Mullingar parish announces new events for autumn season

Mullingar parish has a busy autumn ahead, having announced it is launching a faith formation course, changing its Saturday vigil to a youth-focused Mass, and holding a special event next week at which people can take their animals along to be blessed.

First up is the Sycamore Faith Discussion Group, launching this Wednesday, September 24. The seven-week programme will use short films as a springboard for discussion, offering a welcoming space for those exploring their faith, reconnecting with the Church, or deepening their spiritual journey.

Says Kelly Harris of the Mullingar parish pastoral council: “It’s really for those who are actively practising their faith, but also for anyone who hasn’t thought about faith or coming to church in a long time.”

The sessions run from 7.30 to 9pm in the parish community centre. There is no cost to attend, and free pizza will be available at the first session.

Youth Mass

The Youth Mass plan will see the weekly Saturday 6pm Vigil become a youth Mass, and the intention is that primary and secondary students will take on roles such as readers, greeters, or singers. Kelly said: “We have an online sign-up so young people can choose their roles on a first-come, first-served basis. We want them to feel confident and involved in the Mass.”

The sign-up is available by scrolling to the bottom of the page on the parish website.

Training will be provided, and the intention is that the youth Masses start from October 11.

Animal lovers

Finally, families and animal lovers are invited to celebrate the Feast Day of St Francis on Saturday October 4, at 2pm in St Paul’s. Attendees can bring their pets for a special blessing in honour of St Francis. “We’ll have a colouring page and quiz for the children, with a small prize for those who take part. It’s a fun way to celebrate St Francis and include our four-legged friends.”

For more information on any of the above, email faithformationmpmullingar@gmail.com.

Huge response to new youth centre

There has been an overwhelming response to an appeal for help with setting up a youth centre in the Old Parish Centre at ‘Bethany’ on Bishopsgate Street, Mullingar.

“This has hit the ground running in the last two weeks,” Tomás Nally reported, adding, “we have been inundated with donations of stuff, and the other day someone donated all the flooring for the whole building.”

“Mullingar people are phenomenal; we are blown away by the level of help that has been given since this projected was mooted just two weeks ago. If we can get it up and running by Halloween, we will be delighted,” Tomás said.

They are now looking for volunteers to help with the physical work and are hoping to get transition year students involved. “It is for young people and they should be able to put their stamp on it,” Tomás said.

Mullingar Tidy Towns and other organisations have already come on board, but more help is needed.

“The social media messages and the offers of help have been unbelievable – my phone is going all day, every day,” he said.

If you want to get involved, you can contact the group via social media or text Tomás on 086 1720635.

The youth centre is being set up by the Mullingar Parish Pastoral Assembly and will have a Christian ethos and an introduction to faith, Tomás explained. “There will be a faith element to it, but it is primarily a youth centre, a place where young people can meet with others their own age and interact safely with adults there to mobilise them in a safe space,” he said.

The centre is aimed initially at those aged 13 to 18 years and will easily accommodate about 40. It will give them a physical place in which they can feel accepted and safe, Tomás said.

It is hoped to bring in speakers to “show them the bigger picture, life experience, and that not all life is online”, he added.

“We will also introduce them to faith and if it sinks in, well and good,”

Tomás said, adding that there is a huge interest in faith in the schools.

The project is being organised by the Pastoral Assembly with the backing of Rev Fr Phil Gaffney, Adm, Mullingar, and the Bishop of Meath, Most Rev Dr Tom Deenihan.

The Pastoral Assembly carried out a survey last year in the local parishes to see what parishioners wanted.

One result of the survey was the Corpus Christi Procession which “worked fierce well”, Tomás stated.

Another suggestion was “more inclusion of young people in the parish”, and the Youth Centre is the result.

The assembly is open to suggestions from everyone, Tomás concluded.