AGM: The AGM of the Intermediate Club will take place on Friday, December 17th at 8.30pm. This is the opportunity to review the achievements of 2010 and plan for 2011. All members should make an earnest attempt to attend.
Firewood Auction: This auction was held in the GAA Complex last Sunday afternoon in ideal weather conditions. Despite a slow start demand was good, and the bidding was brisk. All 34 lots of timber were sold and good value was attained all round. The club would like to remind you that it has considerable reserves of timber ready for purchase. A Cake sale was held and tea and soup were served. Tommy Collins won a trailer of timber. The club at this stage would like to thank everyone who helped to prepare for this auction. This was essentially a team effort which took more than 6 weeks of hard work, cutting, chopping and loading timber which insured everything was ready for the big day. Also the people around the parish who generously donated trees and the Social committee who served the teas and soup
and sold the tickets for the raffle. Last, but not least, auctioneer John Phelan did an excellent job on the day insuring that max value was attained for all lots.
Squash: The Squash season is in full flight at the moment. It is the ideal game to keep in shape over the festive season. A Squash membership gift voucher makes the ideal Christmas present. For full details, contact John Healy.
Fridays in Ballina: Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament from 10.30am to 5pm. Midday Prayer of the Church and Benediction at 1.05pm. Why not come along and pray awhile with us?
Trocaire: Make Trocaire Global Gifts part of your Christmas traditions and help change someone’s future. Phone 1850 408 408 or go on line to www.trocaire.org/globalgift – or purchase a Trocaire Global Gift from the Trocaire Centre, 12 Cathedral St, Dublin 1 or 9 Cook St, Cork.
Recently Baptised: We welcome into God’s Family, Lyla May Swords, daughter of Kevin and Lisa, Grange Road, who was baptized recently.
Ar Shli na Firinne: Remember in your prayers the soul of Kathleen Tully, KInvara, mother of Anne O’Connor, Shannon View.
Ballina Choir: Would you like to be part of our Church Choir? We are still recruiting. Old and new members are welcome. Give your name to Paul or Martina Collins on 086 8234464.
Parish Hall Hire: If you would like to use the Parish Hall in Ballina, please contact the Parish Office on 061 376178 Monday to Friday between 10.30am and 1.30pm. You will need to fill out a form detailing times, your intentions with the Hall and assurance that you are aware of the appropriate guidelines.
Confessions for Christmas: Monday, December 20th to Wednesday, December 22nd after 10am Mass in Ballina. Christmas Eve from 2pm to 3pm in Ballina and Boher Churches.
For your attention: Twice in the past six months the donation boxes in Ballina Church have been broken into and the contents robbed. Many churches around the country are locked all day and only open for services. Many of those that are open all day now have fitted CCTV in the hope of preventing criminal activity taking place. Please let us know your feelings about the fitting of CCTV in Ballina Church.
During the cold spell of weather, please be mindful of those who are living alone and the elderly.
Lottery: Winning Numbers: 8 13 17 27. No winner. Next Week’s Jackpot stands at €12,200. Build up Jackpot: €4,400 €30 Lucky Dip Winners: Pat Reddan, Main St, Killaloe: Mary Bourke, Kilbane, Co. Clare: Nora O’Brien, New St, Killaloe: Mary Conway, Killaloe: Mike Hayes, On line Winner. Next Week’s draw will take place in Walsh’s Bar on Monday, December 20th, at 9pm. The Lotto can now be done on-line. Log onto locallotto.ie, click on Ireland, then Tipperary and scroll down to the Ballina GAA and Parish site. One Lucky Dip is dedicated to those who play on-line every week.
Apostolic Visitation: In his Pastoral Letter to the Catholics of Ireland, Pope Benedict XVI expressed his deep sorrow and regret regarding abuse perpetrated by priests and religious and the way in which such cases had been responded to in the past. He also called for an Apostolic Visitation of certain dioceses in Ireland, as well as seminaries and religious congregations. The Most Reverend Thomas C. Collins, Archbishop of Toronto, will serve as the Visitor for Cashel and Emly. He will visit the Archdiocese for a number of weeks during January of 2011. The Archbishop will meet with anyone who wishes to contact him regarding anything related to sexual abuse by clergy in the Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly. One group of people whom all the Visitors are asked to meet as a priority are any victims or their families who wish to do so, and whose situation relates to the Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly. He will also meet with office holders in the Archdiocese and those responsible for Safeguarding Children at diocesan and parish level. Finally, other priests, religious and lay faithful and individual men and women who wish to be received by the visiting Prelates may request this in writing.
