will take place in St. Peter’s. Joanne Allen, daughter of Lizanne and Ken, will marry John Dolan, son of Margaret and Paddy, in St Peter’s on Friday 11th March.
ASH WEDNESDAY and LENT
Ash Wednesday is on 2nd March. There will be the usual Wednesday services at 10 am in St Peter’s and also Wednesday Lent services in the other churches. Each service will be at 7.30 pm
2nd March Ash Wednesday Castlebellingham
9th March Ardee
16th March“ Drumcar
23rd March Dunleer
30th March Ardee
6th April Dunany
HOLY WEEK and EASTER SERVICES will be published in the March issue of ‘In Touch’.
CONFIRMATION
The Archbishop has given us a date for Confirmation: Sunday 5 June at 11:30 in St. Peter’s.
We plan to start classes in St Peter’s Parish Hall on 1 March at 6 pm
CONFIRMATION CLASSES
TUESDAYS 6-7 pm on 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 MARCH and 3, 10, 17, 24, and on 31 MAY rehearsal in Church
ALL ABOVE DATES TO BE CONFIRMED
Classes will be conducted by the Mr Ian Moore, Dr Iain Jamieson and Joyce.
Anyone who has not already done so, please register with Joyce.
Email: moorejoyce72@gmail.com and please supply the following information:
Child’s Full name
Date of birth
Date of baptism (as accurately as you can remember)
Place of baptism
Parents’/guardians’ names
Home Address
Contact number for at least one parent/guardian
Email of parent/guardian
MUSIC FOR CONFIRMATION
As the service is for the whole rural deanery, all the organists and choir directors will have an input into what is chosen. We hope to have members of St Nicholas’ choir and it would be wonderful if we had singers from our group of parishes to join with them. Arrangements for choir practices will be published in the March ‘In Touch’.
GRAVEYARD POLICY
Thank you to the graveyard committee in St Mary’s Ardee, who have put together a realistic and fair graveyard policy. It will be circulated to local undertakers.
PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS
Those ill in hospital, nursing home or their own homes.
Those whose work brings them into personal danger.
Those affected by war or civil instability.
That war in Ukraine will be avoided.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO IN TOUCH
If you have any contributions/noteworthy dates which you would like included in
In Touch please email details to hazelspearman@icloud.com
The Church of Ireland (Anglican/Episcopalian)
Services in Drogheda, Ardee and Kilsaran Unions of Parishes
There will be a mid-week celebration of Holy Communion in St. Peter’s, each Wednesday at 10 a.m
Sunday 6th February- 4th Sunday before Lent
| 08.15am | Holy Communion | St. Peter’s, Drogheda |
| 09:45am | Holy Communion | St. Mary’s Abbey, Ardee |
| 10.00am | Morning Prayer | Castlebellingham |
| 11.15am | Morning Prayer | Dunleer |
| 11.30am | Holy Communion | St.Peter’s, Drogheda |
Sunday 13th February 3rd Sunday before Lent
| 08.15am | Holy Communion | St. Peter’s, Drogheda |
| 09:45am | Morning Prayer | St. Mary’s Abbey, Ardee |
| 10.00 am | Holy Communion | Castlebellingham |
| 11.30 am | Morning Prayer | St. Peter’s Drogheda |
| 4pm | Evening Prayer | Drumcar |
Sunday 20th February – 2nd Sunday before Lent
| 08.15am | Holy Communion | St. Peter’s, Drogheda |
| 09:45am | Holy Communion | St. Mary’s Abbey, Ardee |
| 10.00am | Morning Prayer | Castlebellingham |
| 11.15am | Morning Prayer | Dunleer |
| 11.30am | Holy Communion | St. Peter’s Drogheda |
Sunday 27th February – 1st Sunday in Lent
| 08.15am | Holy Communion | St. Peter’s, Drogheda |
| 09:45am | Morning Prayer | St. Mary’s Abbey, Ardee |
| 10.00am | Holy Communion | Dunleer |
| 11.30am | Morning Prayer | St. Peter’s Drogheda |
| 4pm | Evening Prayer | Dunany |
Sunday 6th March – 2nd Sunday in Lent
| 08.15am | Holy Communion | St. Peter’s, Drogheda |
| 09:45am | Holy Communion | St. Mary’s Abbey, Ardee |
| 10.00 am | Morning Prayer | Castlebellingham |
| 11.15 am | Morning Prayer | Dunleer |
| 11.30am | Holy Communion | St. Peter’s Drogheda |
Clergy
The Rev’d Dr, Iain Jamieson, Tel: (041) 9870073/ 083 8640133
The Rectory, Drogheda Email: i.jamieson@hotmail.com
The Rev’d Canon Joyce Moore Tel: (041) 6851327/087 7468866
Dunleer, Co. Louth Email: am.drogheda@armagh.anglican.org