Corpus Christi, The Body & Blood of Christ, 25th May, 2008

Shock Therapy Eucharist
Nowadays who knows, or cares, what ‘manna’ means? It’s mentioned in the First Reading. At one level it’s food provided by God for his people in the desert. Yet it’s more than that. It’s a lesson to drive home a fact of life: we need more than bread for survival. We need God, and every word that comes from his mouth. This is shock therapy for the Israelites, because both ‘manna’ and message are new and different to what they’ve been used to. Originally, ‘manna’ may have referred to a resinous substance that exuded from a desert tree called tamarix mannifera. However, in John 6:49, this lowly substance prefigures the true, living bread from heaven. That’s the bread we have access to in our modern desert. Taking it, however, may be shock therapy for us too when we realize its significance. In today’s Gospel Jesus doesn’t try to explain away the giving of his body and blood as food and drink. He leaves the mystery. Whether we know, or care, what ‘manna’ means, we must know, and care, what Eucharist means. It means ‘thanksgiving’ that God is with us, among us and in us. That’s the therapy. But he’s also in those we hate. That’s the shock.
Fr. Tom Cahill SVD

Questions People Ask
Q. I was challenged about adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on the basis that the Eucharist is meant to be received, not just to be looked at, like window-shopping.
A. Adoration of the Lord Jesus can take place anywhere, but if one believes that the Lord is sacramentally present in the consecrated bread, then it logically follows that here is a very special place for adoration. Our distracted minds need every help available to hold the focus of our attention in prayer. Before the Blessed Sacrament, the atmosphere is most helpful. Here is something to be seen, here is the fulfilment of the words of Jesus, ‘I am the Bread of Life’. Remember that a sacrament is an outward sign of the invisible, divine presence.

(Fr. Silvester O’Flynn)

School Field Day
The annual field day at the St Patrick’s De La Salle Boys’ National School takes place on this Sunday, 25th May from 2 to 5pm. It will feature the usual stalls with books, bric a brac, plant sale etc. There will be fun and games for the children and music with St Patrick’s Brass and Reed band along with our D J Aoghán. Come along and participate in what promises to be a nice family afternoon.

Pray for our Deceased Friends
Recently Deceased: John Maher, Freshford. Timmy Ryan, Ennisnag. William Costello, Urlingford.
Anniversaries: Tony Martin (Sat 6.15), Joe Davy (Sat 7.00), Harry Kelly (Sun 10.00), Jim Nugent (Sun 11.00), Thomas & Catherine Phelan (Sun 12.00), Jim Carew (Sun 12.30), Sean Monahan, Bridget Barry, Jimmy O’Connell, Agnes Dermody, Daithi & David de Loughry, Mai Deegan, Mary Lanigan, Pat Smyth, Thomas, Margaret & Josephine Morrissey, Mary Walsh, Brian Mahon, Tom & Sean Brett, Jack Carroll, Rev. Richard Conway, Bernard Dolan, Bridget Leahy.
Intentions next weekend: John Cleere (Sat 7.00), Patrick Banahan (Sun 9.30), Eileen Byrne (Sun 10.00), Mary Barry (Months Mind, 10.30), John Scott (Sun 11.00), Joe Curry (Sun 12.30).

Tax Reclaim Forms
Thanks to all who have returned signed tax return forms to date. As you know this is a valuable source of income for our parish: the money you have already contributed grows substantially when we reclaim the tax from the Revenue Commissioners. Anxious to complete our application for this year we appeal to all who have not yet returned a form to do so now so that we can submit our claim for this year. Please contact the Presbytery if you have any queries or if you have mislaid your form.

Seniors’ Awareness Week
The Ossory Senior Citizens’ Awareness Week is from 26th – 31st May. All are welcome to our annual Mass celebrated by Bishop Séamus Freeman at St. Joseph’s, Mill Hill House, Waterford Road at 3pm on Wednesday, 28th May. Cup of tea and entertainment with Pat Shortis at the Social Services Centre following the Mass. Transport available at the usual pick up points around Kilkenny City.

Ladies’ Mini Marathon
The Ladies Mini Marathon takes place on Monday, 2nd June. Some ladies from our parish have kindly agreed to take part to raise funds for the homes for the elderly at Loughboy. Your support would be appreciated – either by way of sponsorship or by taking a card to raise funds. Sponsorship cards are available from the Presbytery or any of the three Sacristies.

Vision 08 - Catholic Education
There has been much reporting in recent times regarding the role of the Catholic Church in education, much of it a negative presentation, with little acknowledgement of the positive contribution the Church has made. A pastoral letter from the Irish Bishops’ Conference, entitled Vision 08 - A Vision for Catholic Education in Ireland, gives a vision for Catholic Education in Ireland. Some printed formats of the letter are available for collection at the back of the church. The complete letter is also freely available on the internet at www.catholiccommunications.ie In his accompanying letter Cardinal Sean Brady hopes “that all involved in Catholic education, particularly parents, principals, teachers, pupils, Boards of Management of Catholic Schools, clergy and religious will read and discuss this letter. We (the bishops) will welcome responses not only from them but from all who are concerned with and about education in Ireland today.”

Parish Pilgrimage to Knock
Our annual Parish Pilgrimage to Our Lady’s Shrine at Knock will take place on Thursday, 26th June. Price is only €15 for the day. The organisers need to know the numbers to reserve an appropriate coach etc. Please contact the Presbytery (776 4400) or Doreen (086 829 4887) as soon as possible.

Summer Youth Festival
Knock Youth Ministry is hosting a youth festival at Knock Shrine from 24th - 27th July 2008. UTV’s Rock Rivals music producer, Ronan Johnson, will deliver the opening speech on the first night.
Age strictly 18-35yrs. Cost €55. Free buses. Bring sleeping bag - places limited so book now. Youth Ministry Office: (094) 937 5035. Shrine Office: (094) 938 8100. Mobile (087) 6927850. See: knock-shrine.ie/youthministry

Faith And Justice Concert
The parish church in Callan will play host to the famed Notre Dame Folk Choir from Indiana on Wednesday evening at 8pm. The concert is on behalf of Patrick Malluzzo whose mother Teresa (nee Grace) comes from Callan. Patrick is currently languishing in most appalling conditions in an Indian prison serving a ten year sentence for crimes of which we believe him to be totally innocent.
Performances include the Notre Dame Choir, the Kilkenny Gospel Choir, the Dawson Traditional Music Group plus a few other local choirs. Your support would be much appreciated. Adm. €10.

Garden Fair and Coffee Afternoon
The S.O.S., Callan Road, Kilkenny will hold a Garden Fair and Coffee Afternoon on this Sunday, 25th May form 2pm to 5pm. All welcome. Free admission.

St. Patrick’s Cemetery Mass
The annual Cemetery Mass will be celebrated at the cemetery at 7.30pm on Wednesday, 18th June.

