Sunday, September 26, 2010

Twenty Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 26th September 2010

Pope’s Visit to the UK
Pope Benedict XVI's trip to the United Kingdom has been declared a success by the Vatican, the government and even many critics. Undoubtedly these results point to the amount of prayer that supported the trip. The Pope got an inside look at that prayerful support while he was in England. Graham Hutton of the charity group Aid to the Church in Need presented the Pontiff with a leather-bound book of 7,224 benefactors who had promised prayer in the run-up to the visit. “I was presented to the Holy Father, along with about 20 others, after his private morning Mass at the nunciature and before his visit to St. Mary’s College, Twickenham,” Hutton explained. “I was able to explain briefly what the book contained and to show a few pages of it to the Holy Father who smiled his beautiful smile and expressed his gratitude.” The benefactors - who are supporters of Aid to the Church in Need - promised to say more than 32,000 decades of the rosary and spend the equivalent of 137 days in Eucharistic adoration. More than 11,000 Masses were offered as well. The names of those included in the book were divided into four main sections, England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Also listed in a small section at the end were 71 benefactors from overseas countries, including New Zealand, Japan and the United States.

Pope’s Visit - A Review
A special programme will be broadcast this Sunday evening, 26th September at 7.30 pm on BBC1 television.  It will review Pope Benedict's visit to Britain through the eyes of Francis Campbell, Irish born Catholic and British Ambassador to the Holy See. The programme offers a first hand and unique insight into the visit.

Kilkenny Christian Brothers’ School
This weekend we congratulate the Kilkenny Christian Brothers’ School on 150 years of service to the educational needs of young Kilkenny boys. The school opened its doors for the first time on 24th September 1860.

Confirmation Dates
Earlier this week the bishop announced the dates of Confirmation in the Diocese of Ossory during 2011. Our parish celebration will be on Saturday, 9th April 2011 while the celebration for those attending Gaelscoil Osraí will be on Saturday, 14th May 2011.
The dates for Parish First Holy Communions will be finalised during the coming week.

Mass of Thanksgiving
The management, staff, pupils of the St. John of God School invite all to a celebration of Mass to mark the opening of the new school year and to give thanks for the life and work of the late Mrs Nicola Lynas. Mrs Lynas, who died suddenly in June, was a staff member at the school for 17 years. All parents and past pupils are invited to attend. The Mass will be at St. Patrick’s Church at 7.30pm on Friday, 8th October.

Pray For Our Deceased FriendsRecently Deceased: Sr. Mary Clifford, St. John of God Community. Anne Shortall, Shellumsrath. Denis Curtis, Wexford. Sheila Bergin, Newpark.
Anniversaries: Kevin Dowling [We also pray for Kevin’s brothers Dan (Coventry) and Ned (New Zealand) who died during the past week] (Sat 6.15). Patrick Traynor (Sat 7.00). The Byrne Family (Sun 9.30). Ann Kavanagh (Sun 10.00). Stella O’Rourke (Sun 10.30). Julie Foley (Sun 11.00), Peter Gaule (Sun 12.00). Sandra O’Neill (Sun 12.30). Ann & Michael Doyle (Mon 9.30). Arthur & Gretta Somers, Terry Kelly, Anastasia Buckley, Anastasia Ayres, Michael Doyle, Elizabeth Connick, Rory O’Connor, Stephen O’Connor, Molly Browne, Margaret Morris, Kathleen Murphy, Mark Nugent.
Intentions for next weekend: James Bambrick (Sat 6.15), Sr. Gregory Ryan (Sat 7.00), Dan Gorey (Sun 10.00), Ann Roche (Sun 11.00), John Casey (Sun 12.00), Ellen Reid (Sun 12.30 Months Mind).
May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen.

First Friday Visits
Next Friday is the first Friday of October. The sick and the housebound will be visited at the usual times. Names may be added to the list by calling the Parish Office on 056 776 4400.

