In the Arms of God
One way of knowing that it’s God’s word we’re hearing when listening to scripture is when it disturbs us. When we try to convince ourselves that we haven’t heard what we know we have. When we feel its challenge and flee it. But when it catches up with us, all doubt should go.
Today’s Gospel reading carries that word, guaranteed to deflate any overblown egos within hearing range. It’s that bit about the Father hiding certain ‘things’ from the wise and the learned and revealing them to mere infants. How odd of God to choose that ruse! – to paraphrase British journalist William Norman Ewer (1885 – 1976).
It must be to put us in our place: the place for ‘infants’, for the ‘little ones’, the disciples of Jesus who had no learning as the scribes and Pharisees had, and who had no social standing either. The ‘things’ kept hidden were the signs Jesus worked as pointers to God’s kingdom already present among us. Those best trained to recognize them were the very ones who couldn’t. Book learning stands for zilch.
Personal effort can’t propel us into the mind of God. Merely pouring over the scriptures is a useless exercise. The more we pour, the more we bore. Now there’s a thorny thought for bible-belters and pulpit-thumpers!
Better to be a little one in the eyes of God than a learned one in the eyes of man. Better to know your place as an infant: in the loving arms of God.
Fr. Tom Cahill SVD.
Eucharistic Adoration
“Could you not watch with me one hour?”
Matthew 26:40
The Blessed Sacrament is exposed for Adoration at St. Patrick’s Church each Friday. Adorers are needed especially for the hours from 11.00am to 12 noon, and from 12 noon to 1.00pm. If you could spare an hour please ring 777 0472 or contact any of the priests of the parish at 776 4400. Please consider offering your help in continuing this essential ministry in our parish.
One way of knowing that it’s God’s word we’re hearing when listening to scripture is when it disturbs us. When we try to convince ourselves that we haven’t heard what we know we have. When we feel its challenge and flee it. But when it catches up with us, all doubt should go.
Today’s Gospel reading carries that word, guaranteed to deflate any overblown egos within hearing range. It’s that bit about the Father hiding certain ‘things’ from the wise and the learned and revealing them to mere infants. How odd of God to choose that ruse! – to paraphrase British journalist William Norman Ewer (1885 – 1976).
It must be to put us in our place: the place for ‘infants’, for the ‘little ones’, the disciples of Jesus who had no learning as the scribes and Pharisees had, and who had no social standing either. The ‘things’ kept hidden were the signs Jesus worked as pointers to God’s kingdom already present among us. Those best trained to recognize them were the very ones who couldn’t. Book learning stands for zilch.
Personal effort can’t propel us into the mind of God. Merely pouring over the scriptures is a useless exercise. The more we pour, the more we bore. Now there’s a thorny thought for bible-belters and pulpit-thumpers!
Better to be a little one in the eyes of God than a learned one in the eyes of man. Better to know your place as an infant: in the loving arms of God.
Fr. Tom Cahill SVD.
Eucharistic Adoration
“Could you not watch with me one hour?”
Matthew 26:40
The Blessed Sacrament is exposed for Adoration at St. Patrick’s Church each Friday. Adorers are needed especially for the hours from 11.00am to 12 noon, and from 12 noon to 1.00pm. If you could spare an hour please ring 777 0472 or contact any of the priests of the parish at 776 4400. Please consider offering your help in continuing this essential ministry in our parish.
Ossory Lift Off!
Ossory pilgrims to the World Youth day departed from Peace in Christ, Kilkenny on Saturday at 3pm. A group of 23 with their families gathered in the diocesan retreat house for a prayer service and blessing by Bishop Freeman and then bid adieu to the northern hemisphere to say G’day to the land down under. Bishop Freeman and Fr. Scriven will join them in Melbourne on Tuesday.
World Youth Day will welcome over 125,000 young people from around the world and over 300,000 from the Australian continent. The week of prayer, faith discussion and reflection will culminate in an all night vigil that will conclude with Mass celebrated by Pope Benedict. Ossory pilgrims will participate in all the activities of the week. During their time in Australia they will renew links with the Christian Brothers and Sisters of Mercy. On Sunday, 20th July there will be a reception and “meet and greet” time hosted by the Kilkenny Association at the Celtic Club from 5pm. All welcome – please pass on word to Kilkenny people in Sydney. Please remember the pilgrims in your prayers during the next few weeks.
Drakelands Garden Party
Each year, Drakelands Nursing Home host a very enjoyable and successful garden party and this year’s party takes place today (Sunday, 6th July) from 11am to 6pm. This is a wonderful event for family, neighbours and friends of those resident in the home and the wider community.
As part of the day’s events, Mass will be celebrated at 3pm. Weather permitting this will take place on the lawn.
This year, Drakelands Nursing Home has agreed to donate the proceeds of their Garden Party to our new parish centre. We are extremely grateful to them for their generosity.
If you would like to attend this event, meet the residents and support the parish you are welcome. Suggested donation is €5 but any amount is welcome.
Elm Green Mass
In the gentle rain, about 40 hardy souls from Ardnore and vicinity joined in the annual Elm Green Mass. It was great to see such a turn out given the weather and well done to all who organised the event.
Pray for the Deceased
Recently Deceased: Bridget Gleeson, Cork. Josie Brennan, 296 Newpark Upper. Kieran Fanning, 53 Newpark Close. Sr. Marie Therese Saunders, Convent of Mercy, Callan.
