A Right Focus
Notice in parish newsletter ‘Lost a black leather wallet containing precious family photos, personal ID documents and eight hundred seventy-five Euro in cash. Finder can keep the photos and ID, but please return the cash for sentimental reasons.’ It didn’t happen of course but the sentiment is closer to us than we care to admit. It is a bitter-sweet truth that we will do anything for money and precious little for God at times. We have all seen that quarrels over inheritance can provoke bitterness and enmity in the closest of families.
Wisely, Jesus in today’s Gospel, refuses to take sides in a case and points out what often lies at the root of a quarrel – greed for gain, the love of money. We still have to learn the wisdom of the psalm where the ‘shortness of our life… gains us wisdom of heart’.
SSIA dosh and pension plans may offer a financial carpet for a more secure future. But what is it that assures life? It’s not abundant reserves of grain storehouses. ‘To be rich in the sight of God,’ is to give and to share, to seek life where life is to be found.
Fr. Tom Cox, St Mel’s Cathedral, Longford.
Email: tomascox@eircom.net
Questions People Ask
Q. Did Jesus ever laugh? I cannot find any instance in the bible.
A. The bible never claims to say everything. Saint John wrote that all the books in the world wouldn’t contain all that Jesus said and did.
Of course Jesus laughed, just as he cried, felt tired, frustrated, angry and compassionate. There was humour in his massive caricature of the fellow with the plank of wood in his eye, or the possibility of a camel passing through the eye of a needle. A Saviour who didn’t laugh wouldn’t attract many followers!
Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap Email: silvesteroflynn@gmail.com
Bank Holiday Weekend
We warmly welcome all visitors who have come to worship with us on this bank holiday weekend. We hope you have a relaxing and refreshing time while in Kilkenny.
We ask visitors and locals alike to note that there will be no Masses at 9.30am or 10.30am on Monday. The only public Mass in the parish on this bank holiday will be at St. Patrick’s Church at 11am. All welcome.
Pray for the Deceased
Recently Deceased: Josephine Joyce, Brabstown, Tullaroan. Funeral prayers at the home of her daughter Margaret Hennessy, Grovine at 6pm on Sunday evening followed by removal to Tullaroan Church. Requiem Mass at 11am on Monday followed by burial in the local cemetery. Tommy McGuire, O’Reilly Court & late of 80 Larchfield; Eamon Tuite, Mullingar; Tom Manning, Ballyfoyle; Francis Glennon, Connolly Street.
Anniversaries: Rita Thompson (Sat 7.00); Angela Tiernan (Sun 10.00); Martin Mulhall (Sun 11.00). Peggy Rimmer, John Joe Henebry, Paddy Hickey, Michael Lawler, Annie Campion, Nancy Larkin, Clare Mahon, Mary Guiry, Ted Woodgate.
Anniversaries Next Weekend: Mary Coogan (Sat 6.15); Margaret Shanahan & Joe Maher (Sat 7pm); John Hazel (Sun 11am); Gabriel Ward (Sun 12 noon).
May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen.
Monthly Parish Draw
Thanks to all who support the parish draw and to the hard working and dedicated promoters who sell tickets each month. July results are printed elsewhere in this bulletin. Congratulations to the winners!
Rosary at Our Lady’s Statue
The monthly rosary will be held at the Statue of Our Lady of Kilkenny, James Green on this Sunday, 5th August at 3pm.
Missionary Visitors
Last weekend our parish hosted Frs. Des Arigho and Noel Murphy of the Spiritans (Holy Ghost Fathers). These men are visiting all parishes in the Diocese promoting the work of their congregation and appealing for our financial and spiritual help. They got in touch during the week to express satisfaction with their visit to St. Patrick’s Parish and to say thanks for your kind welcome and generosity. Further donation envelopes may be posted directly to the congregation or placed in collection baskets this weekend.
St. Dominic
St. Dominic (1170 - 1221), founder of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans), is celebrated on Wednesday. The life of Dominic de Guzman could have been very different. As prior of the Chapter of Canons regular at Osma, in Spain he had devoted himself entirely to a life of prayer, contemplation and penance there under the rule of St. Benedict. It seems God had other plans for him.
Invited by his bishop Diego de Avezedo to join him in a mission to the Albigensians – a heretical sect also known as the Cathars – Dominic set out on the great adventure that led him to found his order, the Dominicans or the Order of Preachers, which was formally approved in 1216.
His core conviction was that only preachers who were genuinely humble, holy and poor could change the hearts of unbelievers. ‘Zeal must be met with zeal, humility by humility, false sanctity by real sanctity, preaching falsehood by preaching truth.’As it turned out, Dominic’s life remained one of devotion to prayer, contemplation and penance – with one difference. The world became his cloister.
St. Vincent De Paul Society
The next meeting of the local conference will be at The Presbytery on Monday, 13th August at 8pm. In emergencies the conference may be contacted through the priests.
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
The pilgrimage season is about to begin on Our Lady’s Island in Co. Wexford. The Opening Ceremony will be at 3pm 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.
Transfiguration of the Lord
Recorded in the gospels as a key moment in the life of Jesus and of his apostles, this event is among those named Mysteries of Light - added to the Mysteries of the Rosary by the late Pope Paul II. Mass in St. Patrick’s Church at 11am.
Eucharistic Adoration
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will continue as usual at St. Fiacre’s Church between 12 noon and 10pm on Bank Holiday Monday.
Please note there is weekly exposition at St. Patrick’s Church on Fridays between 10am and 1pm and 4pm and 9pm.
I wish once more to recall this truth and to join you, my dear brothers and sisters, in adoration before this mystery: a great mystery, a mystery of mercy. What more could Jesus have done for us? Truly, in the Eucharist, he shows us a love which goes “to the end” (cf. Jn 13:1), a love which knows no measure.
Organ Recital
To mark the 150th anniversary of St. Mary’s Cathedral world renowned organist Thomas Heywood will present a recital at the cathedral at 8pm on Saturday, 11th August. Tickets €15 at the door. Don’t miss this unique opportunity.
'Operaria'
Ballykeeffe Amphitheatre presents an evening of the greatest opera arias, on Friday 10th August. The concert will feature Sinead Blanchfield and a host of internationally renowned singers and musicians. Tickets at Kilkenny Book Centre.
Feast of the Assumption
Wednesday week, 15th August, is the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady. Our parish Masses will follow the usual weekend schedules.