First Holy Communion Meeting
There will be a meeting for parents of next year’s First Holy Communion candidates at 7.00pm on Monday in the St. Patrick’s Parish Centre. This meeting will outline the Do This In Memory programme. This programme has been prepared by Fr. Martin Delaney (Ossory) and Maeve Mahon (Kildare and Leighlin) and is used extensively throughout Ireland to involve parish, school and home in the preparation for First Holy Communion. A new book has been prepared for this year’s programme which will help young people to learn about the Mass, understand the readings and know the responses.

Get to Know Your Bible
A course titled ‘An introduction to the Bible - The Bible in its context’ will be given at the St. Patrick’s Parish Centre by Sr. De Lourdes Sheridan starting on Tuesday 12th October for 6 weeks. The course will run from 10am to 12.30 pm and costs €5 per session.

1st Saturday Devotion
This devotion will take place at St. Fiacre’s Church on Saturday, 2nd October after 6.15pm Mass and will continue until 9pm.

Meditation in Peace in Christ
Christian Meditation has now resumed in Peace in Christ Retreat House, Sion Road, every Wednesday at 4pm. New members welcome.

Weekly Envelope Collection
Last weekend’s envelope collection amounted to €1,465.00. Many thanks.

Church Gate Collection
The Good Shepherd Centre would like to sincerely thank all who contributed to their recent collection which raised €3,199.
Enable Ireland. O’Neill Centre
Enable Ireland/O’Neill Centre has had a number of calls from parents/friends of the centre advising that they have received calls from a man asking for a donation/selling raffle tickets. These calls are bogus. Please do not give any money to anyone who rings. All fundraising events that benefit us here in the O’Neill Centre take place with our knowledge and consent and for which we are most dependent and grateful.

Understanding and Protecting your Mental Health
Presenter: Dr. Fergus Heffernan
Venue: Village Business Centre Patrick Street
A once-off 2 hour education programme
Time: 10am to 12 noon & 8pm to 10pm on Wednesday 29th September. 10am to 12 noon & 8pm to 10pm on Thursday 30th September. Cost €10. Numbers are limited, booking essential. For booking and further information contact Fergus at 087 927 7479.

Loreto School Enrolment
Applications for enrolment in Loreto Secondary School for 1st Year Class for 2011/20112 should be made between 4th Oct 2010 and 18th October 2010. Application forms may be obtained from the secondary school office or www.lotetokk.ie

Health Care Courses
FETAC Level 5 Health Care Courses: Care Support; Care Skills and Occupational First Aid commencing shortly. Funding may be available if you are in receipt of a Social Welfare Payment. To register your interest e-mail info@visiontraining.ie or call 086 170 4157.

Patsy Cline Tribute Night
Great evening promised in The Set Theatre on Sunday, 26th at 8.00pm. Proceeds to St. John’s Parish.

Bridge Lessons
Starting in the Kilkenny Bridge Centre on Wednesday, 29th and Thursday, 20th September at 8.45pm. All are welcome.

The Kilkenny Carnegie Library
Three local history talks that may be of interest are included in the programme of events planned to celebrate the centenary of the Carnegie Library at John's Quay, Kilkenny.  Mr Brendan Grimes, author of Irish Carnegie Libraries: a catalogue & architectural history will speak on the History of Carnegie Libraries with special emphasis on Kilkenny - Tuesday 28 September at 7pm, John's Quay. Dr Kevin Whelan, will speak on the History of Hurling in Kilkenny before the GAA - Tuesday 12 October at 7pm, John's Quay. Professor Thomas Kilroy, playwright and novelist, will be reading from his memoirs about growing up in Co. Kilkenny - Wednesday 27 October at 7pm, John's Quay.

School of Contemplative Prayer
You are invited to a monastic school of contemplative prayer for laity through the story and Little Way of St. Thérèse. First meeting on Sunday, 3rd October at 3.00pm at Carmelite Monastery, Tallow, Co. Waterford. Email: carmeltallow@eircom.net for further information.

