Good News and Comfort Zones
A gem of Cherokee wisdom goes as follows: When you were born you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life so that when you die the world cries and you rejoice. Christmas, in its own way, confirms that we can do just that. That is what the Good news proclaims: death is not the end of everything, but the beginning of something new. Death is our passage to the rejoicing.
Our faith is not for pessimists unless, that is, to transform them into optimists. Recently I came across an amusing definition of a pessimist as one who feels bad when he feels good for fear he’ll feel worse when he feels better. No, our faith is not for those. Our faith instils joy, optimism, hope, vision, and trust. Otherwise, how could it be considered good news?
Some people, it seems, just cannot be happy being happy. They seem to feel there’s something wrong with it. God doesn’t want us to be happy in this vale of tears. A modern-day spin on this dreary spirituality is the blithely imposed duty to leave our so-called comfort zones.
I say, Thanks be to God for them. Just try living without any of them!
Fr. Tom Cahill SVD
Questions People Ask
Is it OK to question the virginal birth of Jesus? I’ve read that this was a fashionable notion in those days in mythology and when writing about famous leaders.
The gospels of Matthew and Luke treat the virginal conception of Jesus as a fact, not as a fanciful notion or a myth. Joseph, on learning of Mary’s pregnancy, wanted to break off his contract with Mary until the virginal conception was revealed to him. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, already existed as a person before he came to earth in human nature. Therefore, he could not have had a second father, only an adoptive one. But to be fully human, his embryo needed nurturing in the womb of a mother.
Fr. Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap
Christmas Prayer from Bethlehem
The violence and conflict which still haunts the place where Jesus was born and walked two thousand years ago affect us all today. As we remember the birth of Jesus in a stable in the little town of Bethlehem, we cannot but remember the people of Bethlehem today that suffer poverty, a lack of housing, unemployment, fear and isolation.
As we prepare for Christmas, we have received a short prayer from the Parish Priest in St. Catherine's Parish of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
'Lord you know all who are suffering here because of the political situation and the climate of war. You know also that everything can be resolved if there is peace. Dear Baby Jesus, through the intercession of your Holy Mother and Saint Joseph, send us peace as soon as possible.
Pray for the deceased
Recently Deceased: Tommy Tyrell, Archers Crescent. Stephen Brennan, Paulstown. Rita Cooney, Castlepollard
Anniversaries: Elizabeth Comerford (Sat 6.15), Geraldine Cody (Sat 7.00), Christopher & Mary Coogan (Sun 10.30), George Byrne (Sun 11.00), Margaret & Patrick Cantwell (Sun 12.00), Mary Blanchfield (Sun 12.30), Diane Keenan, Jim & PJ Keenan (Tues 10.30), Betty Furniss (Tues 11.00), Mary O’Dwyer (Wed 11.00), May & John Rhatigan, Martin Doheny, Mary Doheny, Brendan Doheny, Martin Browne, The Condon Family, Roseanna Smyth, Richard Gaule, Rita Cooney, Ted Carroll, James & Samuel Dunlop, Seamus Fry, Patrick Burke, Edward Geoghegan, John, Mamie & Billy Phelan, Paddy Doyle, Tommy Clooney, Stephen Fanning, Jim O’Rourke, Peggy Blanchfield, Nora Bartholomew, Terry Brett, Tommy & Bridie O’Neill, Eileen McCormack.
Intentions for next weekend
Months Mind: Paddy Murphy (Sat 7.00).
Anniversaries: Dr. Harry Roche (Jan 3rd 10.30).
Welcome our New Bishop
We welcome our new bishop Most Rev. Seamus Freeman to our parish on next Sunday. Bishop Seamus is expected to be principal concelebrant at 11am Mass on Sunday 30th December.
Cake Sale
Many thanks to all who baked or donated cakes for our recent cake sale. Thanks to all who helped out on the day. We also thank Kilkenny Rugby Club for kindly providing the venue for our cake sale. The amount raised was €1,085.
Christmas Candles
Thank you to Fiona and Aisling from the Children’s Choir who made Christmas Candles which they sold after Mass last Sunday. They collected €300 in Aid of Chernobyl Children’s Project. Well done!
Christmas Morning Run
Kilkenny City Harriers will hold their annual Christmas Morning Charity Run. Participants assemble at The Parade, opposite the castle gates, to depart at 11.00am. This years collection goes to the local St Vincent de Paul.
St Mary’s Cathedral
Annual Carol Service
Sunday 23rd December at 7.30pm.
Collection in aid of Cathedral Organ
St. Joseph’s Church
Mass goers are asked not to park cars in the entrance to Kilkenny Rugby Club as this may delay cars crossing the roadway to enter the club grounds. There is ample parking in the car park. Your cooperation would be appreciated.
Remembrance Service
The Irish Sudden Infant Death Association will hold a Remembrance Service in St. John's Community Centre on Friday, 28th December at 11.30am.
The Community Centre is behind St. John’s RC Church. All are welcome to this special remembrance service.
Midnight with the Youth Choir
The youth choir is celebrating 20 years singing at Midnight Mass in the Parish this year. We would like to extend an invitation to all former members of the choir to come along and join with us at Midnight Mass this year. Musicians and singers are welcome.
Exposition
There will be just one hours adoration from 11am to 12 noon at St. Fiacre’s Church on Christmas Eve.
Christmas Greetings
As this is the last newsletter before Christmas the priests and the members of the Parish Team would like to take this opportunity to wish all in our parish a very happy and holy Christmas.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Third Sunday of Advent, December 16th, 2007
Parish Advent Service
We conclude our series of Advent Services at St. Fiacre’s Church on next Thursday evening beginning at 7.30pm.
Advent is a time of preparation for the celebration of Christ’s birth and for his Second Coming at the end of time. We invite all to prepare by coming along to St. Fiacre’s Church on next Thursday evening. The time of prayer will include the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) and extra priests will be in church to help.
This will be an ideal opportunity to seek God’s forgiveness in our build up to Christmas. All welcome.
Christmas Carol Service
The annual Christmas Carol Service featuring the St. Patrick’s Parish Choirs and the St. Patrick’s Brass and Reed Band will be held at St. Joseph’s Church, Foulkstown on this Sunday, 16th December beginning at 4.30pm. Refreshments afterwards in the clubhouse at the Kilkenny Rugby Club.
Come and enjoy the Spirit of Christmas in a lovely atmosphere.
Cake Sale for Building Fund
A Cake Sale will follow the Christmas Carol Service on this Sunday. Come along to the Rugby Club immediately after the service and purchase from a wonderful selection of homemade cakes and Christmas treats. Proceeds to the building fund. Donations of cakes and home-bakes will be gratefully received before the sale: Contact Rita 772 1129 or Mary 772 1356.
DVD of Bishop’s Ordination
The DVD of the Episcopal Ordination of Most Rev. Séamus Freeman, Bishop of Ossory, is available at the Sacristies in our parish churches and at the Parish Office. Cost €15. The DVD is also available at St. Mary’s Cathedral and the Ossory Diocesan Office, Sion Road.
A Living Masterpiece
To be dead is to stop believing in the masterpieces we will begin tomorrow. So claimed Patrick Kavanagh as cited in John O’Donoghue book, Eternal Echoes (p.19). Too good to be true about the masterpieces, you might think. Well, that depends on how you eye a masterpiece. We can all too easily sell ourselves short. There is more to each of us than meets the eye especially our own. Have you ever surprised your self? Have you ever done something you thought you never could, shown a humanity you didn’t know you had, opened to an insight that took your breath away, gone that extra mile exhausted yet finished quite refreshed? And, have you discovered that exquisitely subversive truth that the more you give, the more you realise you have to give? If so, Isaiah’s words today (35:5-6a) will make sense to you: Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped, then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. But they will make sense in a way you never dreamed of. You’ll gasp as you grasp that, in fact, they refer to you!
Fr. Tom Cahill
Questions People Ask
Q. ‘Of all the children born of women, a greater than John the Baptist has never been seen; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is.’ Isn’t this a contradiction? Was Jesus setting up John before slamming him down?
A. This is not a comparison between the holiness of John as an individual and anybody else. Jesus is saying that the Messianic age (the time of the kingdom) surpasses the era of preparation. John is called the greatest in the sense that the time of preparation reached its climax in his mission. The Messianic age has been brought by Jesus. It is like saying that the slowest jet-plane is incomparably faster than the fastest bicycle.
Fr. Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap
Midnight with the Youth Choir
The youth choir is celebrating 20 years singing at Midnight Mass in the Parish this year. We would like to extend an invitation to all former members of the choir to come along and join with us at Midnight Mass this year. Musicians and singers are welcome.
St. Patrick’s Brass & Reed Band
Annual Christmas Concert
St. Patrick’s Church
Monday, 17th December at 8pm
With: Audrey Larkin, Noel Power, Eugene Dewberry, Traditional Irish Musicians.
Admission Free
St. Patrick’s Parish Draw
The December Draw will take place on Tuesday, 18th December in the Presbytery at 8.30pm. We take this opportunity to thank all our subscribers and promoters for your support and loyalty during 2007.
Sudden Infant Death Association
The Irish Sudden Infant Death Association will hold a Remembrance Service in St. John's Community Centre on Friday, 28th December at 11.30am.
The Community Centre is behind St. John’s RC Church. All are welcome to this special remembrance service.
Christmas - The Season to be Jolly
For many people Christmas can be a time of stress and financial strain. Christmas need not be so stressful. It’s easy to have a stress free Christmas if you are organised, stick to a budget and are realistic about your own expectations. St. Canice’s Credit Union and the St. Vincent de Paul Society have come together to give you some practical tips on how to budget and manage your money in the run up to the Christmas Season. See posters on Church notice boards and pamphlets in Church porches for further details.
St. Vincent De Paul Society
Our parish conference of the St. Vincent De Paul Society will take up their annual Christmas Collection at all Masses this weekend. We invite you to be generous in supporting this very worthy local charity.
The members of the Society are called upon especially at Christmas time to help people in need in our community. Your contribution would help greatly.
Do this in memory...
We welcome those preparing for First Holy Communion and their families and friends to church this weekend. We continue to pray with and for all involved in preparing our young people to celebrate the sacraments.
Children from Gaelscoil Osrai attend 10.30am Mass at St. Fiacre’s Church while those from St. Patrick’s De La Salle and St. John of God attend 11.00am Mass at St. Patrick’s Church.
Foster a Child
The Health Service Executive Social Work and Child Care Department Carlow/Kilkenny is running a recruitment campaign for children who need to be fostered. If you would like to know more about becoming a foster carer please contact Mairead Pierce, Social Work Team Leader - Fostering, HSE, Community Services Carlow/Kilkenny, or Jane Ryan, Administration on 056 7784532
Pray for the Deceased
Recently Deceased: Kathleen Redpath, 3 Fr. Walsh Close. Jeremiah Maher, Shankill, Paulstown: Requiem Mass at Paulstown Parish Church at 1.00pm on Sunday followed by interment in Paulstown Cemetery.
