The Beloved Son
I have always found it strange to celebrate the feast of the baptism of Jesus so soon after Christmas. No sooner have we had time to reflect on the vulnerable little baby figure in the crib, than we are catapulted into the first public appearance of the adult Jesus as he receives the mandate for his mission on earth. Yet this dramatic leap forward reflects the movement of the Gospels. We know very little of Jesus’ life between the story of his birth and this story which marks the beginning of his pubic mission. Much as it would be intriguing to learn more about the young Jesus, the Gospels do not spend time on stories from Jesus’ childhood and young adulthood. Rather, they move very swiftly from the beginning of his life on earth to the beginning of his public ministry. We can sympathise with the hesitation of John the Baptist, who has been preaching about the one who is to come after him and recognises that this is a big moment. He is reluctant to baptize Jesus, saying ‘It is I who need baptism from you, and yet you come to me!’ Yet Jesus knows things are as they should be. He is ready to begin the task he has been sent to do, with the highest possible approval for his mission: the voice from heaven saying ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on him.’
Triona Doherty
Questions People Ask
Q. Can you explain why Jesus who was sinless had to receive baptism from John?
A. This of course wasn’t the Sacrament of Baptism as we know it but a ritual washing which John used to indicate a change of life. Although Jesus did not need this ritual washing, he freely chose to enter into solidarity with all who needed salvation. Thus he anticipated his sacrificial death on Calvary when he died to save us from our sins. His involvement with sinful humanity was total. St. Paul wrote that God made the sinless one to be sin so that we might be justified before God.
Fr. Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap
Pray for our Deceased Friends
Recently Deceased: Brigid (Babs) Brennan, St. Fiacre’s Place. Rosary at Hehir’s Funeral Home at 9.00pm on Saturday evening. Funeral prayers at Hehir’s Funeral Home on Sunday at 11.00am followed by removal to St. Patrick’s Church for Requiem Mass at 12.30pm. Burial afterwards in Foulkstown Cemetery. Rose Walsh, London & late of Laurel Green. Statia Walsh, Ballinalina. May Morley, Cappaquinn. Sr. Presentation McSweeney, Loreto Convent. Joe Woods, Connolly Street.
Months Mind: Christina Walshe (Sun 10.30), Anniversaries: Maura Molloy (Sat 6.15), Teresa Holden (Sat 7.00), Frank O’Shea (Sun 9.30), Liam Costello (Sun 10.00), Thomas Walshe (Sun 10.30), Sean O’Dwyer (Sun 11.00), Teresa Walsh (Sun 12.00), Sean Devane (Sun 12.30), Johnny Brennan, Denis Guilfoyle, Catherine Brett, Ann Smyth, John Lanigan, John & Mamie Brett, Terry Brett, William, Tess & Joan Murphy, James & Annie O’Grady, Patrick, Delia & Margaret Taylor, Noel Dowling, Nancy Ronan, Mary Kate Hayes, Cornelius Carroll, Rita Bourke, Jimmy Coyne, Denis Nyhan, Christopher & Mary Ryan, Bill Esmonde.
Intentions Next Weekend: Anna Campion (Sat 6.15), Maureen O’Shea (Sat 7.00), John Bradley (Sun 10.00), Maeve Healy (Sun 10.30 Months Mind), Oliver Mannion (Sun 11.00), Paul Prodromou (Sun 12.00), Beattie O’Connell (Sun 12.30).
St. Joseph’s Young Priests Society
The monthly meeting of the St. Patrick’s Branch of the society will take place immediately after the 10.30am Mass in the Parish Centre on Friday, 14th January.
Divine Mercy
There will be an hour of adoration and prayer in honour of Divine Mercy in the Friary Church on Sunday, 9th January from 3- 4pm.
Healing Prayer and Mass
The usual healing prayers service will be held at St. Fiacre’s Church from 7.30pm—10.00pm on Thursday evening. Mass will be celebrated at 8.00pm. All are welcome.
Some Important Dates in 2011
First Holy Communion will be celebrated in our parish on the following dates:-
St. Patrick N.S.: 11.00am on Saturday, 7th May 2011 at St. Patrick’s Church.
St. John of God N.S.: 11.00am on Saturday, 14th May 2011 at St. Patrick’s Church.
Kilkenny School Project.: 12 noon on Sunday, 15th May 2011 at St. Fiacre’s Church
Gaelscoil Osraí: 11.00am on Saturday, 28th May 2011 at St. Fiacre’s Church.
Bishop Seamus will celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation with young people from schools in our parish on the following dates:-
Gaelscoil Osraí: 11am on Saturday, 14th May 2011 at St. Mary’s Cathedral.
