Ballybrown Parish Groups
SERVICE GROUPS
In Ballybrown, Altar Servers comprising both boys and girls serve at the 8.00pm Saturday Vigil Mass and at 10.00am Mass on Sunday. The Altar servers also serve at a number of other special occasions throughout the year. If anyone would like to become an altar server we would be delighted to hear from you.
Contact: Marian McGregor
Baptism is the first Sacrament we receive. It is important that parents be aware of the very deep commitment that they are making when they bring a baby to be baptised. The Parish Baptism Team has been formed to provide advice and assistance to the parents of the children to be baptised, on the celebration of Baptism and on their practical participation in the ceremony on the baptismal day.
Contact: Parish Office
The Bereavement Support Group is a parish-based service which offers confidential and understanding support to those who are grieving. Its members have received training in Bereavement support and have personal experience of grief and loss. Our role is to support and listen rather than counsel. Where necessary we can assist people to access counselling or any other practical help or information that may be of assistance to them. If requested, we offer home visits to the bereaved following a Bereavement or in a neutral setting such as the Resource Centre, if preferred. This is suitable for people at any stage following a loss or bereavement.
Helen O’Neill
Tel: 086 8285717
The maintenance and upkeep of our churches, parochial houses and grounds is an ongoing task and responsibility. In recent times we have seen essential repairs carried out to Ballybrown church roof and guttering, and refurbishment of the choir gallery.
Whenever instructions are given by the Finance Committee that particular works need to be undertaken, the buildings maintenance team ensures that the works are carried out successfully.
Contact: Kieran McCarthy
A volunteer team of stewards and marshals assists throughout the year in managing the flow and access of the car parks in and around the church grounds, cemeteries and private homes at Christmas and Easter, times of bereavement or other large parish events. There is always a need for new stewards to come along and help out. The success and smooth management of many parish occasions is due to these dedicated volunteers down through the years.
Contact: John Michael Cosgrave
The Children and Young People’s Liturgy Team are a voluntary group who help prepare liturgical activities for the Children’s Liturgy which takes place on special occasions during the year. The group also help prepare the liturgy for the special Exams Mass for Junior Cert, Leaving Cert and Third Level candidates within the parish who are sitting these examinations. This Mass is usually held on a Saturday evening during May. A Book of Intentions is established to the side of the church sanctuary in advance of the liturgy, and is kept open throughout the exams season.
New volunteers would be very welcome.
Contact: Julie-Ann McCormack and Margaret O’Brien
The Cleaning Ministry consists of a rota of volunteers who clean the church and sanctuary weekly, and especially in preparation for Christmas and Easter. Keeping our place of worship clean is an important contribution to the parish and many hands make light work!
Contact: Noreen Fitzgerald
Each and every Sunday and on special Holy Days, the Collectors organise the collection of the offerings that parishioners generously donate.
Contact: Parish Office
The Planned Giving Envelopes are distributed annually throughout the Parish. A dedicated team of envelope distributors collect the boxes from the Parish Centre in December and if a parishioner has signed up for Planned Giving, a member of the team will drop in the new set of envelopes to the house. New volunteers to help with this task would be very welcome as there is quite a large area to cover.
Contact: Parish Office
You are invited to grow in faith and love of our Lord with us, by coming to Eucharistic Adoration at Ballybrown and Patrickswell Churches. Whether you regularly visit an Adoration chapel or have never experienced the quiet and peace of praying before our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, all are invited to participate. Eucharistic Adoration is performed by each person being present before the Eucharist in silent prayer often for a period of about an hour. It is very desirable to have at least one person present in the church when the Blessed Sacrament is exposed and the church should never be empty at a time when it is exposed. Volunteers are needed to ensure that this does not happen.
Contact: Nell Cosgrave
Ministers of the Eucharist are appointed to assist with the distribution of Holy Communion at weekend Masses. Eucharistic Ministers also bring Holy Communion to the sick, elderly or housebound in their homes.
Contact: Jim Penney
At Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus Son of God and Son of Mary. The children and their families are encouraged to take part in the Mass through the readings, choir, and Offertory procession. A Family Mass Liturgy is celebrated on the afternoon of Christmas Eve and is prepared by the Family Mass group, Ballybrown Church.
