• The annual special collection for the Galway Diocesan Pastoral Centre at Árus de Brún takes place along with the usual offertory collection at all Masses this Sunday. The pastoral centre enables Galway parishes to pool resources in many ways that cooperation makes sense. Services provided at Árus de Brún include parenting skills courses, faith support for parents of young children, child welfare services, bereavement counselling, Rainbows bereavement support for children, youth and adults, primary school catechetical support, secondary school catechetical support, secondary school retreats, youth ministry, adult faith development initiatives, parish life ministry formation courses, liturgical renewal resources, spirituality and prayer development support, and faith formation for new members of the Catholic Church.
• This coming Thursday, February 2nd 2012, is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord or Candlemas Day. At the 10am Mass, candles will be blessed for use in the Church and in your homes.
• This coming Friday, February 3rd 2012, is the Feast of Saint Blaise, Bishop and Martyr. Throats will be blessed at 10am Mass and at an extra Mass in the evening at 7.30pm.
• Friday is also the First Friday of the month and so Monsignor Malachy and Fr Hugh will visit those who are housebound due to illness or old age with Holy Communion.
• There will be a celebration of music, prayer and reflection for the Feast of St Brigid in Galway Cathedral on Wednesday 1st February at 7.30pm.
• The Christmas offering envelopes for the priests of the parish can be returned to the Church during the Sundays of January.
• The annual Solemn Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help will take place in Galway Cathedral this year from Monday 6th until Tuesday 14th February 2012. Weekday times: 7.45am. 11.00am, 1.10pm, 3.30pm, 7.30pm and 9.30pm. Sunday times: 9.00am, 10.30am, 12.30pm, 4.30pm, 6.30pm and 8.15pm.
• We pray for Eddie King Snr, late of Corrib Park, who has died in Canada. There will be a Mass for him in the Abbey Church next Wednesday at 4.00pm.