Questions People Ask
Q. At the time when the Church is struggling, I often wonder why doesn’t God perform some great miracles to bring people back.
A. While we are struggling in Western Europe, remember that the Church is youthful and vibrant in many parts of the world. As for miraculous signs, critics will always find reasons to reject or doubt them. When Jesus performed miracles those who did not believe remained unconvinced. Some said his power came from the devil! Jesus put it like this: ‘If they will not listen either to Moses or to the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone should rise from the dead.
Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap

Volunteers Needed
Help Young People Avoid Drug Abuse:  St. Patrick's Parish has been involved in an initiative to try and show those preparing for Confirmation in the parish that their faith and the gifts of the Holy Spirit received in Confirmation can be a reality in helping them to avoid drug use. Please contact Mel Bay of Ossory Youth on 087 984 5019 if you are interested in helping with this year’s programme.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Twenty Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 19th September 2010

Little Things Mean A Lot
Somebody described a diamond as a lump of coal that did well under pressure. Not so for dandelion seeds. Under pressure, recently, they caused problems. A train travelling from Halifax, West Yorkshire to King’s Cross, London, had its engines clogged by drifting dandelion seeds. These spindly, puffy parachutes blocked the air filters in four of its five engines. The mighty machine could only inch ignominiously into King’s Cross station. Even more troublesome were the grains of fine ash from Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull volcano. Consisting of pulverised rock and glass, such as can wreak havoc on planes. Sandblasting windscreens, they effectively ‘blind’ pilots. They pit fuselages, damage landing lights, and clog sensors making air speed indicators unreliable. Being charged particles, they disrupt radio communication and even cause power failure. None of these pitted pellets of rock and glass is more than 2 millimetres in diameter. As the song says: little things mean a lot.
Had the manager in today’s Gospel (Luke 16: 1- 13) known that, he might have been more careful with his employer’s property. Caught in the mire of cheating, he sinks deeper into scheming and theft. Anyone crooked enough to go along with his dishonest ruse could hardly be relied upon to come to his help at a later date. Why should they? Honour among thieves? I doubt it. When life’s worries weigh us down, let’s remember the lump of coal. Pressure transformed it. It can transform us too. We’re already halfway there when we remember, if not the diamond then, the pearl of great price we carry within us: God’s Holy Spirit.
Fr. Tom Cahill SVD

Mass for Retired Teachers
The annual Mass for retired teachers will be celebrated at St. Fiacre’s Church at 10.30am on next Thursday, 23rd September 2010. Tea/Coffee will be served afterwards in St. Patrick’s Parish Centre. All are welcome. Come and join in prayer with our retired teachers.

Questions People Ask
Q. How can I answer my son who has me demented constantly criticising the Pope? He says that educated people today don’t need the Church to teach them how to live.
A. If he is so highly educated, ask him to read what the Pope has actually written. Challenge him to read the Encyclical Letter, Charity in Truth, which addresses the ethical questions underlying social injustice, the financial meltdown, rights and responsibilities, Third World poverty and hunger, the meaning of life.
The world would be a much better place if the Church’s social teaching was heeded. I find that most people who criticise the Pope have never actually read anything he wrote.
Fr. Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap

Pray for our Deceased FriendsRecently Deceased: Chrissie Scott, 10 Fr Hayden Road. Kathleen Beale, 45 Walkin Street. Mikhail Bak, Breagagh Place. Molly Denieffe, Fatima Place.
Month’s Mind: Billy O’Neill, Margaretsfield (Foulkstown Church at 4.00pm Saturday).
Anniversaries: Catherine & John Alley (Sat 6.15), Ciss Holland (Sat 7.00), Margaret Brennan (Sun 10.00), Margaret Jones (Sun 11.00), Mary Kelly (Sun 12.00), Paddy Johnston (Sun 12.30), Bob Roche & Jean Smith (Mon 9.30), Mary Kennedy & Marjorie Foskin (Tue 9.30), Fr. John Lennon (Sat 9.30), Bridget Cahill, Ger Kavanagh, Margaret Beehan, Anna Beale, William Hickey, Bob Roche, Jean Smith, Paddy Larkin, Jimmy Owens.
Intentions Next Weekend: Kevin Dowling (Sat 6.15), Patrick Traynor (Sat 7.00), The Byrne Family (Sun 9.30), Ann Kavanagh (Sun 10.00), Stella O’Rourke (Sun 10.30), Julie Foley (Sun 11.00), Peter Gaule (Sun 12.00), Sandra O’Neill (Sun 12.30).