Help Us Drive Away Cancer
South East Radiotherapy Trust has organised a draw to raise money for a new vehicle which will be used by cancer patients going for radiotherapy treatment.
1st Prize: Trips for 2 to the Beijing Olympics for 7 days, plus accommodation.
2nd: Trips for 2 to Washington DC plus accommodation.
3rd: Trips for 2 to Hong Kong (Flights Only).
4th: Trips for 2 to Bangkok (Flights Only).
Tickets cost €10 each and the draw takes place on June 15th at the Uluru Pub, Waterford (opposite Waterford Regional Hospital)
Tickets from St. Patrick’s Presbytery, Ormonde Road, St. Fiacre’s Church, Loughboy, or St. Patrick’s Church, College Road. Telephone 056 776 4400 or 086 818 0954.

More On Our Parish Draw
Next Tuesday the monthly parish draw is in St. Fiacre’s Church sacristy.
Cards can be left into the priests’ house as usual for this month only.
Once open, the monthly draw will be held in our new Parish Centre.
The draw is our parish’s major fundraiser and we appeal for as much support as we can get. Every subscriber helps in paying for the cost of the development at St. Fiacre’s Church.
Thanks to the promoters and the subscribers for your generous support.
Year of Vocation News
You Will Be My Witnesses is the name of a specially commissioned Year of Vocation hymn which was launched last Saturday.
A special Year of Vocation School Prayer Card was launched last Thursday.
More information on www.yourvocation.ie

St. Patrick’s Parish Centre
Work is progressing well on the centre and things are taking shape nicely. There is an issue about electricity supply to the centre which may delay the opening and we are working to resolve this.
Many thanks to all the groups who have contacted us so far about using the centre, the more the merrier and we will do our best to accommodate your needs. We hope that then the centre is open and the hall committee is in place to meet with interested clients and see if what we have to offer suits their needs.
One of the initiatives we hope to run in the centre is a hospitality group which will be responsible for providing refreshments after masses and other special occasions. If you think this might be an area of interest then please get in touch with Fr. Liam or any of the priests. More details on this later on.
As always, comments and suggestions are welcome, we always love to hear from people who have an interest in what we do.

Sixth Sunday of Easter 27th April 2008

Pie in the Sky
To an atheist – once described as someone with no invisible means of support – Christian hope must seem like a cry to on high for pie in the sky. What Christians hope for, i.e. a new heaven and a new earth, has no scientific basis. Indeed it can’t have. At present, all that science can ultimately foresee is a frozen waste of nothingness. The heart-warming prospect of blissful eternal life has no basis other than in the world of God (Rev 21:1). In today’s Second Reading (1 Pet 3: 15-18) Peter exhorts us to be ready always to defend that hope. And we do that basically by showing how God has kept his promises historically and by showing that his promises continue to be fulfilled today. Historically, God promised the seemingly impossible only to fulfil it: Abraham and Sarah in advanced age beget a son, down-trodden Hebrews gain freedom from their super-power slave-masters, an eagerly awaited Messiah comes, but in the most unexpected manner. Killed and seemingly defeated, he rises from death to fulfil his mission. Today, God’s promises continue to be fulfilled. He blesses us with new life, with freedom from slavery to sin, with the promise and hope of resurrection. Yet, perhaps there is one other way to defend that hope: by allowing it to put a pep in our step.
Fr. Tom Cahill SVD

Pilgrimage to Knock
The Irish Catholic Nurses’ guild pilgrimage to Knock Shrine will take place on Saturday, 3rd May 2008. Contact Ann Kennedy - 772 2204. Bus leaving Butts Green, Kilkenny at 7.30am.

Alzheimer’s Tea Day
The annual tea day takes place on the Thursday, 1st and Friday, 2nd May in Kilkenny City. Please be as generous as in previous years and support this worthy cause. Anyone willing to give an hour to help should contact Sean at 087 214 6754.

Questions People Ask
Q. What is meant by calling the Holy Spirit the Advocate?
A. An Advocate literally means somebody called to (advocatus) ones aid. In the legal world the advocate is called to plead ones case. In the writings of John, the term refers both to Jesus and the Holy Spirit: ‘If anyone does sin, we have our advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the upright. He is the sacrifice to expiate our sins’ (1 John 2:1-2). But Jesus spoke of the coming of the Holy Spirit as ‘another Advocate, to be with you forever, that Spirit of truth...’ (John 14:15). Advocate is a direct Latin translation of the Greek name, Paraclete.
Fr. Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap

Creidim Courses
Baptismal Team Training Course.
Trainer: Fr William Purcell.
Date: Tuesdays, May 6th and 13th.
Time: 8pm
Venue: St. Kieran’s College.
Cost: €50 per parish.
Booking essential
Phone: 777 0261

Join a Most Extraordinary Club
The Irish Blood Transfusion Service will be visiting Kilkenny with their mobile collection team.
Clinic Times: Sunday 27th April; from 11.30am to 3.30pm
Monday 28th, Tuesday 29th, Wednesday 30th April & Thursday 1st May; from 4.30pm to 8.30pm.
Please give blood at the Kilkenny Rivercourt Hotel.

Parish Website
A new parish website has been published on the internet recently. You can view it at
www.patricksparish.com
Comments and suggestions are, as always welcome. The newsletter and pictures of the parish are also included.

Pray for the Deceased
Recently Deceased: Adrian Brennan, Paulstown (funeral arrangements later). Molly Moloney, Boherlahan. Nancy Webster, Cheshire (Tues 10:30). Mary Whitaker, Dublin. Ned Walsh, Cork.
Months Mind: Paddy Tomney (Sat 6.15).
Anniversaries: Patrick & Ellen Moran (Sat 7.00), Mary Glennon (Sun 9.30), Pierce Anthony Grace (Sun 10.00), Joan & Anthony Nolan (Sun 11.00), Mary & Eddie O’Keeffe (Sun 12.00), Mary Cantwell (Thurs 10.30), Fintan Brennan (Fri 9.30), James O’Leary, Denis O’Leary, Noel Fry, Noel O’Dwyer, Mary Brennan, Des Hehir, Mary Brennan, Bridget Maher, Jim Hickey.
Intentions for Next Weekend: James Russell (Sat 7.00), John Byrne (Sun 10.00).

Prayer for Vocations
By now you’ll be aware that at every Mass for the coming year, special prayers are being offered for vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
Below is the prayer that is used at all Masses in our parish. You might like to cut it out and offer this prayer as part of your own prayer and at our daily Masses.

