Ss Peter & Paul, 29th June 2008

Miraculous Escape
I’m not much of a one for believing in miracles – at least the spectacular kind. At best, and with some effort, I can maintain an open mind. So, I take some comfort in what CG Jung – the eminent Swiss psychiatrist who died in 1961 – wrote in The Undiscovered Self: ‘Credulity is one of our worst enemies, but that is the makeshift the neurotic always resorts to in order to quell the doubter in his own breast or conjure him out of existence.’
Undoubtedly, the episode of Peter’s spectacular and miraculous escape from prison in today’s First Reading (Acts 12: 1-11) qualifies as a first-class miracle. So did it happen as portrayed? In other words: was a reporter’s job done on it? Well, in the Sacra Pagina series of scripture commentaries, the comment on this particular story is that Luke’s primary interest is not to demonstrate its historical reliability but to have it serve his narrative purpose. Fine! Stories, whether in the Bible or elsewhere, are precisely that: stories, not reports.
However, that’s too large an issue to go into here. But miracles aren’t. And if it’s miracles that impress then there’s no shortage of them. How about a baby’s chuckle, a child’s laugh, a parent’s love, birds in fight, fish in shoals, atoms spinning, stars sparkling, brains working, spirits soaring, a blade of grass, a luscious flower, a weed?
Let these miracles do their work. Let these dime-a-dozen miracles free us from our prisons as surely as that spectacular one freed Peter from his.
Fr. Tom Cahill SVD

Eucharistic Adoration
“Could you not watch with me one hour?” Matthew 26:40
Adorers needed each Friday, in St. Patrick’s Church for Eucharistic adoration, especially for the hours from 11.00am to 12 noon, and from 12 noon to 1.00pm. If interested please ring 777 0472 or contact any of the priests of the parish at 776 4400.

World Youth Day Pilgrims
Twenty five young people from Ossory will depart on next Saturday, 5th July for World Youth Day events in Sydney. One week will be spent in the Diocese of Ballarat and the rest of the time will be spent in Sydney. Frs. Richard Scriven and Mark Condon, two youth leaders from Ossory Youth and Derek Dooley, a teacher in Thomastown and Youth Leader with the Ossory Pilgrimage to Lourdes, will accompany Bishop Freeman and the group. While in Sydney the group will be hosted by the Kilkenny Association. At 6pm on Sunday, 20th July there will be gathering of Kilkenny people in Sydney’s Gaelic Club (adjacent to Central Railway and Bus Station in the city centre). Please tell relations and friends in Sydney that they are welcome to this “meet and greet” Kilkenny night down under.

First Friday Visits
This coming Friday is the first Friday of July and the sick and housebound of the parish are visited and brought the sacraments.
Please note that Fr. Liam will make his rounds on THURSDAY. Fr. Dan and Fr. Roderick will make their calls as usual.
If you are sick or housebound and would like to be included on the First Friday calls then please let us know at Parish Office.

Pray For The Deceased
Recently Deceased: Connor Doheny Phelan, 140 Walkin Street. Elizabeth Manogue, Ballyclovan, Callan.

Months Mind: Bill Doheny (Sun 11.00)

Anniversaries: Dick Martin (Sat 6.15), Jimmy Hackett (Sat 7.00), Ellen Ryan & John Joe Traynor (Sun 9.30), Dr. Tom McIntyre (Sun 10.30), Austin Murphy (Sun 12.00), Fran Ryan (Sun 12.30), Catherine Fitzpatrick, Sheila O’Regan, Mary Blunden, Dick O’Hara, Michael McGrath.

Intentions for next weekend: Dr. Paddy Boyd (Sat 7.00), Pauline Kennedy (Sun 10.00).
May they rest in peace. Amen.

Annual Golf Classic
The annual Parish Golf Classic will be held at Kilkenny Golf Club on next Friday, 4th July 2008. Some tee times are available at €250 per team of four. We invite interested golfers to contact Christy Power on 086 821 8554 to book tee times.
We also invite parishioners to consider tee box sponsorship. You may be in a position to help your parish by sponsoring a tee box (€100) or encouraging your employer to do the same. Sponsorship of prizes would also be welcome. Contact the Parish Office on 056 776 4400 for further details.

Drakelands Garden Party
Our thanks to the proprietors, staff, residents and friends of Drakelands Nursing Home who will donate the proceeds of their annual Garden Party to our parish.
The Garden Party will be held from 10.30am on next Sunday, 6th July. Bishop Séamus Freeman will be the principal celebrant at the Mass at 3pm. All from the parish are invited to attend. Please support.

Pope’s Collection
The second collection at all Masses this weekend will be sent to the Pope as part of the annual Peter’s Pence Collection.

Under 14 Champions!
Well done and congratulations to the James Stephens Under 14 Hurling Team who beat Na Piarsaigh from Cork (1-7 to 1-6) in a dramatic Féile na nGael Division 1 National Final in Portlaoise on last Sunday. This is the seventh time the parish has won this national tournament.

