Saturday, April 28, 2012

4th Sunday of Easter, 29th April, 2012


Vocations Sunday
This Sunday is the universal day of prayer for vocations to the priesthood and religious life.  Catholics throughout the world will join with the Pope in praying for more vocations.  There is a particular need for more vocations in Ossory at the moment and we ask you to keep this intention in your mind as you pray.
“Priests, seminarians and those considering priesthood need the support in prayer and affirmation from their people. Those who are thinking of priesthood need to be encouraged in faith hope and love because they are needed in the world we live in as priests to bring that hope and encouragement in faith to those who are struggling with the difficulties of life.”
Fr. Willie Purcell, National Coordinator for Diocesan Vocations
Further information, including the Pope’s message for this year’s Vocations Sunday is available on www.vocations.ie and www.catholicbishops.ie

Vocations In Ossory
For information on priesthood in the Diocese of Ossory (Kilkenny),  contact Fr. Willie Purcell, Ossory Vocations Director, St. Kieran’s College, Kilkenny. Tel. 056 777 0261; 087 628 6858 or email ossoryvocdir@gmail.com.  Or visit our diocesan website at www.ossory.ie. 

Choir On Tour
Congratulations to the members of the 7.00pm Saturday Evening Choir who were invited to provide the music in Liscannor Parish Church, Co. Clare last weekend.  The members of the choir were in the area for a weekend break and were warmly welcomed by the local priest and parishioners.  The choir performed from their repertoire before, during and after the morning Mass.

Recent Collections
Thank you for €1,665.46 received in the envelope collection last weekend.  A report on our parish financial situation will be available next weekend.

First Friday
The priests will make their usual First Friday calls to the sick and housebound at the usual times on this coming Friday.  Contact the Parish Office (776 4400) if you would like to be included.

Gaelscoil Osrai First Holy Communion
The pupils in second class at Gaelscoil Osrai will receive Holy Communion for the first time at St. Fiacre’s Church at 11.00am on next Saturday morning.  We wish the pupils, their families and teachers God’s blessing on the occasion.

Pray For Our Deceased
Recently Deceased: Marty Neylon, 3 Willow Close. Sr. Immaculate Purcell, St. John of God Congregation, College Road. Orla Lawlor, Bennettsbridge. Teresa Murphy, Pearse Street. Michael Holden, New York & Callan.
Months Mind: Jessyca Harper Brennan (Sun 9.30). Mary B. Gordon (Sun 10.30). Ellen McCabe (Sun 12.30).
Anniversaries: Helen Renehan (Sat 6.15), Fintan Brennan (Sat 7.00). John Byrne (Sun 10.00). Pierce A. Grace (Sun 11.00). Ted O’Dwyer & Patrick Dorney (Sun 12.00). Des Hehir (Mon 9.30). Mary Cantwell (Tues 10.30). Joan Crotty (Thur 9.30). Martin O’Carroll (Fri 9.30). Ellen & Patrick Moran, Michael O’Hara, Billy Dwan, Bridget Maher, Sean & Kitty Ryan, Kitty O'Keeffe, John Edward Kirwan Malone, Jim Doheny, Michael Kenny, Patricia Rodgers, Bridget O’Carroll.
Intentions next weekend: Patricia O’Neill (Months Mind Sat 7.00). Lar Doyle (Sun 10.00). Kathleen Power (Sun 12.00). William O’Brien Snr. William O’Brien Jnr. Ann & Billy O’Brien (Sun 12.30).

Mass in Honour of St. Joseph
Mass in honour of St. Joseph to be held at Mill Hill Missionaries, St. Joseph's, Waterford Road, Kilkenny, on the First Wednesday of each month at 8.00 pm.  The May Mass will be held on Wednesday, 2nd May, at 8.00 p.m.

Eucharistic Congress Tickets
A number of extra tickets for the closing ceremony of the Eucharistic Congress on Sunday, 17th June may become available this week. Application forms available at the Parish Office during office hours.

Life in the Spirit Seminar 2012
The Black Abbey, Kilkenny City is hosting a Life in the Spirit Seminar during April - June 2012.  Sessions each Tuesday evening at 7.30pm.  Contact: Donal Ryan 086 839 5614 or laydominicanskikenny@yahoo.ie for more information.