A Prayer for Vocations

Oh Jesus, send labourers into
your fields,
which are awaiting holy apostles, saintly priests,
heroic missionaries and
dedicated sisters and brothers
Enkindle in the hearts of men and
women the spark of a vocation.
Grant that Christian families may
desire to give your Church
Helpers
in the work of tomorrow.
Amen

James Stephen’s Camogie Club
Training for the U12 and U14 Camogie panels takes place on Mondays and Fridays 7pm - 8pm in the Juvenile Pitch, Nuncio Road. New players welcome. For more information please contact Club Juvenile Secretary, Mary at 087 627 2811 (after 7pm) or Club Secretary Richard at 087 745 0556 (after 7pm).
Camogie training for U10s resumes on Monday, 28th April 2008 @ 6.30pm in the Juvenile Pitch Nuncio Road. Looking forward to meeting you all. New players always welcome.

Our New Parish Centre
We continue to make progress with our development at St. Fiacre’s and while the building work continues we are also busy behind the scenes preparing for the start up of the Parish Centre.
Thanks to those groups which have submitted interest in using the facility, we hope to be able to accommodate your needs. We need to hear from other interested groups, who you are, what you do and how many people you cater for. It should be noted that, to defray costs such as light, heat and maintenance etc., a fee will have to be charged depending on usage. More on this at a later date.
Some information that might help you in deciding if our centre is right for you.
The centre consists of two large halls which can be opened up to make one large hall. There is a large I.T. suite, a coffee dock, a large front meeting room and two smaller rooms. The halls will be suitable for large group activities as well as corporate events and meetings.
The Parish Office will also be located in the Parish Centre and the everyday parish business will be conducted through here.
We will write more on this later on. Meanwhile, if anyone has any queries or questions then please feel free to contact any of the priests or Parish Team.

Our Parish Draw
We begin another year of our hugely successful draw this coming Tuesday night starting at 8:30pm. All are welcome to attend and this takes place at the presbytery on Ormonde Road.
This will be the last time the draw will be held in the priests’ house, as you know we are in the moving stage and May’s draw will be held elsewhere.
The parish draw is our main fund raiser and we are extremely grateful to everyone who supports it. Membership of the draw costs €10 per month and if you wish to join, contact any of the promoters, sacristans or priests. There’s a chance of winning a top prize of €1,000 each month as well as a host of smaller prizes. Don’t forget, the more we raise now, the less the debt will be on the parish over the coming years.

St. Vincent de Paul
The monthly collection for the society will be taken up this week-end at all Masses. This is a week later than usual, apologies for any inconvenience caused.
St. Vincent de Paul is a local charity and any money given is used to help people from our own parish. Many thanks for you support which always generous.
Next month the collection will be at the usual 3rd Sunday of the month

First Friday Sick Calls
Next Friday is the First Friday of the month and the sick and housebound are visited by the priests of the parish.
Please note that Fr. Liam will visit those on his list on Thursday due to a wedding commitment on the Friday.
If you know of anyone who would like to be included on the list of those sick then contact any of the priests.

Ladies’ Mini Marathon
We invite ladies of the parish who intend running in the forthcoming mini-marathon to raise sponsorship for the senior citizens’ homes in the parish. Sponsorship cards are available. It is also possible to raise sponsorship and have someone else run in your name. Contact Fr. Roderick for details.

Fifth Sunday of Easter, 20th April 2008

Cornered by the stone
Today’s Second Reading (1 Pet 2:4-9) describes Jesus as a stumbling stone for those who do not believe. Could that include anybody who harbours disbelief – even believers? I think so. Following Jesus is a very varied venture. When he calls us to follow him he doesn’t specify the distance. That’s up to us. And the temptation is to start measuring – especially the closer we get to him. From a distance, everything Jesus stands for is great. How could any decent human being not be for what Jesus is for: love of God, love of neighbour, especially the weak, the exploited and those on the margins of society and even sanity? But how close to that loving do we want to get and how close do we actually get? In his book, God of Surprises, Gerard W. Hughes writes: ‘There is a foolish prodigality, too, in the Father who is presented as leaving the ninety-nine sheep to go and hunt for the one that is lost, a foolishness which we so often correct in the Church by concentrating our attention and energies on the one which is safe and leaving the ninety-nine!’
There is no detour. That stumbling stone has us cornered. We must face it in the one who is lost, or become lost ourselves.
Fr. Tom Cahill SVD

Questions people ask
Q. On a recent radio programme, the Pope was called the Antichrist. What does this name mean or where did it come from?
The Antichrist is mentioned in the First Letter of John. The name means one who is opposed to Jesus Christ and denies that he is the Son of God. It is not entirely clear whether John was referring to some particular individual or to unbelievers in general. Fundamentalist sects who carry an anti-Catholic bigotry claim that the term refers to the Pope. This is absolute nonsense, because, whatever faults Popes have had, none of them ever denied the divinity of Jesus Christ.
Fr. Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap

Common Vocation
The Irish Church is marking the next 12 months as the 'Year of Vocation'.
Note the word vocation is in the singular. Why? Because the aim of the Year of Vocation is to raise awareness of the common vocation that we all share through baptism as expressed through witness, love and service. Within each of these themes and throughout 2008-2009, the specific vocations of marriage, the religious life, the single life and priesthood will be highlighted and promoted.
Some highlights of the year will include: a national prayer campaign for students at examination time; a rally for World Youth Day to coincide with the events in Sydney; and collaboration with the national pilgrimage centres to reflect on the theme of vocation during their seasons.
A key objective of this year’s initiative is for the vocation message to reach as wide an audience as possible so that people will be challenged to discern and explore their own specific vocation in life.
Let’s hope we will have the courage and strength to promote the Christian Vocation through our personal witness, love and service to others.

Life in the Spirit Seminar
These weekly seminars continue in Castlecomer until Tuesday, 13th May. Mass and Prayers in the Church of the Immaculate Conception each Tuesday at 8pm. Speakers to include: Eddie Stones, Fr. Thady Doyle, Fr. Killian Byrne, Mary Curran, Fr. Leo McAuliffe, Noel Byrne and Fr. Martin Tobin. All welcome.

Church Door Collection
The annual church door collection for children with special educational needs in Ossory will be taken up this weekend. The money collected is targeted for special needs projects which require additional funding to be raised locally.

Pray for the Deceased
Recently Deceased: Geraldine Carroll, 8 Haltigan Terrace. Martin Hoyne, 6 Laurel Court. Nancy Webster, Cheshire. Charlotte Lee, Roscrea (Thurs 10.30). Peg Gorey, Bennettsbridge. Nicholas Hyland, England.
Months Mind: Michael Brannigan (Sat 7.00)
Anniversaries: James Phelan (Sat 6.15), Margaret Banahan (Sun 9.30), Joe Brennan (Sun 10.00), Michael Gaule (Sun 10.30), Betty Byrne (Sun 11.00), Tom & Jim Phelan (Sun 12.00), John Hennessy (Mon 9.30), Kathleen McAvinia (Tues 9.30), Henrietta Hyland (Fri 9.30), William Maher, Kitty O’Keeffe, Brigid Kelly, Andrew O’Neill, Mary Muldowney, Eileen Hickey, Kate Coyne, Kitty Cleere, Mary Crotty.
Intentions for Next Weekend: Paddy Tomney (Sat 6.15 Months Mind); Patrick & Ellen Moran (Sat 7.00), Pierce Anthony Grace (Sun 10.00), Private Intention (Sun 10.30), Joan & Anthony Nolan (Sun 11.00), Mary & Eddie O’Keeffe (Sun 12.00)

St. Vincent De Paul Collection
The monthly collection for the local conference of the St. Vincent De Paul Society has been postponed until next weekend. Please be generous go this local charity.

