Parish Mass in Memory and Honour of Pope Francis: Monday 28th April at 7.30pm in Mucklagh Church. Joint Choirs will sing at the Mass. All are very welcome With profound sorrow and deep gratitude, we  remember and honour the life of Pope Francis, the 266th successor of Saint Peter, who has gone home to the Lord. Pope Francis was a spiritual father to the world—a man of remarkable humility, boundless compassion, and unwavering dedication to the Gospel. His papacy was marked by a deep love for the poor, a passion for justice, and a tireless call for peace and dialogue in a fractured world. He reminded us that mercy is not just an idea, but a way of life. He walked among us as a servant leader, never seeking grandeur, always pointing to Christ. From his first moments on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, asking for the prayers of the people before giving his own blessing, to his final days marked by courage and quiet strength, Pope Francis lived out the Gospel in word and deed. His legacy will live on in the hearts of countless people—Catholics and non-Catholics alike—who were moved by his authenticity, kindness, and vision of a Church that welcomes all. As we mourn his passing, we also celebrate his life—a life poured out in love for God and humanity. May his soul, now returned to the Father, rest in the peace of the Risen Christ. And may we continue his mission with joy, humility, and hope. He left quietly, like one who knows true love makes no noise. Pope Francis, father of humility, voice for the forgotten, a heart beating for the poor, the small, the unseen. With a glance, he embraced the world; with a gesture, he brought heaven closer to earth. His smile lingers in time, his spirit walks with us still in the folds of hope, in the dream of a more human Church. Farewell, Francis. You lived among us like a poem of light. Mass for Pope Francis will be celebrated by Bishop Deenihan at the Cathedral in Mullingar on Tuesday April 29th at 7.30pm. All are invited. Extract from Tullamore Paris Bulletin