Traditional Latin Mass
A traditional High Mass (sung) will be celebrated in St. Patrick's Church at 5.00 p.m. on Sunday, 19th September 2010. All are welcome.
Youth Choir Returns
Our parish youth choir, which provides music and song at the 12.30pm Sunday Mass at St. Patrick’s Church, returns following the Summer break on next Sunday, 26th September. New members are always welcome.

Guitar Lessons
Guitar lessons will recommence at St. Patrick’s Parish Centre on Monday, 27th September at 7.00pm. Contact Michelle at 056 776 4400 for further details.

Collection for St. Vincent De Paul
The monthly collection for the local conference of the Society of St. Vincent De Paul will be held at all Masses this weekend. Please give as generously as possible to this local group.
The local conference meets at the St. Patrick’s Parish Centre on Monday evenings from 8.00 to 9.00pm. The member on duty may be contacted in confidence on 087 681 0589.

Adult Folk Choir
We are delighted to have the Adult Folk Choir return to the Saturday evening 7.00 o’clock Mass at St. Patrick’s Church following their Summer break. The choir practices at the St. Patrick’s Parish Centre on Thursday evenings between 8.00 and 9.00 o’clock. New members are welcome.

More Music
The Saturday evening 6.15 choir at St. Fiacre’s Church have also returned. They practice at the St. Patrick’s Parish Centre on Monday evenings from 8.00pm. All welcome.

Loughboy Library
Toddler Hour will commence on Thursday mornings at 11.30am from September 30th. This is a free amenity and will include interactive story time fun word games and colouring. Just turn up on the day.
Magazine Donations - don’t bin your old magazines - donate them to the library instead!

John Henry Cardinal Newman
This Sunday the Catholic Church rejoices at the beatification of John Henry Cardinal Newman long held as one of the greatest Catholic minds. His writings are extensive and inspiring. For more information why not visit one of the many websites dedicated to the writings of Cardinal Newman: www.newmanreader.org/.
‘We can believe what we choose. We are answerable for what we choose to believe.’
Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman
Complete live television coverage of the beatification airs on September 19th on EWTN. Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) can be watched on SKY (Channel 589) as well as on Chorus/UPC (Channel 815). Also free to air with a dish and receiver.

Patsy Cline - The Concert
This concert will be in Langton’s Set Theatre on Sunday, 26th September featuring Sandy Kelly and her band. All the old hits including Crazy, I Fall to Pieces, Your Cheating Heart, Sweet Dreams, Blue Moon and many more. Proceeds in aid of St. John’s Parish Funds. Tickets €22.50 are available at St. John’s Presbytery.

Congratulations
Well done to all involved in winning the Gold Medal for Kilkenny City in the All Ireland Tidy Towns Competition. Thanks to all civic minded people who helped in any way during the campaign. Let’s take pride in our city and keep Kilkenny as the tidiest large urban centre in Ireland.

Log on Learn Computer Classes
Computer classes are beginning in the Presentation Secondary School, Loughboy on Wednesday 13th October at 11am for 8 weeks. The programme involves transition year students helping older people in the community to start learning about the computer or to improve their computer skills. Internet and email and any other modules of interest to the learner will be covered. Anyone interested should contact the school secretary at 056 776 5684.