Month’s Mind: Rene Brett (Sun 12.30)
Anniversaries: Padraig Butler (Sat 6.15), Dick Lynch (Sat 7.00), Michael Hynes (Sun 9.30), Jayne & Jeffrey Power (Sun 10.00), Florrie Cleere (Sun 10.30), Joe & Nan Mulhall (Sun 11.00), O’Gorman & Gent Families, (Mon 9.30), Patrick Morris (Tues 9.30), Margaret Quinlan (Tues 10.30), Thomas Saunders (Wed 10.30), James Hoyne, Freda Tynan, The O’Mara Family, Patrick, Mary & Rose Wixted, Michael & Mary Kate Morris, David & Simon Morris, Anna Quinn, Laurence Quinn, James Hogan, Jim Dollard, Mary O’Neill, Christy Bateman, Margaret Larkin, John Hayes, Nora Kennedy
Intentions for Next Weekend: Elizabeth Comerford (Sat 6.15), Geraldine Cody (Sat 7.00), Christopher & Mary Coogan (Sun 10.30), George Byrne (Sun 11.00), Margaret & Patrick Cantwell (Sun 12.00), Mary Blanchfield, Dianne Keenan, Jim & P.J. Keenan (Tues 10.30), Betty Furness (Tues 11.00), Mary O’Dwyer (Wed 11.00).
Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.
OUR CHRISTMAS TIMETABLE
Day Service Venue Time
Sunday, 16th December Carol Service St. Joseph’s Church 4.30pm
Monday, 17th December Christmas Carol Concert St. Patrick’s Church 8.00pm
Thursday, 21st December Penitential Service St. Fiacre’s Church 7.30pm
Monday, 24th December Mass of Christmas Eve St. Fiacre’s Church 9.00pm
Monday, 24th December Mass of Christmas Midnight St. Patrick’s Church, Midnight Tuesday, 25th December Mass of Christmas Day St. Patrick’s Church 9.30am Tuesday, 25th December Mass of Christmas Day St. Joseph’s Church 10.00am
Tuesday, 25th December Mass of Christmas Day St. Fiacre’s Church 10.30am
Tuesday, 25th December Mass of Christmas Day St. Patrick’s Church 11.00am
Tuesday, 25th December Mass of Christmas Day St. Fiacre’s Church 12 noon
Tuesday, 25th December Mass of Christmas Day St. Patrick’s Church 12.30pm
Wed - Sat. 26th - 29th Morning Mass St. Patrick’s Church 11.00am
We conclude our series of Advent Services at St. Fiacre’s Church on next Thursday evening beginning at 7.30pm.
Advent is a time of preparation for the celebration of Christ’s birth and for his Second Coming at the end of time. We invite all to prepare by coming along to St. Fiacre’s Church on next Thursday evening. The time of prayer will include the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) and extra priests will be in church to help.
This will be an ideal opportunity to seek God’s forgiveness in our build up to Christmas. All welcome.
Christmas Carol Service
The annual Christmas Carol Service featuring the St. Patrick’s Parish Choirs and the St. Patrick’s Brass and Reed Band will be held at St. Joseph’s Church, Foulkstown on this Sunday, 16th December beginning at 4.30pm. Refreshments afterwards in the clubhouse at the Kilkenny Rugby Club.
Come and enjoy the Spirit of Christmas in a lovely atmosphere.
Cake Sale for Building Fund
A Cake Sale will follow the Christmas Carol Service on this Sunday. Come along to the Rugby Club immediately after the service and purchase from a wonderful selection of homemade cakes and Christmas treats. Proceeds to the building fund. Donations of cakes and home-bakes will be gratefully received before the sale: Contact Rita 772 1129 or Mary 772 1356.
DVD of Bishop’s Ordination
The DVD of the Episcopal Ordination of Most Rev. Séamus Freeman, Bishop of Ossory, is available at the Sacristies in our parish churches and at the Parish Office. Cost €15. The DVD is also available at St. Mary’s Cathedral and the Ossory Diocesan Office, Sion Road.
A Living Masterpiece
To be dead is to stop believing in the masterpieces we will begin tomorrow. So claimed Patrick Kavanagh as cited in John O’Donoghue book, Eternal Echoes (p.19). Too good to be true about the masterpieces, you might think. Well, that depends on how you eye a masterpiece. We can all too easily sell ourselves short. There is more to each of us than meets the eye especially our own. Have you ever surprised your self? Have you ever done something you thought you never could, shown a humanity you didn’t know you had, opened to an insight that took your breath away, gone that extra mile exhausted yet finished quite refreshed? And, have you discovered that exquisitely subversive truth that the more you give, the more you realise you have to give? If so, Isaiah’s words today (35:5-6a) will make sense to you: Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped, then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. But they will make sense in a way you never dreamed of. You’ll gasp as you grasp that, in fact, they refer to you!
Fr. Tom Cahill
Questions People Ask
Q. ‘Of all the children born of women, a greater than John the Baptist has never been seen; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is.’ Isn’t this a contradiction? Was Jesus setting up John before slamming him down?
A. This is not a comparison between the holiness of John as an individual and anybody else. Jesus is saying that the Messianic age (the time of the kingdom) surpasses the era of preparation. John is called the greatest in the sense that the time of preparation reached its climax in his mission. The Messianic age has been brought by Jesus. It is like saying that the slowest jet-plane is incomparably faster than the fastest bicycle.
Fr. Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap
Midnight with the Youth Choir
The youth choir is celebrating 20 years singing at Midnight Mass in the Parish this year. We would like to extend an invitation to all former members of the choir to come along and join with us at Midnight Mass this year. Musicians and singers are welcome.
St. Patrick’s Brass & Reed Band
Annual Christmas Concert
St. Patrick’s Church
Monday, 17th December at 8pm
With: Audrey Larkin, Noel Power, Eugene Dewberry, Traditional Irish Musicians.
Admission Free
St. Patrick’s Parish Draw
The December Draw will take place on Tuesday, 18th December in the Presbytery at 8.30pm. We take this opportunity to thank all our subscribers and promoters for your support and loyalty during 2007.
Sudden Infant Death Association
The Irish Sudden Infant Death Association will hold a Remembrance Service in St. John's Community Centre on Friday, 28th December at 11.30am.
The Community Centre is behind St. John’s RC Church. All are welcome to this special remembrance service.
Christmas - The Season to be Jolly
For many people Christmas can be a time of stress and financial strain. Christmas need not be so stressful. It’s easy to have a stress free Christmas if you are organised, stick to a budget and are realistic about your own expectations. St. Canice’s Credit Union and the St. Vincent de Paul Society have come together to give you some practical tips on how to budget and manage your money in the run up to the Christmas Season. See posters on Church notice boards and pamphlets in Church porches for further details.
St. Vincent De Paul Society
Our parish conference of the St. Vincent De Paul Society will take up their annual Christmas Collection at all Masses this weekend. We invite you to be generous in supporting this very worthy local charity.
The members of the Society are called upon especially at Christmas time to help people in need in our community. Your contribution would help greatly.
Do this in memory...
We welcome those preparing for First Holy Communion and their families and friends to church this weekend. We continue to pray with and for all involved in preparing our young people to celebrate the sacraments.
Children from Gaelscoil Osrai attend 10.30am Mass at St. Fiacre’s Church while those from St. Patrick’s De La Salle and St. John of God attend 11.00am Mass at St. Patrick’s Church.
Foster a Child
The Health Service Executive Social Work and Child Care Department Carlow/Kilkenny is running a recruitment campaign for children who need to be fostered. If you would like to know more about becoming a foster carer please contact Mairead Pierce, Social Work Team Leader - Fostering, HSE, Community Services Carlow/Kilkenny, or Jane Ryan, Administration on 056 7784532
Pray for the Deceased
Recently Deceased: Kathleen Redpath, 3 Fr. Walsh Close. Jeremiah Maher, Shankill, Paulstown: Requiem Mass at Paulstown Parish Church at 1.00pm on Sunday followed by interment in Paulstown Cemetery.
Month’s Mind: Rene Brett (Sun 12.30)
Anniversaries: Padraig Butler (Sat 6.15), Dick Lynch (Sat 7.00), Michael Hynes (Sun 9.30), Jayne & Jeffrey Power (Sun 10.00), Florrie Cleere (Sun 10.30), Joe & Nan Mulhall (Sun 11.00), O’Gorman & Gent Families, (Mon 9.30), Patrick Morris (Tues 9.30), Margaret Quinlan (Tues 10.30), Thomas Saunders (Wed 10.30), James Hoyne, Freda Tynan, The O’Mara Family, Patrick, Mary & Rose Wixted, Michael & Mary Kate Morris, David & Simon Morris, Anna Quinn, Laurence Quinn, James Hogan, Jim Dollard, Mary O’Neill, Christy Bateman, Margaret Larkin, John Hayes, Nora Kennedy
Intentions for Next Weekend: Elizabeth Comerford (Sat 6.15), Geraldine Cody (Sat 7.00), Christopher & Mary Coogan (Sun 10.30), George Byrne (Sun 11.00), Margaret & Patrick Cantwell (Sun 12.00), Mary Blanchfield, Dianne Keenan, Jim & P.J. Keenan (Tues 10.30), Betty Furness (Tues 11.00), Mary O’Dwyer (Wed 11.00).
Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.
OUR CHRISTMAS TIMETABLE
Day Service Venue Time
Sunday, 16th December Carol Service St. Joseph’s Church 4.30pm
Monday, 17th December Christmas Carol Concert St. Patrick’s Church 8.00pm
Thursday, 21st December Penitential Service St. Fiacre’s Church 7.30pm
Monday, 24th December Mass of Christmas Eve St. Fiacre’s Church 9.00pm
Monday, 24th December Mass of Christmas Midnight St. Patrick’s Church, Midnight Tuesday, 25th December Mass of Christmas Day St. Patrick’s Church 9.30am Tuesday, 25th December Mass of Christmas Day St. Joseph’s Church 10.00am
Tuesday, 25th December Mass of Christmas Day St. Fiacre’s Church 10.30am
Tuesday, 25th December Mass of Christmas Day St. Patrick’s Church 11.00am
Tuesday, 25th December Mass of Christmas Day St. Fiacre’s Church 12 noon
Tuesday, 25th December Mass of Christmas Day St. Patrick’s Church 12.30pm
Wed - Sat. 26th - 29th Morning Mass St. Patrick’s Church 11.00am
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Second Sunday of Advent, 9th December 2007
Parish Advent Service
The next of our Advent Services will take place in St. Fiacre’s Church on Thursday next (13th) starting at 7:30pm.
The service will incorporate the anointing of the sick and all are welcome to attend.
The following Thursday, 20th December, will be our parish penitential service and an ideal opportunity to seek God’s forgiveness in our build up to Christmas. All welcome.
Christmas Carol Service
The annual Christmas Carol Service featuring the St. Patrick’s Parish Choirs and the St. Patrick’s Brass and Reed Band will be held at St. Joseph’s Church, Foulkstown on next Sunday, 16th December at 4.30pm. Refreshments afterwards in the clubhouse at the Kilkenny Rugby Club. Come and enjoy the Spirit of Christmas in a lovely atmosphere.
Cake Sale for Building Fund
A Cake Sale will follow the Christmas Carol Service on next Sunday. Come along to the Rugby Club immediately after the service and purchase from a wonderful selection of homemade cakes and Christmas treats. Proceeds to the building fund. Donations of cakes and home-bakes will be gratefully received for the sale: Contact Rita 772 1129 or Mary 772 1356 for details.