Contact: Parish Office
The Parish Finance Committee which comprises a combined group of laity and parish priest was formed by our previous Parish Priest Fr. Muiris O’Connor. The Committee advises on parish finances, insurance, maintenance and development of parish property. It acts as a consultative body to the Parish Priest, monitors the income and expenditure of the parish and sanctions any significant expenditure. Parish Accounts are audited and published annually. The Finance Committee meets between four and six times per year. The chairperson of the Committee is Tom Donovan. At present there are five members on the Committee and Fr Mike.
Committee Members: Fiona Collins, Mary Corby, Tom Donovan, Seamus Enright, Joe Tierney and Fr Michael Cussen, PP VF
Contact: Parish Office
During the pandemic it was necessary to go to an online First Eucharist Sacramental Preparation Programme as it was not possible to follow the “Do This in Memory of Me” programme, attending monthly Masses with the necessary preparation, given the current situation with the Covid-19 pandemic and the restrictions with no public Masses and with the limited number of people who could attend public Masses when they did return. The Home-Based Preparation Programme sourced was the My Faith online programme of preparation which could be carried out at home.
Now in 2022/2023 Patrickswell and Ballybrown National Schools have returned to follow the “Do This in Memory “ programme, attending Parish Mass monthly with the necessary preparation. A significant part of the year long programme takes place at the Saturday and Sunday Masses during the school year. Patrickswell First Eucharist class attend the Saturday evening Mass at 6.30pm or the Sunday morning Mass at 11.30am, while Ballybrown First Eucharist class attend the Saturday evening Mass at 8.00pm or the Sunday morning Mass at 10.00am monthly.
For further information please visit our Sacrament of First Eucharist page.
Contact: Parish Office
The Flower Arranging Group looks after the flower arrangements for the Altars and Sanctuary on a weekly basis all the year round, except for weddings and funerals. We are happy to welcome new members at any time.
Contact: Maura Byrnes
The Liturgical Art group work alongside the Flower Arranging group decorating the church appropriately during the year.
We hang banners in the church at various times during the year to symbolise the different liturgical dates, such as during Lent and Advent.
We also construct a crib during Advent for Christmas, and a Resurrection Garden at Easter.
Our local Parish Pastoral Council consists of lay people of the parish who work together to build our parish into a vibrant Christian community reflecting the Gospel values of love, justice and peace. It is seen as a means of encouraging the shared responsibility of all the baptised in the life and mission of the Church. The Parish Pastoral Council provides a leadership structure which enables the parish priest and the parishioners to work together to build up a dynamic Christian community characterised by faith, worship, evangelisation and service.
Recruitment forms a very important part of our agenda. We are seeking parishioners to help in all areas of Ministry. Initially we have sought additional Ministers of the Eucharist and Ministers of the Word where our existing teams would welcome an influx of new members to help spread the load of work. We also plan to recruit a Funeral Ministry Team.
Chairman: Kieran McCarthy
Ministers of the Word proclaim the Word of God at Mass on Sundays and Holy Days. They take turns on a rota basis which generally involves once a month commitment. New Readers would be very welcome.
Contact: Margaret O’Brien
MUSIC MINISTRY GROUPS
Our mission is to enhance the 10.00 am Mass on Sunday mornings through music and song . We would be happy to welcome new singers and/or instrumentalists.
Contact: Noreen Cusack / Edmond Power
Ballybrown Church Choir was formed in 1986 and has faithfully accompanied Christmas and Easter Masses and devotions, special celebrations and occasional community events since that time. Please visit our website to find out more about our choir.
Our mission is to enhance the 8:00pm Vigil Mass on Saturday evenings through music and song . We would be delighted to welcome new singers and/or instrumentalists and musicians.
Contact: Rosaleen Donovan Tel. 061 353600 / Mob 087 226 7647
OUTREACH GROUPS
The Journal was first published in 2001 on the initiative of Willie Ryan who gathered together a small group of interested individuals to produce the first edition for Christmas 2001. The Journal is now a well-established and eagerly awaited periodical, appearing each year in time for Christmas perusal and distribution both at home and overseas. The collation and publication of material is co-ordinated by a hard-working committee of six parishioners who welcome any and all contributions from local clubs, organisations, societies or individuals, of events which have occurred throughout the year. Items for inclusion are accepted at any time of the year up until the final deadline around the middle of October. Old photographs are a particular favourite with readers and historical articles also feature each year in connection with local people and communities from times past.
