Mullingar Deanery members enjoy productive Jubilee Year of Hope

The Pioneers of the Mullingar Deanery had a busy and productive 2025, Jubilee Year of Hope. As with all Pioneers, their aim is that through prayer and abstinence from alcohol and drugs, those who suffer because of addiction can be helped.

It is important that those who suffer because of addiction remain hopeful of recovery; and in order to support them, Pioneers from many centres took part in several pilgrimages of prayer during the year. Killucan Pioneers gave the good example with a pilgrimage to Clonard Church in the spring.

That was followed by Pioneers from across the deanery who went on pilgrimages to the same venue in summer and autumn. Pioneers from across the country took part in the Pioneer pilgrimage to Knock in July and Ballinacree Pioneers went on a pilgrimage to Oldcastle in September. Diocesan spiritual director, Fr Séamus Houlihan, rounded off the year with celebration of Mass in Oldcastle on December 8.

Venerable Matt Talbot Novena

Venerable Matt Talbot suffered from addiction to alcohol from early in life until he was 28 years of age, when he decided to take the Pioneer pledge. Matt said that it would be easier to get out of hell than to overcome addiction, but that with the grace of God he managed to do so.

In order to get by each day, Matt attended Mass on his way to work every morning and visited various churches in order to get the strength to pass the many pubs on his way home in the evenings.

In June, Mass was celebrated in the Pro Cathedral by the Archbishop of Dublin, Dermot Farrell, to commemorate the death of Matt Talbot in 2025.

Venerable Matt understood the difficulties that confront all who suffer because of addictions and for that reason Pioneers from Mullingar Deanery started their annual Novena to Venerable Matt Talbot in February and were delighted to be able to keep it going on a monthly basis through the following eight months.

The venues were: Coralstown, Kilbeggan, Mullingar, Castlepollard, Rochfortbridge, Killucan, Ballynacargy, Fore and Multyfarnham.

It is a powerful novena and it brings with it many graces and blessings and everybody is welcome to join in. Mullingar Deanery thank Fr Séamus Houlihan and the priests from the various centres for helping them with the Novena.

Pioneer Spirituality Day in Multyfarnham

This was an enjoyable and prayerful day for Pioneers of the diocese last October. The day began with outdoor Stations of the Cross, continued with recitation of the Rosary and Novena to Venerable Matt Talbot and concluded with concelebration of Mass by Bishop Tom Deenihan, Fr Robert McCabe, CC, and Fr Séamus Houlihan, PP. Delicious food was provided by Multyfarnham Cookery School and everyone went home renewed by the occasion.

School visits

During 2025, local PTAA members visited a number of primary schools in the deanery, and received a good response; more than 100 young people joined the Pioneers.

The aim and hope is that their membership will help them to abstain from alcohol until they are at least 18 years of age and keep off illegal drugs for life.

The committee would like parents to encourage their children to become Young Pioneers when representatives visit schools.

Mullingar Deanery is grateful to the school principals and teachers who help keep that part of he apostolate on track.

They are also grateful to Bishop Deenihan for his encouragement and words of wisdom on Confirmation days in the local parishes, for the informative video he produced for primary schools and for his support for the Pioneer Association at all times.

Celebrations in Ballinacree

Congratulations to Ballinacree Pioneer Centre on their centenary celebrations in September. Mass was concelebrated by diocesan Spiritual Director Fr Robert McCabe, Fr Philip O’Connor, PP, and Fr Alo Connaughton. Fr McCabe complimented the committee on the work which they do in the parish and the attention they had given to preparations for what was a successful occasion. The large attendance enjoyed an evening of feasting and celebration in the local parish centre.

Christmas Party

David Smyth Catering supplied a delicious meal an enjoyable Christmas party hosted by Mullingar Centre in December, and Santy was there to cheer everyone along! An attendance of approximately 100 members had a wonderful evening. Many thanks to Mullingar Centre Pioneers, who put enormous effort into the occasion.

Sympathy

The deanery committee send deepest sympathy to the families of all members who died during the last year, many of whom had given long years of service to the association. May they rest in peace.

2026 Deanery Committee

Committee for the coming year: chairperson, Joe Monaghan from Castlepollard Centre; secretary, Peter Fagan from Killucan Centre; treasurer, Mary Riggs from Ballynacargy Centre; PRO, Rose Carey from Mullingar Centre; and safeguarding officer, Rita Clarke, Rochfortbridge.

New Members

The committee are always delighted to welcome new adult members and strongly encourage people to join. “We recognise alcohol as a gift from God and we voluntarily do without the enjoyment of that gift and offer that sacrifice for those who are struggling with addictions.”

If you would like to become a Pioneer, get in touch with your Pioneer Centre or contact any of the committee officers mentioned above.

Deanery Meetings

Deanery Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of the month in the Parish Hall, Rochfortbridge at 8pm.

Thank you

The deanery Pioneers are thankful to North Midlands Credit Union Social and Cultural Fund and the Westmeath Community Action Grant Scheme for their donations to the association.

Members appreciate that support and all funds are used in supporting members as they continue to help those who suffer because of addiction.

The Pioneers of the Mullingar Deanery thank all who supported them throughout the year at church gate collections, through purchase of the Pioneer Newsletter, support for draws, and in other ways. Many thanks to “gentle and prayerful spiritual director, Fr Séamus Houlihan, who supports us in good times and bad as we try to promote the ideals of our association”.

Sincere thanks are due also to the Pioneer president, Frances Egan, who travelled long distances to be with Mullingar Deanery members at various events during the year.