Pew Sheet – 11th January 2026
The Rector writes ‘As most of you know, last Tuesday, 6th January was the beginning of Epiphany-tide and during this time of year we
remember how the wise men travelled from afar to see and bring gifts to the new born baby Jesus. Our ’Giving Tree’ will remain until the feast of Candlemas so feel free to bring any unwanted gifts/biscuit boxes etc and place on the tree. We will then distribute everything to Penny Dinners/Simon/Cuanlee Women and Children Refuge charities after 2nd February.
There is a lovely special Epiphany Blessing which we have used in the past. Today, after the Services, I will be giving out some of special chalk to bring home . The symbols you write on your Door Frame are
‘20 + C + M + B + 26’
The 20 & 26 numbers stand for this year (2026) ;
and the C, M, B letters stand for the 3 wise men, the ‘Magi’ whose names are traditionally known as Casper, Melchior, and Balthasar .
The letters also can mean ‘Christus Mansionem Benedicat’, which in Latin means “May Christ Bless this House”
As you are writing the words on your doorframe, you might like to say this prayer :
May all who come to our home this year rejoice to find Christ living among us; and may we seek and serve, in everyone we meet, that same Jesus who is Lord, forever and ever. Amen.’
January
Monday 12th
Men’s Coffee 10am Carrigaline Court Hotel
Wednesday 21st
Mothers’ Union 3pm. Speaker: Jonathan Fleury on his Visit to Australia.
Refreshments as always. All welcome
February
Sunday 1st
3:30pm Confirmation Service
St Fin Barre’s Cathedral
Saturday 7th
7:30pm Cocktail Evening Fundraiser
Parish Hall
Monday 23rd
7:30 to 8pm Vestry Register Open
Parish Hall
DIOCESAN MAGAZINE:
If anyone would like to subscribe to the diocesan magazine please let Rowland Newenham know. Subscription for 2026 is €35, or €30 for an online emailed pdf copy.
You may hand your subscription to the churchwardens,
you may post your subscription to Rowland Newenham, Cooleens, Church Road, Carrigaline P43 FR88,
you may pay by Revolut @rowlandnewenham,
or you may pay online to Rowland Newenham.
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BIC: BOFIIE2D
PLEASE PLACE YOUR NAME IN THE REFERENCE LINE OF THE PAYMENT
Random Notes DXIV
Gender segregation in St Mary’s
(no, not here!)
The village of Pollagh, Co. Offaly, stands o the north bank of the Grand Canal, west of Tullamore.
In 1907 the Church of St Mary’s was built with a rather unusual design. The parish priest at the time held very strong opinions on men and women worshipping without any distractions, so the church was built on a V-shaped plan with two converging transepts so the men, who were told to sit in one transept, couldn’t see the women who were expected to sit in the other, but they could all see the altar.
This segregation lasted until the 1950s when the church building was altered and the screening walls removed, allowing the people to look at whatever they pleased, distracting or not!
MMPC
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