“The Rock” Youth Project
Kilkenny Christian Centre are bag-filling at Supervalu, Loughboy, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday 24-26th July to raids funds for “The Rock” Youth project. Anyone willing to help, please telephone Maria Marshall 087 6188054.

St. John’s Church Centenary
We congratulate our neighbouring parish of St. John’s on the centenary of their parish church this weekend.
Please note the following:-
· There will be no 10.30am or 12 noon Masses at St. John’s on this Sunday or next.
· Con-celebrated centenary Mass at St. John’s at 3pm on this Sunday afternoon.
· Vigil Mass transferred from 6.30pm to 7.30pm on next Saturday evening.
· Broadcast Mass on RTE television at 11.10am on next Sunday morning.
All welcome to attend these ceremonies.

Our Parish Draw
Ted Byrne has informed us that, as of the last draw, over the past four years, the monthly draw has raised €400,000 for our parish development. This is a tremendous achievement and we are extremely grateful to everyone who promotes and supports the draw each month.
The draw continues to run for the coming year and with our debt expected to be in the region of €1.5 million your support is appreciated now more than ever.
You can join the draw by contacting any of the promoters or sacristans in our churches. You can also contact the parish office for more details.
Sincere thanks to Ted for all his efforts in running this hugely successful draw.

What’s Going On?
A number of people have enquired as to what are all the pieces of wood doing in the organ gallery at St. Patrick’s Church. Well, we were keeping it as a surprise but we’ll tell you now.
All those pieces in the gallery are parts of a new pipe organ for St. Patrick’s Church. The pipe organ was kindly donated by the Sisters of Mercy in Westport and, when reassembled, will be a fine addition to our church. The new organ will replace the current instrument which has had its day. More later.

Pilgrimage to Knock
Thanks to all who supported our annual pilgrimage to Knock on Thursday last. A wonderful pilgrimage was enjoyed by all.

Church Gate Collections
The Irish Wheelchair Association will hold a Church Gate Collection this weekend.
The annual church gate collection in aid of Concern will take place next weekend.

Dates for Your Diary
The annual outdoor Mass at Elm Green will be at 7.30pm on next Thursday, 3rd July. All welcome.
Foulkstown Cemetery Mass will be on Thursday, 31st July at 7.30pm.
This year’s St. Fiacre’s Well Mass will be on Sunday, 31st August at 3.30pm.
Please tell your friends, especially those away from home.

Clonmacnois Youth Festival
Youth 2000 Summer Festival, Clonmacnois, Co. Offaly, Thursday 14th - Sunday 17th August 2008. Four young people age 16-35, an opportunity not to be missed to experience the Catholic faith and meet many new friends. Donation only. Free buses available from around the country. For more information, contact 01 6753690, or check our websites: www.youth2000.ie, or xx-youth2000-xx.bebo.com.

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 22nd June 2008

Year of Vocation
The aim of the Irish Catholic Church’s 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. This weekend we focus on the Christians vocation to the married life.
Perhaps more than ever before, married couples need the support of a Christian community to live out their call to holiness. To thank married couples for their Christian witness and to recognise and celebrate their invaluable role in the church we will include special prayers and blessings for those living this great Christian vocation at all Masses this weekend.

Love
Love is at the heart of the Christian message – love of God and love of each other. Love is the very oxygen which keeps the Christian family healthy and strong. I remember hearing Pope Paul VI say, as he was addressing a group of newly married couples, that “for those who are engaged to be married love is a pleasure, whereas for those who are already married love is a duty.” In this way he was stressing the necessity of working always at maintaining Christian love at the heart of marital relationships. Christ Jesus manifests himself to the world through those who are imbued with His saving grace and He wishes to do so particularly through genuine Christian family living. The family is dependent on the loving bond of marital relationship for its vitality and society is dependent on the healthy family unit as the veritable foundation-stone of its stability. So it is important that we care for the family in its varied aspects, so as to ensure for society, as a whole, a sure basis on which to build for the wellbeing of all.
Bishop John Magee

Parish Pilgrimage to Knock
The annual parish pilgrimage to Our Lady’s Shrine at Knock will take place on next Thursday. Fr. Dan will lead this year’s pilgrimage. Due to cancellations some seats still remain. If interested please contact Doreen Griffin on 086 829 4887.
Coach will arrive at St. Fiacre’s Church at 7am on Thursday for departure at 7.15am sharp. Pick-up at St. Patrick’s Church at 7.20am. Please God we will have a good day before returning home around 10pm. (We understand the people of Clara and Windgap Parishes are travelling to Knock on the same day.)

Annual Golf Classic
The annual Parish Golf Classic will be held at Kilkenny Golf Club on Friday, 4th July 2008. Some tee times are available at €250 per team of four including meal at the clubhouse. We invite interested golfers to contact Christy Power on 086 821 8554 to book tee times.
We also invite parishioners to consider tee box sponsorship. You may be in a position to help your parish by sponsoring a tee box (€100) or encouraging your employer to do the same. Sponsorship of prizes would also be welcome. Contact the Parish Office on 056 776 4400 for further details.

