Youth
World Youth Day August 2011 in Madrid
Fr Padraig travelled with parishioners aged 18 - 35 years from our parish to the World Youth Day gathering with Pope Benedict in Madrid next August.
Bishop Smith hoped that the event helped young people to take a more active part in Church life at home.
World Youth Day is an opportunity for young people to share life and faith together, and to experience the rich cultural diversity of faith at this international event.
Caring for our children
Our parish has its own child protection policy.
Click here to download the policy.
Kathleen Donnelly and Fiona Kiernan are our Parish Representatives. Their role is to promote the safeguarding of children by:
- raising awareness of what is involved in safeguarding children
- disseminating information on the policy and procedures for safeguarding children
- ensuring that activities run within the parish are provided in a manner which ensures the safety and well-being of the children involved
- providing support, assistance and arranging for training for parish volunteers working with children
- reporting to the Designated Person any concerns, suspicions or allegations of abuse for referral to the relevant authorities
- ensuring that the contact details of the Designated Person are widely publicised
- overseeing the implementation of this policy at parish level, carrying out an annual review and reporting to the parish clergy.
All volunteers are kept informed of best practice at parish level. This includes the use of declaration forms and 'sign in' books, as well as consent forms being provided by parents and guardians of the children wishing to take part in Church-related activities.
If you have concerns or disclosures or any such information relating to clergy, staff or volunteers in our parish, please contact Fr Seán Henry at delegate@dioceseofmeath.ie or call 046-9431251
Altar Servers
New altar servers have been trained and they are starting with us at the moment. A really big thanks to all the outgoing servers who have been with us for many years. You have been a super help to us and we wish you well in secondary school.
Last August, Pope Benedict met 55,000 altar servers who came to see him in Rome. He thanked the servers for their work in their parishes at home and for the good example they give to others. He asked them to keep close to Jesus as they serve Him in the Mass. He also advised them to prepare themselves for serving Mass, to pray beforehand, rather than just seeing it as a habit, something they always do.
Children's Gospel Stories
Children aged 5 - 8 years are brought to the family room in Saint Paul's Church where the Sunday Mass readings are explained to them in child-friendly terms by our team of helpers.
This project takes place every second Sunday at 10.30am. We hope that it will help parents to bring their children to Sunday Mass and to grow in the knowledge of Jesus.
Youth 2000
Our parish has a local Youth 2000 group, which is part of an international movement of young people called to spread the Good News and share this faith experience with other young people. The weekly meeting in Mullingar is one of around 40 weekly prayer groups throughout the country, 16 to 18 weekend retreats throughout the year, a summer festival, an annual ball and various other social events - all organised by young people, for young people.
For more information, contact Patrick at Cathedral House (044 9348338)