Our mission comes to an end this weekend with a full programme of celebrations; Friday 7.30pm We Honour Our Dead – remembering our deceased and placing our hope in Resurrection 10-11pm Night Fever! Keep an eye out for Céilí Community Members on the streets of Birr tonight Saturday 10am – Mass with blessing of toddlers and expectant mothers 4pm Mass with anointing of the sick 7.30pm Mass led by pupils of St Brendan’s Primary School Sunday Masses at the usual times with blessing of religious objects at all Masses. The 10.30am Mass will be led by pupils of Mercy Primary […]

Pope Francis in his recent encyclical on the environment asks the question: “What is happening to our common home?  In posing the question,Pope Francis,says, “Sister Earth cries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God has endowed her”. In the coming weeks we will be publishing short reflections and questions from Pope Francis’ writing. Join us as we  journey through this most important document.

Saturday 26th September  Goodness -“Grows Within Us”   (Joy of the Gospel # 9) 7.30pm Opening Mission Mass Sunday 27th September Goodness- “Grows Within Us” (Joy of the Gospel # 9) 8.30am Mission Mass(Blessing of Vehicles) 9.30am Mission Mass (Carrig) (Carrig N.S. leads liturgy & Blessing of vehicles) 10.30am Mission Mass (Crinkill  N. S. leads liturgy & Blessing of vehicles) 12 noon Mission Mass (Killeen N.S. leads liturgy & Blessing of vehicles)   St Brendan’s Birr Monday 28th September  Goodness -“Weakens in Isolation” (Joy of the Gospel # 10) 7.30am  & 10am Mission Mass  12noon Holy Hour (Led by Céilí Community) […]

Dates of Sacramental Celebrations for 2016 are as follows First Reconciliation Tues 1 March  7.30pm    Mercy PS & Crinkill NS Wed 2 March  7.30pm  St Brendan’s PS, Killeen NS &  Parish Preparation Programme Thurs 3 March  7.30pm  Carrig NS First Holy Communion Sat     23 April   Mercy PS & Crinkill NS Sat     7 May      St Brendan’s PS, Killeen NS &  Parish Preparation Programme Sun     29 May    11am Carrig NS Confirmation  2016 Sat     14 May     Mercy PS, Crinkill NS & Carrig NS Sat     21 May     St Brendan’s PS, Killeen NS &  Parish Preparation Programme Times of celebrations to be […]

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO A MISSION OF JOYFUL CELEBRATION What it could mean for you – If you are a practising Catholic: An opportunity for renewal. If you are not a practising Catholic: A unique opportunity for reconciliation with Christ. If you are a Christian of another denomination: Another opportunity to hear Christ’s message. If you are searching for answers to the meaning and purpose of life: An opportunity to find them in Christ’s teachings. If you are apathetic to “religion” or troubled in any way or hurt by today’s society: An opportunity to hear Christ’s message for you. […]

Our parish Mission will run from 19 September to 4 October; it’s theme is ‘The Joy of the Gospel’. The mission is being conducted by the Céilí Community and we look forward to their presence among us. There will be many celebrations in Birr and Carrig during the time of the mission and we will also be opening a Mission office in Main St, Birr. Please pray for all of us as we prepare for the Mission and we hope you can join us for this festival of faith.  

Arising from our recent parish pastoral council meeting, we wish to appoint a sacramental programme co-ordination for our parish. This person will liaise with our Roman Catholic parish schools and those who avail of the parish sacramental preparation programme as they journey towards reception of sacraments. This involves the organisation of Sunday Mass involvement as well as preparing the schedule of celebrations in the year ahead. This is a new post and while it is not a salaried position, all expenses will be covered.   Anyone interested in taking up the appointment is invited to contact Fr David or Fr Michael, in confidence, […]

The following is a summary of the response to the presentation by the chairperson and decisions agreed. The 7.30am Mass will now only be celebrated during November and Lent. Confessions will be heard only on the first Saturday of each month, during the regular exposition. First Friday Mass in Carrig will be from September to May inclusive. There is to be discussion with other parishes in the cluster re: Mass schedules and Masses in nursing homes. The possibility of appointing a Sacramental Co-ordinator is to be explored and their duties to be defined by the next meeting. The information presented […]

The following is the presentation made to the Parish Pastoral Council on 12 August by Brian Kennedy, Chairperson Historical – Where our traditions come from … Up to 1979 = P.P. and three curates. 1980 – St. Brendan’s C.S. requires a full-time Chaplain. 1980’s – 2015 = P.P. and 2 curates. Much of time one curate is an A.P. 2006 – Death of Canon John Shalloo A.P. Help sought from S.V.D. Order. Fr. Michael Reddan comes to Birr. August 2015 –Two priests in active ministry Fr. David Carroll P.P. and Fr. Michael Reddan S.V.D. Weekly Church Duties of Clergy 7.30 a.m. Masses x […]

In response to a number of queries regarding Sacramental Preparation, we have not yet finalised the details for the coming year. However, it is important to note that children who are not attending one of our Catholic parish schools or are attending a school without a Christian ethos, such as the new Gaelscoil or being home-schooled, will be expected to attend our parish preparation programme over a number of years. This programme runs once a week after the regular school day. For example, a child due to receive their First Holy Communion, First Reconciliation or Confirmation in 2018 will be required […]