Other Schools in the Parish: 11am on Saturday, 9th April 2011 at St. Mary’s Cathedral.
Pope Condemns Attacks
‘A despicable act of death’ is what Pope Benedict called the New Year’s Day bomb attack on the Coptic Church of the Saints in Alexandria, Egypt which claimed the lives of twenty-one Mass goers. Speaking during his traditional Angelus address in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, 2nd January the Pope said: “This despicable act of death, like the current trend of setting bombs close to the homes of Christians in Iraq to force them to leave, offends God and the whole of humanity which, only yesterday was praying for peace and began a New Year with hope.” The Pontiff assured his prayers “in the face of this strategy of violence that is targeting Christians with consequences on the entire population.” He also encouraged “church communities to persevere in faith and in the witness of non-violence which comes to us from the Gospel.”
The Pope's reference to Iraq referred to a wave of eleven bomb attacks on 30th December which killed two Christians and wounded sixteen others. That violence added to Iraqi Christian fear, particularly high after the explosion at a Christian church in Baghdad, which claimed more than fifty lives last October.
Please keep our persecuted Christian brothers and sisters in your prayers.
Your Family’s Mental Health
‘Understanding & Protecting you and your families mental health’ is the title of a talk to be given in Kilkenny shortly.
Presenter: Dr. Fergus Heffernan
Venue: Village Business Centre (Over McDonald’s), Patrick Street.
Date: Thursday, 20th January 2011.
Cost: €10
Booking (essential): 087 927 7479
Older Adults Swim Lessons
Kilkenny Recreation and Sports Partnership has limited places available for Swim Lessons for older adults. Lessons take place on Wednesday (starting the 12th January) for beginners and Friday (starting 14th January) for improvers at 11am in the Ormonde Hotel. Lessons will run for 6 weeks and cost €20. For further information, contact the Sports Partnership on 056 772 0870 or info@krsp.ie
‘Console’ Seminar
“Suicide in Ireland – Supporting Our Students” on Tuesday, 15th February 2011 from 9.30am - 4.00pm. The seminar will be held at the Clarion Hotel, Liffey Valley, Dublin.
This Seminar is aimed at those tasked with supporting adolescents and children through crisis times. Increasingly, professionals in the education sector are called upon to respond to students who are struggling with self-harming behaviour or suicidal ideation. In addition, students can be traumatised in the aftermath of a suicide in their school or community, and addressing grief and suicide bereavement in an appropriate and timely manner is crucial. This seminar welcomes nationally recognised experts in the fields of child and adolescent mental health. Attendees will gain an understanding of self harming and suicidal behaviour in Irish children and adolescents, and learn about fostering positive and resilient environments for children, during stressful or crisis times.
For further details and booking information, contact Console on 01 610 2638 or email ciaran@console.ie
James Stephens News
James Stephens U-14 panels are returning to commence their season for 2011. A membership registration night will be held in the club lounge on Tuesday, 11th January at 7.00pm. The first training session of 2011 will be on Thursday, 13th January in Nuncio Road at 6.30pm. New players are encouraged to join for what is sure to be a most enjoyable and successful year at U14 level.
The much anticipated U12 Carrigeen tournament cup final v Killeagh is re-fixed for the third time to go ahead this Sunday, 9th January in Carrigeen GAA. This final was postponed twice before the Christmas holidays due to the severe weather conditions. The very best of luck to the U12 players and mentors!
Help for those who Stammer
Do you stammer or stutter? The McGuire Programme can help. There will be an open information day on Saturday, 22nd January 2011 at 1.00pm in Springhill Court Hotel, Waterford Road, Kilkenny. All are welcome. For further information go to www.stammering.ie. Take control of your speech and communicate what you want.
Art Classes
Beginners and advanced welcome. Equipment supplied. Starting Monday, 17th January in St. Patrick’s Parish Centre from 2.30 – 5.00pm. Contact Eamonn on 086 334 5144 for further details.
Evening Mass in Kilkenny City
Mass is celebrated each weekday evening at 6.15pm at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Kilkenny.
Pope Benedict Speaks to Youth
The Pope recently addressed a particular message to youth, reminding them of World Youth Day to be held in Madrid this August. He invited young people to be drawn in by Christ, “establishing with him a frank and deliberate dialogue and also asking themselves: Will the Lord count on me to be his apostle in the world, to be a messenger of his love?”
“May generosity not be lacking in responding, nor that fearlessness which led the Apostle James to follow the Master without sparing sacrifices,” the Holy Father said.
The Pope’s Letter was to those who accompanied him on his recent pilgrimage to Spain.