Monthly Parish Draw
The June Draw will be held at the Sacristy, St. Fiacre’s Church on Tuesday, 24th June at 8.30pm. Please note the location. Thanks to all promoters and subscribers. Further tickets may be purchased at the sacristies in all our churches. All welcome.

Great Response
There was a great response to our appeal last weekend for the return of completed CHY 2 forms. Thanks.
Many forms remain outstanding. Please send back your completed form as soon as possible.

Pray for the Deceased
Recently Deceased: Mary (Babe) Walsh, 12 Rosemount, Newpark. Requiem Mass at St. John’s Church at 10.30am on Tuesday.
Anniversaries: Johnny McEvoy (Sat 6.15), Billy & Mary Butler (Sat 7.00), Billy Costello (Sun 9.30), Statia Quirke (Sun 10.00), Sharon Galvin (Sun 10.30), May & Paddy O’Neill (Sun 11.00), Noreen Llewellyn (Sun 12.00), Tom Sinnott (Sun 12.30), Johanna O’Dwyer, John McMyler, Margaret McCarthy, Michael Aylward, Patrick Doheny, May McCarthy, Annie Murphy, Phil Kavanagh, Pat Maher, Bridie Conroy, Richard Dunne, May Shortis, Richard McEvoy, Eddie McEvoy, Henry & Paddy Glynn.
Intentions for next weekend: Dick Martin (Sat 6.15), Jimmy Hackett (Sat 7.00), Ellen Ryan & John Joe Traynor (Sun 9.30), William Doheny (Months Mind, Sun 11.00), Austin Murphy (Sun 12.00), Fran Ryan (Sun 12.30).

Questions People Ask
Q. Making the Sign of the Cross we touch the forehead, chest and shoulders. Why these parts? Are there any variations when other parts are touched?
A. This lovely prayer-in-action recalls the cross of Christ while invoking the blessing of the Blessed Trinity. The forehead represents our thinking. The chest or heart is the centre of love. Touching the shoulders is a prayer for strength in our activities or in carrying our crosses with Christ. Before proclaiming the gospel we sign the forehead, lips and heart, praying that the Lord be in our minds, lips and hearts. In anointing the sick, forehead and hands are signed. It is a simple but profound form of prayer when performed with reverence.

Fr. Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap

Ladies Mini Marathon
Thanks to all who took part and supported the recent Ladies’ Mini-Marathon in aid of the Homes of the Elderly at St. Fiacre’s Church. Outstanding cards and monies should be returned to the Presbytery as soon as possible.

Ossory Goes to World Youth Day
Twenty-six pilgrims from Ossory will travel to World Youth Day in Sydney in July. The group, led by Bishop Séamus, will join over 200,000 young people from around the world and the Australian continent. The group will be hosted by the Diocese of Ballarat for one week and then will travel to Sydney for WYD which will take place from 14th to 20th July. Led by Pope Benedict this celebration will be the largest gathering of young people in the world this year. Pope Benedict will preside over the Stations of the Cross on Friday, 18th July and will be the principal celebrant at the closing Mass on Sunday, 20th.
Drawn from all over the diocese the Ossory group has been involved in fundraising and a preparation course since the beginning of the year. Further information is available at www.wyd2008.org

Kilkenny Christian Centre
The Kilkenny Christian Centre is holding a bag-filling at Supervalu, Loughboy on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 24th –26th July to raise funds for “The Rock” Youth Project. Anyone willing to help is asked to please telephone Maria Marshall on 087 618 8054.

Upcoming Dates for Your Diary
The annual St. Kieran’s Cemetery Mass will be celebrated on next Friday, 27th June at 7.30pm. This leads into the St. John’s O’Loughlin Memorial Church centenary celebrations which will be held on the same weekend.
The annual Mass at Elm Green will be at 7.30pm on Thursday, 3rd July.
RTE will broadcast Mass to mark the centenary of St. John’s Church at 11.10am on Sunday, 5th July.
Foulkstown Cemetery Mass will be on Thursday, 31st July at 7.30pm.
This year’s St. Fiacre’s Well Mass will be on Sunday, 31st August at 3.30pm.

A Two Edged Question
Several years ago I was listening to a religious debate on radio between people of different faiths and none. One of the participants, a Jew, asked a Christian a troublesome question. How could he (the Christian), he asked, pray to God when sick to ask for health, or worse, to be so trivial as to ask God to find something that was lost, when that God ignored the plight of six million Jews under Nazi tyranny.
Not an easy one that, especially in the light of today’s Gospel reading where Jesus tells us that even the hairs on our head are all counted. Furthermore, he assures us, that not one sparrow falls to the ground without the Father noting it. Sort of difficult to reconcile that with life’s experience at times. Isn’t it?
We ask where God is when the innocent suffer; when a child dies, or is born disabled; when Nature blindly kills and people kill with open eyes; when sickness strikes; when someone takes their life. The list goes on.
But do we thank God when things go well, when a child is born healthy, when our luck is good, when we achieve success, when we live long and well, when we love and are loved, give and receive kindness? This list, too, could go on and on.
Our constant question to God is: ‘Why do you allow evil?’ Our rare question to ourselves is: ‘Why do we commit it?’
Fr Tom Cahill SVD.