Art Classes Available
Art Classes in Kilkenny Art Café on Kieran Street. Advanced Classes from 10:00am – 12:00pm and Beginner Classes from 7:30pm – 9:00pm. For further information please contact Sonja on 083 394 1220 or 056 770 8155. Email: sonjavrsajkov@gmail.com.
Fáilte Isteach classes in Kilkenny
English language conversational classes for migrants will begin in the St. Mary’s Parish Hall in Kilkenny and we are looking for volunteer tutors for this project. No experience or qualifications necessary as training will be provided. A commitment of two hours per week is desirable. Info: Maura Hickey on 779 4921.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Twenty Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 12th September 2010

Farewell Fr. Rahul
On Wednesday of this week we must say a sad goodbye to Fr. Rahul Phillips who has been with us in the parish for the past month. Fr. Rahul, a native of Central India, is a member of the Pallottine Order and a student at the Salesian Pontifical University in Rome. We have enjoyed his pastoral ministry and company and wish him God’s blessing as he returns to finish his course of studies in Rome.

Well Done the Cats
Congratulations to the Kilkenny Minor Hurling team on their fine win in last weekend’s All Ireland Final. We offer our commiserations to the senior hurlers who did the county proud not alone on last Sunday but on many occasions during the past ten years.

Diamond Jubilee Congratulations
Best wishes to Sr. Margaret Mary Phelan of the St. John of God Community on the College Road. Sr. Margaret Mary celebrated the diamond jubilee of her profession on last Tuesday.

Questions people ask
Q. May I receive Holy Communion twice in the same day, for instance if I attended two funerals.
I quote the Catechism: ‘The Church warmly recommends that the faithful receive Holy Communion each time they participate in the celebration of the Eucharist’ (#1417). So, if you attend Mass twice, or even more often, in the same day, it is warmly recommended that you receive the Blessed Eucharist as the completion of your participation with the Lord. The law which restricted people from receiving no more that once a day came in when people were going from one altar to another for Communion without taking part in the full ceremony.

Divine Mercy
There will be an hour of prayer and adoration in honour of Divine Mercy in The Friary Church on Sunday September 12th from 3pm—4pm. All are welcome.
Pray for our Deceased FriendsRecently Deceased: John Cahill, Maidenhill; Bill Hackett, Beech Park; Joe O’Brien, 5 St. Fiacre’s Place; Mick Coffee, Michael Street; Ted Townsend, Dunnamaggin; May Walsh, Greenshill; Jacqui O’Brien, 37 Fr. Albert Place; Martin Shelly, Newpark.
Anniversaries: Mary & Paul Cody & Bill Marnell (Sat 6.15), Sean O’Keeffe (Sat 7.00), Ernie Harrington (Sun 10.00), Matt Dwyer (Sun 11.00), Catherine (Kit) Grace (Sun 12.00), Mary & Joan Bissett; Pat White (Wed 10.30), Patrick Morris (Sat 9.30), Michelle Reynolds, Maureen Holden, Bridget Curran, Enda Coady, Sharon McEvoy, Billy & Statia Tallent, Michael & Bridget Slattery, Rita McCarthy, Tom Little, Mary & Joan Bissett, The Cassin Family.
Intentions Next Weekend: Catherine & John Alley (Sat 6.15), Ciss Holland (Sat 7.000, Margaret Brennan (Sun 10.00), Mary Kelly (Sun 12.00), Paddy Johnston (Sun 12.30).

Kilkenny Bereavement Support
Celebrating 21 years of working in Kilkenny with a public lecture on Thursday, 16th September 2010 in Newpark Hotel at 8.00 p.m.  Dr. Susan Delaney of the Irish Hospice Foundation will speak on New Perspectives on Loss and Bereavement. All welcome. Admission free.

Camphill Communities
The annual Open Day at the Camphill Community in Ballytobin, near Callan, takes place on Sunday, 19th September from 2.00pm to 5.00pm. Camphill Communities care for children and adults with a mental disability.

Afternoon Bridge
All are welcome to come along and try their hand at afternoon bridge.
Venue: St. Patrick’s Parish Centre.
Date: Tuesday 14th September.
Time: 3pm - 5pm.
No competition, no partner required. Enjoy two hours bridge every Tuesday. Contact: Reena on 056 776 2923.
An enjoyable afternoon guaranteed.

