Holy Trinity Church, Ratoath

4 October 2009

Opening hours for the Parish Office: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from 9.30am– 4.00pm

Congratulations to Isobelle and Lucy Kelly (Fox Lodge Manor), Kyle Levingston (The Old Mill),

Katie Lundy (Somerville), Alan Keogh (Baltrasna), Erin Hughes (Fox Lodge Manor) and

Kelly Walsh (Woodlands) who were baptised recently.

Congratulations to Andrea Kenny and Declan Kelly who were married on Saturday.

Envelope Collection for the week ending 20^th & 27^th September €2,314.83

Many thanks for your continued support and generosity.

A meeting of the Board of Management of Ratoath Junior National School will be held in the Parish Pastoral Centre on Tuesday next 6^th October at 7.30pm

A meeting of the Board of Management of St Paul’s National School will be held in the school on Wednesday next 7^th October at 4.00pm

A meeting of the Board of Management of Rathbeggan National School will be held in the Parish Pastoral Centre on Wednesday next 7^th October at 8.30pm

The Children’s Liturgy Committee will meet in the Parish Pastoral Centre on Wednesday next 7^th October at 8.00pm

The Baptismal Team will meet on Thursday next 8^th October in the Parish Pastoral Centre at 7.30pm, followed by supper in the Parochial House.

Parish Youth Choir: The parish has established a new choir for young people. It will be directed by Deirdre Kinsella and will meet for practise on Monday evenings for an hour beginning at 7.45pm. For more information contact the Parish Office.

At the Masses next weekend, we will celebrate our annual Thanksgiving for the Harvest.

October is Mission Month, the annual worldwide Catholic celebration of the Church’s missionary activity. This annual celebration encourages Catholics to lend support, through spiritual and material contributions, to missionaries and mission projects worldwide. Mission Sunday is on 18^th October. The theme this year is Reach Out. For more information log on to www.wmi.ie

            Tuesday         Mattie and Mollie Duffy                               Wednesday     Tom Wheeler                                                       Friday             Gretta & Thomas Butterly      

The AGM of St. Oliver Plunkett Community Centre Limited will take place in the Training Room of Ratoath Community Centre on Wednesday 7^th October at 8.00pm

HSE Parenting Programme takes place in the Community Centre on Thursday mornings from 10.30am to 12.30pm. For further information contact Sandra on 046-9073178

Parenting: Talk by Catherine Brennan on Positive Discipline in Dowdstown House, Dalgan Park on Monday 5^th October at 8.00pm. For details, phone 0469021407

Many thanks to all who supported the Hospice Coffee Moring which raised €4,115.74

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Day for Life - Sunday 4^th October “You are precious in my sight”

Day for Life was initiated by the late Pope John Paul II, to encourage the Catholic Church worldwide to celebrate the sanctity of life – a day dedicated to raising awareness about the meaning and value of human life at every stage and in every condition.

For 2009, the theme is ‘You are precious in my sight’. Building upon last year’s focus on mental health; the bishops hope that this year’s day with its particular focus on suicide will help raise awareness of the vital role played by families and a supportive parish community in supporting and sustaining those who may be struggling to cope.

 The Church believes that every life is worth living and look at the reasons why people contemplate suicide, including acute mental illness and the possible spiritual factors involved. It also point towards the support that the professional services can bring and hopefully help to reduce the stigma too often associated with mental illness and depression.

Day for Life Prayer

We thank you Lord for the gift of life.

Help us to appreciate the unique dignity of

every human person and the individual

contribution they make to the world, in

fulfilment of the task you give them.

Enable us by your grace to promote their wellbeing,

serving you in one another in a spirit of

generosity, through Christ Jesus Our Lord. Amen.

“We need the greater and lesser hopes that

keep us going day by day. But these are not

enough without the great hope, which must

surpass everything else. This great hope can

only be God, who encompasses the whole of

reality and who can bestow upon us what we,

     by ourselves, cannot attain” (Pope Benedict XVI )