Pilgrimage to Knock
Pilgrimage to Our Lady’s Shrine at Knock on next Saturday, 5th May. To book contact Ann on 056 772 2204.  Organised by Irish Catholic Nurses’ Guild. Bus leaving Butts Green at 7.30am.  All welcome.

Parish Shop
For the upcoming First Holy Communion season there  is  a wide selection of suitable items on sale at our Parish Shop. The shop in located in St. Patrick’s Parish Centre.  Come in and have a look.

Ladies Friendship Club
Mass for the deceased members of the Ladies Friendship Club will be celebrated on Wednesday, 2nd May in St. Joseph’s Social Services Hall, Waterford Road at 8pm.  All are welcome.

Dochas Nasamu Clothing Appeal
Dochas Nasamu, an Irish built orphanage in Nairobi, is holding a used clothing appeal for lady's, gent’s and children's clothes, shoes, household linens i.e. towels, sheets, blankets, soft toys, handbags etc.  This appeal will take place on Wednesday 2nd May, before 11 o’clock at St. Patrick’s Parish Centre.  For further information, please contact Marie 087 689 0995. Many thanks.

Foulkstown School Reunion
Tickets are now on sale for the Foulkstown School Reunion on 19th May at 8.30pm in the Springhill Court Hotel.  All past pupils, their brothers and sisters, parents and partners are welcome to come along.  There will be Mass in St. Joseph’s Church, Foulkstown at 7.30pm to start the evening.
We still need some more photographs connected with the school to show on the night.  Please contact any of the committee with your photos or for tickets. Colm Kennedy 086 037 7732; Frank O’Neill 087 949 0669; Patty O’Neill 087 966 8037; Michael Doyle 056 772 3313; Timmy Byrne 086 827 1688; Richard Eardly 086 176 7458.

Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice
The annual novena in honour of Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice will be held at Westcourt, Callan between 30th April and 4th May this year.  Each evening the rosary will be recited before Mass at 7.10pm.  Mass will be celebrated at 7.30pm.  Themes: Faith (Monday), Family (Tuesday), Eucharist (Wednesday), Renewal (Thursday) and Healing (Friday).  You are invite to place petitions at the shrine of Blessed Edmund and these will be placed on the altar during each Mass.
This year marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Blessed Edmund Rice who was born at Westcourt, Callan on 1st June 1762.

Third Age - Senior Help Line
Do you need someone to talk to?  Senior Help Line is open every day and every evening, 365 days a year.  It is a confidential listening service for older people provided by trained older volunteers for the price of a local call anywhere in Ireland, LoCall 1850 440 444.  Senior Help Line’s trained volunteers offer a friendly, listening and non-judgemental ear to all callers.  Don’t be alone with your problems!

Whom Do You Seek?
The Dominican Sisters seek God, who alone gives meaning to our lives. Communion with Christ and with one another in love, through a life of prayer centred on Jesus, the Word of God and on the Eucharist is the focus of our community life. 
Single young women attracted to this way of life are welcome to attend any of the following weekends during 2012: 11th - 13th May; 14th - 16th September; 26th - 28th October; 16th - 18th November  or  at other times by arrangement.  Please contact: Sr Mairéad OP, Monastery of St. Catherine of Siena, The Twenties,  Drogheda, Co. Louth. E-mail: siena3@eircom.net or telephone 041  983 8524.

Pieta House
Centre for the Prevention of Self-harm or Suicide.   Darkness into Light 5K event is on in 14 venues around Ireland on Saturday 12th May starting at 4.00am (early morning).  Sign up for this unique  experience.  Visit our web site: dil.pieta.ie to find the venue nearest you or contact Pieta House at 01 628 2111.  This event is symbolic of the work of Pieta House, darkness into light, despair to hope. 

 ‘Senior help Line’s trained older volunteers offer a friendly, listening and non-judgmental ear to all callers.  So don’t be alone with your problems.  For more information see http://thirdageireland.ie/what-we-do/14/senior-helpline.

Newsletter Notices
Please have all items for inclusion  in he newsletter into us no later than Thursday.