Easter Messages from Mrs Kirby and from our Chaplain, Fr. Brian

Letter from Mrs Kirby

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I hope that you and your loved ones are keeping well.  The last three weeks have been unprecedented in Irish society and in Irish education.  These are challenging times for us all.  As a mother of four, I am very aware of the challenges faced by families regarding this new way of learning.  Some parents may be working from home, balancing childcare, time constraints, maybe having to self-isolate, have limited IT facilities to accommodate everyone's needs at this time, interrupted broadband connection, or living with children very anxious about Covid-19, state exams, and their future.  

Despite all this, since our school closed, you have been working with your children and engaging in activities, curricular and extracurricular, as suggested by your child's teacher.  I would like to thank you for your hard work and positive attitude while doing this, as we have all had to adapt to working in a very different way, working together though remaining apart and following the Covid-19 Guidelines fully.  By doing this, we are all playing our part in keeping each other safe.

I would ask that we all remember in our thoughts and prayers everyone who is struggling at this time for health, family or work reasons, and for all those who protect us and care for us through their work.  We should especially remember those who have lost loved ones over the past few weeks.  They are having to deal with their loss without the usual support and presence of family, friends and community.

On our school calendar, Friday April 3rd signals the start of our Easter holidays.  Easter is a time of hope and joy.  Our Easter this year will certainly be different.  But let us pray that with God's help and our own efforts, we may all get through this and look forward to returning to school as soon as is possible.

Le gach dea-ghuí,
Donna Kirby


Message from Fr. Brian
Dear boys & girls and parents/guardians,
 
This is a very different kind of Easter for us all this year.
We won’t be able to go to the church for our celebrations.
But we can pray at home with our families.
We can join with Fr. Gerry on the church webcam ( mcnmedia.tv ).
 
In Holy Week and Easter we remember in a special way that Jesus died for us and rose from the dead.
On Palm Sunday, Jesus entered the Holy City of Jerusalem, riding on a donkey. The people cheered and waved green branches.
On Holy Thursday, Jesus had the Last Supper with his friends. He took bread and wine and blessed them. He said: “Take this. This is my body. This is my blood. Do this in memory of me.”
On Good Friday, Jesus died on the cross on Calvary. He was buried in a tomb.
On Easter Sunday, Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to his disciples. They believed in him.

This Holy Week and Easter, thank God for your family.

Thank God that you are together.

I pray that God will watch over you and keep you safe and well.

​Have a joyful and holy Easter.
With every blessing,
Fr. Brian.
 
Easter Resources for Family Prayer

The Archdiocese of Armagh has a wonderful website with lots of prayer resources for children, for example the Palm Sunday page here https://www.armaghprays.com/childrens-prayer-palm-sunday

While there are no public church ceremonies at the present time, we are very lucky in our parish in that Fr Gerry is celebrating the ceremonies listed below and they are all available via webcam. You just need to go to: 

• https://www.ourladyqueenofpeacepa.org/about-us/live-mass-kilkerley/ for ceremonies held in Kilkerley OR
• https://www.ourladyqueenofpeacepa.org/live-mass-knockbridge/ for ceremonies held in Knockbridge and

click on 'Link to Live Mass Here’

Holy Week Ceremonies via webcam:

Palm Sunday 5th April 

Vigil Mass: 6pm Kilkerley
Sunday Mass: 11:30am Knockbridge 

Holy Thursday 9th April

Mass of the Lord’s Supper: 7:30pm Knockbridge

Good Friday 10th April

The Passion: 3pm Knockbridge
The Stations: 7:30pm Kilkerley

Easter Vigil 11th April

7:30pm Knockbridge

Easter Sunday 12th April

10am Kilkerley

Also, during this time, Sunday Masses are available on these links (6pm Saturday vigil Mass in Kilkerley and 11:30am Sunday morning Mass in Knockbridge).

God Bless.

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