Disruption at St. Fiacre’s Church
We again apologise for the disruption at St. Fiacre’s Church on weekdays. The builders need a few more days to complete the connections between St. Fiacre’s Church and the new centre. Mass will be celebrated as usual but the church will not be available after 11am for the earlier part of this week. Consequently there will be no exposition at St. Fiacre’s on Monday.
Needless to say builders cause dust and we will need volunteers to help clean the church. Please give your name and telephone number to the Sacristan and we will contact you when needed.

Drakelands Garden Party
Drakelands Nursing Home will host its annual garden party on Sunday, 5th July. Bishop Séamus will be the principal celebrant at the afternoon Mass.
Thanks to the proprietors, staff and residents the funds raised on the day will be donated to our parish. Please support.

Get Snapping
Young Christian Workers (YCW) are looking for budding photographers to take photos that reflect their lives. The best photos will be included in next years YCW calendar. See posters at church or contact Jenny at jenny.casey@ycw.ie or 01 878 0291.

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fifteenth June 2008

Lost in Translation
Today’s Second Reading carries three terrible words, at least in the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition. They are: “wrath of God” and appear in verse 9. What image of God do those words conjure up: the Fuming Father, the Dour Deity, or the Spiteful Spirit? It may be just a human way of speaking about God, yet it refers to something real that we need to be saved from – or so it seems. And we need God’s Son to save us from it. Are we to believe then that an angry God demands the agonizing death of his Beloved Son to quench his anger? I hope not. So what of the wrath that Paul speaks of? An interesting little footnote in the NRSV about these three woeful words tells us that the Greek has ‘the wrath’. The ‘of God’ bit is not there. For me, that puts quite a different complexion on Rom 5:9. The wrath now is the built-in consequence of greed, violence, corruption and godlessness. It is humanity’s self-inflicted wrath – avoidable if we but acknowledge the light of Christ and live in it. It’s not the wrath of an irate God blasting humankind into oblivion. It’s the disaster people bring on themselves by their godlessness. A loving Father sent his Son into this godlessness in spite of what would happen to him, not so that it would happen. His blood justifies us; that symbol of his loving faithfulness to his Father. Only a similar faithfulness in ourselves will save us from ‘the wrath’. Or, should that be ‘our wrath’?
Fr. Tom Cahill SVD

Pilgrimage to Knock
Our annual parish pilgrimage to Our Lady’s Shrine at Knock will take place on Thursday week, 26th June. The cost this year is a mere €15. At the time of printing five seats remain If interested please contact Doreen Griffin on 086 829 4887. It is important that we get names early to enable us to make arrangements.

Questions People Ask
Q. Judas was one of the chosen apostles. How did he drift away from Jesus?
A. Maybe Judas has disillusioned because he expected Jesus to be a political Messiah restoring the freedom of the nation. In the Gospel of John a deeper reason is suggested. The first mention of betrayal comes at the end of Chapter Six when many people walk away from Jesus because they would not believe that he would give us his flesh to eat and his blood to drink. Then, later, it was precisely when Judas received a piece of bread from Jesus at the Last Supper that he allowed Satan to enter him. So, the real reason for Judas’ betrayal may have been rejection of the teaching of the Eucharist.
Fr. Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap

Pray for the Deceased
Recently Deceased: Eddie Meagher, Burnchurch, Kells. Requiem Mass at St. Michael’s Church, Danesfort at 10.15am on Sunday. Peg O’Shea, Bishop’s Hill. Requiem Mass at St. Canice’s Church at 11.30am on Sunday. John Kimmins, 73 St. Kieran’s Crescent,. Requiem Mass at St. John’s Church at 10.30am on Monday. Sean Byrne, Hinckley, England.
Anniversaries: Paddy Noonan (Sat 6.15), John Kenny (Sat 7.00), Catherine Roberts (Sun 9.30), Martin Brennan (Sun 10.00), Francis McNulty & Nicholas Downey (Sun 11.00), Dan Maher (Sun 12.00), Jonathan Barry (Sun 12.30), Patrick Morris (Wed 9.30). Fred & Ellen Clarke, Dan Carroll, Des Manning, Anna Brennan, Eamon Brennan, Martin Rowe, Liam Drohan, Edward & Anne Whelan, Thomas & John Whelan, Michael & Christina O’Driscoll, Bill & Bridie O’Neill, Kathy Purcell, Nicky Dollard.
Anniversaries Next Weekend: Johnny McEvoy (Sat 6:15), Billy & Mary Butler (Sat 7.00), Statia Quirke (Sun 10:00), Sharon Galvin (Sun 10.30), May & Paddy O’Neill (Sun 11.00), Noreen Llewellyn (Sun 12.00), Tom Sinnott (Sun 12.30).