Committee Members: Tom Donovan, Des Fitzgerald, Mary Kelly, Martin Hayes, Michael McNamara, Carl Musgrave, Willie Ryan
Chairman: Tom Donovan
Tel: 061 353600
UPDATE: APRIL 2023 –
Diocesan Autumn Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2023
The Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes is happily continuing this year and, reverting back to the traditional June dates, will take place over five (5) nights from 22nd to 27th June 2023. It will be operating again this year through Joe Walsh Tours. Booking forms are available from the Diocesan Office, St. Munchin’s College, Corbally, tel. 061 350000 and also from the Augustinian Church in O’Connell Street, Limerick after daily Mass (March and April only).
Further details are available on the Limerick Diocesan website at this link
Members hold a regular monthly meeting in the sacristy of Ballybrown Church. Our main project each year is to sponsor ill or disabled parishioners to take part in the Limerick Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes, who might not otherwise be in a position to participate. We are proud of and fully support the Ballybrown Parish Journal which is a crucial source of the necessary funding. Further details about the Pioneer Association can be found at the Pioneer website
Local Contact: Willie Ryan
Tel: 086 0574554
The annual Ballybrown Senior Citizens’ Christmas Party is a much loved and anticipated occasion where every year seniors from the local community, supported by a team of dedicated volunteers, come together to celebrate the festive season. Each December our senior citizens are treated to a Christmas Party in Ballybrown GAA Clubhouse, beginning with the celebration of Mass followed by a lavish Christmas dinner with all the trimmings including a gift for each guest and moving on to complete the enjoyment and celebration with music and dancing. Card nights, bag packs, table quizzes, church gate collections and other events are held throughout the year to help with fund-raising.
If you would like to get involved in any way please contact us.
Contact: Margaret O’Brien
The Thursday Club is a member of Active Retirement Ireland and has been going strong in Ballybrown since 2002. It meets every Thursday from September to June in Ballybrown/Clarina Community Resource Centre, beginning with an exercise routine at 10.30 am and followed at 11.30 by the club activities.
As well as various activities on site including art classes, card games, gentle exercise and dance, old-time singing and a tasty morning tea, the Club also enjoys many day trips away to beauty spots and other interesting destinations. There is an annual Mass for deceased Club Members every year at Easter.
Contact: Maura Byrnes
Tel:
Clarina Tidy Towners are a team of hard-working and dedicated local people who meet regularly to carry out clean-ups along the public roads and footpaths in and around the village. We always need more volunteers, as “many hands make light work”. If you can spare an hour or so on an occasional evening from around late March onwards, we would make you very welcome. We usually meet at 7.00pm on Tuesday nights outside Croc’s Hair Salon. You can read more about us on the Clarina Village website.
Chairman: John Looney
Patrickswell Parish Groups
SERVICE GROUPS
The maintenance and upkeep of our churches, parochial houses and grounds is an ongoing task and responsibility. In recent times we have seen fresh painting work to the meeting room in Patrickswell church, and extensive upgrade work carried out to the church car park area and surrounds.
Whenever instructions are given by the Finance Committee that particular works need to be undertaken, the buildings maintenance team ensures that the works are carried out successfully.
The Cleaning Ministry consists of a rota of volunteers who clean the church and sanctuary weekly, and especially in preparation for Christmas and Easter. Keeping our place of worship clean is an important contribution to the parish and many hands make light work.
Each and every Sunday and on special Holy Days, the Collectors organise the collection of the offerings that parishioners generously donate.
Contact: Parish Office
The Planned Giving Envelopes are distributed annually throughout the Parish. A dedicated team of envelope distributors collect the boxes from the Parish Centre in December and if a parishioner has signed up for Planned Giving, a member of the team will drop in the new set of envelopes to the house. New volunteers to help with this task would be very welcome as there is quite a large area to cover.
Contact: Parish Office
You are invited to grow in faith and love of our Lord with us, by coming to Eucharistic Adoration at Ballybrown and Patrickswell Churches. Whether you regularly visit an Adoration chapel or have never experienced the quiet and peace of praying before our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, all are invited to participate. Eucharistic Adoration is performed by each person being present before the Eucharist in silent prayer often for a period of about an hour. It is very desirable to have at least one person present in the church when the Blessed Sacrament is exposed and the church should never be empty at a time when it is exposed. Volunteers are needed to ensure that this does not happen.