Volunteers Needed
Help Young People Avoid Drug Abuse:  The use of alcohol and other drugs, whether legal or illegal, is becoming more and more commonplace in society and especially amongst our young people. Over the past two years St. Patrick's Parish has been involved in an initiative to try and show those preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation in the parish that their faith and the gifts of the Holy Spirit received in at Confirmation can be a reality in helping them to avoid drug use. The initiative is developed in co-operation with Ossory Youth, the diocesan youth service, and so far has shown good results. We are now looking for adult volunteers who are interested in working on this initiative. Ideally we would like someone with experience of working with young people or someone with experience of drugs education but maybe someone is planning a career change and would like to gain experience working with young people. Or perhaps someone would simply like to help the young people of the parish. The really important thing is for them to want to help young people to avoid drug problems. The initiative runs every Monday night for about 18 weeks between October and March each year. Volunteers would be provided with training and the support necessary and be working alongside Mel Bay of Ossory Youth’s Kilkenny Drugs Initiative.
If you are interested please contact Mel Bay of Ossory Youth on 087 984 5019 or mbay@ossoryyouth.com

Loughboy Library
Free online courses including ECDL, first-aid, office safety and project management are available. Up-to-date details of local adult education opportunities including VEC, DTEI, Pitman College, Enterprise Board, JobFitters and LARC courses available at Loughboy Library.

Dochas Nasamu
The Irish Run Aids orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya is holding a used clothing appeal of used adult and children’s clothing. Soft toys also accepted on Wednesday, 15th June, before 12 noon, at the St. Patrick’s Parish Centre Carpark. For further information, please contact Marie on 087 689 0995.

Assessment & Guidance Programme
Career 2 Fit Assessment and Guidance Programme at Noreside Education Centre, 5 John’s Quay, Kilkenny. Are you unemployed for 3 months or more? Are you educated to Leaving Certificate Standard? If you fit those two criteria, please contact Noreside Education Centre on 056 777 0790. If you are interested in changing your career path call us Monday to Friday between 9.00am and 5.00pm (lunch 1.00pm to 2.00pm). Ask for Caroline, Liz or Ann-Marie for details. A One Day Workshop takes place on 23rd September at Noreside Education Centre, and there are 12 places available. Contact us to enrol on this worthwhile Career Orientation Programme

‘Tea-ing’ Off
You’ve heard of black tea, green tea, herbal tea, and high tea. Well now there’s philosophical tea. A new fad is sweeping La France. There, children as young as eight are acquiring a taste for philosophical tea. Difficult though it may be to swallow at this remove, nevertheless, many parents in France want their children to cut their metaphysical ‘munchers’ on heavy issues over light refreshments. Children, they believe, should be encouraged to debate life’s mysteries from the time they discover the words ‘what’ and ‘why’ to give them an early handle on a complex world. The tea parties are held in cafes, public libraries and homes. Cakes and fruit juices feature prominently to sweeten debates drizzled with Descartes, sprinkled with Socrates, or piquant with Plato. No more than ten kiddies form a party. They vote on the topic of choice for a day and plunge into profundity with a vengeance.
Our brat in today’s Gospel reading (Luke 15:1-32) aka The Prodigal Son also plunges into profundity – but not by choice. He isn’t interested in insight, or in grappling with life’s mysteries. All he wants are life’s pleasures. He gets them, such as they are, and – surprise, surprise – ends up more miserable than he was before he had them. Had he developed a taste for philosophical tea he might have fared better. We are blessed with the most complex organ in the universe. It’s called a brain. Surprising how long it takes for some to find it.

Art Classes Available
Art Classes in Kilkenny Art Café on Kieran Street. Advanced Classes from 10:00am – 12:00pm and Beginner Classes from 7:30pm – 9:00pm. For further information please contact Sonja on 083 394 1220 or 056 770 8155. Email: sonjavrsajkov@gmail.com.

Fáilte Isteach classes in Kilkenny
English language conversational classes for migrants will begin in the St. Mary’s Parish Hall in Kilkenny and we are looking for volunteer tutors for this project. No experience or qualifications necessary as training will be provided. A commitment of two hours per week is desirable. Info: Maura Hickey on 779 4921.


