Killawalla email Newsletter

Families in Killawallla have family members scattered around the globe. It may be a brother, a sister, an aunt, an uncle, a cousin or someone who has lost connections with "home" after being away for a long time.
Killawalla wishes to keep in contact with such persons through a regular email newsletter. The purpose of the newsletter is to connect "home and away" folks with each other through the newsletter which will contains news from at home and abroad. Out first newsletter is ready to be mailed.
If you wish to be added to our database of emails to receive the newsletters, please email your information to Michael Tracey at this email address.

Killawalla: Giving and Receiving

Today, we began a new initiative in the Killawalla area called "Killawalla: Giving and receiving." Its premise is as follows:

Everyone has a gift/talent (intangible) to give. Everyone has a need to be fulfilled. It doesn’t matter who we are, how old or young we are, how rich or poor we are, we can all do something that no one else can do. That is the nature of our uniqueness. Obviously, we are not good or gifted in everything but we are good and gifted in some thing. That “some thing” is given to us to make someone else’s world a better place.

Everyone has a need; something they would like to do better at, something they would like to learn to do, something that they would love to try but never did; something they would like to fix but don’t know how; something  they would like someone to help them with but are too embarrassed to ask.

The Killawalla community is both diverse and unique in its gifts and. needs.

How does this work?

1.     Participants fill out a questionnaire about their  gifts and needs.

2.     Once the questionnaires are completed and tabulated, we will try and match a person’s gift with another person’s need. In that case, someone  will be sharing a talent or gift they have and someone, in turn, will be the beneficiary of that gift sharing.

3.     There is no such thing as a useless gift or talent. All, no matter how small or insignificant they may seem, will make a difference in someone else’s life.

4.     Some have been blessed with several gifts or talents. A willingness to share all such talents with the community will be appreciated.

5.     Some may feel that they have more needs than gifts and talents. No problem! All can be accommodated.

6.     There is no financial exchange involved  between the person who shares the gift or talent and the person who is on  the receiving end. However, the person receiving the gift or talent may wish to make a donation to the Killawalla Community Council to help fund some future projects.  This is not a requirement. Rather, it can be a gesture of appreciation. If such is undertaken, the donation can be placed in a separate envelope and given to a member of the Community Council.

7.     Gift sharing and needs met will be accomplished during  a definitive time period.

8.     The marrying of gifts and needs will be a once-off experience but may develop into something different in the future, depending  on its success.

9.     Following the completion of the marrying of gifts and needs, there will be a community meeting to share learning experiences, how it benefited the community and possible future projects and directions.

Pamphlets explaining the process as well as suggestions are available in church or through any member of the Killawalla Community Council.

Deadline for completion of the gifts and needs for is May 18, 2014

Killawalla Website

Killawalla has its own website now.  It contains opportunities to savour its history, meet its school children, find out local happenings with our Church Newsletter, keep in touch with folks at home and abroad.
You can access the site at the following address: www.killawallaonline.com

Mountainside Grotto Mass

Yesterday evening, I celebrated Mass at the Grotto in Glenmask near my home. Around 100 people participated in glorious sunshine. Mrs. Mary Tuffey, a 100 year old matriarch who grew up in the area, joined us for the Mass. She was on holidays from Chicago. Here are some pictures from the evening.

The roadside grotto at Glenmask

 

A view from the grotto

 

A group of ladies rest their weary legs before the Mass

 

 

Horse sense

Horses even have sense! Here, four of them, know how to enjoy a beautiful sunny morning in Killawalla.

 

Stepping it out

A group of around 40 individuals from different parts of Ireland completed a 3 day walk from Balla, to Croagh Patrick, ending on Sunday, March 24th. The group are pictured as the passed through Killawalla on the second day of the walk.

 

 

 

Killawalla's newest lambs on display