Disruption at St Fiacre’s Church
This Monday will see the builders breaking through the wall into St. Fiacre’s Church. This is to facilitate the fitting of a new window and may take some time to complete. Due to this essential work there will be NO EXPOSITION of the Blessed Sacrament on Monday, 16th June.
Mass will be celebrated as usual. However, due to dust and noise, access to the church will be closed after Mass each day until the works are complete.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. Hopefully this work will be completed quickly.

Did You Return Your CHY 2?
Some time ago Fr. Dan sent a form (CHY 2 Cert) to parishioners who had made a donation of €250 or more during 2007. Recipients were asked to sign the form, provide their PPS number, indicate at which rate tax was being paid in 2007 and return the form to the Parish Office. To date about half the forms have been returned enabling us to recoup €50,000 from the Revenue Commissioners. This is vital income for the parish. We appeal to those who have not yet returned their completed forms to do as soon as possible. In this way we can increase the value of our claim from the Revenue Commissioners and reduce our borrowings.
You were very generous in giving your money - please help it work harder for us.

Parish Finance Committee
There will be a meeting of the Parish Finance Committee and the Parish Team at the Presbytery at 8.15pm on Thursday next. Members are asked to attend.

Fathers’ Day
We join in wishing all fathers in our parish a very happy and rewarding Fathers’ Day. May God bless you in your important Christian vocation.

Vocation of Married Couples
As part of the Year of Vocation initiative the weekend of 21st and 22nd June is an opportunity for the Irish Catholic Church to focus on marriage as vocation. Marriage is a challenging vocation. Perhaps more than ever before, married couples need the support of a Christian community to live out their call to holiness.
Next weekend married couples are invited to attend Mass together with their families. Included in our parish Masses will be special prayers and blessings for those living this great Christian vocation.
Happy marriages begin when we marry the ones we love, and they blossom when we love the ones we marry.
Tom Mullen

St. Patrick’s Cemetery Mass
The annual Cemetery Mass will be celebrated at the Old Cemetery, Upper Patrick Street at 7.30pm on this Wednesday, 18th June. We encourage all parishioners to come out to remember and honour those who have gone before us in death.

Upcoming Dates for Your Diary
The annual St. Kieran’s Cemetery Mass will be celebrated on Friday, 27th June at 7.30pm. This leads into the St. John’s O’Loughlin Memorial Church centenary celebration on the same weekend.
The annual Mass at Elm Green will be at 7.30pm on Thursday, 3rd July.
Foulkstown Cemetery Mass will be on Thursday, 31st July at 7.30pm.
This year’s St. Fiacre’s Well Mass will be on Sunday, 31st August at 3.30pm.

Parenting Skills Programme
July 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th (7.30pm)
Empower Training, Newtown Manor, New Orchard Road, Kilkenny. For further information please contact Colette on 056 775 6736 or 087 988 8575 to reserve your place or to request further information.

Knock Summer Youth Festival
Living Life to the full? Looking for something more? This is what you’re looking for! Time out for you…
Knock Summer Youth Festival July 24th - 27th, Our Lady’s Shrine, Knock, Co. Mayo. 18-35 yrs. For more information and to book your place contact (094) 938 8100 or 087 692 7850 or check out www.knock-shrine.ie/youthministry.

Free Training Programme
Kilkenny Job Club, sponsored by FAS, runs a free four week training programme every month, which aims to help people find work. We examine your skills, interests and abilities and assist you in improving your job-seeking and interview skills. All facilities - newspapers, stationery, telephone internet access etc - are provided. The Job Club is open to anybody actively seeking work, and a weekly allowance is payable to all participants. Social Welfare payments are not affected. The next programme commences on the 7th July 2008. If you are interested, or you would like more information, contact the Kilkenny Job Club, 5 Johns Quay. Tel: 056 775 6043.

Parish Website
Don’t forget our parish website is updated regularly. Why not check it out for yourself at www.patricksparish.com? Don’t forget to tell your absent friends.

St. Vincent de Paul
The monthly collection for local conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society will be taken up during the second collection at all Masses this weekend. Money donated to St. Patrick’s Conference stays in the area and helps local people in need.
Those requiring the Society’s help can do so in confidence by placing their details in a sealed envelope marked ‘St. Vincent de Paul’ and leaving it into the Presbytery.

Get Snapping
Young Christian Workers (YCW) are looking for budding photographers to take photos that reflect the following:
· The world of work
· Active citizenship in your area
· Problems/lack of facilities in your area
· Suggest how to make a difference
· Young people making a positive contribution to society
The best photos will be included in next years YCW calendar. Contact Jenny at jenny.casey@ycw.ie or 01 878 0291.