Questions People Ask
Q. I feel Advent should be a holy season but I always lose the run of myself under the expansion of the commercial and partying side of Christmas. Any advice?
A. Yes, it’s a pity that Advent has been gobbled up by Christmas because the spirituality of Advent is very important. The readings of Advent help us to find Christ in our experience of a spiritual winter, in having to wait on God, or in any terrifying wilderness we have to endure. Maybe less television will give you more time for spiritual reading. Contact a Retreat Centre where there might be something on to suit you. Make a resolution not to become a slave to commercial pressures.
Bishop Freeman Visits Parish
Our new bishop, Most Rev. Séamus Freeman, will be the principal concelebrant at the IWA Mass at St. Fiacre’s Church at 2.30pm on today, 9th December. Fáilte.
Pray for the Deceased
Recently Deceased: Phyllis Doran, St. Martin’s, Birchfield, Waterford Road. Brigid Morrissey, Assumption Place. Michael Geary, Donaraille, Cork. Tommy McCorry, Yorkshire, England.
Months Mind: Sr. Marie Kissane, St. John of God Convent; Henrietta Hyland, Ormonde Road; Paul O’Dwyer (Wed 9.30)
Anniversaries: Michael Fitzmaurice (Sat 6.15), Margaret O’Brien (Sat 7.00), Patricia Fitzpatrick (Sun 9.30), Angela Murphy (Sun 10.00), Kitty Dowling & Members of the Dowling Family (Sun 10.30), Eddie Slattery (Sun 11.00), John & Brigid O’Rourke (Sun 12.00), John Carroll (Sun 12.30), Margaret Doyle, Harry O’Connor, Annie Wall, Eric McGrath, Mary McGrath, James Murray, John Egan, Anne Fogarty, Milo & Ann Fry, Sean Ryan, Kitty Ryan, Michael Nolan, The Nolan Family, The Martin Family.
Mass Intentions for Next Weekend: Rena Brett (Months Mind Sun 12.30); Padraig Butler (Sat 6.15), Dick Lynch (Sat 7.00), Michael Hynes (Sun 9.30), Jayne & Jeffrey Power (Sun 10.00), Joe & Nan Mulhall (Sun 11.00), Patrick Morris (Tues 9.30)
Christmas - The Season to be Jolly
For many people Christmas can be a time of stress and financial strain. Christmas need not be so stressful. It’s easy to have a stress free Christmas if you are organised, stick to a budget and are realistic about your own expectations. St. Canice’s Credit Union and the St. Vincent de Paul Society have come together to give you some practical tips on how to budget and manage your money in the run up to the Christmas Season. See posters on Church notice boards and pamphlets in Church porches for further details.
Pope Benedict’s New Encyclical — Spe Salvi
The Irish Catholic Bishops at their December meeting in Maynooth welcomed the publication of the new Encyclical of Pope Benedict XVI, Spe Salvi, which was published last week.
The bishops noted that the theme of Pope Benedict’s first encyclical letter Deus Caritas Est (God Is Love) was love, while the theme of this encyclical Spe Salvi (Saved by Hope) is hope, which is closely related to faith. These are the three virtues by which we relate to God. Spe Salvi asks the faithful to reflect on the following:
· God has shown his face to us in Christ. Can our encounter with God change our lives so that we know we are redeemed through hope?
· The encyclical tells us that we are definitively loved and whatever happens to us in life, we are awaited by God’s love.
· We hope for eternal life, but eternity is not an unending succession of days in the calendar, rather it is something more like the supreme moment of satisfaction in which totality embraces us and we embrace totality. We can only attempt to grasp the idea that such a moment is life in its full sense.
· Christian hope is not individualistic; it has to do with the building up of the common good in this world while at the same time moving towards the fullness of the hope by which we are saved. We must be concerned not just about our own salvation but ask what we can do in order that others may also be saved.
· Placing our trust in anything other than God will in the end fail to satisfy the human heart and will be destructive of true hope.
· When we try to spare ourselves the effort and pain of pursuing truth, love, and goodness, we drift into a life of emptiness, in which there may be almost no pain, but a dark sensation that life is meaningless. We are healed, not by trying to evade all suffering, but rather by our capacity for accepting it, maturing through it and finding meaning through union with Christ, who suffered for us with infinite love.
· Science can contribute greatly to making the world and mankind more human. Yet it can also destroy mankind and the world unless it is steered by forces that lie outside it. On the other hand, we must also acknowledge that modern Christianity, faced with the successes of science in progressively structuring the world, has to a large extent restricted its attention to the individual and his salvation. This can lead to a failure to understand the unlimited horizon of Christian hope.
Full text on Vatican Website: www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals
St. Patrick’s Brass & Reed Band
Annual Christmas Concert
St. Patrick’s Church
Monday, 17th December at 8pm
With: Audrey Larkin, Noel Power, Eugene Dewberry, Traditional Irish Musicians.
Admission Free
Divine Mercy
There will be an hour of adoration and prayer in honour of Divine Mercy in St. Mary’s Cathedral on Sunday December 9th from 3-4pm. All are welcome.
St. Vincent De Paul Society
The local conference of the St. Vincent De Paul Society will take up their annual Christmas Collection at all Masses in Kilkenny City next weekend.
We ask you to be generous in supporting this very worthy local charity.
The members of the Society are called upon especially at Christmas time to help people in need in our community. Your contribution would help greatly.
Sincere thanks to all who have supported this charity throughout the past year.
St. Joseph’s Young Priests Society
The monthly meeting of the St. Patrick’s Branch of the St. Joseph’s Young Priests Society will take place on Friday, 14th December after the 10.30am Mass at St. Fiacre’s Church.
The Society promotes and supports vocations to the priesthood and religious life. New members always welcome.
The next of the parish draws takes place on Tuesday the 18th of December. This is a week early on account of Christmas Day falling on the last Tuesday of the month.
If you would like to be included in our draw then contact any of the promoters or sacristans or priests. The draw costs €10 per month and all the money goes towards the building of the new parish centre.
Thanks to Ted and all the promoters who make the draw such a success. We are grateful for your efforts.
Further progress on our building project will be added soon.
Parish Draw
Because Christmas Day falls on the last Tuesday of the month the December Draw will take place on Tuesday, 18th December in the Presbytery at 8.30pm.
We thank all our subscribers and promoters for your support and loyalty during 2007 and we look forward to your continued support in 2008.
The next of our Advent Services will take place in St. Fiacre’s Church on Thursday next (13th) starting at 7:30pm.
The service will incorporate the anointing of the sick and all are welcome to attend.
The following Thursday, 20th December, will be our parish penitential service and an ideal opportunity to seek God’s forgiveness in our build up to Christmas. All welcome.
Christmas Carol Service
The annual Christmas Carol Service featuring the St. Patrick’s Parish Choirs and the St. Patrick’s Brass and Reed Band will be held at St. Joseph’s Church, Foulkstown on next Sunday, 16th December at 4.30pm. Refreshments afterwards in the clubhouse at the Kilkenny Rugby Club. Come and enjoy the Spirit of Christmas in a lovely atmosphere.
Cake Sale for Building Fund
A Cake Sale will follow the Christmas Carol Service on next Sunday. Come along to the Rugby Club immediately after the service and purchase from a wonderful selection of homemade cakes and Christmas treats. Proceeds to the building fund. Donations of cakes and home-bakes will be gratefully received for the sale: Contact Rita 772 1129 or Mary 772 1356 for details.
Questions People Ask
Q. I feel Advent should be a holy season but I always lose the run of myself under the expansion of the commercial and partying side of Christmas. Any advice?
A. Yes, it’s a pity that Advent has been gobbled up by Christmas because the spirituality of Advent is very important. The readings of Advent help us to find Christ in our experience of a spiritual winter, in having to wait on God, or in any terrifying wilderness we have to endure. Maybe less television will give you more time for spiritual reading. Contact a Retreat Centre where there might be something on to suit you. Make a resolution not to become a slave to commercial pressures.
Bishop Freeman Visits Parish
Our new bishop, Most Rev. Séamus Freeman, will be the principal concelebrant at the IWA Mass at St. Fiacre’s Church at 2.30pm on today, 9th December. Fáilte.
Pray for the Deceased
Recently Deceased: Phyllis Doran, St. Martin’s, Birchfield, Waterford Road. Brigid Morrissey, Assumption Place. Michael Geary, Donaraille, Cork. Tommy McCorry, Yorkshire, England.
Months Mind: Sr. Marie Kissane, St. John of God Convent; Henrietta Hyland, Ormonde Road; Paul O’Dwyer (Wed 9.30)
Anniversaries: Michael Fitzmaurice (Sat 6.15), Margaret O’Brien (Sat 7.00), Patricia Fitzpatrick (Sun 9.30), Angela Murphy (Sun 10.00), Kitty Dowling & Members of the Dowling Family (Sun 10.30), Eddie Slattery (Sun 11.00), John & Brigid O’Rourke (Sun 12.00), John Carroll (Sun 12.30), Margaret Doyle, Harry O’Connor, Annie Wall, Eric McGrath, Mary McGrath, James Murray, John Egan, Anne Fogarty, Milo & Ann Fry, Sean Ryan, Kitty Ryan, Michael Nolan, The Nolan Family, The Martin Family.
Mass Intentions for Next Weekend: Rena Brett (Months Mind Sun 12.30); Padraig Butler (Sat 6.15), Dick Lynch (Sat 7.00), Michael Hynes (Sun 9.30), Jayne & Jeffrey Power (Sun 10.00), Joe & Nan Mulhall (Sun 11.00), Patrick Morris (Tues 9.30)
Christmas - The Season to be Jolly
For many people Christmas can be a time of stress and financial strain. Christmas need not be so stressful. It’s easy to have a stress free Christmas if you are organised, stick to a budget and are realistic about your own expectations. St. Canice’s Credit Union and the St. Vincent de Paul Society have come together to give you some practical tips on how to budget and manage your money in the run up to the Christmas Season. See posters on Church notice boards and pamphlets in Church porches for further details.
Pope Benedict’s New Encyclical — Spe Salvi
The Irish Catholic Bishops at their December meeting in Maynooth welcomed the publication of the new Encyclical of Pope Benedict XVI, Spe Salvi, which was published last week.
The bishops noted that the theme of Pope Benedict’s first encyclical letter Deus Caritas Est (God Is Love) was love, while the theme of this encyclical Spe Salvi (Saved by Hope) is hope, which is closely related to faith. These are the three virtues by which we relate to God. Spe Salvi asks the faithful to reflect on the following:
· God has shown his face to us in Christ. Can our encounter with God change our lives so that we know we are redeemed through hope?
· The encyclical tells us that we are definitively loved and whatever happens to us in life, we are awaited by God’s love.
· We hope for eternal life, but eternity is not an unending succession of days in the calendar, rather it is something more like the supreme moment of satisfaction in which totality embraces us and we embrace totality. We can only attempt to grasp the idea that such a moment is life in its full sense.
· Christian hope is not individualistic; it has to do with the building up of the common good in this world while at the same time moving towards the fullness of the hope by which we are saved. We must be concerned not just about our own salvation but ask what we can do in order that others may also be saved.
· Placing our trust in anything other than God will in the end fail to satisfy the human heart and will be destructive of true hope.
