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
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