The Eucharistic Ministers are an important part of the Lay Ministry, serving the Church by distributing Holy Communion during Mass.
The Parish Finance Committee which comprises a combined group of laity and parish priest was formed by our previous Parish Priest Fr. Muiris O’Connor. The Committee advises on parish finances, insurance, maintenance and development of parish property. It acts as a consultative body to the Parish Priest, monitors the income and expenditure of the parish and sanctions any significant expenditure. Parish Accounts are audited and published annually. The Finance Committee meets between four and six times per year. The chairperson of the Committee is Tom Donovan. At present there are five members on the committee and Fr Mike.
Committee Members: Fiona Collins, Mary Corby, Tom Donovan, Seamus Enright, Joe Tierney and Fr Michael Cussen, PP VF
Contact: Parish Office
During the pandemic it was necessary to go to an online First Eucharist Sacramental Preparation Programme as it was not possible to follow the “Do This in Memory of Me” programme, attending monthly Masses with the necessary preparation, given the current situation with the Covid-19 pandemic and the restrictions with no public Masses and with the limited number of people who could attend public Masses when they did return. The Home-Based Preparation Programme sourced was the My Faith online programme of preparation which could be done at home.
Now in 2022/2023 Patrickswell and Ballybrown National Schools have returned to follow the “Do This in Memory “ programme, attending Parish Mass monthly with the necessary preparation. A significant part of the year long programme takes place at the Saturday and Sunday Masses during the school year. Patrickswell First Eucharist class attend the Saturday evening Mass at 6.30pm or the Sunday morning Mass at 11.30am, while Ballybrown First Eucharist class attend the Saturday evening Mass at 8.00pm or the Sunday morning Mass at 10.00am monthly.
For further information please visit our Sacrament of First Eucharist page.
Contact: Parish Office
The Flower Arranging Group looks after the flower arrangements for the Altars and Sanctuary on a weekly basis all the year round, except for weddings and funerals. We are happy to welcome new members at any time.
Contact person: Claire Ahern
Contact: Richard Bennis
The council was established to assist in the running of the parish, and to give parishioners a voice.
The group meets each week for an hour to pray for the needs of the parish, for those who ask for and need our prayers, and for the various needs of the country and the world around us.
The Ministers of the Word are another important part of the Lay Ministry, relaying the Word of God through the reading of the Scriptures.
MUSIC MINISTRY GROUPS
During Covid our Masses are enhanced by music and song at the 6.30pm Vigil Mass on Saturday evenings and 11.30am Mass on Sunday mornings through cantor/s and organ or playing the guitar . We would be happy to welcome new singers and/or instrumentalists.
The choir adds another dimension to the spiritual and pastoral life of the community, singing at special liturgies such as Christmas and Easter.
OUTREACH GROUPS
Members meet monthly for various activities, and also organise day trips to interesting places. The group has supported Milford Hospice, The Alzheimer’s Association and the Community Development Fund.
Contact: Chris Canty
The Community Council has been in existence since 2000, and its Mission Statement commits to improving the quality of the economic and cultural life of Patrickswell. The council sponsors the monthly newsletter and was also responsible for setting up the Resource Centre, which has become the hub of community activities, and also offers a wide range of citizens’ information and services.
Chairperson: Michael McSweeney
Running in Patrickswell based at the back of the National School in Patrickswell.
Contact: 086 1074810
Also on Facebook
The Friday Club meets weekly in the Resource Centre from 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm and offers an open door for anyone who may wish to drop in for a friendly chat and a cup of tea. The welcome is extended to everyone and is an ideal opportunity for those who are isolated or lonely to keep in touch with the community.
Phil Flanagan
The Tidy Towns group was formed in 2000 committing themselves to improving the appearance of the village and its surroundings, with the original ethic of teamwork, commitment, and a pride in where we live still very much to the fore. The group has won many awards in the various County Environmental Competitions and was the winner of the first Limerick in Bloom Award in 2008.
Contact: Sam Milburn
Contact Parish Office for further information 061-353454