A Holy Tension
It would be interesting see how many non-Christians would identify the Gospel text today as sacred, if it were displayed alongside other contemporary writings. Who knows, some might even think it was Al Quaida rather than words spoken by Jesus, the Prince of Peace. It doesn’t quite fit in, does it, with the image of the love of God the Father Jesus brought before us? Read it again to get the shock of what is being said.
It speaks of opposites, of black and white when increasingly we think of grey, nothing ruled in or out. But Jesus comes not only to bless the world but also to change it. It is a work of transformation so searing it is like fire burning away the old so that something unmistakably new can begin. We are not to be a people or Church of complacency and conformity, but a church that dares to be a source of division and misunderstanding for the sake of justice.
Anyhow, disagreement and frustration with each other comes easy to us. We are divided. That's true in all families, communities, and churches. In this world, there's no life together without a shadow. In faith circles alone, we argue about God, Jesus, church, morality, worship, spirituality, justice, discipleship. It creates a holy tension, which however uncomfortable is good. We need to carry all together for Christ.
Fr Tom Cox
Questions People Ask
Q. Do you believe in the apparition at Knock? Might it not be an optical illusion or mass hallucination?
A. By their fruits shall you know them. The apparition at Knock showed Jesus Christ in the form of the Lamb of God standing on the altar of sacrifice, underneath the cross. The angels are there along with Mary, Joseph and John who is holding an open book. The tableau is an icon of the mystery of the sacrifice of the Eucharist. In the theology of John’s book, Jesus is the new Passover Lamb of God uniting earth and heaven. No voice intrudes on the viewer’s silent contemplation. Yes, I believe in the apparition at Knock.
Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap
St. Fiacre’s Well
The annual novena at St. Fiacre’s Well begins at the Holy Well on next Saturday, 18th August. Novena prayers and the rosary will be recited at the well each evening at 8.00pm.
Final novena prayers at the well at 3.00pm on Sunday, 26th August followed by open air Mass at 3.15pm.
The ancient well of St. Fiacre is situated at Kilfera, a number of kilometres out the Bennettsbridge Road. Access is via the avenue to Sheastown House. Local people have been coming here since the sixth century to ask for the saint’s intercession. All are welcome but this year in particular we encourage people who have recently arrived in our parish to come along on even a few occasions during the week.
Pray for the Deceased
Recently Deceased: Maureen Cantwell, Dean Cavanagh Place. Frankie Jordan, Thurles
Anniversaries: Tom & Michael Casserly (Sat 6.15), Eddie Kelly (7.00), James & Mary Brennan (Sun 9.30), John Bolger (Su n 10.30), Evelyn Hughes (Sun 11.00), James Bambrick (Sun 12.00), Joe McHugh (Sun 12.30), Christina Gargan, Edward O’Shaughnessy Snr, Kay Brennan, Statia Tallent, Malachy O’Connor, Richard Kenny, Kitty Mullins, Eileen Tynan, Daisy Quinn, John & Ellen Butler (Tues 10.30)
Anniversaries Next Weekend: Paddy McDonald (Sat 6:15pm), Paddy Mullen (Sat 7.00), Seamus Kelly (Sun 10..30), Della Harney (Sun 12.00)
Church Gate Collection
The Irish Cancer Society has a Garda permit to hold a church gate collection this weekend.
Exam Results
Congratulations to all from our parish who received their Leaving Certificate results last Wednesday. We pray God’s blessing on you as you await college offers next week. May God direct your decision making.
Grandparents’ Knock Pilgrimage
Calling all grandchildren! You are invited to write a prayer in honour of your grandparents. For further information visit:
www.nationalgrandparentspilgrimage.com
This competition is to mark the first ever National Grandparents’ Pilgrimage to Knock Shrine which will take place on Saturday, 22nd September.
Our Lady’s Island Pilgrimage
The Opening Ceremony of the 2007 Pilgrimage Season will be at 3pm on Wednesday, 15th August, the Feast of the Assumption. The Closing Ceremony will take place at 7pm on Friday, 7th September (note change of time and day from previous years). See posters at church doors for further details or telephone 053 913 1167 or visit www.ourladysisland.com.
Study Theology from Home
You can now study theology, either for its own sake of for a degree, from the comfort of your home! The Dominicans in Tallaght are offering a full programme through distance learning—following the method of the Open University—consisting of fifteen-week modules and supported by a network of centres around the country. For further information, contact: The Priory Institute, Tallaght Village, Dublin 24. Tel: 01 404 8127 or 01 404 8124 or email the following address: enquiries@prioryinstitute.com
Payment by Cheque
To comply with bank regulations we ask parishioners who contribute to the parish by cheque to make all payments to “St. Patrick’s Parish”. We would appreciate your help with this as cheques have been returned for this reason in recent weeks.
Feasts This Week
Monday: St Bernard (1090-1153) was a Cistercian monk who became abbot of Clairvaux. He was renowned as a theologian and scholar. Patron saint of Gibraltar.
Tuesday: St Pius X, Pope (1835-1914). Pope Pius was cardinal patriarch of Venice, then Pope from 1903. He encouraged pastoral liturgy and sacramental practice, especially frequent communion.
Friday: St Bartholomew. He is named in the Synoptic gospels as one of the twelve apostles. He is probably to be identified with Nathaniel of Cana. He is said to have preached the gospel in India.
Parish Competition
You’ll remember a few weeks back we ran a competition asking people to submit a short poem or story based on the picture hanging in St. Fiacre’s church.
We had a very low response to this competition so obviously it didn’t appeal to many.
There are however winners and these will be contacted in the coming week.
House Blessings
If you are new to our parish and would like to have your house blessed, then please feel free to contact any of the priests to arrange a blessing. There ceremony takes only a few minutes and is a nice way of dedicating ones house to the protection of the Lord.
St. Vincent de Paul
The monthly St. Vincent de Paul collection is taken up this weekend. This local charity meets the needs of those less well off in our parish. Your support is appreciated.
Next meeting of the society is Monday at 8pm in the presbytery.
Come Register With Us
A warm welcome to all who are new to our parish. We’d like to get to know you. The first step is to register with us and you can do so using the form above. This allows us to make contact with you.
If you have any questions, observations etc. then we’d be delighted to hear from you. If you would like a priest to call (this applies to any parishioner), then please let us know , we’d be delighted to pay a visit at a time that suits you.
You are joining a very strong and faith filled community, we know that you will like living among us.
More details of our parish can be found at:
www.patricksparish.com
The August Parish Draw
The next of our monthly parish draws will take place on Tuesday the 28th August at the Presbytery at 8.30pm. All are welcome.
As you are aware the parish draw is a vital and main part of our fundraising for the new parish centre.
We ask for the continued support of all our parishioners for this draw. The more we raise now, the less our debt will be in the future.
You can join the draw with any of the promoters or by contacting any of the sacristans. The draw costs €10 per month and there are a host of cash prizes each month.
Thanks for your support and best of luck in the next draw.