Brass and Reed Concert
The St. Patrick's Brass and Reed Band will play sacred music at the 12 noon Mass in St. John's Church on Sunday, 27th of April to commemorate the centenary of the Church. As part of the band’s 125th anniversary year the members will perform a free concert at 3pm in McDonagh Junction Shopping Centre. All are welcome.

Medjugorje Youth Group
Young people are invited to come to St. Mary’s Cathedral between 7 and 9pm on next Friday to hear Br. Shaun O’Connor of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal address the group. Br. Shaun lives and works in Moyross, Limerick.

Contribution Envelopes
Thanks to many volunteers who have helped prepare and deliver our contribution envelope most homes will have received their new pack by now. Please note your identification number may have changed and we ask that you dispose of any old stock of envelopes and begin using the new ones. This will enable us to record your contributions more accurately.
There are a number of reasons why you may not have received your envelope pack. Please contact the sacristies after Mass or the presbytery during the coming week if you require a contribution pack.
Thanks to all who continue to support the parish in this way.

Easter Time
The celebration of Easter is prolonged throughout the Easter Season. The fifty days from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday are celebrated as one feast day, the ‘Great Sunday’.
The Sundays of this season are regarded as Sundays of Easter and are so termed - this weekend we celebrate the Fifth Sunday of Easter. These Sundays have precedence over all feasts of the Lord and over all other solemnities.

Trócaire Boxes
This year’s Trócaire Family Fast boxes should be returned to the churches as soon as possible. Alternatively send the money by cheque to Trócaire, Maynooth, Co. Kildare.

Handel's Messiah
The Kilkenny Choir will perform Handel’s Messiah in St. Canice’s Cathedral, Kilkenny on Sunday, 27th April at 8pm. The choir will be accompanied by a Professional Orchestra and Lynda Lee (Soprano), Tanya Sewell (Alto), John Elwes (Tenor) and Owen Gilhooly (Bass). All conducted by Karl Rochford. Tickets €20 (€16 concession) available at the door.

The Parish Draw
During the past few years your support for the parish draw has raised €337,000 for the parish coffers. Well done and thanks. Some of the fruits of your work became visible during the week as hoarding was removed from the site adjacent to St. Fiacre’s Church.
As we approach the opening of the new development we must continue to raise funds to reduce our borrowings and to save on interest payments. A new run of the parish draw begins this month and we are appealing to you to help make it the most successful to date. Please consider becoming a promoter and taking a card or two – each card brings a value of €3,000 for the parish when interest is taken into account. You might also consider becoming a subscriber and encouraging others to do likewise. It is you, generous subscribers, who make the draw a success each year.
The draw takes place on the last Tuesday of the month, starting on the 29th April, and continuing until March next year. The monthly prize fund is €2,000 and subscription is just €10.00 per month. If you can help us please contact the Presbytery at 776 4400 and we will provide further information.

Scotland
A trip to Scotland will take place from Monday, 5th to Friday, 9th May. If anyone is interested please contact Mary 776 5014.

Pope Benedict in America
Pope Benedict marked his 81st birthday and the third anniversary of his election as Pope during his pastoral visit to the United States this week. In a talk to American bishops, he said that the sexual abuse of minors was a “countersign” to the Gospel of Life and is a cause of “deep shame”. He asked the bishops “to bind up the wounds caused by every breach of trust, to foster healing, to promote reconciliation and to reach out with loving concern to those so seriously wronged.” The Holy Father added that “truly caring about young people and the future of our civilisation means recognising our responsibility to promote and live by the authentic moral values which alone enable the human person to flourish”.

Could it be you?
· Would you be willing to offer your life in the service of others?
· Do you think there could be more to life than what you are at right now?
· Could the life of a priest or religious be the way for you?
Contact any priest or religious to discuss your options. Further information available on www.vocations.ie or contact:
Fr. Paddy Carey, The Presbytery, Erril, Rathdowney, Co. Laois. Tel: 0505 44973
Bishop Séamus Freeman at 056 776 2448

Fourth Sunday of Easter. Vocations Sunday. 13th April 2008

Life: Full and Free
When I worked in Indonesia as a missionary, a priest friend one day introduced a Chinese friend of his to me in the following manner: ‘This is so-and-so. He’s not Christian yet, he’s still free’. I couldn’t believe my ears. How could anyone think that being a Christian limited your freedom! Now, my friend may have thought he was being funny or subtle, but if so it was lost to me.
But his words did strike home. I wonder how many people actually think that religion cramps their style. And I also wonder what such people would want to do that they couldn’t do by being a Christian – particularly in the light of today’s Gospel (John 10. 1-10) where Jesus tells us that he has come to bring life in all its fullness. However, it doesn’t come pre-packed. It has to be worked on and worked with. Living as Jesus wants us to, leads to a full life. His Way is a precious gift, not a wearisome burden. It empowers, it doesn’t enslave. But all the talk in the world won’t convince anybody, if we who are on that Way don’t show its fullness in our life through joy, maturity, generosity, courage and hope.
Fr. Tom Cahill SVD

Questions people ask
Every now and then I think I have a vocation from God to be a priest. What should I do about it?
Talk about it to a priest, preferably on who knows you, and pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance. Every diocese and religious order organises Vocation Days to help people to discern their calling. A vocation to priesthood is a grace given to an individual for the service of the church-community. Basic requirements of a genuine vocation to priesthood would include a desire to commit ones life to God and the service of people, a sound faith, regular Mass attendance and prayer, the ability to co-operate with others and being willing to obey authority.
Fr. Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap

Pray for our Deceased
Recently deceased: Ann Treacy, Paulstown. Mary Nolan, Portlaw.
Months Mind: Eamonn O’Toole (Sat 6.15)
Anniversaries: Sr. Ann Holohan (Sat 7.00), Ellen Pattison (Sun 9.30), Josephine O’Neill (Sun 10.00), Michael O’Reilly (Sun 11.00), Michael & Mary Burke (Sun 12.00), Michael Malone (Sun 12.30), Patrick Morris (Fri 9.30), Thomas Fry, Michael Burke, Elizabeth Geoghegan, Adrian Bligh, Billy Nugent, Patrick Delaney, Maisie Keogh, Christina Walsh, Margaret Brennan, Patrick Skehan, Bridget Cantwell, Elizabeth Hennessey, Johnny Cullen, Catherine Cullen, Helen & John Roberts, Tobias Butler
Anniversaries next weekend: James Phelan (Sat 6:15), Michael Brannigan (Months Mind Sat 7:00), Margaret Banahan (Sun 9:30), Michael Gaule (Sun 10:30), Tom & Jim Phelan (Sun 12:00).