· When we try to spare ourselves the effort and pain of pursuing truth, love, and goodness, we drift into a life of emptiness, in which there may be almost no pain, but a dark sensation that life is meaningless. We are healed, not by trying to evade all suffering, but rather by our capacity for accepting it, maturing through it and finding meaning through union with Christ, who suffered for us with infinite love.
· Science can contribute greatly to making the world and mankind more human. Yet it can also destroy mankind and the world unless it is steered by forces that lie outside it. On the other hand, we must also acknowledge that modern Christianity, faced with the successes of science in progressively structuring the world, has to a large extent restricted its attention to the individual and his salvation. This can lead to a failure to understand the unlimited horizon of Christian hope.
Full text on Vatican Website: www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals
St. Patrick’s Brass & Reed Band
Annual Christmas Concert
St. Patrick’s Church
Monday, 17th December at 8pm
With: Audrey Larkin, Noel Power, Eugene Dewberry, Traditional Irish Musicians.
Admission Free
Divine Mercy
There will be an hour of adoration and prayer in honour of Divine Mercy in St. Mary’s Cathedral on Sunday December 9th from 3-4pm. All are welcome.
St. Vincent De Paul Society
The local conference of the St. Vincent De Paul Society will take up their annual Christmas Collection at all Masses in Kilkenny City next weekend.
We ask you to be generous in supporting this very worthy local charity.
The members of the Society are called upon especially at Christmas time to help people in need in our community. Your contribution would help greatly.
Sincere thanks to all who have supported this charity throughout the past year.
St. Joseph’s Young Priests Society
The monthly meeting of the St. Patrick’s Branch of the St. Joseph’s Young Priests Society will take place on Friday, 14th December after the 10.30am Mass at St. Fiacre’s Church.
The Society promotes and supports vocations to the priesthood and religious life. New members always welcome.
The next of the parish draws takes place on Tuesday the 18th of December. This is a week early on account of Christmas Day falling on the last Tuesday of the month.
If you would like to be included in our draw then contact any of the promoters or sacristans or priests. The draw costs €10 per month and all the money goes towards the building of the new parish centre.
Thanks to Ted and all the promoters who make the draw such a success. We are grateful for your efforts.
Further progress on our building project will be added soon.
Parish Draw
Because Christmas Day falls on the last Tuesday of the month the December Draw will take place on Tuesday, 18th December in the Presbytery at 8.30pm.
We thank all our subscribers and promoters for your support and loyalty during 2007 and we look forward to your continued support in 2008.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
First Sunday of Advent, Year A, 3rd December 2007
Ordination of Mgr Séamus Freeman, Bishop of OssoryMgr Séamus Freeman will be ordained this weekend as Bishop of Ossory. Mgr Freeman is a native of Callan and a member of the Pallottine Fathers. The principal consecrator will be Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin and the co-consecrators will be the Apostolic Nuncio, Most Rev. Giuseppe Lazzarotto and former Bishop of Ossory, Most Rev. Laurence Forristal. The occasion will also be the first official function for Cardinal Sean Brady, who is just back from Rome following his elevation last weekend. The retired Archbishop of Dublin, Cardinal Desmond Connell will attend as will many of the bishops of Ireland. These will be joined by retired Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Thomas White, a native of Durrow and priest of the Diocese of Ossory. Retired Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, Walton Empey, will lead the ecumenical representatives.
During the ceremony Mgr Freeman will receive the crozier, the symbol of his pastoral responsibility for the people of Ossory. This crozier, one of the most ancient of Kilkenny’s ecclesiastical symbols, dates back to 1839. Mgr Freeman becomes the eighth Bishop of Ossory to use this crozier, which was used by the then Bishop Kinsella on the occasion of the opening of St Mary’s Cathedral in 1857.
At the end of the ordination rite the Archbishop of Dublin will lead the newly ordained bishop to the chair – the Kathedra – this simple rite installs him as the 94th bishop successor of St Kieran.
At the conclusion of Sunday’s ceremony at 5pm, church bells will ring in all parishes of the diocese to announce the ordination and installation of our new diocesan bishop.
Dignitaries of Church and State will be among the near 1,000 attendance at the Ordination ceremony which begins at 3pm. All are welcome to participate in this ceremony and there will be space for people of the diocese to attend.
New Chapter in Life of Ossory
Church bells throughout the diocese will peal at 5pm on Sunday to herald the installation of Mgr Freeman as Bishop of Ossory. Evoking the tradition that St Kieran received a bell from St Patrick and the commission to build a church where it would ring the church bells of this generation will announce the ordination of Kieran’s 94th successor.
On the eve of his Episcopal ordination Mgr Freeman visited Seir Kieran where that first bell tolled. There, at St Kieran’s Well, Mgr Freeman’s pectoral cross, a gift from the priests of the diocese, was blessed.
Later Mgr Freeman journeyed to Aghaboe the site of the monastic settlement of Sts Canice and Fergal. The people of that parish presented him with a Book of the Gospels reminding him of the work of Canice at this holy site. The faith journey concluded in St. Mary’s Church, Coolagh, in the parish of Callan, where Mgr Freeman served Mass.
Ceremony to be Broadcast
KCLR96FM will broadcast the Ordination Ceremony of Mgr Séamus Freeman, Bishop-Elect of Ossory, from 3.00 pm on Sunday. If you can’t be there, tune in to be part of this great diocesan event.
The Immaculate Conception
Next Saturday is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Beginning on Friday evening parish Masses will follow the usual weekend pattern.
Traditional Carol Service
The annual traditional Carol Service with St. Patrick’s Brass & Reed Band with the combined choirs of St. Patrick’s Parish will be held on Sunday, 16th December at 4.30pm in Foulkstown Church. Join us after the service for seasonal refreshments.
Widows’ Association
The association will hold their annual Christmas dinner on 11th December in the Club House Hotel at 1pm. All widows welcome.
Special Advent Services
Our parish will host special Advent services at St. Patrick’s Church on the three Thursdays of Advent (December 6th, 13th and 20th). All are welcome to come along and join in preparing for Christmas at 7.30pm on this Thursday evening.
Cake and Craft Sale
Following the Traditional Carol Service at St. Joseph’s Church, Foulkstown on Sunday, 16th December there will be a special Cake and Craft Sale at the Kilkenny Rugby Club (by kind permission). Proceeds in aid of the new Parish Centre. Come, sing traditional carols and get some nice treats for Christmas.
Candlelight Procession
The annual Candlelight Rosary Procession will leave the Parade at 8pm on Saturday, 8th December proceeding to the Black Abbey for Benediction. All welcome.
Westcourt News
The December Mass for the canonisation of Blessed Edmund Rice will be celebrated in Westcourt on Monday, 3rd December at 7pm. The members of the St. Joseph's Young Priests’ Society are preparing the liturgy for this Mass. All are cordially invited to join in this special celebration.
Village Crafts
Christmas Exhibition & Sale at Ormonde College on Saturday & Sunday, 1st and 2nd December. Woodturners: Mick Morrissey, Canice Ryan, Ciaran Walsh and artist Pat Holland will exhibit.
Rosary
The Monthly Rosary on the first Sunday in James Green at the statue of Our Lady of Kilkenny continues on Sunday, 2nd December 3pm. All are welcome.
Pat’s Cabaret...
In Delaney’s Bar, Patrick Street on Monday night next. In aid of charity. Please support.
S.O.S. Craft Fair
The S.O.S. Craft Fair and coffee afternoon takes place on Sunday, 9th December from 2pm to 5pm. Everyone is welcome. Admission is free. (Note change of date from that previously announced).
Peace in Christ
The Retreat House Team would like to thank all who contributed so generously to the recent collection in aid of Peace in Christ Diocesan Retreat House. In particular we would like to thank those who organised and carried our the collection on our behalf. The amount collected in St. Patrick’s Parish was €1,250.00. Thank you.
Christmas with Creidim
To celebrate Christmas Creidim is delighted to have the company of Mr. Christy Kenneally, who will share with us his reflections on the true meaning of Christmas. He will reflect on how the inner child in all of us is nourished by the incarnation.
Guest: Mr. Christy Kenneally
Date: Monday, 10th December
Venue: St. Kieran’s College
Time: 8pm. Cost: €20
Booking essential
Christy Kenneally is a well known TV presenter, scriptwriter and author. He scripted and presented a series for television on the great religions of the world as experienced through their art and architecture entitled Heaven on Earth. Christy has also written extensively on the subject of bereavement and loss.
Concert
Liam Lawton will give a concert in St John's Catholic Church, Dublin Road, Kilkenny on Tuesday, 4th December at 8.00pm. Tickets available at the Book Centre, High Street; Anne's Newsagent, John Street; Gray's Electrical Shop, John Street and St John's Parish Office. Tickets €25. No reserved seating. Bring a cushion for your own comfort. Parking: MacDonagh Junction and John’s Green.
The S.O.S. Craft Fair and coffee afternoon takes place on Sunday, 9th December from 2pm to 5pm. Everyone is welcome. Admission is free. (Note change of date from that previously announced).
Peace in Christ
The Retreat House Team would like to thank all who contributed so generously to the recent collection in aid of Peace in Christ Diocesan Retreat House. In particular we would like to thank those who organised and carried our the collection on our behalf. The amount collected in St. Patrick’s Parish was €1,250.00. Thank you.
Christmas with Creidim
To celebrate Christmas Creidim is delighted to have the company of Mr. Christy Kenneally, who will share with us his reflections on the true meaning of Christmas. He will reflect on how the inner child in all of us is nourished by the incarnation.
Guest: Mr. Christy Kenneally
Date: Monday, 10th December
Venue: St. Kieran’s College
Time: 8pm. Cost: €20
Booking essential
Christy Kenneally is a well known TV presenter, scriptwriter and author. He scripted and presented a series for television on the great religions of the world as experienced through their art and architecture entitled Heaven on Earth. Christy has also written extensively on the subject of bereavement and loss.
Concert
Liam Lawton will give a concert in St John's Catholic Church, Dublin Road, Kilkenny on Tuesday, 4th December at 8.00pm. Tickets available at the Book Centre, High Street; Anne's Newsagent, John Street; Gray's Electrical Shop, John Street and St John's Parish Office. Tickets €25. No reserved seating. Bring a cushion for your own comfort. Parking: MacDonagh Junction and John’s Green.
Pray for the Deceased
Recently Deceased: Sr. Frances Jude Hogan, St. Patrick’s, Kells Road.
Month’s Mind: Mary Mulrooney (Sat 7.00), Barbara Rhatigan (Fri 7.00).
Anniversaries: Tom O’Dowd (Sat 6.15), Jim Mulrooney (Sat 7.00), Laurence Healy (Sun 10.30), Kathleen Browne (Sun 11.00), Michael Dwyer (Sun 12.00), Thomas Dowling (Sun 12.30), Elaine Kelly (Tue 10.30), Molly Murray, Syl Gaffney, Eddie McEvoy, Eileen Barry, Catherine Bambrick, Thomas & Margaret Beehan, John Wallace, Jeremiah Mullally, Tom Brett, Mary Delaney, Catherine Connors, Hugh Tiernan, Angela Murphy, Margaret & James Purcell.
