St. Joseph’s Church Carrickmacross
Deus Vobiscum...May God Be With You
The Liturgy Group in St Joseph’s was established with the main objective of planning and co-coordinating Sunday liturgies and other special liturgies that take place throughout the year.
The group is made up of representatives of various groups in the parish including readers, Eucharistic ministers, the baptism committee, choirs and the pastoral team. The priests of St. Joseph’s are also members of the working group.
Meetings are held on a monthly basis in order to plan forthcoming liturgies and to delegate duties that need to be performed in preparation for upcoming liturgies.
Liturgies planned throughout the year include the sacrament of the sick, a remembrance service for the deceased members of the community, Christmas ceremonies, Easter ceremonies and the annual blessing of the graves.
Current officers of the group are:
Chairperson: Michael Callan
Secretary: Sr. Rita Greene
History Of The Liturgy Group
In Lent 1995 a series of meetings was held in the parish under the title “ Called by Name “. People from Carrick, Corduff and Raferagh parishes attended. The aim of the meetings was to give energy to the parish and to encourage a strong sense of community among the people.
As time went on the original group dwindled to approximately 10 members and became the Parish Development and Renewal Group or PDR. Members of the group went to meetings in Monaghan, Castleblayney and All Hallows in Dublin where they heard the ideas of people who had the same desire as themselves for the renewal of commitment to the life of the parish.
Around the year 1999 thoughts were turning to how to celebrate the Millennium. It was probably this event that concentrated our attention on the importance of what people experience when they attend a church celebration. The PDR worked very hard with help from many talented local people to make the Millennium a memorable occasion in the life of the parish. As a warm, friendly event which helped people to reflect on their lives at the turn of the century, the liturgy for the 31st December 1999 in St. Joseph’s Church was a great success. After that the PDR group became the Parish Liturgy Group.
A big achievement of the group is the setting up of the Church Radio which helps people to tune in to ceremonies in the church if they are unable to go out.
During the year the Liturgy Group meets once a month with the priests of the parish to help organise liturgical events. Advent and Lent are busy times. Christmas is special. Healing and Bereavement ceremonies are important in the lives of people. We try to be sensitive to what they are feeling at certain times in their lives. We always appreciate the contribution of the gifted people in the parish who provide the music and who make sure that the church is beautifully decorated in keeping with the feasts of the liturgical year.