Lisbon Treaty
How does it change things?
There will be a talk in the Clubhouse Hotel, Kilkenny on Tuesday April 15th at 8pm. Guest Speaker: Anthony Coughlan. All welcome.

Divine Mercy
In honour of Divine Mercy, there will be an hour of prayer in St. Mary’s Cathedral on Sunday April 13th from 3pm - 4pm. All are welcome.

Vita Ethiopian Challenge
In October 2008 the inaugural trip to visit Vita projects in Ethiopia will take place. This trip is designed to introduce you to the many faces of Ethiopia and the difficulties faced by its people. Its purpose is to challenge your views of the developing world, to promote a better understanding of the work of Vita and to see what can be achieved with your support. This trip will take you to see some of the wonders of ancient Ethiopian civilisations. You will also visit modern developed Ethiopia and be able to compare this with the areas of the country in great need of sustainable livelihoods development which form the major part of this trip...The cost of taking on this challenge is €4750: this includes your flights, accommodation, meals, internal transport and support for the Vita programmes that you will visit. For further information please contact Jenny Douglas in Vita on 01 8820108 or email jenny.douglas@vita.ie

St Patrick’s Parish Draw - April 08 –March 09
The Parish Team, together with the Parish Finance Committee, has decided to continue the Parish Draw for a further twelve months, starting this month. The draw offers us the opportunity of raising a substantial sum of money towards the cost of our new Parish Centre, thereby reducing our borrowing requirement and saving on interest payments. Through the dedicated work of our group of promoters and the generosity of our subscribers, the last three draws have contributed €337,000 to the Parish Centre. In addition , €72,000 has been paid out in prize money, almost all of it locally.
To maximise the income from the draw we are appealing for extra promoters to promote the draw in their neighbourhood, workplace or family. Every draw card that’s filled with ten names is worth €1,200 to the Parish and when saving on interest is taken into account it is nearer to 3,000 in value.
Will you help us to make this year’s draw the most successful to date? In return, you will have two chances of winning €50.00 each month in a draw confined to promoters as well as a free draw on the night of the draw for a small prize, open to all who attend the draw. More important, you will have the satisfaction of helping your community realise the dream of having a Parish Centre worthy of our Parish and its people. The draw takes place on the last Tuesday of the month, starting on the 29th April, and continuing until March next year. The monthly prize fund is €2,000 and subscription is just €10.00 per month. If you can help us by becoming a promoter, please contact the Presbytery at 776 4400 in the next couple of days and we will send you draw cards and further information.

Vocations Sunday
This Sunday is dedicated to praying for and supporting vocations to the priesthood and religious life. We pray in a special way for those men and women from our parish and throughout our country who have felt the call of God to be His ministers but who have to realise this call.
This Sunday also begins a year of prayer for vocations and so, for the coming year special prayers will be offered at all our masses praying for vocations to God’s Church.
Also throughout the year on the newsletter we will publish reflections and articles relating to priesthood which we hope you will find interesting.
If anyone is interested in finding our more about priesthood and religious life they can contact our vocations director, Fr. Paddy Carey (Address on back) or talk to any of the priests.
Priesthood, it’s a different kind of White Collar Job.


StPatrick’s Parish Centre
By now you’ll all be familiar with the development that is taking place on the site adjacent to St. Fiacre’s Church Loughboy. Now that the hoarding has been partially taken down it’s easy to see the size of the development that has been undertaken. There’s so much in one small space, no one can ever accuse us of doing things by half measure. We are developing nine houses for the elderly, a new state-of-the-art parish centre and a new presbytery.
Work is progressing well and, please God we will be ready to move into the centre and houses sometime in the middle to late summer.
Before all that happens though there is a lot of work to be done. We are currently putting in place a charitable trust to oversee the planning and running of the new centre. At this stage we would like to hear once again from groups that may be interested in using the halls and meeting rooms. If your group is one of these then please send your groups/committees details to Fr. Liam at the presbytery. Please give a detailed account of what you do, how many people you cater for, the size of the room/hall you need and a name and contact number.
Please note that we don’t know when the Parish Centre will be ready for use. We are hoping for September or October to start renting rooms for use but it could be later. We will write more on this in the coming weeks. Any suggestions or comments about the hall or any part of our development is welcome. Contact any of the priests for further details.

Our Website
We have published a new website for the parish at www.patricksparish.com and we welcome any feedback that people might have. Each week we publish the newsletter on the web to allow people living away to keep up to date with what’s happening. In the coming weeks we will publish a parish vocations page with advice and further information for those who are considering a vocation to priesthood.
Any comments or suggestions are of course welcome.


Considering a vocation to the priesthood or religious life? Want to learn more?

Our Vocations Director: Rev Paddy Carey, Erril Co. Laois 0505 44973

Our Bishop: Most Rev. Seamus Freeman, Sion House, Kilkenny 056 7762448 email: bishop@ossory.ie

Contact any of the priests in our parish.
Or Visit: www.vocations.ie

Third Sunday of Easter, 6th April 2008

Parish Confirmation
Congratulations to the young people from St. John of God Girls’ NS, St. Patrick’s de la Salle Boys’ NS and Kilkenny School Project who received the Sacrament of Confirmation today. The occasion was a wonderful experience.
Well done to the teachers who worked so hard to prepare the children for this sacrament.
Sincere thanks to Bishop Seamus Freeman who was the main celebrant

Getting it right
Resurrection depends on dying – but of the right kind. For there are two kinds: one that brings on death, and one that brings on life. In his book, The Seed and the Sower, Laurens van der Post describes the former: ‘Death is not something that happens at the end of our life. It is imprisonment in one moment of time, confinement in one sharp uncompromising deed or aspect of ourselves. Death is exclusion from renewal of our present-day selves.’ Sound familiar? Something bad happens and we never free ourselves from its murky memory, or its corrosive touch. In a moment of madness something evil, or stupid, is done. That moment must not destroy a life. The two travellers in today’s Gospel (Lk 24. 13-35) discover this. A ‘moment’ of collective madness had killed their Messiah and shattered their world. They could have slumped into despair and cowered in mediocrity. But no! They were dying to their disbelief by pondering news some women had brought that the Messiah was alive. They were dying to their confusion by opening to Jesus’ explanation of the scriptures. They were dying to despair in the friendship of breaking bread together. That dying led to their resurrection, their renewal. And, renewed, they returned immediately to where they had left – no longer afraid of the dark.
Fr. Tom Cahill SVD

I Am Special
God has made me to
serve him in a particular
way. He has give me
some work to do that He
has not given to anyone
else. I have my mission—
I may never know it in
this life, but I will be told
it in the next.

