3rd Anniversary of War in Ukraine:

CHURCH NOTES:

Last Sunday, we remembered the anniversaries of Paddy Morrissey, Dan & Kathleen Monckton, Joan Scanlon, Patjo & Eileen Cronin. I measc na naofa go mbeidh síad I gcónaí.

Mass Requests can be taken in the Church every Thursday, Friday and Sunday, after Mass. Mass Cards/Bouquets are also available after any of the Masses. Church open 9.30 - 5pm daily.

Ash Wednesday: Wed 5th Mar, Mass in Ballingarry at 10am and in Granagh at 7pm.

St. Patrick's Day: Mon 17th, Mass in Granagh at 10am, vigil mass in Ballingarry on Sun 16th at 7pm.

CHY FORMS: If you receive a form in the post, please complete, sign and return. It means you are allowing the Church to claim tax relief on your donations for a five year period which can increase the donation value up to an additional 45%. This can mean a huge boost to parish finances.

GIVE BLOOD:

Mon 24th & Tue 25th Feb, Castletroy Park Hotel, from 16:20 - 19:40.

Wed, 26th Feb, Woodlands Hotel Adare, from 16:50 - 20:10.

Thur 27th Feb, Crescent Shopping Centre Unit 1A, City Mall from 15:50 - 19:10

Severe weather events, including Storm Éowyn, and high levels of respiratory illness within communities has significantly impacted blood collections. In 2024, the IBTS issued the highest number of blood donation units to hospitals in over a decade, at just under 128,500 units. This exceptionally high demand has continued unabated into 2025. The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) urgently needs new donors, younger donors, donors of all ethnicities and in particular, those of African heritage. Please call 1800 222 111 to book your appointment.

TEA DANCING:

Sun 2nd Mar, 3-6pm. Monagea Hall. Music by Eddie Lee and refreshments will be served. All welcome, continues on the First Sunday of every Month.

NIDRA YOGA:

Wed 5th Mar, 7.30pm - 8.30pm. Granagh Hall. Eileen will be starting the next block of classes for four weeks, book directly with her.

WHY VOTE:

Ireland’s independent electoral commission, are preparing a Strategy to try and encourage people to get more involved with the democratic process. They want people to tell them what they think should happen. And they want those who do not vote to tell them why.

They want people from all sectors of society, all walks of life in Ireland to use their voice and to vote in elections and referendums. Whether you have voted in every election or never voted before they want to hear from you. Do you have a brilliant or simple idea as to how they can help people become more engaged with the democratic system? They want to hear from individuals, groups, organisations, people in classrooms, younger, older and everyone in between.

The deadline for submissions to the Education and Public Engagement Strategy consultation is Monday 24 March 2025. See www.electoralcommission.ie or write to - Block M, Dublin Castle, Dublin 2, D02 X8X8.

TRÓCAIRE in UKRAINE:

Three years on, the people of Ukraine continue to suffer through war and concern over their future.

The large-scale Russian invasion in Feb 2022 marked a devastating escalation of the conflict, following the 2014 annexation of Crimea and the occupation of parts of Eastern Ukraine. In response to the crisis, Trócaire worked with local partners, Caritas Ukraine and Caritas Spes, to deliver assistance to conflict-affected regions across the country.

By late 2024, over 3.7 million people remained displaced within Ukraine, with 6 million more seeking refuge abroad. The war’s toll on housing, infrastructure, and mental health has created urgent needs. An increasing number of families deal with the loss of family members, mostly husbands, sons and fathers. Trócaire Caritas partners share inspiring stories of hope at the Caritas medical centre for palliative care in Ivano-Frankyvsk. Elderly patients, many of whom are displaced from the conflict zones in the East, receive quality care, medication and psychosocial support.

Petro's story; I’m from Kherson. I worked in construction for twenty seven years as a master in the technical control department. After retiring, I occasionally worked in security.

My two daughters are in Poland, I have a son in Russia and one in Canada. They do call me, but today is a hard day - it’s been a whole year since I lost my wife, Lyubochka. First, she suffered a stroke. She needed medication, but she refused. We moved to my in-laws’ apartment to survive. Then she had a heart attack.

If only there were no war. What did we ever do to them? We lived through bombings and gas cuts, we had no heating. I left Kherson. First, volunteers took me to Odessa, where I spent a month in an infectious disease hospital - I had a bacterial infection in my leg. They said, “This is urgent; your leg needs to be amputated. We won’t be able to save it.” Then I was brought to Ivano-Frankyvsk. I didn’t even know where I was going, but when I arrived, it felt like being born again. I’ve been here for three months now. It’s a wonderful place. The staff and the attendants are incredible. I’ve never met such kind people.

When I arrived here, I felt worthless. But now, I feel human again. I had no one back in Kherson. This place is my home. I don’t want to leave. I wish to take my last breath here."

Petro shares a room with fellow patient, Anatoliy, who has suffered terribly during the war. His home has been destroyed, his entire village destroyed, there’s nothing left.

He was in a hospital in the Prokrov region a month ago. The volunteers took him out of there because it got too dangerous. They brought him here also. " It’s much better, I feel I can breathe, I can also sleep again and be sure I will wake up tomorrow." As the conflict enters its fourth year, Trócaire will continue to support our partners doing this essential work. www.trocaire.org

DID YOU KNOW:

24th Feb,1841 - John Philip Holland, inventor/developer of the submarine, born in Clare.

25th Feb,1947 - “Worst blizzard for 25 years, hits Ireland ” headlines at the time.!

26th Feb,2001 - Blizzards, gale force winds and driving hail sweep the country, leaving many households without electricity or heat. Flights cancelled at Dublin Airport and roads are left impassable after heavy falls of snow.!

27th Feb, 2001 - To help prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease, the Six Nation is cancelled; the Government has asked the racing industry not to participate in Cheltenham. All horse racing and greyhound meets are cancelled.

28th Feb,1998 - Death of one of TV's best-loved comedy stars, Dermot Morgan, who played Father Ted.