For many years, they have served God’s people faithfully — celebrating Mass, baptising, marrying, comforting, preaching and walking with their parish communities. Some, even in retirement, continue to help in our parishes; others now live in nursing homes or are unable to minister because of long-term illness.

Through a dedicated parish envelope in these weeks, we have an opportunity to support them in their retirement, illness and later years. We give thanks for their years of priestly service and ask God’s blessing upon them.

The Parish of Dunleer is delighted to participate in **Return to Nature 2030**, an initiative of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference, as part of the Church’s ongoing commitment to caring for our common home.
As part of this initiative, we will be allowing some areas of our parish estate — including parts of the grounds at the Parochial House and in our graveyards — to **grow more naturally and wild**. This will provide space for wildflowers, insects, birds and other wildlife, while helping to increase the biodiversity of our parish.
This may look a little different from the way we have traditionally maintained our grounds, but it is a deliberate choice: **sometimes caring for God’s creation means allowing nature to do what nature does best.** 
We are grateful for the support and guidance of **Dunleer Tidy Towns** and the **Biodiversity Officer of Louth County Council** as we begin this journey.
Through small changes in how we care for our parish land, we hope to make a positive contribution to the beauty and biodiversity of our local area — and to live out our responsibility to **care for our common home**.

 **Aiming to Give Back 30% of Parish Land to Nature by 2030.** 

In times like this, it is important that we come together as followers of Christ to worship and pray together.

Let’s join together this coming Sunday at 7.30pm.