I am a link in a chain,
connected to the other
members of God’s
family. God has made
me special and unique
and I will do good things
for him. I will do his work.
Everywhere I am
and in everything I do,
I will be his witness.
Adapted from a Meditation from Cardinal Newman; presented to those confirmed this weekend
by Bishop Seamus Freeman.

Young Priests Society
The monthly meeting of the St. Joseph’s Young Priests Society will take place on Friday, 11th April 2008, in St. Fiacre’s Church, immediately after the 10.30 Mass. All are welcome.

Rosary
The monthly rosary on the first Sunday in James Green at the statue of Our Lady of Kilkenny continues this Sunday, 6th April at 3pm. All are welcome to come along and join in prayer.

Westcourt News
The April Mass for the canonisation of Blessed Edmund Rice will be celebrated in Westcourt on Monday, April 7th at 7.30pm. The members of the L’Arche Community are preparing the liturgy for this Mass. All are cordially invited to join in this special celebration.

Questions People Ask
Q. On the road to Emmaus, Jesus explained the passages from scripture that were about himself. Where can I find a list of these passages?
A. I don’t know of any particular list but here are some passages which would certainly be included. Read Isaiah, Chapters 40-55, containing four great poems about the Suffering Servant of God. Many of the regulations about the sacrifice of the Paschal Lamb were fulfilled in the death of Jesus. Several verses in the psalms anticipated his passion: ‘They have pierced my hands and feet, they have numbered all my bones... Even my friend, who ate my bread, has turned against me... My God, my God, why have you forsaken me.’
Fr. Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap

Creidim
Talk by Most Rev. Seamus Freeman SAC, Bishop of Ossory.
Date Wednesday, April 16th
Time: 8.00pm
Venue: St. Kieran’s College
Booking Essential
Contact Leona Connolly at 056 7720261

Thank You from Trócaire
Trocaire would like to sincerely thank everyone for their support and generosity during its Lenten Campaign and throughout the year. The contributions received make a huge difference in Trocaire's work building long-term solutions to poverty overseas. Please remember to return your Trocaire box to your local parish or directly to Trócaire at Maynooth, Co. Kildare.

Kilkenny Flower Club
The Kilkenny Flower Club will hold a meeting next Thursday, 10th April at 8pm in Butler House, Patrick Street.
There will be a flower arranging demonstration by Helen Dooley. All are welcome to attend.

Pray for the Deceased
Recently Deceased: Shane O’Neill, Racecourse; Patrick Holohan, Dean Cavanagh Place; Elizabeth Dunphy, The Rower. Shane Kelly; Dan Bourke, Killenaule.
Anniversaries: Michael O’Sullivan (Sat 6.15), Denis Kavanagh (Sat 7.00), Frank Harrington (Sun 9.30), Sean Fleming & Joan Aherne (Sun 10.00), Margaret & William J Phelan (Sun 11.00), Mary & Katie Mullally (Sun 12.00), Dick Keating (Sun 12.30), Sheila (Daisy) Ramsbottom (Mon 9.30), John & Mary Conway (Tues 10.30), Johnny Cullen, Catherine Cullen, Michael Fleming, William Wallace, Michael Malone, Joe, Kathleen, Teresa & Mary Brennan, Michael Bolger, Paddy Cleere, Mai McCann, Kitty Kelly, Peggy Egan, Paschal Egan, Patricia Massey, Mary & Katie Mulally, Patrick & Brigid Hickey, Kathleen Daly, Kathleen Esmonde.
Intentions for next weekend:
Eamon O’Toole (Sat 6.15 Month’s Mind), Sr. Ann Holohan (Sat 7.00), Ellen Pattison (Sun 9.30), Josephine O’Neill (Sun 10.00), Michael O’Reilly (Sun 11.00), Michael Malone (Sun 12.30).

Envelope Distributors
Sincere thanks to all who distribute envelopes for us each year. This work allows us reach many of our parishioners. Due to some distributors retiring there are a number of areas which now need people to distribute envelopes. These areas are:
Haltigan Terrace Maiden Hill
The Paddocks Wetlands
Callan Road College Road
Tennypark Kells Road
Upper Patrick St Parkmore
Rathmore Larchfield Court
Dean’s Court Waterford Road
Bennettsbridge Rd Clongowan
Westfield College Gardens
Cedarwood Close Shellumsrath
If anyone can help us with these areas then please contact Fr. Liam at the Presbytery 056 776 4400.

Run For Your Parish
Ladies, don’t forget the Flora Ladies’ Mini-Marathon on Bank Holiday Monday, 2nd June 2008. Please contact Fr. Roderick if you are interested in participating on behalf of the parish. Sponsorship cards available. While we need ladies to run in the mini-marathon parishioners may take sponsorship cards and we will get someone else to run in their name. Proceeds will go towards the new seniors’ accommodation at St. Fiacre’s Church.

St. Rioch’s Cemetery
Tom Reade has produced an interesting and fact-filled book on St. Rioch’s Graveyard, Gaol Road. The book is available from Tom at 32 St. Fiacre’s Place and in local libraries and bookshops. At €8 it is an excellent investment for those interested in local history.

First Friday Visits
The priests visit the house bound every first Friday or by alternative arrangement. Please contact the Presbytery if you, or someone known to you, would like to be included.
We can also arrange to have a Eucharistic Minister to visit with Communion on a more regular basis.

Team Meeting
Members of the Parish Team are asked to attend a meeting at the Presbytery at 8.00pm on Thursday evening.

Lap Dancing Club
A group of people opposed to this development in our historic and beautiful city has organised a peaceful protest each Friday from 8.30pm - 10.30pm. This is a community effort to try and ensure the closure of this club which is demeaning to both men and women. More volunteers are needed to extend this peaceful protest to Saturday night also. If you are interested in helping out, please contact 087 785 3614 or 086 205 2488.

Pray for Vocations
We celebrate Vocations Sunday next weekend. The priesthood is a calling or a life, not simply one occupation among many that a man might choose. This means that the priest has been called by God and given the gift of God, that, the grace to accomplish his work. ‘Fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands… God has saved us and called us to a holy life - not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.’ (2 Tim 1:6, 9). Contact a priest for information.

