Parish Mission In Kanturk and Lismire

Parish Mission in Kanturk & Lismire 17 – 23 September

Celebrating the parish community of Kanturk and Lismire

Fr Laurence Gallagher is a Redemptorist priest who is based in Mt. St. Alphonsus Monastery in Limerick city. He and Fr. Derek Meskell are coming to Kanturk and Lismire on Saturday 17th of September for a week’s parish mission. He is going to share with us a flavour of what to expect and about the story of parish missions.

Q: So, Fr. Laurence, could you tell us a little about yourself?

Absolutely! So, the first thing, I have to do is make a confession. I hail originally from Dublin - for my Dublin jackeen sins! But seriously, I am delighted to be coming back to Kanturk. A few years ago, the Redemptorists conducted a Novena in Kanturk to Our Mother of Perpetual Help. I have fond memories of Fr. Jackie (R.I.P) and the whole community from that time.

Since I left my office job almost 30 years ago and joined the Redemptorists, God and life have brought me in different directions. Part of my training to be a Redemptorist involved a wide experience of pastoral life. From visiting people in hospital and in prison ministries to supporting people living with HIV. After finishing my theology studies, I was sent to Brazil in South America for a two-year foreign mission experience. There I faced my fear of learning a foreign language - Brazilian Portuguese.

It was in Brazil that I learned so much about life. It was there I experienced a Catholic Church alive and creative. It was led mainly by lay women and men. It was a truly wonderful and eyeopening experience! After

I returned from Brazil, I studied in youth ministry and worked as a school chaplain. For the next years I worked in parish ministry in America and then especially in giving parish missions - the length and breadth of Ireland.

Q: That is a lot of variety working in ministry. What drew you to the Redemptorists in the first place?

Well, the story is connected to the National Lottery! One weekend, my father went to the store to play the numbers but stopped for a pint of Guinness on the way. When he got to the shop, the draw had tak en place, but he wasn’t included and we actually had those elusive six numbers! Later we joked with my father that it was the most expensive pint of Guinness ever! In any event, my life took another different turn anyway, as some months later I got an invitation to go on a “come and see” weekend with the Redemptorists and the rest, as they say, is history... and my life certainly went in a different direction!

Q: It sure did! Can you tell our readers about the Redemptorists and parish mission story?

We were founded by a man called Alphonsus de Liguori over 250 years ago in a tiny village up the Amalfi coast in Italy. St Alphonsus is one of the Doctors of the Church and the patron saint of moral theology. Alphonsus had a special love for the poor and anyone who was vulnerable or marginalised in any way. It was in Scala that he saw a large group of shepherds who were being forgotten by the local church and he reached out to them. He also worked in a hospital called “the hospital of the incurables”. He helped people who were sometimes abandoned by their families and by the Church. Many of these were involved in prostitution. Alphonsus wanted them to know that they were children of God too!

Alphonsus saw parish mission ministry as a way to reach out to communities and bring the “good news” to people in a loving way. The Redemptorists first came to Ireland in 1851 and founded the monastery where I live in Limerick. We then began giving parish missions all over our island.

Q: Have parish missions changed much over the years Fr. Laurence?

Indeed, they have. As life and time move on, parish missions have responded more and more to the reality of people’s changing life and circumstances. With the coming of the Vatican Council, more and more women and men have taken their place, and used their voice, in the building up of parish communities. This is reflected in the planning of parish missions. Here in Kanturk and Lismire, we have had a wonderful team of committed women and men planning and preparing for our parish mission. So, together with the priests and deacon they have worked hard to send out a strong message to the people of Kanturk and Lismire - this parish mission is for everyone - “All are welcome, whether your faith is strong or searching, there is a space and a place for everyone, from near and far” - those who are connected to the parish, those from outside the parish or the region, those who have a loose or no connection with the church, and those who perhaps have been hurt or disillusioned or angered by the dysfunction of the institutional Church. I believe this is a crucially important message.

Q: That sounds refreshing, Fr. Laurence. Let’s be honest, the last 30 years for the church have been rough. With these years of pandemic, we are all now hungry for a message of hope!

Absolutely! We all need hope and to have a sense of purpose and belonging! A parish mission is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the whole parish and wider community. We Missioners invite young and old to give themselves a gift of committing themselves to the mission week. We have a morning Mass each week- day in Kanturk at 10am followed by tea and something sweet! We also have a selection of 7am Masses in Lismire for the early birds! Each night of the mission we have a mission service at 7.30pm in Kanturk church- not a Mass- and this leaves us with the freedom of selecting a theme relevant to people’s life today, with singing, praying and exploring the theme through ritual!

We will also have a Caminostyle walk throughout the parks in Kanturk on Sunday 18th starting at 6.30pm at Greenane Grotto and arriving at the church in time for the opening night of mission. All welcome to join in this walk! Throughout the mission we explore a variety of relevant themes to our human and spiritual lives today in 2022 Ireland, including the celebration of community, justice and values for today, the gift of

baptism on our spiritual journeys, honouring our faithful departed and our human losses, and the beauty & care of creation. We are grateful for the participation of local talent and creative groups who will help us together celebrate a great week of parish mission for your community.

We Missioners look forward to celebrating with the various school and smaller communities in the area. We will hit the streets of Kanturk on Friday 9th distributing mission brochures and look forward to meeting you. Please remember that there is a space and a place for everyone - everyone is welcome! Please think seriously of committing yourself to your parish mission. We pray that it will be a time of grace and renewal!

Blessings of peace and joy, Fr. Laurence Gallagher.