Parish Registration
If you are new to our parish, then welcome. If you have not joined us in a while, then welcome too.
We strive to keep an accurate and up to date record of our parish and so we invite all who wish to do so to register with us. We are delighted with the response during the past three weeks.
In recent weeks we have a had a number of people applying for references and other information from the parish and in most cases, we had no record or knowledge of them. We may know grandparents, parents or some family members, but there’s nothing better than being registered yourself.
Fill out the form below (newsletter edition) and send it back and we will reply with an acknowledgement. Alternatively, if you're living in our parish and wish to send in your details, Name, address etc by email, we will be happy to register you.

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Twenty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, 5th September, 2010

Come on the Cats
We join in wishing the Kilkenny hurling teams all the best in this weekend’s All Ireland Hurling Finals. In particular we offer our best wishes to parishioners Brian Cody, Jackie Tyrell and Eoin Larkin with the senior panel and Richie Mulrooney with the minors. We hope they will play their part in bringing the silver ware to Kilkenny on Monday evening.

Whole-Hearted
You hear them in the street, on buses and on trains: mobile phone conversations. They can be annoying; for two reasons at least. First, some users of phones seem to think it necessary to shout into them presumably because of the distance between themselves and those at the other end. Second, you get only a ‘halfalogue’ – one side of the conversation. Scientists at Cornell University, New York, claim that hearing only one half of a conversation is more draining on one’s attention than hearing all of it. They experimented with students who were given concentration exercises while hearing one or two speakers on mobile phones. Their conclusion: people are less able to divert their attention from a half-heard conversation than from a fully hear one. Half of anything rarely satisfies. It can even be irksome. It’s the whole hog or nothing. The same can be said for half-hearted effort. Take today’s Gospel reading for example (Luke 14:25-33). It ends on a note that could be sombre, or joyful, depending on the generosity of one’s response to it: ‘None of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.’ What a prospect! You can’t follow Jesus half-heartedly. It’s total commitment, or no commitment. To put flesh on that, it means there can be no Jesus-free zones in my life; that nothing in life is more important than the values he holds out to me. Therefore, I don’t sacrifice these, ever, for anything else. I wonder how many of us get that part of the conversation.
Fr. Tom Cahill SVD

Questions People Ask
Q. Saint Paul told slaves to obey their masters. Why didn’t he speak out against the evils of slavery?
A. In Paul’s day slaves were often better off than free citizens. Because slave-owners wanted healthy servants, their slaves were more assured of food and lodgings than many of the free. Some students of Paul’s life maintain that his parents were slaves who were granted freedom and Roman citizenship when they grew too old to work, a cheap way out for their masters. In today’s Second Reading Paul appeals to the Christian master, Philemon, to take back the runaway slave, Onesimus, no longer as a slave but as a brother in Christ.
Fr. Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap

Pray for our Deceased Friends
Recently Deceased: Peter Paul Dowling, Johnswell. Liam Brennan, Ballyfoyle. Ellen (Dolly) Reid, Fr. Hayden Road.
Anniversaries: Ann Marie Manogue (sat 6.15), Jim Ryan (Sat 7.00), Jim (Moscow) Larkin (Tue 9.30), Terrence O’Shaughnessy (Tue 10.30), Joe Dunne, Billy Burke, Beezie (Brigid) Slattery, Rex & Constance Nolan.
Intentions Next Week: Mary & Paul Cody & Bill Marnell Sat 6.15), Sean O’Keeffe (Sat 7.00), Ernie Harrington (Sun 10.00), Matt Dwyer (Sun 11.00), Catherine Grace (Sun 12.00). May they rest in peace.

First Saturday Devotion
Adoration and prayer will begin after the 6.15pm Mass in St. Fiacre’s Church on this Saturday, 4th September and end at 9.00pm. All are welcome.