Next Weekend: Barbara Rhatigan (Months Mind, Fri 7.00), Margaret Doyle (Sat 10.00), Harry Joe O’Connor (Sat 10.30), Sr. Marie Kissane (Months Mind Sat11.00), Henrietta Hyland (Months Mind Sat 12.30), Michael Fitzmaurice (Sat 6.15), Margaret O’Brien (Sat 7.00), Patricia Fitzpatrick (Sun 9.30), Angela Murphy (Sun 10.00), The Dowling Family (Sun 10.30), Eddie Slattery (Sun 11.00), John & Brigid O’Rourke (Sun 12.00), John Carroll (12.30).
Family Liturgy
We welcome our Family Liturgy Group to the 10.30am Mass on Sundays. The young people practice at St. Fiacre’s Church on Thursdays between 6.00 and 7.00pm. All young people and their parents are welcome to come along and join in preparing the prayers, and mass.
First Friday of December
The priests will visit as usual this week. Contact 776 4400 if you would like to add your name to the lists.
Kilkenny Lions Club
Christmas Hamper and Charity Appeal featuring: CBS Boys’ Choir, Kilkenny College Jazz Band & Junior Choir & Chamber Choir, St. John’s Senior School Orchestra & Choir, St. Canice’s Co-Ed Recorder Ensemble & Jazz Band, Cor Ghaelscoil Osrai 4th Class Choir & Musical Group, Castlecomer Community School Choir, at St. Canice’s Cathedral on Thursday, 6th December at 8pm. Admission at the door: €10/€4. All welcome.
November Parish Draw
Thanks to all who supported our draw. The winners are as follows...
1st €1,000 Bridget Woodgate
2nd €200 Nicholas Huntley
3rd €100 Kay Whelan
4th €100 Maria Kelly
5th €100 Marie Maher
6th €100 Frank & Marie Marshall
7th €100 Mary Lawlor
8th €100 Billy Murphy
9th €50 Teresa Walsh
10th €50 Eileen McGrath
11th €50 Geraldine Phelan
12th €50 Paddy & Mary Ward
13th €50 Catherine & Cathal Cullen
Promoters’ Prize: Maureen McCormack and Paddy Ward.
Family Liturgy
We welcome our Family Liturgy Group to the 10.30am Mass on Sundays. The young people practice at St. Fiacre’s Church on Thursdays between 6.00 and 7.00pm. All young people and their parents are welcome to come along and join in preparing the prayers, and mass.
First Friday of December
The priests will visit as usual this week. Contact 776 4400 if you would like to add your name to the lists.
Kilkenny Lions Club
Christmas Hamper and Charity Appeal featuring: CBS Boys’ Choir, Kilkenny College Jazz Band & Junior Choir & Chamber Choir, St. John’s Senior School Orchestra & Choir, St. Canice’s Co-Ed Recorder Ensemble & Jazz Band, Cor Ghaelscoil Osrai 4th Class Choir & Musical Group, Castlecomer Community School Choir, at St. Canice’s Cathedral on Thursday, 6th December at 8pm. Admission at the door: €10/€4. All welcome.
November Parish Draw
Thanks to all who supported our draw. The winners are as follows...
1st €1,000 Bridget Woodgate
2nd €200 Nicholas Huntley
3rd €100 Kay Whelan
4th €100 Maria Kelly
5th €100 Marie Maher
6th €100 Frank & Marie Marshall
7th €100 Mary Lawlor
8th €100 Billy Murphy
9th €50 Teresa Walsh
10th €50 Eileen McGrath
11th €50 Geraldine Phelan
12th €50 Paddy & Mary Ward
13th €50 Catherine & Cathal Cullen
Promoters’ Prize: Maureen McCormack and Paddy Ward.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Our Lord Jesus Christ, Universal King. Last Sunday of the Year, 25th November 2007
Family LiturgyDuring Advent and for the next four Sunday’s the 10.30am Mass in St. Fiacre’s Church will be a special Family Mass. The children will prepare the readings and prayers they will present their offerings and they will be expressing themselves in drama and song. Through this active involvement and the simplified version of the readings and prayers, the Mass is more meaningful for them and also for their families. Jesus did say, “let the little children come to me” and this is exactly what we hope to do at the 10.30 Mass each Sunday. I would like to extend to you all an invitation to come and experience for yourselves the wonderful feeling of togetherness and sense of Christian Community that we in St. Fiacre’s Church experience when our children come together to celebrate this Family Mass.
Practice for the Family Mass will take place in St. Fiacre’s Church on Thursdays at 6 pm. and will last for about one hour. As well as preparing the readings and prayers we also have a children’s choir. All children are welcome. The first practice will take place on Thursday 29th November 2006.
Questions people ask
Cardinal Brady spoke at Knock against consulting horoscopes, tarot cards etc. I know people who use them as a sort of fun. Why should the church condemn them?
Is it only a sort of fun or is there also a desire to control the future and maybe even to utilize hidden powers other than God. The Catholic Church considers such practices as contrary to the first commandment: ‘I am the Lord your God, you shall not have strange gods before me’. There is a danger that calling up spirits or using ouija boards may be allowing evil spirits access to the mind. I have met people who have been deeply harmed by these practices.
Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap
November Parish Draw
The November parish draw takes place this coming Tuesday at 8:30pm. All are welcome to attend the draw and if you’re not already part of the draw you can join by contacting any of the promoters or sacristans. Thanks to all who support us.
Tallaght Choral Society
Presents “Messiah” by George Frederick Handel in St. Canice’s Cathedral, Kilkenny on Saturday 1st December 2007 at 8pm. Tickets €25. Available at the door.
Remembrance Service
Our Parish Remembrance Service will be held next Thursday, 29th November for all the faithful departed but especially for all those who died in our parish in the past year. This service which will be held at St. Patrick’s Church at 7.30pm. Please place the names of your beloved dead in the baskets before the altars in each church.
Irish Catholic
The Irish Catholic of 6th December will feature a special commemorative supplement on the installation of Monsignor Freeman as Bishop of Ossory. This will feature an exclusive interview with the new bishop with photos and coverage of the occasion itself. Please pre-order your copy at the sacristy as soon as possible.
Congratulations
Congratulations to Archbishop Seán Brady who was elevated to the title of Cardinal yesterday (Saturday 24th). This is an historic occasion for our country, this is the first time there has ever been three cardinals in our land, Cardinal Daly, Cardinal Connell, and Cardinal Brady.
Radio Kilkenny is Alive
Radio Kilkenny A.G.M. will take place on Wednesday, December 12th at 8pm in Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny. Be there to help us move forward.
The November parish draw takes place this coming Tuesday at 8:30pm. All are welcome to attend the draw and if you’re not already part of the draw you can join by contacting any of the promoters or sacristans. Thanks to all who support us.
Tallaght Choral Society
Presents “Messiah” by George Frederick Handel in St. Canice’s Cathedral, Kilkenny on Saturday 1st December 2007 at 8pm. Tickets €25. Available at the door.
Remembrance Service
Our Parish Remembrance Service will be held next Thursday, 29th November for all the faithful departed but especially for all those who died in our parish in the past year. This service which will be held at St. Patrick’s Church at 7.30pm. Please place the names of your beloved dead in the baskets before the altars in each church.
Irish Catholic
The Irish Catholic of 6th December will feature a special commemorative supplement on the installation of Monsignor Freeman as Bishop of Ossory. This will feature an exclusive interview with the new bishop with photos and coverage of the occasion itself. Please pre-order your copy at the sacristy as soon as possible.
Congratulations
Congratulations to Archbishop Seán Brady who was elevated to the title of Cardinal yesterday (Saturday 24th). This is an historic occasion for our country, this is the first time there has ever been three cardinals in our land, Cardinal Daly, Cardinal Connell, and Cardinal Brady.
Radio Kilkenny is Alive
Radio Kilkenny A.G.M. will take place on Wednesday, December 12th at 8pm in Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny. Be there to help us move forward.
Pray for the deceased
Recently Deceased: Paddy Murphy, St. Fiacre’s Place, Elizabeth Kelly, Ballinalina, Ann Casey, Broguemakers Hill, Edward Phelan, Connolly St.
Paul O’ Dwyer, 35 Bishop Birch Place, Funeral Prayers Sun 7:45pm, removal to St. Patrick’s Church. Requiem mass Monday, 11am, burial in St. Kieran’s. Edward Lawless, Newpark, Requiem mass Monday, 10:30 in St. John’s.
Recently Deceased: Paddy Murphy, St. Fiacre’s Place, Elizabeth Kelly, Ballinalina, Ann Casey, Broguemakers Hill, Edward Phelan, Connolly St.
Paul O’ Dwyer, 35 Bishop Birch Place, Funeral Prayers Sun 7:45pm, removal to St. Patrick’s Church. Requiem mass Monday, 11am, burial in St. Kieran’s. Edward Lawless, Newpark, Requiem mass Monday, 10:30 in St. John’s.
Anniversaries: Michael Hickey (Sat 6.15), Pat Kearney (Sat 7.00), Maura Leahy (Sun 9.30), Bill Keogh (Sun 10.00), Deceased Members of the O’Neill Family, (Sun 10.30), Maureen O’Shea (Sun 11.00), John Cullen (Sun 12.00), Margaret O’Brien (Sun 12.30), Patrick Crotty, Thomas Beehan, Owen Beehan, James Conway, Mary Conway, Jack Conway, Philip O’Dwyer, John Kehoe, Joe McKane, Jim Corcoran, Ollie Bergin, John McCarthy, Rory McPhillips
Intentions for Next Weekend
Months Mind: Mary Mulrooney (Sat 7.00),
Anniversaries: Tom O’Dowd (Sat 6.15), Laurence Healy (Sun 10.30), Kathleen Browne (Sun 11.00), Michael Dwyer (Sun 12.00), Thomas Dowling 9Sun 12.30), Elaine Kelly (Tues 10.30), Margaret Doyle (Sat 8th 10.00)
Brass and Reid Band Concert
The 125th anniversary concert of St. Patrick’s Brass and Reid Band, featuring the Kilkenny Gospel Choir and the Army Band of the Southern Command will take place this Sunday 25th at Cillin Hill, Carlow Road, Kilkenny.
The concert starts at 8pm and is the first ever concert and the impressive new venue at Cillin Hill
Months Mind: Mary Mulrooney (Sat 7.00),
Anniversaries: Tom O’Dowd (Sat 6.15), Laurence Healy (Sun 10.30), Kathleen Browne (Sun 11.00), Michael Dwyer (Sun 12.00), Thomas Dowling 9Sun 12.30), Elaine Kelly (Tues 10.30), Margaret Doyle (Sat 8th 10.00)
Brass and Reid Band Concert
The 125th anniversary concert of St. Patrick’s Brass and Reid Band, featuring the Kilkenny Gospel Choir and the Army Band of the Southern Command will take place this Sunday 25th at Cillin Hill, Carlow Road, Kilkenny.
The concert starts at 8pm and is the first ever concert and the impressive new venue at Cillin Hill
Parish Building Fund
Our new development at Loughboy continues to take shape and thanks to the weather being so good the development is more or less on target.
We continue to fund raise for this development at St. Fiacre’s Church. To date we have our very successful Parish Draw which is held every month thanks to Ted Byrne and his faithful army of promoters who keep this going. If you are not already part of our draw and would like to be, contact any of the promoters, priests or sacristans in our churches.