Your Library Service
Kilkenny County Council’s Library Service is preparing a development plan. We would like your help/opinions. Please contact us at ldp@kilkennylibrary.ie, on 779 4160, or at Kilkenny Library Service, 6 Rose Inn Street, Kilkenny.

Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 8th June 2008

Keeping Low Company
About 40 years ago I read The Two Edged Sword by the Jesuit biblical scholar John L McKenzie. At this remove I can recall only one sentence fro it. One that’s still as sharp today as the two-edged sword he was writing about then. It still penetrates deeply, and pains. That sentence reads: ‘Jesus was often accused of keeping low company. Many of his followers, however, seem to have risen about that criticism.’ Ouch! Today’s Gospel (Matt 9:9-13) puts me in mind of it. ‘I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.’ One way of knowing that it’s God’s word we’re hearing and not our own, is when it’s difficult to take. We try to explain it away, water it down, or ignore it – but can’t. It won’t go away – now, or ever. It packs the same punch forty years down the line. When that word penetrates so does God’s spirit, directing it, planting it, nurturing it. It changes us when we trust it. Matthew trusted it as he heard Jesus call: ‘Follow me’. And, it changed him. From stagnating at a tax booth he became energized to journey into the unknown. That’s another way of knowing that it’s God’s word we hear: it’s open ended. It can take us anywhere – especially to places we would never dream of going on our own.
Fr. Tom Cahill SVD

Questions people ask
When we refer to chapters and verses in the Bible, were these part of the original writings or where did they come from?
These divisions into chapter and verse were not in the original writings but were devised as a wonderful aid to locate a passage quickly. The chapters and verses we use today are attributed to Cardinal Stephen Langton who was Archbishop of Canterbury, 1207-1228. He wrote various historical works, sacred poems and commentaries on the books of the Bible. His best known poem is the beautiful Sequence for Pentecost, Veni Sancte Spiritus.
Fr. Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap

Vita presents the Hibernian Orchestra
featuring Finghin Collins
For over 25 years, the Hibernian Orchestra has been bringing classical music to the city of Dublin. Now Vita is delighted to present a “Summer Promenade” on Tuesday, 17 June 2008, at the National Concert Hall, Dublin at 8 pm, a concert of classical favourites featuring international star pianist, Finghin Collins as soloist.
This event supports the work of Vita, an Irish international development agency established in 1989. Vita partners with communities in the Horn of Africa to build sustainable livelihoods and make a real impact in poverty reduction and environment renewal.
Musically this is a very attractive programme, pleasing to a general audience:
John Finucane, Conductor, Finghin Collins, Soloist Maurice Ravel, La Valse
Maurice Ravel, Piano Concerto in G

Modest Mussorgsky, Pictures at an Exhibition (arr. Ravel)
Tickets cost €25 and are available from the National Concert Hall box office, Monday to Saturday from 10am to 7pm at 01-4170000 or www.nch.ie

Divine Mercy
There will be an hour of adoration and prayer in honour of Divine Mercy in St. Mary’s Cathedral on Sunday 8th June at 3pm. Everybody welcome.

Red Cross
The Irish Red Cross (City Branch) will hold their Annual Church gate collection on Sat & Sun 7th & 8th of June.

St. Joseph’s Young Priests’ Society
The next meeting of the society will take place on Friday June 13th in St. Fiacre’s Church, after the 10.30am mass. New members always welcome.

Knock Summer Youth Festival
Living Life to the full? Looking for something more? Tired of the samo? This is what you’re looking for! Time out for you…
Knock Summer Youth Festival July 24th - 27th, Our Lady’s Shrine, Knock, Co. Mayo. 18-35 yrs for more info and to book your place Contact (094) 9388100 or 0876927850 or check out www.knock-shrine.ie/youthministry

Pray for the deceased
Recently Deceased: Kitty Wood nee Bateman, Birmingham, Francie McKenna (Thurs 9.30), Patrick Fogarty, Newpark.
Anniversaries: Christina Mullen (Sat 6.15), Susan Delaney, Ann Conway, Denis Gerrehy (Sat 7.00), Eileen & Kieran Hickey, John & Kevin Grogan (Sun 10.00), Jim O’Brien (Sun 10.30), Jimmy Hogan (Sun 11.00), Joseph Murray (Sun 12.00), Sarah Mullally (Mon 9.30), Patrick Cantwell (Tues 10.30), Mary Deegan (Thurs 10.30), Statia Massey, Edward Burke, Maura Kehoe, Michael Barry, John Barry, Eamonn Costelloe, Annie Donnelly, Mgr. Martin Campion.
Intentions for next weekend
Anniversaries Next Weekend: Paddy Noonan (Sat 6.15), John Kenny (Sat 7.00), Catherine Roberts (Sun 9.30), Martin Brennan (Sun 10.00), Dan Maher (Sun 12.00), Jonathan Barry (Sun 12.30), Patrick Morris (Wed 9.30).

Pilgrimage to Knock
Our annual parish pilgrimage to Knock will take place on Thursday, 26th June. Cost €15. Details and booking from the Parish Office at 776 4400 or Doreen Griffin at 086 829 4887. Please submit names now to enable us to make arrangements.