St. Joseph’s Young Priests Society
The Annual General Meeting of the St. Patrick’s Parish branch of the St. Joseph’s Young Priests Society will take place on Friday, 10th September in the St. Patrick’s Parish Centre immediately after the 10.30am Mass in St. Fiacre’s Church. Our Diocesan President Marian Fennelly will address the meeting. It is hoped all members will attend.
Monthly Rosary
The monthly rosary on the first Sunday of the month in James Green at the statue of our Lady of Kilkenny continues on this Sunday at 3.00pm. All welcome.

Edmund Rice Centre Callan
September Monday Evening Mass: The Mass for the blessings of Edmund Rice on our lives and for his canonisation will be celebrated in Westcourt on Monday, 6th September 2010 at 7.30pm. All are very welcome.

Relic of the Holy Face
Veneration of the Relic of the Holy Face will take place at St. Fiacre’s Church on Wednesday, 8th September at 7.30pm. There will be a talk afterwards in Parish Centre by Human Life International (Ireland) on why they are promoting this devotion. Tea/coffee available.

Adult Literacy Awareness
The National Adult Literacy Awareness Week takes place from 6th to 10th September 2010. The theme for the week is ‘Skills for Life’.
Word Aid, the Co. Kilkenny Adult Learning Scheme, has a unique role to play in the context of assisting people improve their reading, writing, spelling, numeracy and computing skills while at the same time building their confidence and self esteem, in the hope of enabling them to access further education and training courses.
Word Aid offers help to adults (over 16 who have completed full time education) experiencing difficulties with reading, writing, spellings, maths or computer skills. Help is also offered to adults preparing for the Driver Theory Test.
The service is available in Kilkenny City and at outreaches around the county. Classes can be arranged to suit the individual, daytime or evenings, where the person can learn what they want at their own pace in a relaxed atmosphere, either alone with a tutor (1 - 1) or in a small group. The service is free and confidential. For further information telephone 056 776 3149 or call to our new address: 43, Upper Patrick Street, Kilkenny.

S.O.S. Meeting
S.O.S. is a service for adults with a mild to moderate intellectual disability. S.O.S. is setting up a new scheme called home share where an adult with an intellectual disability could have a short break with a family.
If you are interested in offering a person with an intellectual disability a short break in your home and would like to know more there will be an information evening in S.O.S. on Thursday, 9th September from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.
You can ring Kathleen Sherry on 776 4000 or email ksherry@soskilkenny.com for more information.

Camphill Open Day
The Camphill Community, Ballytobin, Callan will hold an Open Day on Sunday, 19th September. Festivities start at 2.00pm. The Camphill community cares for children and adults with special needs.

Loughboy Library
Free Computer Classes: Are you bored? Do you have two hours to spare? Would you like to improve your PC skills? Loughboy Library, in partnership with FAS, are providing free online computer classes on Monday and Thursday afternoons. All are eligible. For bookings contact the Library at 779 4176.
Exhibition: the ladies of KK Art Group are exhibiting their works at the Library until 10thSeptember and then it’s the turn of Joe O’Toole, an art student at Ormonde College. Bookings are now being taken for this free facility for 2011.
Details of local adult education opportunities including VEC, BTEI, Pitman College, Enterprise Board and LARC courses are available at Loughboy Library. And we stock the Irish Independent every day.
Toddler Hour: This will commence on Thursday mornings at 11.30 from 30th September. This is a free facility and will include interactive story time and colouring. Parents/Carers: FAS is offering a basic first-aid online course. This could be your opportunity to sign up.

Opportunity for Graduates
A Department of Education approved TEFL Course  is to be held in Carlow. This will entail at 120+ hours.  Part time from September to November. For further information and bookings please contact ruth@englishlanguage.ie or telephone either of the following numbers 059 914 0227 or 087 618 7081.

Service of Healing
There will be a service of healing with Eddie Stones at the Capuchin Friary, Kilkenny on Friday, 10th September at 7.00pm. General prayers for healing, individual prayers, blessing. Mass will be celebrated at 9.00pm. All are welcome to come along and pray for healing.