2  Wed. 10.30 a.m. Holy Communion, Cathedral

4   Fri. 10.45 a.m. Healer Prayer Service, Tramore

6   Easter 3   8.45 a.m. Holy Communion    10.00 a.m. Holy Communion, Cathedral

                   10.00 a.m. Morning Prayer, Annestown

                   11.30 a.m. Holy Communion, Dunmore East

                   11.30 a.m. Family Service, Tramore

9   Wed. 10.30 a.m. Holy Communion, Cathedral

13  Easter 4   8.45 a.m. Holy Communion

                    10.00 a.m. Holy Communion, Annestown

                    11.30 a.m. Morning Prayer, Dunmore East

                    11.30 a.m. Holy Communion, Tramore

                     3.30 p.m. Confirmation, Cathedral The Bishop

16  Wed. 10.30 a.m. Holy Communion, Cathedral

20  Easter 5   8.45 a.m. Holy Communion    10.00 a.m. Holy Communion, Cathedral

                   10.00 a.m. Morning Prayer, Annestown

                   11.30 a.m. Holy Communion, Dunmore East

                   11.30 a.m. Morning Prayer, Tramore

23  Wed. 10.30 a.m. Holy Communion, Cathedral

27  Easter 6   8.45 a.m. Holy Communion     10.00 a.m. Family Service, Cathedral

                   10.00 a.m. Holy Communion, Annestown

                   11.30 a.m. Family Service, Dunmore East

                  11.30 a.m. Holy Communion, Tramore

                    7.00 p.m. Evensong, Cathedral

No Service on Wednesday 30^{th April}

 Services for May

1  Thurs. Ascension Day 10.30 a.m. Holy Communion, Cathedral

2  Fri.   10.45 a.m. Healer Prayer Service, Tramore

4   Sunday after Ascension  8.45 a.m. Holy Communion   10.00 a.m. Holy Communion, Cathedral

                  10.00 a.m. Morning Prayer, Annestown

                  11.30 a.m. Holy Communion, Dunmore East

                  11.30 a.m. Family Service, Tramore

7   Wed.    10.30 a.m. Holy Communion, Cathedral

11   Pentecost    8.45 a.m. Holy Communion     10.00 a.m. Holy Communion, Cathedral

                 10.00 a.m. Holy Communion, Annestown

                11.30 a.m. Holy Communion, Dunmore East

                11.30 a.m. Holy Communion, Tramore

14  Wed.   10.30 a.m. Holy Communion, Cathedral

18  Trinity Sunday   8.45 a.m. Holy Communion    10.00 a.m. Holy Communion, Cathedral

             10.00 a.m. Morning Prayer, Annestown

             11.30 a.m. Holy Communion, Dunmore East

             11.30 a.m. Holy Communion, Tramore

21  Wed.    10.30 a.m. Holy Communion, Cathedral

25  Trinity 1   8.45 a.m. Holy Communion    10.00 a.m. Family Service, Cathedral

            10.00 a.m. Holy Communion, Annestown

            11.30 a.m. Family Service, Dunmore East

            11.30 a.m. Holy Communion, Tramore

28  Wed.   10.30 a.m. Holy Communion, Cathedral

1st June  Trinity 2   8.45 a.m. Holy Communion   10.00 a.m. Holy Communion, Cathedral

            10.00 a.m. Morning Prayer, Annestown

            11.30 a.m. Holy Communion, Dunmore East

            11.30 a.m. Morning Prayer, Tramore

Did you know that the next time Easter Day falls so early in March will be the year 2228 and the last time it was so early was 1913? The next time Easter will be a day earlier (i.e. 22nd March) will be in 2285 and the last time it happened was 1818!

And so another Easter passes us by and now we look forward to having the Bishop with us for the Service of Confirmation on April 13th. Please remember the candidates and pray for them as they approach this milestone in their faith journey.

But first a brief look back on the past two months.

One of the main events in February was the St. Valentines Ball held on the night itself. Thanks to the efforts of Leslie Warren, Susan Grant and Emily Grant, the whole night went off without a hitch. We were honoured to have the Mayor, Councillor Mary O’Halloran and Bishop Burrows with us.

The Friendship Group hosted a talk at the Deanery by Kathleen Kelly of Oasis House. Oasis House deals with the victims of marital abuse.

Bishop Michael paid an official visit to the Waterford Institute of Technology to view the collection of rare books from the Cathedral Library held on loan there.

The Annual Memorial Service for those lost at sea was held on the 1st Saturday of March in Dunmore East. As always, it is well attended and marked by a fly over by the Coastguard Helicopter stationed at Waterford Airport.

The Dean attended the Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the City. One of the highlights of the Parade was the wonderful collection of mini cars followed by Harley Davidson motor bikes.Easter Day saw about 30 hardy souls on the beach in Tramore for the early morning Eucharist.

My thanks to all who decorated and cleaned all of the four churches for the festive season and to the Cathedral Choir for all the hard work they put in both for Easter Day and for singing so well on the Wednesday of Holy Week. Sadly only 6 people attended that service.

Lily Ellen Kent was welcomed into the fellowship of Christ’s Church in the Cathedral in mid February. She is the daughter of Alan and Lena.

The burial of ashes of Joan Blacklaw took place at St. John’s Hill Cemetery in mid February.

The funeral service and burial of Marion Caress took place in St. Andrew;s Church, Dunmore East. We offer sympathy to her partner, Roger Moore.

Later in the same week, Dunmore East was shocked to learn of the death of Fran Cobden. A huge turnout at his funeral service was testimony to the regard in which he was held. To his wife Joanna and sisters Netti and Gina, we offer our deepest sympathy.

The ashes of David Coulter were laid to rest beside his beloved Muff on 9th March.

Just after Easter, our oldest parishioner, Winifred Ward Robson, passed away in St. Patrick’s Hospital. Five years ago, she had received a cheque from the President on the occasion of her 100th birthday. To her daughter, Jill and son John, we offer deepest sympathy.

Special Occasions during Eastertide

Easter does not end with Easter Sunday. On the contrary, joyous as it is, Easter Sunday originally simply marked the beginning of fifty days of celebration culminating in Pentecost. The disciples certainly rejoiced that Jesus had returned to them from the dead. As we rejoice in the implications of the resurrection, we also prepare ourselves for its greatest implication – the coming of the Holy Spirit to enliven and empower the Church, individually and collectively.Ascension Day: The fortieth day of Eastertide marks an essential stage in Jesus’ preparation of the disciples for their larger mission. This is the day on which we recall Jesus’ ascension.

Another aspect of Jesus’ ascension is his departure. He was saying goodbye to his disciples. However, he was leaving for a reason. Without his departure there would have been no Pentecost.

Pentecost:  Pentecost is a central festival in the Church’s year. We celebrate God’s sending of the Holy Spirit in power to bring the Church into existence and maintain it in being. "Pentecost" means the fiftieth day. In Jewish tradition, it was a harvest festival but it took on a deeper significance and became associated with the giving of the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai. For Christians, the first Pentecost took place fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus, when the disciples went to the Temple to celebrate with their fellow Jews. In the midst of readings about the giving of the Law, the Spirit settled in power upon the disciples.