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

Ladies Mini Marathon
We wish to say a sincere thanks and well done to women from our parish who ran in the Ladies Mini Marathon to raise funds for our Parish projects. Those with out standing sponsorship cards should return them immediately. Thanks for your generous support.

Foulkstown Cemetery
We have had a report of a car break-in at Foulkstown cemetery. A person parked their car and went to visit a grave and upon their return, a window had been smashed on their car and valuables stolen. Yet another example that nothing is sacred to some people, not even a final resting place.
If you are visiting the cemetery, please be on the lookout for any suspicious activity. If you notice anything out of the ordinary (property being interfered with, illegal dumping etc), then note any car make and registration number and let us know what you have seen.

Disruption at St. Fiacre’s
During the coming week, the builders will be fitting a new window and door to join the new centre to the church. This will cause some disruption but we are hopeful there will be little or no inconvenience caused to worshippers at the Church.

When Are We Moving?
Lately this is the question most frequently asked by parishioners and the short answer is, we don’t know. We hope it will be in the next couple of weeks but with electricity supply problems we are unsure. It’s in the Lord’s hands (and possibly the ESB).
When the move does occur, there will be some disruption to the parish office. We will inform you as soon as we know anything for definite.

Parish Website
Our website continues to develop and will be undergoing some changes in the near future. The site now contains a link to the national vocations website www.vocations.ie. Just click on the collar.
The newsletter is also published on our website every week.

Irish Catholic
This excellent newspaper is for sale in St. Patrick’s Church and St. Fiacre’s Church. It costs €1.20 and gives comprehensive coverage to many topics that Catholics will find interesting. Why not buy a copy and see for yourself.
Upcoming Dates for Your Diary
St. Patrick’s Cemetery Mass (Patrick Street), 18th June, 7.30pm
Elm Green Mass Thursday, 3rd July 7.30pm
Foulkstown Cemetery Mass, Thursday 31st July, 7.30pm.
St. Fiacre’s Well Mass, Sunday, 31st August, 3.30pm

New to the Parish?
Welcome to those who have recently joined us either on a short term or long term basis. We hope that you find our parish a welcoming and friendly place to live.
Here in St. Patrick’s we are always looking for volunteers in many areas of parish life and now more-so than ever with the imminent opening of our new Parish Centre. If you think you have a particular skill or a talent that might be of benefit to others, or perhaps you would like to be involved in some way, then get in touch with us, we’d love to hear from you.
Also, if you haven’t already done so, you might consider registering with us as this is the easiest way we have of knowing who you are.
Contact the parish office at 7764400 or any of the priests.


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

Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time 1st June 2008

A Delusion by Any Other Name
In The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins states, ‘...one of the truly bad effects of religion is that it teaches us that it is virtue to be satisfied with not understanding’. Seems there’s more than one ‘delusion’ doing the rounds! Religion acknowledges mystery. Unlike a puzzle that can be solved, mystery is not for solving but exploring. And, by definition, it can’t be sucked dry by human intelligence. It’s greater than anything the human mind could ever comprehend. Otherwise it’s not mystery. Any religion worth its incense delves into mystery, but with humility in the face of unknowing. It’s the humility by that’s the virtue. Take today’s First Reading, for example. ‘Today I set before you a blessing and a curse.’ That’s not the mystery, however. The mystery is that some people choose the curse. Now why should they do that? Don’t they know the stakes? Don’t they believe in curses? Don’t they care one way or the other? Seems not. Shakespeare wrote in Hamlet that there is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so. If he were writing today he might upgrade that to: ‘There is nothing good or bad but DNA makes it so.’ Wouldn’t it be great if that were true? Just a teak on the old DNA spiral here and a zap of the old laser beam there and hey presto: a new creation! And it that’s not a delusion, I don’t know what it.
Fr. Tom Cahill SVD

Questions people ask
In the Catechism many years ago we learnt that one of the spiritual works of mercy is to correct the sinner. Any time I try to offer correction I am told to mind my own business or not to judge others. Am I still obliged to correct?
People today do not take correction easily. In fact, it is often counter productive and meets with anger and abusive language. The virtue of prudence guides us regarding when and how to act. Prudence is call the charioteer of the virtues. Pray to the Holy Spirit for the gift of counsel.
Fr Silvester O’Flynn

Bank Holiday Weekend
We welcome all who have come to Kilkenny for the festival weekend. We especially welcome those who have come to worship with us at our Masses.

Bank Holiday Liturgies
As usual there will be only one public Mass in our parish on bank holiday Monday. Mass will be celebrated at St. Patrick’s Church at 11am.
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will take place at St. Fiacre’s Church between 2 noon and 10pm. All are welcome to come and spend some time in prayer.

First Friday
The first Friday of June occurs this week. Frs. Roderick and Liam will visit their usual sick lists on Friday. Because of another commitment Fr. Dan will be unable to visit until Friday week.

