irish-guide-dogsCHURCH GATE COLLECTION: The Annual Church Gate Collection will take on January 10th and 11th for the Laois branch of Irish Guide Dogs Association. Volunteers are needed for Saturday and Sunday to cover all Masses. Contact Richard on (087) 2776450. Your support will be greatly appreciated for this worthy Irish charity who have given so many people independent skills either through Long cane or Guide Dogs training all free of charge.

CHURCH NOTES: Readers: Sunday Mornings: January 11th and 18th: Bea Alley; January 25th and February 1st: Declan Phelan. Saturday Evenings: January 10th and 17th: Anne Marie Lalor; January 24th and 31st and February 7th: Ann Vaugh.
Ministers of the Eucharist: January – Sunday Mornings: Ann Palmer and Donal Bowe; Saturday Evenings: Michael Fitzpatrick and Helen Bergin.
January Church Cleaning Rota: Maeve Thornton, Angela Drennan, Brigid Traynor and Eileen Keenan.

Sympathy is extended to the Sheppard Family, Mill Road, Durrow on their recent bereavement.

PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES AND SHRINES OF FRANCE 2015: In place of the usual five night pilgrimage to Lourdes there will be a seven-day pilgrimage in July next year. It will include visits for one night to Lisieux. Rue-de-Bac (Paris), Nevers (where the body of St. Bernadette lies), Rocamadour concluding with three nights in Lourdes. This is a once-off opportunity as we will revert to the usual pilgrimage to Lourdes in 2016. Find out more from JWT on (01) 2410800.

AWARE: The Aware Support Group for people experiencing depression, anxiety, stress and other mood related conditions meets every Tuesday at 7.30pm in St.Peter and Paul’s Parish Centre, Portlaoise. This service is free of charge, no referral is required and you do not need to book. If you require further information contact (01) 6617211 or www.aware.ie or the LoCall Helpline 1890 303302.