Another initiative has been to write to all those who are registered as parishioners of our parish and ask for either a donation or a 5 year loan towards the development of the Parish Centre. To date this has had a very positive response with over €120000 raised and more pledged. This means we have €120 000 less to borrow and we’re grateful to all who have been so generous. Further details on this will be published later.
While these are fundraising initiatives, the main source of income for the day to day running of the parish and income for the building fund is the weekly envelopes and standing orders that many of you contribute to every week. We are grateful to all who support us.
Another fundraiser planned to the coming weeks will be a cake sale. If you would like to volunteer your time and baking skills to this venture, then contact Rita Byrne at 7721129 or Mary Parsons at: 7721356. More details of this upcoming fundraiser will be published next week.
Our new development at Loughboy continues to take shape and thanks to the weather being so good the development is more or less on target.
We continue to fund raise for this development at St. Fiacre’s Church. To date we have our very successful Parish Draw which is held every month thanks to Ted Byrne and his faithful army of promoters who keep this going. If you are not already part of our draw and would like to be, contact any of the promoters, priests or sacristans in our churches.
Another initiative has been to write to all those who are registered as parishioners of our parish and ask for either a donation or a 5 year loan towards the development of the Parish Centre. To date this has had a very positive response with over €120000 raised and more pledged. This means we have €120 000 less to borrow and we’re grateful to all who have been so generous. Further details on this will be published later.
While these are fundraising initiatives, the main source of income for the day to day running of the parish and income for the building fund is the weekly envelopes and standing orders that many of you contribute to every week. We are grateful to all who support us.
Another fundraiser planned to the coming weeks will be a cake sale. If you would like to volunteer your time and baking skills to this venture, then contact Rita Byrne at 7721129 or Mary Parsons at: 7721356. More details of this upcoming fundraiser will be published next week.
City Parishes Day of Prayer
The city parishes are gathering together next Friday 30th in St. Mary’s Cathedral for a day of prayer. The day of prayer is in preparation for the ordination of our Bishop-elect Séamus Freeman next Sunday.
The day will consist of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament from 10am to 7pm. Volunteers from each parish are required for the different hours of the day. If you would like to be part of t his day of prayer then please sign your name on the rota which is available in all the sacristies.
At 7:30pm, the day of prayer will end in the Cathedral with evening prayer. All are welcome and encouraged to attend this time of prayer.
Bishop’s Letter
This weekend, our bishop-elect has asked us to read a pastoral letter addressed to all the faithful of the diocese. We publish the entire letter on our website. Just click on the link entitled ‘Bishops Letter’ or follow the newsletter link to locate this document.
Bishops Ordination
Next Sunday Kilkenny will be alive with all things ecclesial as cardinal, bishops, priests, religious and faithful gather in St. Mary’s Cathedral for the ordination of our new bishop.
All are most welcome to attend. As there is limited room in the cathedral arrangements have been made for people to watch the ceremony live via television link in a nearby building. We are sorry that not everyone can get a seat in the Cathedral, it’s just not physically possible.
Prayer for our New Bishop
O God, by the gift of your grace alone, you call your servant and priest, Séamus Freeman, to oversee the Church of Ossory. Enable him to carry out worthily the office and ministry of Bishop.
Grant that under your constant guidance he may lead by word and example the people entrusted to his care.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The city parishes are gathering together next Friday 30th in St. Mary’s Cathedral for a day of prayer. The day of prayer is in preparation for the ordination of our Bishop-elect Séamus Freeman next Sunday.
The day will consist of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament from 10am to 7pm. Volunteers from each parish are required for the different hours of the day. If you would like to be part of t his day of prayer then please sign your name on the rota which is available in all the sacristies.
At 7:30pm, the day of prayer will end in the Cathedral with evening prayer. All are welcome and encouraged to attend this time of prayer.
Bishop’s Letter
This weekend, our bishop-elect has asked us to read a pastoral letter addressed to all the faithful of the diocese. We publish the entire letter on our website. Just click on the link entitled ‘Bishops Letter’ or follow the newsletter link to locate this document.
Bishops Ordination
Next Sunday Kilkenny will be alive with all things ecclesial as cardinal, bishops, priests, religious and faithful gather in St. Mary’s Cathedral for the ordination of our new bishop.
All are most welcome to attend. As there is limited room in the cathedral arrangements have been made for people to watch the ceremony live via television link in a nearby building. We are sorry that not everyone can get a seat in the Cathedral, it’s just not physically possible.
Prayer for our New Bishop
O God, by the gift of your grace alone, you call your servant and priest, Séamus Freeman, to oversee the Church of Ossory. Enable him to carry out worthily the office and ministry of Bishop.
Grant that under your constant guidance he may lead by word and example the people entrusted to his care.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Pastoral Letter to the Priests, Persons of Consecrated Life, and Lay Faithful
TOGETHER WE JOURNEY: TOGETHER WE SERVE
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Jesus Christ,
Today is the Feast of Christ the King. It is the last Sunday of the Liturgical Year. To conclude the year we affirm the greatness of the Lord as the source of all that is good and true. How are we to understand the meaning of this word “KING”? We know that the characteristics of the “kings” of this world are power, influence, control, wealth and ambition. In Chapter 20 of Matthew’s Gospel, we read how James and John, Apostles of Jesus and the sons of Zebedee, had a petition presented to Jesus asking to be in influential positions in his Kingdom. The reply of Jesus indicates that the apostles did not understand the spiritual meaning of “King” and “Kingdom”. “But Jesus called them to him and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles Lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave; even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve” (Jn.20:26-28). The message is clear: The Christian community is a family, the family of God, a family of responsible service to one another, a family of the children of God belonging to one another. We journey together, and together we serve. That’s the ideal put before us today, the Feast of Christ the King. I pray it can be seen to be my ideal too as I begin my service as your Bishop, next Sunday.
Next Sunday (2nd December) is the First Sunday of Advent, the first Sunday of a new Liturgical Year. In the religious sense it could be called a new spiritual beginning, new in the sense of being a new opportunity to begin again with the ongoing invitation to deepen ever more our spiritual relationship with one another and with Jesus Christ, our teacher and our friend. A friend is one who “loves at all times” (Prov. 17:17). But what is love? The evangelist John tells us that we must love as Jesus loves: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (Jn. 15:12-14). Advent is a time for each of us to deepen God’s love within us. The life of Jesus Christ is the great love of God for each one of us. Therefore, we prepare to celebrate Christmas, not by material gifts and celebration, but by opening the doors of our hearts and minds to the love of Jesus Christ, a love that becomes authentic and happy life.
Next Sunday (2nd December) is also the day of my Consecration as Bishop of Ossory. Many of you will be able to attend. The majority will be unable to attend. However, my hope is that all of you will be present spiritually with me on that day, praying for all the people in the Diocese and praying especially for your new Bishop, that he can serve the needs and challenges of the diocese with a creative fidelity, while at the same time being “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3). On such occasions, many use the phrase – “a new beginning”. There is a sense in which it is true to say there will be a new beginning. In fact, every moment of our lives is a new beginning. Scripture declares: “Behold, I make all things new” (Rev. 21:5). Also, St. Paul invites us to “walk in the newness of life”. Every day is a new beginning for all of us. It is a blessing when we have the conviction that “newness of life” is part of every day. That is why we are encouraged to pray every day. This is how the birth of Christ in our minds and hearts will continue to bring us new life. Tomorrow, we will be either more priestly or less priestly, more married or less married, more faithful or less faithful. Therefore, it is so important to seek the newness of life in Christ, every day.
There is also a sense in which next Sunday is not a new beginning. We are not starting from the beginning. The liturgical celebration of next Sunday will take its place in the long history of the Christian faith of this unique Diocese. The arrival of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the Diocese of Ossory was heralded by the tinkling of a bell. According to tradition, Saint Kieran left his home near Cape Clear, Co. Cork, and went to Rome to be ordained a priest and a bishop before returning to Ireland. St. Patrick is reported to have given him a bell and Kieran was to build a monastery on the spot where it should first sound. When the saint had passed over the Slieve Blooms, the bell sounded. Here Kieran established his monastery at Seir Kieran, the centre from which Ossory was evangelised. I hope to make a pilgrimage to that holy place next Saturday, 1st December.
From Seir Kieran in County Offaly, the centre of the diocese moved to Aghaboe in County Laois. Saint Canice had been founder and abbot of this great monastery. Historians record that Canice was a great scholar who wrote a commentary on the scriptures. May his wisdom and insight continue to guide us; may his love for the word of God inspire us all to be true and faithful Disciples of Christ the Lord.
Some time in the twelfth century the Bishop of Ossory moved to the growing city of Kilkenny. In the intervening centuries the Church in Ossory experienced great growth as monasteries and churches were to spring up all over the diocese: Kells, Jerpoint, Gowran (to mention but a few) remind us of that. Then came persecution and famine: many parishes have a Mass rock that bears witness to the faith and courage of the people despite the threats they faced. Through times of joy and difficulty, through darkness and light, the people of Ossory have proclaimed their faith in God and have gathered to celebrate the Eucharist. May we, in our time, hold fast to the heritage of faith that we have received as we seek to express this great gift in the changed circumstances of today.
Today, many say that we live in a fragile world. Significant challenges face us as a Church at this time. First of all, there is the challenge to communicate the joy of Christian faith and the power of Christian love of the other, especially, the poor, the suffering and the deprived, in a world that is often more concerned with self love. The abuse of the other, regardless of age or origin, is always a very great sin. The God of love is a God of mercy and compassion. Such love assures all persons that they are welcome in God’s Church, a community where compassion and mercy embrace us all. Faith-development and the promotion of vocations to the priesthood and the consecrated life must also be a priority, an urgent priority, as we look to the future of our diocese. In all of these endeavours we are supported by the Holy Spirit who never leaves the Church untended.
Let us listen to the Holy Spirit who “renews the face of the earth” and who guides us with these words: “Now I am revealing new things to you, things hidden and unknown to you, created just now, this very moment, of these things you have heard nothing until now, so that you cannot say, ‘Oh yes, I knew all this’ (Is. 48:6-7). We must be open to the Spirit as Mary was when she proclaimed: “Let what you have said be done to me” (Lk. 1:38). This response and attitude of Mary gave to humanity the spiritual gift of Christmas, new life in Christ.
On Sunday next I will come among you as the successor of St. Kieran to be ordained as Bishop of Ossory following the retirement of Bishop Laurence Forristal. Like Kieran, I left my native Coolagh in the parish of Callan for Rome and now return with a mandate from Pope Benedict XVI to be pastor of Ireland’s oldest diocese. This is a great responsibility which I do not undertake lightly. As I prepare for my ordination I ask your prayers for me and for the diocese. May Saint Kieran, Saint Canice and the many good women and men who have lived the Gospel throughout the ages be our strength and guide. May the bell that first pealed for Kieran continue to ring out loud and clear, assuring us that God continues to walk with the people of Ossory and that his love and forgiveness are to be found in the Church.
In conclusion, and in your name and mine, I wish to express a word of heartfelt thanks to Bishop Forristal for his 26 years of dedicated and fruitful service as Bishop of Ossory. Let our prayer be that his years of retirement will be marked by his ongoing Christian witness, by happiness and good health.
