Tuesday, November 18, 2008

33rd Sunday in Ordinary time, 16th November 2008

A Talent to Bemust
The technical support person was having difficulty identifying the problem the caller was having with her computer. After ten minutes of futile questioning he asked her the most basic question of all: ‘What type of computer do you have?’ ‘A white one’, she replied. You might think that a caller like that couldn’t possibly have a future in computer technology. And, you’d probably be right. However, when it comes to answering God’s call to do something that sort of reckoning goes out the window. God often calls the least talented, in secular terms, to do God’s will. Why so? Because it must be clear that it’s God’s power working through the individual that gets things done, not the individual’s own talents. Look at his choice of Pope, for example. The first, I mean. An unlettered fisherman. Would we ever dream of choosing such a candidate for the post today? Definitely not. Our candidates have to be extremely well-lettered and talented, even in secular terms. Is that saying anything about our trust in God’s power?
Today’s Gospel is all about trust. A man divides his property among his servants to look after it for him while he’s away. What matters is not how much they earn, but how they use what he gives them. Hiding it away safely is not an option. The owner gives it for use. We all have at least one talent. It remains a talent to bemuse until, trusting in God, we see its purpose and put it to good use.
Fr. Tom Cahill

Parish Web Page
We continue to update the parish webpage with the weekly newsletter. We hope to have a new website in the New Year once we are up and running in our new Parish Centre.
Volunteers to help with the design and running of the new web site would be welcome as my knowledge of such things is limited. Interested? Contact Fr. Liam.

Questions People Ask
Q. I find it hard to understand what holiness means?
A. When the Prophet Isaiah was granted a glimpse of heaven, he described this awesome experience as holy. We repeat his threefold cry of “Holy” at Mass. The holiness of God means that God is totally above and beyond anything we have ever experienced: that God is all-perfect, without any moral blemish and worthy of all reverence and worship. A person is holy to the extent that one is full of reverence, love and kindness… in a word, Christlike.
Fr. Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap

Pray for the Deceased
Recently Deceased: Liam Delaney, 130 Walkin Street. Reposing at his home. Funeral prayers on Sunday 11.15am followed be removal to St. Mary’s Cathedral for Mass at 12 noon. Funeral afterwards to St. Kieran’s Cemetery. Catherine Phelan, Cedarwood Avenue. John Glynn, College Gardens. Edmund Kenny, Cullohill. Denis Griffin, USA. Madge Rice, Conahy.
Anniversaries: Mary & Anne O’Shea (Sat 6.15), James & Mary Mulrooney (Sat 7.00), Margaret Moore (Sun 9.30), John Brennan (Sun 10.00), Kitty & John McMyler (Sun 10.30), Deceased Members of St. Patrick’s Brass and Reed Band (Sun 11.00), John Byrne (Sun 12.00), Rena Brett (Sun 12.30), Gertrude Donnelly (Mon 9.30), Patrick Morris (Tues 9.30), Eugene & Nora Curley (Tue 10.30), James Fox (Fri 9.30), Joan Taggart (Fri 10.30), John Fogarty, Michael Kennedy, Dymphna Condon, James Leahy, Catherine McDonald, May O’Connor, Joan Meehan, Tom Murphy, Paddy & Lily Power.
Intentions for next weekend: Maura Leahy (Sat 6.15), Patrick Murphy (Sat 7.00), Paul O’Dwyer (Sun 9.30), Bill Keogh (Sun 10.00), May Muldowney (Sun 10.30), Margaret (Madge) O’Brien (Sun 11.00), John Hand (Sun 12.00), Henrietta Hyland (Sun 12.30).
Remembrance Service
The parish remembrance service will be at St. Patrick’s Church at 7.30pm on Thursday, 27th November. All are invited to come and pray for those who have died. The names of parishioners who died during the past year will be included in a special roll of honour.

St Patrick's Brass and Reed Band
The 11am Mass at St. Patrick’s Church on this Sunday will be for the deceased members of the St. Patrick's Brass and Reed Band. The band will provide the sacred music.

I.N.T.O. Mass
There will be a Mass for deceased members of the Irish National Teachers Organisation in the Friary Church at 7.30pm on Wednesday, 19th November 2008.

Celebration of Faith for Youth
St. Patrick’s Parish has been chosen to host a Celebration of Faith for Young People from neighbouring parishes on Sunday, 30th November. The event will take place during the 12.30pm Mass at St. Patrick’s Church on that day.
This celebration, instigated by the Diocesan Forum, is in response to the stated needs of young people in a recent diocesan survey. It is expected that young people from all over the diocese will gather on that weekend in 13 host venues throughout the diocese to celebrate and rejoice in their faith.
It is hoped this event will be planned and hosted by young people for young people. Please offer your talents and abilities to help make this a memorable occasion. Contact Michelle on 056 776 4400.

Welcome New Altar Servers
We welcome the young people who are joining our altar serving teams from this weekend. They join an already dedicated group of young people who serve at Masses in our parish. We wish them the very best and hope that they find this ministry fulfilling.

