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
