Chai Brady
Bishop Donal McKeown accompanies religious orders at St Eugene's Cathedral in Derry as they take WMOF prayer petitions to pray for all. WMOF
A Diocese of Meath parish is creating hype for ‘The Big Parish Picnic’ to attract families from across the diocese, in preparation for the World Meeting of Families (WMOF).
Kinnegad Parish in Westmeath hope to bring families together to eat, play and learn about how best to look after the local environment.
A spokesperson for the event said: “Summer is really about getting outside and enjoying days with your family and friends.
“We wanted to create a simple event whereby people will be encouraged to pack a picnic lunch, and come and hang out together for a few hours. We will have some traditional family games and music for people to enjoy.”
The picnic kicks-off with Mass on Sunday, June 17 at noon at St Etchen’s National School in Kinnegad. This will immediately be followed by an outdoor picnic in the grounds of the school with a programme of games, events and workshops. The picnic will create a technology-free fun-filled few hours for everyone to enjoy.
The annual Family Fun Cycle will also take place starting from St Etchen’s School, with St Etchen’s Parents’ Council combining efforts so people can do both on the same day.
Attendees are invited to pack a picnic, a bike and to bring a blanket as part of their itinerary.
People can take part in traditional family games and activities, music and dance, a family fun cycle, storytelling and more.
Suggestions
A local organic farmer and a local strawberry farmer will advise how to grow your own. They will also make suggestions on how to make small changes to improve the local environment.
Everyone is invited to The Big Parish Picnic, people from the parish and beyond including families in the parish schools of Kinnegad, Clonard, Coralstown and the Downs, parishioners, everyone in the community, and people from neighbouring parishes.
The parish spokesperson added: “We would like you all to share in our special family day and of course we need your blankets to help set a new local Picnic Blanket Record.”
“So, bring your picnic, bring your blanket, come join in the fun and help us break a record with the largest picnic blanket in 2018!”
For further information contact the Parish Office at 044 9391030/044 9375117 or email kinnegadparish@eircom.net or Grace Brennan on 085 1014659 or Elaine Campbell 087 9782478.
These WMOF cookies will bake your day
Almost as sweet as family life, these World Meeting of Families (WMOF) cookies were a delicious treat for parishioners who attended a Dublin event. They were enjoyed by the Glasnevin Grouping of Parishes, with the picture taken in Ballygall parish during an event called ‘A Celebration of Belonging’.
Hosted by Sr Marie Dunne CHF it was part of the parish’s celebrations on the lead-up to the World Meeting of Families this August. Also involved were past pupils from the Holy Faith schools, members of St John of God choir and pupils from Mother of Divine Grace School and Sacred Heart School.
Efforts were made to contact the mystery cookie artist but it was not possible to get a comment before publication.
WMOF exhibition offers great opportunity
The World Meeting of Families (WMOF) organising committee are reminding organisations that would like to be part of the WMOF exhibitions to apply “to reach a huge and interested audience”.
During the four-day WMOF congress from August 22-25 at the Royal Dublin Society (RDS) there will be over 300 exhibition stands.
The exhibition represents a great opportunity for faith-based organisations, charities, those working to support Catholic faith development as well as Irish culture, crafts and tourism providers to reach a huge and interested audience.
There will be over 45,000 visitors at the WMOF2018 Congress, with about 100 countries represented.
If an organisation is interested in booking a stand at the exhibition, they can download documents at https://www.worldmeeting2018.ie/en/Get-Involved/Exhibit and send completed forms to: exhibition@worldmeeting2018.ie