When Are We Moving?
This is a question which has been on many lips for the past few months. In short the answer is: we hope to move the parish office towards the end of this week or early next week. In reality as soon as the electricity was switched on last weekend the contractors returned as promised and are working flat out to have the complex ready for later this week. At that stage it will be up to the Design Team to issue the necessary certificates before the parish can formally take over the buildings. Subsequent to this insurance cover will have to be arranged by the parish before the complex can be used by members of the public.

Homes for the Elderly
The Supervising Committee invites applications from those who are interested in acquiring accommodation in the new homes at St. Fiacre’s Church. The development is grant aided and statutory guidelines will apply in the allocation of the houses. Those interested should provide written details of name, current address and relevant contact details to the Presbytery without delay. (Those who put their names down earlier need not re-apply as your details are on file).

St. Vincent de Paul Collection
The monthly collection for the local conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul will be taken up at Masses this weekend. The society offers help to those struggling financially. The conference can be contacted through The Presbytery at 7 Ormonde Road or through the new presbytery at Loughboy. Put your name, address and details into a sealed envelope and drop it into the above places. The St. Patrick’s Parish Conference meets at the Presbytery, 7 Ormonde Road every Monday at 8pm.

Compassion - the heart of the Gospel
Fr. Peter McVerry SJ will give a talk on this topic at St. Canice’s Church at 7.30pm on Wednesday, 19th November. All welcome.

40 Hours of Adoration
The Ossory St. Joseph’s Young Priest’s Society is collaborating with the Ossory Vocations Team in holding 40 hours of adoration before the Blessed Sacrament in St. Mary’s Cathedral. Adoration will begin at 7.30pm on next Friday, 21st November and finish with solemn benediction following 11am on Sunday, 23rd November. St. Joseph’s Young Priests Society members will be present at all times. While we encourage parishioners to attend at any time during the 40 hours we are anxious that the times allotted to St. Patrick’s Parish will be filled. We have been asked to provide cover from 8.30pm on Friday, 21st to 12.30am on Saturday, 22nd and from 9.00pm to 12.00pm on Saturday, 22nd November. Please contact any member of the St. Joseph’s Young Priests Society or the Presbytery if you are willing to commit to cover any one of these hours.

Benefit Night
A benefit night in aid of Crumlin Children’s Hospital & Ronald McDonald House will take place in Cleere’s Pub Parliament Street on next Wednesday, 19th November at 9.30am. The performing artist will be Dave Brown of Picturehouse. Proceeds from the night will be presented to Crumlin by Liam Phelan. Further details of this worthy event, contact Paul Whitnell 087 257 0634.

Mayor of the Village
Two candidates are going all out to win the coveted title Mayor of the Village: Liz Murray (nee O’Rourke) and Kevin O’Dwyer are canvassing hard for your votes at the moment. Each €1 collected by the candidates is worth one non-transferable vote. The money goes to the St. Patrick’s Voluntary Housing Project for Elderly adjacent to St. Fiacre’s Church.
The election count will take place and the Mayor will be enrobed during a celebration cabaret and dance at a Larchfield venue on Monday, 24th November at 9pm. Adm €5.

4-2-1 Parish Drugs Initiative
The 4-2-1 Parish Drug Training Initiative will continue at the St. John of God School on Monday evening between 7.30 and 9.30pm.

The Carlton Years Revisited
A special fundraiser with The Uptown Band (guest Andy Murray 5th Degree) and Phoenix plus Carlton Disco with D.J. Murphy (KCLR) will be held at Hotel Kilkenny on Saturday, 22nd November. Tickets at €12.50 are available from Rollercoaster, Kieran Street or on the door. Proceeds in aid of Enable Ireland, the O’Neill Centre, Kilkenny.

James Stephens GAA News
Congratulations to the Senior football team on their win against Cashel last weekend. See www.james-stephens.com for more.
They face the Meath county champions in the Leinster Semi-Final on Sunday week. The Best of luck to the players and management. A special All-Ireland celebration takes place on Thursday 4th December in the club in honour of Eoin Larkin, Jackie Tyrrell and Donnacha Cody on winning the 3 senior hurling All-Irelands in a row. All hurling fans in the parish are most welcome. Congratulation to Club Star Eoin Larkin who was recently Crowned the Vodafone and GPA Hurler of the year for 2008. Jackie Tyrrell also made the Vodafone and GPA hurling teams of the year at corner back for his solid performances throughout the year.

Christmas Spending
The local conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, in conjunction with St. Canice's Kilkenny Credit Union, is launching the “Keep the Wolf from the Door this Christmas” campaign and is appealing to people and families who feel that they are vulnerable to spending excessively and in danger of borrowing money at hugely inflated interest rates from unscrupulous money lenders (bookmen) to contact them. Assistance in preparing a budget and some very sensible financial advice will be afforded to them in order to prevent over-borrowing and over-spending this Christmas. Leaflets available at the churches.