Westcourt News
The June mass for the canonisation of Blessed Edmund Rice will be celebrated in Westcourt on Monday, June 2nd at 8pm. The members of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Éireann are preparing the liturgy for this Mass. All are invited to this special celebration.

Ladies Mini Marathon
We wish those from our parish all the best in this weekend’s mini marathon. Thanks to those who are running to raise funds for our Parish projects. Those with out standing sponsorship cards should return them immediately. Thanks for your generous support.

Pray for the deceased
Recently Deceased: Sr. Gerard Fidelis Williams, St. Patrick’s Convent, Kells Road. Bill Doheny, The Paddocks. Kathleen O’Carroll, Mount Danville. Margaret Collier, Mountrath. Jim O’Hara, Leggetsrath: Requiem at St. John’s Church at 12 noon on Sunday followed by burial at St. Kieran’s Cemetery.
Months Mind: Mary Barry (Sun 10.30)
Anniversaries: John Cleere (Sat 7.00), Patrick Banahan (Sun 9.30), Eileen Byrne (Sun 10.00), John Scott (Sun 11.00), Fran Blanche (Sun 12.00), Joe Curry (Sun 12.30), Richard Ruth (Mon 11.00), Gerald Keys (Wed 10.30), Thomas Joseph O’Brien (Fri 10.30), Betty Furness (Sat 9.30), Josie Cantwell, Mary Drennan, Maurice Nolan, Margaret Collier, Jimmy McGuire, Joseph Murray, Paddy Bambrick, Bridget Culleton, James & Mary O’Brien, Catherine Brennan.
Intentions for Next Weekend: Christina Mullen (sat 6.15), Susan Delaney, Ann Conway & Denis Garrehy (Sat 7.00), Eileen & Kieran Hickey (Sun 10.00), Jim O’Brien (Sun 10.30), Jimmy Hogan (Sun 11.00), Joseph Murray (Sun 12.00).

Pilgrimage to Knock
Our annual parish pilgrimage to Knock will take place on Thursday, 26th June. Cost €15. Details and booking from the Parish Office at 776 4400 or Doreen Griffin at 086 829 4887. Please submit names now to enable us to make arrangements.

The Black Abbey
Due to the declining number of active priests the weekday 7.45am Mass at the Black Abbey has been discontinued.

St. Patrick’s Brass and Reed Band.
St. Patrick's Brass and Reed Band will perform a free concert at the Town Hall, High St. on Saturday next, 6th June from 3pm. In addition the bank will play sacred music at the 5.30pm Mass on St. Mary’s Cathedral on Sunday, 7th of June and 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, 1st June at 3pm. All are welcome.

Loughboy Area Resource Centre
Tea, Cakes & Consultation
Get your voice heard
What would you like in your community?
We want to hear from you.
Young, old and everyone in between
Come along on the night.
The Archer Street Centre
Thursday 5th June from 7pm to 9pm

Low Cost Counselling in Kilkenny
Would you like to talk about your concerns, thoughts, or feeling with a respectful, open and genuine person? Our counsellors are mature adults who are undergoing professional training in counselling and psychotherapy. This low cost counselling service is affordable, confidential and accessible. To arrange an appointment contact: Willie Egan MIACP on 087 6749 448

Cura Cares
If you are pregnant and distressed and would like to talk to someone in confidence. Phone 056 772 2739 or 1850 622 626. Monday to Friday 2 –4pm and Thursday 7pm - 9pm.

Free Training Programme
Kilkenny Job Club, sponsored by Fas, runs a free four week training programme, which aims to help people find work. All facilities - newspapers, stationary, telephone, internet access etc. are provided free of charge. The Job Club is open to anyone actively seeking work, and a weekly allowance is payable to all participants. Social Welfare payments are not affected. The next programme commences on 10th June. Contact the Kilkenny Job Club, 5 Johns Quay, Kilkenny. Tel: 056 775 6043 for information.

St. Patrick’s Parish May Draw
1st Prize - €1000 Catherine Cullen, Goslingstown
2nd Prize - €200
Sandra O’Driscoll, Castle Lawn
3rd Prize - €100
Denis Brophy, Danesfort
4th Prize - €100
Angela Quinn, 12 Cashel Downs
5th Prize - €100
Paddy & Teresa Burke, Archers Crescent
6th Prize - €50
Natalie Reade, 73 Pococke Lower
7th Prize - €50
Catherine Corcoran, Melville Heights
8th Prize - €50
Guy Jones, 79 The Paddocks
9th Prize - €50
John Fleming, c/o 2 Springmount
10th Prize - €50
Jamie Peters, Goslingstown
11th Prize - €50
Sr. Cornelius, St. John of God
12th Prize - €50
Séamus McCarthy, 74 Marble Crest
13th prize - €50
Paul Delahunt, c/o Promoter
Promoters’ Prizes
Kathleen O’Shaughnessy, Shellumsrath
Brigid Armstrong, Archers Crescent