Yours faithfully in the Lord,
Séamus Freeman, SAC
Bishop Elect
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Jesus Christ,
Today is the Feast of Christ the King. It is the last Sunday of the Liturgical Year. To conclude the year we affirm the greatness of the Lord as the source of all that is good and true. How are we to understand the meaning of this word “KING”? We know that the characteristics of the “kings” of this world are power, influence, control, wealth and ambition. In Chapter 20 of Matthew’s Gospel, we read how James and John, Apostles of Jesus and the sons of Zebedee, had a petition presented to Jesus asking to be in influential positions in his Kingdom. The reply of Jesus indicates that the apostles did not understand the spiritual meaning of “King” and “Kingdom”. “But Jesus called them to him and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles Lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave; even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve” (Jn.20:26-28). The message is clear: The Christian community is a family, the family of God, a family of responsible service to one another, a family of the children of God belonging to one another. We journey together, and together we serve. That’s the ideal put before us today, the Feast of Christ the King. I pray it can be seen to be my ideal too as I begin my service as your Bishop, next Sunday.
Next Sunday (2nd December) is the First Sunday of Advent, the first Sunday of a new Liturgical Year. In the religious sense it could be called a new spiritual beginning, new in the sense of being a new opportunity to begin again with the ongoing invitation to deepen ever more our spiritual relationship with one another and with Jesus Christ, our teacher and our friend. A friend is one who “loves at all times” (Prov. 17:17). But what is love? The evangelist John tells us that we must love as Jesus loves: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (Jn. 15:12-14). Advent is a time for each of us to deepen God’s love within us. The life of Jesus Christ is the great love of God for each one of us. Therefore, we prepare to celebrate Christmas, not by material gifts and celebration, but by opening the doors of our hearts and minds to the love of Jesus Christ, a love that becomes authentic and happy life.
Next Sunday (2nd December) is also the day of my Consecration as Bishop of Ossory. Many of you will be able to attend. The majority will be unable to attend. However, my hope is that all of you will be present spiritually with me on that day, praying for all the people in the Diocese and praying especially for your new Bishop, that he can serve the needs and challenges of the diocese with a creative fidelity, while at the same time being “eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3). On such occasions, many use the phrase – “a new beginning”. There is a sense in which it is true to say there will be a new beginning. In fact, every moment of our lives is a new beginning. Scripture declares: “Behold, I make all things new” (Rev. 21:5). Also, St. Paul invites us to “walk in the newness of life”. Every day is a new beginning for all of us. It is a blessing when we have the conviction that “newness of life” is part of every day. That is why we are encouraged to pray every day. This is how the birth of Christ in our minds and hearts will continue to bring us new life. Tomorrow, we will be either more priestly or less priestly, more married or less married, more faithful or less faithful. Therefore, it is so important to seek the newness of life in Christ, every day.
There is also a sense in which next Sunday is not a new beginning. We are not starting from the beginning. The liturgical celebration of next Sunday will take its place in the long history of the Christian faith of this unique Diocese. The arrival of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the Diocese of Ossory was heralded by the tinkling of a bell. According to tradition, Saint Kieran left his home near Cape Clear, Co. Cork, and went to Rome to be ordained a priest and a bishop before returning to Ireland. St. Patrick is reported to have given him a bell and Kieran was to build a monastery on the spot where it should first sound. When the saint had passed over the Slieve Blooms, the bell sounded. Here Kieran established his monastery at Seir Kieran, the centre from which Ossory was evangelised. I hope to make a pilgrimage to that holy place next Saturday, 1st December.
From Seir Kieran in County Offaly, the centre of the diocese moved to Aghaboe in County Laois. Saint Canice had been founder and abbot of this great monastery. Historians record that Canice was a great scholar who wrote a commentary on the scriptures. May his wisdom and insight continue to guide us; may his love for the word of God inspire us all to be true and faithful Disciples of Christ the Lord.
Some time in the twelfth century the Bishop of Ossory moved to the growing city of Kilkenny. In the intervening centuries the Church in Ossory experienced great growth as monasteries and churches were to spring up all over the diocese: Kells, Jerpoint, Gowran (to mention but a few) remind us of that. Then came persecution and famine: many parishes have a Mass rock that bears witness to the faith and courage of the people despite the threats they faced. Through times of joy and difficulty, through darkness and light, the people of Ossory have proclaimed their faith in God and have gathered to celebrate the Eucharist. May we, in our time, hold fast to the heritage of faith that we have received as we seek to express this great gift in the changed circumstances of today.
Today, many say that we live in a fragile world. Significant challenges face us as a Church at this time. First of all, there is the challenge to communicate the joy of Christian faith and the power of Christian love of the other, especially, the poor, the suffering and the deprived, in a world that is often more concerned with self love. The abuse of the other, regardless of age or origin, is always a very great sin. The God of love is a God of mercy and compassion. Such love assures all persons that they are welcome in God’s Church, a community where compassion and mercy embrace us all. Faith-development and the promotion of vocations to the priesthood and the consecrated life must also be a priority, an urgent priority, as we look to the future of our diocese. In all of these endeavours we are supported by the Holy Spirit who never leaves the Church untended.
Let us listen to the Holy Spirit who “renews the face of the earth” and who guides us with these words: “Now I am revealing new things to you, things hidden and unknown to you, created just now, this very moment, of these things you have heard nothing until now, so that you cannot say, ‘Oh yes, I knew all this’ (Is. 48:6-7). We must be open to the Spirit as Mary was when she proclaimed: “Let what you have said be done to me” (Lk. 1:38). This response and attitude of Mary gave to humanity the spiritual gift of Christmas, new life in Christ.
On Sunday next I will come among you as the successor of St. Kieran to be ordained as Bishop of Ossory following the retirement of Bishop Laurence Forristal. Like Kieran, I left my native Coolagh in the parish of Callan for Rome and now return with a mandate from Pope Benedict XVI to be pastor of Ireland’s oldest diocese. This is a great responsibility which I do not undertake lightly. As I prepare for my ordination I ask your prayers for me and for the diocese. May Saint Kieran, Saint Canice and the many good women and men who have lived the Gospel throughout the ages be our strength and guide. May the bell that first pealed for Kieran continue to ring out loud and clear, assuring us that God continues to walk with the people of Ossory and that his love and forgiveness are to be found in the Church.
In conclusion, and in your name and mine, I wish to express a word of heartfelt thanks to Bishop Forristal for his 26 years of dedicated and fruitful service as Bishop of Ossory. Let our prayer be that his years of retirement will be marked by his ongoing Christian witness, by happiness and good health.
Yours faithfully in the Lord,
Séamus Freeman, SAC
Bishop Elect
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Thirthy Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, 18th of November 2007
Building a Community (Centre)
I am currently writing to all parishioners asking for financial help towards the cost of the parish development at St. Fiacre’s Church. Most parishioners will have received my letter by now and those who did not will hear from me during the next few days. To date your response has been magnificent and €97,250 has been added to the parish coffers. This is without doubt a very generous return which, over time, will save the parish up to €100,000 in interest repayments. As a registered charity the parish can also reclaim income tax already paid on much of this amount thus significantly increasing the value of the contribution at no extra cost to the donor. Thanks for your generous support for this long awaited parish facility.
While I fully appreciate that I am asking for a significant sum of money I do not want anyone to feel obliged to make a donation or the contribution to cause hardship. Every euro helps. Ní neart go cur le chéile – there is strength in unity – working together the people of our parish can do great things. Working together as a community will make paying for our Parish Centre easier.
I ask you to consider what you can do for our parish at this time. All contributions will be carefully recorded and acknowledged. Thanks again for your support.
Remembrance Service
Our Parish Remembrance Service will be held on Thursday, 29th November for all the faithful departed but especially for all those who died in our parish in the past year. This service which will be held at St. Patrick’s Church at 7.30pm. Please place the names of your beloved dead in the baskets before the altars in each church.
Farewell and Thanks
After many years writing his hugely popular column Fr. Tom Cox has decided to take an extended break. We wish him well as he takes some time of refreshment and renewal.
I am currently writing to all parishioners asking for financial help towards the cost of the parish development at St. Fiacre’s Church. Most parishioners will have received my letter by now and those who did not will hear from me during the next few days. To date your response has been magnificent and €97,250 has been added to the parish coffers. This is without doubt a very generous return which, over time, will save the parish up to €100,000 in interest repayments. As a registered charity the parish can also reclaim income tax already paid on much of this amount thus significantly increasing the value of the contribution at no extra cost to the donor. Thanks for your generous support for this long awaited parish facility.
While I fully appreciate that I am asking for a significant sum of money I do not want anyone to feel obliged to make a donation or the contribution to cause hardship. Every euro helps. Ní neart go cur le chéile – there is strength in unity – working together the people of our parish can do great things. Working together as a community will make paying for our Parish Centre easier.
I ask you to consider what you can do for our parish at this time. All contributions will be carefully recorded and acknowledged. Thanks again for your support.
Remembrance Service
Our Parish Remembrance Service will be held on Thursday, 29th November for all the faithful departed but especially for all those who died in our parish in the past year. This service which will be held at St. Patrick’s Church at 7.30pm. Please place the names of your beloved dead in the baskets before the altars in each church.
Farewell and Thanks
After many years writing his hugely popular column Fr. Tom Cox has decided to take an extended break. We wish him well as he takes some time of refreshment and renewal.
No Work, No Food
A famous comic cartoon strip called Peanuts had a main character called Charlie Brown. Charlie once delightfully declared: ‘I love humanity. It’s people I can’t stand!’ Sometimes our attitude to the Bible is like Charlie’s to his fellow human beings. We love the Bible. It’s its challenges we can’t stand! Take today’s second reading, for example. For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat (2 Thess 3:10). Can Paul really be serious? In answer, another question: was Jesus serious when he said that if a brother or sister has something against us, we should settle the matter first before bringing an offering to God? (Mt 5:24). Yes? No? Tricky, isn’t it? If yes, are there exceptions? What happens if we apply this to the Eucharist? Just how literal should we be? If we don’t want to be literal and start toning down what Jesus said where do we stop? As far as I know there isn’t a ‘Cherry-Picker’s Bible’ on the market. If Paul commands something, he means it. Jesus doesn’t joke about serious matters. People who don’t pull their weight should earn their food and not be kept – hard though that may be for them to swallow.
Fr Tom Cahill SVD
Questions People Ask
Q. If you were asked to celebrate Mass in the Tridentine Rite, how would you answer?
A. Candidly, I would be reluctant to go back to a rite which lacks the great theological riches of the changes introduced at the time of Pope Paul VI. The revised rite is, in fact, far more conservative than the rite going back to the Council of Trent, as it conserved elements from the early Christian centuries such as the Prayers of the Faithful and the sign of peace. The Tridentine Rite has only one form of the Eucharistic Prayer (Eucharistic Prayer I): sadly, this prayer lacks the very important prayer calling down the Holy Spirit on the gifts of bread and wine.
Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap
A famous comic cartoon strip called Peanuts had a main character called Charlie Brown. Charlie once delightfully declared: ‘I love humanity. It’s people I can’t stand!’ Sometimes our attitude to the Bible is like Charlie’s to his fellow human beings. We love the Bible. It’s its challenges we can’t stand! Take today’s second reading, for example. For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat (2 Thess 3:10). Can Paul really be serious? In answer, another question: was Jesus serious when he said that if a brother or sister has something against us, we should settle the matter first before bringing an offering to God? (Mt 5:24). Yes? No? Tricky, isn’t it? If yes, are there exceptions? What happens if we apply this to the Eucharist? Just how literal should we be? If we don’t want to be literal and start toning down what Jesus said where do we stop? As far as I know there isn’t a ‘Cherry-Picker’s Bible’ on the market. If Paul commands something, he means it. Jesus doesn’t joke about serious matters. People who don’t pull their weight should earn their food and not be kept – hard though that may be for them to swallow.
Fr Tom Cahill SVD
Questions People Ask
Q. If you were asked to celebrate Mass in the Tridentine Rite, how would you answer?
A. Candidly, I would be reluctant to go back to a rite which lacks the great theological riches of the changes introduced at the time of Pope Paul VI. The revised rite is, in fact, far more conservative than the rite going back to the Council of Trent, as it conserved elements from the early Christian centuries such as the Prayers of the Faithful and the sign of peace. The Tridentine Rite has only one form of the Eucharistic Prayer (Eucharistic Prayer I): sadly, this prayer lacks the very important prayer calling down the Holy Spirit on the gifts of bread and wine.
Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap
Pray for the Deceased
Recently Deceased: Rena Brett, Derdimus. Funeral prayers at her home at 10.45am on Monday followed by removal to St. Patrick’s Church for Requiem Mass at 12 noon. Burial afterwards in Foulkstown Cemetery. Richard Delaney, 20 McCauley Place. Funeral arrangements later. Sr. Leonard Casey, Wexford.
Recently Deceased: Rena Brett, Derdimus. Funeral prayers at her home at 10.45am on Monday followed by removal to St. Patrick’s Church for Requiem Mass at 12 noon. Burial afterwards in Foulkstown Cemetery. Richard Delaney, 20 McCauley Place. Funeral arrangements later. Sr. Leonard Casey, Wexford.
Anniversaries: Mary & Ann O’Shea (Sat 6.15), Ramie & Breda Dowling (Sat 7.00), Patrick Morris, (Sun 9.30), John Brennan (Sun 10.00), Kitty & John McMyler (Sun 10.30), Margaret (Madge) O’Brien (Sun 11.00), John Byrne (Sun 12.00), Deceased Members of St. Patrick’s Brass & Reed Band (Sun 12.30), Julie Mary Taggart (Wed 9.30), James Fox (Thur 9.30), Maura Leahy, Michael Beale, John Fogarty, Margaret Guilfoyle, May O’Connell, Joan Meehan, Joseph Murphy, James Donnelly Snr, James Donnelly Jr, Sean Donnelly, Michael Gibbons, Peter Blanchfield, Michael Kennedy, Kitty Henebry, Catherine McDonald.
Intentions for Next Weekend: Michael Hickey (Sat 6.15), Pat Kearney (Sat 7.00), Maura Leahy (Sun 9.30), Bill Keogh (Sun 10.00), Deceased members of the O’Neill Family (Sun 10.30), Maureen O’Shea (Sun 11.00), John Cullen (Sun 12.00), Margaret (Madge) O’Brien (Sun 12.30).
Found
A sum of money was found in the vicinity of St. Patrick’s Church. Contact Fr. Dan if you think it may be yours. Well done to the honest young student who handed it in. If unclaimed the money will go to charity.
Found
A sum of money was found in the vicinity of St. Patrick’s Church. Contact Fr. Dan if you think it may be yours. Well done to the honest young student who handed it in. If unclaimed the money will go to charity.
Bishop Freeman’s Coat of Arms
(See front cover of this newsletter)
Ensigned with a processional celtic cross palewise behind the shield of gold, the cross is countersigned by 6 symbols of infinity 3 per pale and 3 per fess with the two central signs forming a cross. The whole is surmounted by a galero with cords and twelve tassels disposed in three rows of one, two and three all vert. In a cartuche the motto “Libertas in Veritate”.
In the first partition of the shield the comet, since the birth of Jesus Christ, continues to proclaim the advent of our Lord. This charge placed on a field of green symbolises hope and is taken from the arms of the Pallottine Fathers of which Father Séamus Freeman is a member. In the second partition the bell represents the ancient tradition that Saint Kieran, the evangelising founder of the diocese of Ossory brought from Rome in the year 549 A.D. The clanger in bend underlines the dynamic action of the message. The final partition of the shield represents the book of books: the bible. From the word of life it contains Father Séamus has chosen to evoke the invitation to proclamation the apostle Paul proffered in his second letter to Timothy. The book has a red cover representing God’s love for man and all creation. The gold of the field, the quintessential colour of regality, embodies the meaning that only by listening to the word do we make ourselves worthy of the kingdom of God. The motto “Libertas in Veritate” (John, 8:32) stresses Jesus’ words according to whom only the knowledge of truth gives full freedom to man. It is also a play on the bishop’s surname of “Freeman”.
(See front cover of this newsletter)
Ensigned with a processional celtic cross palewise behind the shield of gold, the cross is countersigned by 6 symbols of infinity 3 per pale and 3 per fess with the two central signs forming a cross. The whole is surmounted by a galero with cords and twelve tassels disposed in three rows of one, two and three all vert. In a cartuche the motto “Libertas in Veritate”.
In the first partition of the shield the comet, since the birth of Jesus Christ, continues to proclaim the advent of our Lord. This charge placed on a field of green symbolises hope and is taken from the arms of the Pallottine Fathers of which Father Séamus Freeman is a member. In the second partition the bell represents the ancient tradition that Saint Kieran, the evangelising founder of the diocese of Ossory brought from Rome in the year 549 A.D. The clanger in bend underlines the dynamic action of the message. The final partition of the shield represents the book of books: the bible. From the word of life it contains Father Séamus has chosen to evoke the invitation to proclamation the apostle Paul proffered in his second letter to Timothy. The book has a red cover representing God’s love for man and all creation. The gold of the field, the quintessential colour of regality, embodies the meaning that only by listening to the word do we make ourselves worthy of the kingdom of God. The motto “Libertas in Veritate” (John, 8:32) stresses Jesus’ words according to whom only the knowledge of truth gives full freedom to man. It is also a play on the bishop’s surname of “Freeman”.
Prayer for Our New Bishop
In preparation for the ordination there will be a special service of Evening Prayer of the Church at St. Mary’s Cathedral at 7.30pm on Friday, 30th November. During the service the bishop’s symbols of office (ring, crozier, pectoral cross and mitre) will be blessed.
Each parish in the diocese has been asked to hold an individual service but, because of our proximity to the Diocesan Cathedral we believe it would be more meaningful to hold a combined service for the four city parishes. We invite all to come along and pray for our new bishop on the weekend of his ordination.
Irish Catholic
The Irish Catholic of 6th December will feature a special commemorative supplement on the installation of Monsignor Freeman as Bishop of Ossory. This will feature an exclusive interview with the new bishop with photos and coverage of the occasion itself. Please pre-order your copy at the sacristy as soon as possible.
Liam Lawton Concert
Liam Lawton, well known Irish composer and singer, will perform in concert at St. John’s Church, Dublin Road on Tuesday, 4th December.
Young at Heart
This group will hold a church gate collection this weekend. Please support.
Family Liturgy
During Advent and for the next four Sunday’s the 10.30am Mass in St. Fiacre’s Church will be a special Family Mass. The children will prepare the readings and prayers they will present their offerings and they will be expressing themselves in drama and song. Through this active involvement and the simplified version of the readings and prayers, the Mass is more meaningful for them and also for their families. Jesus did say, “let the little children come to me” and this is exactly what we hope to do at the 10.30 Mass each Sunday. I would like to extend to you all an invitation to come and experience for yourselves the wonderful feeling of togetherness and sense of Christian Community that we in St. Fiacre’s Church experience when our children come together to celebrate this Family Mass.
Practice for the Family Mass will take place in St. Fiacre’s Church on Thursdays at 6 pm. and will last for about one hour. As well as preparing the readings and prayers we also have a children’s choir. All children are welcome. The first practice will take place on Thursday 29th November 2006.
Prisoner Sunday
Like their victims prisoners are also human beings. On this Prisoner Sunday let us pray for prisoners, their families and the victims of their crimes. We are called to ‘love the sinner while hating the sin.’
In preparation for the ordination there will be a special service of Evening Prayer of the Church at St. Mary’s Cathedral at 7.30pm on Friday, 30th November. During the service the bishop’s symbols of office (ring, crozier, pectoral cross and mitre) will be blessed.
Each parish in the diocese has been asked to hold an individual service but, because of our proximity to the Diocesan Cathedral we believe it would be more meaningful to hold a combined service for the four city parishes. We invite all to come along and pray for our new bishop on the weekend of his ordination.
Irish Catholic
The Irish Catholic of 6th December will feature a special commemorative supplement on the installation of Monsignor Freeman as Bishop of Ossory. This will feature an exclusive interview with the new bishop with photos and coverage of the occasion itself. Please pre-order your copy at the sacristy as soon as possible.
Liam Lawton Concert
Liam Lawton, well known Irish composer and singer, will perform in concert at St. John’s Church, Dublin Road on Tuesday, 4th December.
Young at Heart
This group will hold a church gate collection this weekend. Please support.
Family Liturgy
During Advent and for the next four Sunday’s the 10.30am Mass in St. Fiacre’s Church will be a special Family Mass. The children will prepare the readings and prayers they will present their offerings and they will be expressing themselves in drama and song. Through this active involvement and the simplified version of the readings and prayers, the Mass is more meaningful for them and also for their families. Jesus did say, “let the little children come to me” and this is exactly what we hope to do at the 10.30 Mass each Sunday. I would like to extend to you all an invitation to come and experience for yourselves the wonderful feeling of togetherness and sense of Christian Community that we in St. Fiacre’s Church experience when our children come together to celebrate this Family Mass.
Practice for the Family Mass will take place in St. Fiacre’s Church on Thursdays at 6 pm. and will last for about one hour. As well as preparing the readings and prayers we also have a children’s choir. All children are welcome. The first practice will take place on Thursday 29th November 2006.
Prisoner Sunday
Like their victims prisoners are also human beings. On this Prisoner Sunday let us pray for prisoners, their families and the victims of their crimes. We are called to ‘love the sinner while hating the sin.’
A November Saint
• St Columban
(543-615) • 23 November
Columban (or Columbanus) is associated with the monastery of Bangor, where he was monk and teacher. In 591, with twelve companions, he set out as a missionary for Christ and travelled widely in mainland Europe, setting up monasteries, after the Irish model, in Annegray, Luxeuil, Fontaine and other centres. His best-known foundation was in Bobbio, near Genoa, where he died in 615. Columban’s influence is celebrated widely in Germany, Switzerland and Italy today. He is regarded as one of the greatest of Irish missionaries.
• St Columban
(543-615) • 23 November
Columban (or Columbanus) is associated with the monastery of Bangor, where he was monk and teacher. In 591, with twelve companions, he set out as a missionary for Christ and travelled widely in mainland Europe, setting up monasteries, after the Irish model, in Annegray, Luxeuil, Fontaine and other centres. His best-known foundation was in Bobbio, near Genoa, where he died in 615. Columban’s influence is celebrated widely in Germany, Switzerland and Italy today. He is regarded as one of the greatest of Irish missionaries.
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