Second Sunday of Easter 30th March 2008

No doubt about it
In his book, Sing a New Song, Timothy Radcliffe, OP states: ‘But if I speak as someone who knows it all, untroubled by doubt, then people may be very impressed by my knowledge, but they may feel it has little to do with them.’ Doubt is more engaging than certainty. Doubt explores. Certainty can’t. How can you journey if you’ve already arrived? Certainty degrades dialogue to monologue. It proselytizes instead of evangelizes. It stymies communication by making it confrontational or by short-circuiting it altogether. Thomas, in today’s Gospel (John 20:19.31) is a fine example of the doubter feeling his way to belief – quite literally: ‘...unless I put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe’ (v.25). Thomas was comfortable with his disbelief because it was sincere. He had a healthy aversion to accepting the seemingly preposterous. Many people, especially those in authority or those considered to be authorities, are uneasy with doubt. Doubt, for them, excludes God’s Spirit. It instills fear instead of the thrill of the chase. Doubt means weakness not potential growth. One wonders if those who find if difficult to say: ‘I don’t know’, find it easier to say: ‘My Lord, and my God!’
Fr Tom Cahill SVD

Questions people ask
Why is there a circle like a halo on the Celtic Cross?
The cross represents death while the circle, being a line without beginning or end, represents eternal life. The bare cross has lines coming in from all directions, clashing at the centre. In this view, Jesus is the innocent victim at the centre of the storm stirred up by envy, political ambition, misplace nationalism, betrayal etc... If one views the cross as lines coming out from the centrepoint, then it portrays the explosion of new life that was the resurrection. This was the understanding of the Celtic monks, so they added the circle of eternity to the cross.
Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap

Pray for the Deceased
Recently Deceased: Shane O’Neill, Danesfort. Elizabeth Dunphy, The Rower.
Anniversaries: Oliver Kelly (Sat 6:15), Chris Kenny (Sat 7:00), Kathleen Carolan (Sun 9:30), Michael McInerney (Sun 11:00), Kitty Kelly (Sun 12:00), Billy Wallace (Sun 12:30), Mary Delaney (Mon 9:30), Margaret Nolan (Mon 10:30), Michael Slattery (Tues 9:30), Mai McCann, Paddy Cantwell, Annie & Dick Burke, Patrick Massey, Paddy Slattery, Brigid Maher.
Anniversaries Next Weekend: Michael O’Sullivan (Sat 6:15), Denis Kavanagh (Sat 7:00), Seán Fleming & Joan Ahearne (Sun 10:00), Mgt & William Phelan (Sun 11:00), Dick Keating (Sun 12:30).

Parish Envelopes
The parish envelopes for the coming year (April 2008 to March 2009), have just arrived and distribution will begin shortly.
The envelopes and direct debits are the main source of income for the parish and we are extremely grateful to all who contribute in this way. With the new Parish Centre about to come on stream we need all the financial help we can get.
Parishioners will already know that we can reclaim from the Revenue Commissioners the tax already paid on donations to the parish over €250 per annum (€5 per week). This is at no extra cost to you and is worth a lot of money to the parish.
If you haven’t used the parish envelopes in the past couple of years, there is a chance you may not receive a box this time round. If you don’t receive a box by the end of April, then get in touch and we’ll sort things out.
We need volunteers to help drop the boxes off at homes throughout the parish. Please contact Fr. Liam if you can help in your area.

Trocaire
Family Fast Boxes may be returned directly to Trócaire or handed in at the churches in our parish. The money collated is sent to Trócaire via the Diocesan Office.

Run For Your Parish
Ladies, don’t forget the Flora Ladies’ Mini-Marathon on Bank Holiday Monday, 2nd June 2008. Please contact Fr. Roderick if you are interested in participating on behalf of the parish. Sponsorship cards available. While we need ladies to run in the mini-marathon parishioners may take sponsorship cards and we will get someone else to run in their name. Proceeds will go towards the new seniors’ accommodation at St. Fiacre’s Church

Easter Collection
Many thanks to all who contributed to the Easter/Special collection for the support of the priests of the parish and our bishop. It is the last of the green envelopes in your current contribution box.

Sorry
Due to lack of space, we are unable to include some items this week.

Divine Mercy Sunday
This Sunday is Divine Mercy Sunday. A celebration of the Divine Mercy will take place in the Friary Church this Sunday from 2-5pm. It will include mass which will be celebrated by Bishop Seámus Freeman. All are welcome

Eucharistic Ministers
If you haven’t done so already, please collect your new rota from the sacristies. If you minister in St. Patrick’s your rota is in St. Patrick’s, St. Fiacre's…

Parish Confirmation
Our parish schools will celebrate the sacrament of Confirmation next Saturday in St. Mary’s Cathedral at 11am. We wish all our students receiving this sacrament the very best

Our Parish Draw
Many and sincere thanks to all who have been so faithful to the parish draw in the past. As you will have already gathered we are continuing the draw for another year. The new draw will begin in April.
The last draw which is just finished brought in €115000 for the parish a huge amount of money and badly needed as we continue to build our new parish centre.
For our new draw we are looking for new promoters to promote the draw in their area and among family and friends. Promoting doesn’t take much time or effort but the results are amazing and the more we fundraise now the less our debt will be in the future.
If you are not currently a promoter and think you could help, then please contact any of the priests or Ted Byrne.
Thanks to Ted and all our current promoters for all their efforts. More next week.

Palm Sunday 16th March 2008

Palming Off Bread
Mahatma Gandhi once said that the only form in which God dare appear to a starving man is in the form of bread. A startling statement indeed! But is it true? Not entirely, because it doesn’t go far enough. It stops at the ‘incarnation’ of bread. Today’s second reading goes all the way. It tells of Jesus, who – though in the form of God – empties himself to become a slave. No salvation from a distance here. Furthermore, the God-man then humbles himself and accepts death on a cross – not to provide a starving man with bread, but to offer him eternal life.
What that reading tells us is truly awesome and frightening. It’s awesome because it’s so up-front about God. Not only does it challenge us to believe in God’s existence, it presents that God as so besotted by love for humanity that he becomes one of us – compounding to the ninth degree any difficulties we might have with God’s existence in the first place. It’s frightening because it doesn’t try to make things easy. No half-measures with God. Appearing as bread is comprehensible. But appearing as another starving man is breathtaking. God became one of us. How closely do we identify with those who starve?
Fr. Tom Cahill SVD

Questions People Ask
Q. Why was it necessary that Christ should undergo such a brutal death?
A. The necessity was a consequence of the total love of Jesus, entering into solidarity with all who suffer in any way. He suffered brutal physical violence and the injustice of a sham trial. He felt the sadness of leaving his mother and the disappointment of betrayal and desertion by chosen friends. Most painful was the darkness of alienation from God which is the ultimate pain of sin. Jesus did not remove suffering from the world, but he entered into all forms of suffering so that all who suffer might be strengthened by his presence. ‘Having loved those who were his in the world, he loved them to the end.’
Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap

Pray for the Deceased
Recently Deceased: Cyril Thornett, 3 The Dell, Dukesmeadows: Prayers at Johnston’s Funeral Home at 6.15pm on Sunday followed by removal to St. John’s Church. Requiem Mass at 10.30am on Monday followed by private cremation.
Eamonn O’Toole, 81 Larchfield. Prayers at his home at 5pm on Sunday evening followed by removal to St. Fiacre’s Church. Requiem Mass at 11am on Monday followed by burial at Foulkstown Cemetery.
Michael Brannigan, 11 St. Patrick’s Close. Prayers at Hehir’s Funeral Home at 7 pm on Monday followed by removal to St. Patrick’s Church. Requiem Mass at 11am on Tuesday followed by burial at Foulkstown Cemetery. Rosary at the funeral home at 9pm on Sunday. Paddy Dunphy, De Loughry Place.
Anniversaries: Olive Malone (Sat 6.15), Brendan Reid (Sun 9.30), Pat Mullins (Sun 11.00), Deirdre Quinn (Sun 12.00), Paddy Delahunty (Sun 12.30), Patrick Morris (Tues 9.30), Bessy, Margaret & Mai Buckley, Michael & Mary Conway, Maurice Kelly, Michael McGrath, Anne Martin, Jerry & Mary Coyne, Ellen Audoire, Jimmy Browne, James Doheny, Mary Browne, Peter Browne, Padraig Costello, Jim, Denis and Peg O’Leary, Pakie Dooley, Paddy Larkin, Mary Hickey, John & Annie Free, Liam Bergin, Paddy Walsh, Willie Meehan, John Tynan.
Intentions for Next Weekend: Ingrid & Gottfried Koetter (Sun 12.00).

Presbytery Sold
The presbytery at 7 Ormonde Road was sold at public auction on Thursday last. The premises was purchased by a local businessman for €900,000. The sale of the building was part of the parish plan to finance the development adjacent to St. Fiacre’s Church: some of the money will be used to provide new accommodation for the priests while the residue will be invested in the new parish centre.

Family Liturgy
Practice for Family Liturgy during Holy Week will take place in St. Fiacre’s Church on Wednesday, 19th March at 6 pm. During this practice we will prepare the music, readings and prayers for Holy Thursday and for Easter Sunday. All are welcome.

Mass for Lent
Thanks to all who attended the extra 6.15pm Mass at St. Fiacre’s Church during Lent. Please note there will not be a 6.15pm Mass on Monday as it is a bank holiday or Wednesday to enable priests and people attend the Chrism Mass at the cathedral.

Chrism Mass
The annual Chrism Mass will be celebrated at St. Mary’s Cathedral on Wednesday, 19th March at 7.30pm. Sacred Oils, for use in the diocese during the coming year, will be consecrated during the liturgy. Bishop Freeman invites all to attend.

Heating at St. Fiacre’s Church
We continue to have difficulty in restoring the heating to St. Fiacre’s Church. We are sorry for the inconvenience which will be rectified as soon as possible.

St. Vincent de Paul Collection
The monthly collection for the local branch of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul will be taken up at all Masses this weekend. Please support this local parish charity. See www.svp.ie for further information.

Pilgrimage to Knock
There will be a pilgrimage to Knock Shrine on Sunday, 30th March for Divine Mercy Sunday. A bus will leave the Parade, Kilkenny at 8am. Booking through Murphy’s Boutique, High Street. Tel: 056 772 1495.

Lost and Found
Mobile phone found in St. Patrick’s Church last Sunday. Contact 776 4400.
Holy Week Ceremonies
Holy Thursday
This is the day on which we celebrate the Lord’s Last Supper with his disciples. We invite you to join with us for our parish celebrations:
St. Fiacre’s Church: Morning Prayer of the Church at 10.30am.
St. Fiacre’s Church: Mass of the Lord’s Supper with the younger members of our community at 6.15pm
St. Joseph’s Church: Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 6.30pm
St. Patrick’s Church: Mass of the Lord’s Supper and procession to the altar of repose at 8 pm. The church will remain open to allow for quiet private prayer until 10pm.

Good Friday
Christ died to take away our sins. Today we celebrate his Passion and Death on the Cross.
St. Fiacre’s Church: Morning Prayer of the Church at 10.30am.
St. Patrick’s Church: Stations of the Cross and Penitential Service at 12 noon.
St. Patrick’s Church: The Solemn Celebration of the Lord’s Passion at 3pm.
St. Fiacre’s Church: The Solemn Celebration of the Lord’s Passion at 3pm.
St. Joseph’s Church: Stations of the Cross at 7.30pm.
St. Patrick’s Church: Taize prayer around the cross at 8pm.

Holy Saturday
Today the church awaits the resurrection of the Lord from the dead.
St. Fiacre’s Church: Morning Prayer of the Church at 10.30am.
St. Patrick's Church: The Solemn Easter Vigil at 9pm.

Easter Sunday
Masses follow the usual Sunday timetable.

Please come and join our community in the Solemn Holy Week and Easter celebrations.
Parish Monthly Draw
The March draw in our monthly raffle will take place at the Presbytery on Tuesday, 25th March at 8.30pm. Promoters are asked to return their cards before then. The drawing is open to everyone.

New Promoters Needed
As work continues on the parish centre and other works we must continue to raise funds. Another round of the parish draw begins in April. We appeal to present promotes and subscribers to continue supporting this excellent fundraiser. Needless to say new promoters are urgently needed. Please contact Ted Byrne or the Presbytery on 776 4400 if you feel you could sell a few tickets for the parish each month. We appeal to all to make an extra effort to help fund the new centre. Could this be your way of helping out?

Eucharistic Adoration
There will be adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at St. Fiacre’s Church from midday until 10pm on Monday, 17th March.
Due to the ceremonies commemorating the Passion & Death of Our Lord there will be no Eucharistic Adoration in St. Patrick’s Church on Good Friday, 21st March 2008.

Bank Holiday Masses
This Monday, 17th March we have Masses at St. Patrick’s and St. Fiacre’s (Requiem Mass) at 11am. No other Masses in the parish.
Eucharistic Ministers
New Ministers of Holy Communion will be commissioned at Mass in St. Patrick’s Church on Thursday evening. We welcome you and thank you for agreeing to serve the parish in this way.
We also say a sincere thanks to those who retire at this time having served the maximum permitted number of years.

Rehab Collection
Rehab will hold it annual church gate collection at all Masses next weekend. Rehab provides services to 53 people in Kilkenny and has helped thousands across the country since it was established nearly 60 years ago.

St. Rioch’s Cemetery
Tom Reade has produced an interesting and fact-filled book on St. Rioch’s Graveyard, Gaol Road. The book is available from Tom at 32 St. Fiacre’s Place and in local libraries and bookshops. At €8 it is an excellent investment for those interested in local history.

Parish Calendar & Newsletter
sponsored by:
Patrick N. Meany & Sons
Member of The Irish Association
of Funeral Directors
Greenridge, Johnswell Road, Kilkenny
056 775 1100 / 086 868 8868