Tralee and Dingle Group  November Newsletter 2026

Email: stjohns.ashestreet@gmail.com

Rev Jim Stephens @ 087 0529107

Rev Willa Goodfellow @083 3864483

http://www.traleedingle.ardfert.anglican.org/

https://www.facebook.com/Tralee-and-Dingle-Group-of-Parishes-680304582052423/

All Saints tide service of remembrance.

This will be held in Tralee on the 1stNovember. Candles in memory of loved one will be lit during the service. Cards will be available near the memory tree in St Johns to allow those who wish for a loved one to be remembered . In the Christian calendar, on 1 November, many people around the world celebrate All Saints’ Day. The official name for this day is the Feast of All Saints, also called All Hallows’ Day or Hallowmas.

Halloween and All Saints’ Day are two events that are normally seen as opposites. All Saints’ tide – provides an opportunity to be thankful for those who have lived good lives, and to be inspired to try to be more like them and to follow their example. All are welcome.

 

Reaching Everest Base Camp.

Congratulations to Aislinn O’Donnell and her husband David from Camp on reaching Everest Base Camp after thirteen days hiking in Gokyo and Khumbu valley. What an achievement we are looking forward to hearing the stories.

 

Sympathy:

To Valetta Blennerhassett and her family on the death of her sister Ruby Shorten in Rathkeale.

Ruby had just celebrated her 100th Birthday. Her funeral was held in Rathkeale Church and she was buried in the adjoining burial ground.

 

The Christmas Fair will take place on Saturday December 12th in Teach an tSolais from 10am to 2pm.

This is always a wonderful community event for the Tralee, Ballymacelligott and Ballyseedy Church communities.

It brings us together; it raises our spirits as well as much needed funds for our Churches.

It’s also one of the ways in which we connect with and make our presence known in the wider community.

All the usual stalls, Baking, Jams, Christmas decorations, Silent Auction, Firewood, Guess the weight of the cake, Door Prizes, Raffles, Burgers etc and The Elves Kitchen with its mouth watering apple pie’s teas.

 

1. We’re appealing for Bakers as this is probably our best seller. Spread the word to neighbours and friends to bake!!

2. The raffle and tickets will be available shortly 

3. Help on the day.

Please Note: We can’t take Bric a brac, jumble or electrical items anymore.

Please contact Susie Keating at 087 9362732 if you wish to get involved.

Confirmation 2026.

Confirmation will be held in the parish on the 18th April in St Johns Ashe Street at 10.45am.

Confirmation is open to all those in 6th Class and older.

Please contact me for a chat and/or for an application form if you or a family member is interested.

Advent Service

This will take place at 5pm on Saturday the 28th November in St Johns. As this is a 5th Sunday it will be a united service and we extend a special invitation to our young people and their parents to join us.

Apple Trees will be presented to those who were confirmed earlier this summer.

 

Camp Defibrillator Committee is running a table quiz on Saturday the 7th November in Ashes Bar, Starting at 8.30pm. This is to raise funds to support the Camp Community CPR equipment and defibrillator.

 

The Other Voices concert series will take place in St James church Dingle on the 27, 28 & 29th November. This has been a wonderful experience for the parish and is a great boost to the local economy in so many ways. The parish is proud and delighted to be a part of this experience.

 

RECOVERY HAVEN, FREE 6-WEEK ONLINE COURSE

Building Better Caregivers

Starts Monday, 2nd November 10:30 am – 1:00 pm

For more information, call 066 719 2122

Harvest Thanksgiving

The total raised from our Harvest Services was €2505, Many thanks once again for all who did so much to make it the success that it was.

Hospital Visiting

As Rector I provide pastoral care on behalf of the Church of Ireland to the Tralee Hospitals and I am happy to call to any parishioners from my own parish and any other parish who may be in one of the hospitals or in one of the many nursing homes in the area. Please let me know if you would like a friend or loved one visited. Because of privacy regulations and GDPR we can’t be informed of Church of Ireland patients in the hospitals.

 

ST JOHN'S ORGAN AND ARCHWAY

A recent inspection of the archway in the Kermode chapel confirmed the existence of a crack running through the plasterwork which needs to be repaired.  The issue is very much complicated by the fact that this arch is located directly over the organ and has resulted in some dust having already fallen onto the pipes.  In order to repair the arch, it will be necessary to dismantle and remove the choir section of the organ and then have it re-assembled once work is complete.  Necessary repair work on the choir soundboard will also be carried out while the organ is dismantled.  We are grateful to Karol O'Mahony, Diocesan Architect, for sourcing a qualified plasterer to carry out the work to the required standard and using the methods in keeping with a heritage building.  The work on the organ will be carried out by Messrs. Neiland and Crean who have previously worked on it.  The cost of the entire job is estimated to be in the region of €30,000.   With the help of Karol, we are currently in the process of applying for grant funding through the Built Heritage Investment Scheme.  Hopefully, if our application is successful, this would cover some portion of the cost.  

 

ST JOHN'S TOURISM PROJECT

As we now come to the end of the tourist season it has been very encouraging to see visitor numbers to St John's continue to increase with August being a particularly busy month. Earlier this year Kathleen and Olive attended Failte Ireland networking events and engaged with local hotels and various other tourism organisations and this seemed to help create awareness and promote St John's as an interesting and welcoming place to visit and spend time.  As well as many tourists we have also welcomed a large number of locals, many of whom had never previously been inside the church.  We know from the feedback we receive that visits to St John's are, without exception, positive experiences for both the visitors and those who welcome them.    As well as creating an opportunity for outreach and for sharing the history of the building, the project also brings in revenue for the parish.  Thank you to Kathleen and to all the volunteers who give of their time to make this possible.

All Saints Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you for all those who have lived a good life on this earth, demonstrating selfless love and kindness and esp. those we have known and loved.

help us to focus on that which is good, Always remembering that goodness is stronger than evil. Amen.