Anniversaries: Anna Nolan (Sat 6.15), Dr. Paddy Boyd (Sat 7.00), Pauline Kennedy (Sun 10.00), Maurice Nagle (Sun 12.00), Annie Cody (Mon 9.30), Sean Hennessy (Tues 9.30), Paddy Bergin & Sr Margaret Mary Bergin (Fri 10.30), Michael Larkin, Mary Hayes, Tommy Hayes, Thomas Grace, Denis Molloy, William Maher, Mary Fry, Dermot Delaney, Edward Beckett, Bridget Ward & Bridie Walsh, James Dwyer.
Mass Intentions next weekend: Fr. James Hurley (Sun 10:00). Kathleen O’Carroll (Sun 11.00 Months Mind). Catherine Dowling (Sun 12.00), Ger Doheny (Sun 12.30). May the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen.
Kilkenny Pilgrimage to Knock
Coach will leave for Knock Shrine on Thursday, 24th July 2008 at 7.30am from the Parade via Ballyragget and Durrow. Fare: €20, payment required when booking. For details contact: Eileen 056 776 3259, Marian 056 776 2247, Pauline 056 776 5540.
Donations to the Parish
Sincere thanks to Gaelscoil Osraí for a generous donation of €2,000 to our Building Fund. We enjoy a wonderful relationship with our Irish speaking school and their support is much appreciated.
Thanks also to the parishioner who donated €360 in spare change. Both donations go towards the cost of our new Parish Centre. Míle Buíochas.
Public Rosary
The monthly rosary on the First Sunday in James Green at the statue of our Lady of Kilkenny continues this Sunday, 6th July at 3pm. All are welcome.
Medjugorje Irish Centre
The Medjugorje Irish Centre, located beside St. James Church, owned and managed by the Mullan Family from Omagh, is the meeting place for all of Medjugorje’s Irish Pilgrims. The Centre provides, information, restaurant, laundry, phone, internet & foot massage. Apartment accommodation from as little as €20 per night. They can arrange apartments, flights, airport transfers to and from Split or Dubrovnik. Contact: www.medjugorje-properties.com. Email: Darren@medjugorje-properties.com Phone: Noelle ROI: 048 8224 1888.
CHY 2 Forms
Some CHY 2 Forms remain unreturned. We appeal to taxpayers who received such forms to complete and return them to the parish office as soon as possible. We ask those who got forms but who are not liable for tax to let us know so that we can amend our records and begin to close the file for this year.
Good Luck
All in St. Patrick’s Parish wish our parishioners Brian Cody, the Team Manager, and players Jackie Tyrell, Eoin Larkin and Donnacha Cody the best of luck in their Leinster Senior Hurling Final encounter with Wexford at Croke Park on this Sunday. Go on the Cats!!
Broadcast Mass at St. John’s
RTE 1 Television will broadcast Mass from St. John’s Church, Kilkenny at 11.10am on this Sunday, 6th July. Bishop Freeman will be the principal celebrant. There will be no 10.30am or 12.00 noon Mass at St. John’s Church on this Sunday.
The Houses for the Elderly
Nine homes for the elderly have been built as part of our development at Loughboy. As the development nears completion it is timely to explain how the houses will be allocated. The houses were built in partnership with the Kilkenny Local Housing Authority. The Housing Authority provided the majority of the funding for these houses (€1.3 million) and consequently has a say in the allocation of 75% of the houses. The parish can nominate residents to 25% of the houses.
A committee will be put in place to oversee this procedure. Our policy is quite clear. The committee will be obliged to take into consideration the terms of the government’s Safe Home Programme. We will give priority to those living in St. Patrick’s Parish who have no home and who are on the local authority housing list. If there is no one suitable from the parish we may consider applications from the rest of Kilkenny City and County, again from those on the housing list. Applicants should be on the local authority housing list which ensures that the successful applicants are really in need of housing. Incidentally, those who receive houses will be expected to pay a rental for the accommodation. Application forms will be available later in the summer.
We hope this clarifies some questions in relation to these houses. Any further questions are welcome.
Disruption at St. Fiacre’s Church
Due to works being carried out in St. Fiacre’s Church it will be necessary to postpone exposition on Monday, 7th July and keep the church closed after Mass until at least the middle of the week. We apologise for the inconvenience and the builder assures us he will be finished by next week. The next scheduled disruption will be for the painting and re-carpeting of St. Fiacre’s Church. We will give you ample notice before this occurs. Thanks for your patience.
Golf Classic
Thanks to all who organised and supported our very successful golf classic on Friday last. In spite of the weather all enjoyed a good day.
Ladies Mini Marathon
Some sponsorship cards are still outstanding. Please contact Fr. Roderick as soon as possible if you still have a card.
Know your Neighbour Weekend
“People don’t even know their own neighbours.” Macra na Feirme’s solution is the ‘Know Your Neighbour Weekend’, which will take place for the third year on July 12th & 13th next. This campaign encourages people to organise an activity over this weekend and invite their neighbours along. Info at www.knowyourneighbour.ie
What will you do for Know your Neighbour Weekend? For more information or to request an organiser’s pack
Clonmacnois Youth Festival
Youth 2000 Summer Festival will be held at Clonmacnois, Co. Offaly from Thursday, 14th until Sunday, 17th August. For 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 information please contact 01 675 3690 or check our websites at www.youth2000.ie or xx-youth-xx.bebo.com
Questions People Ask
Q. What is meant by ‘shoulder my yoke’?
A. A yoke was a piece of wood laid across the shoulders of animals to harness them together and hitch them to a plough or cart. In the Bible it was a symbol of oppression and slavery; or it referred to any painful burden such as suffering. Jesus, coming from a carpentry background knew about fitting a yoke to the contours of particular animals to make it less burdensome. As carpenter-turned-saviour, he promised that our burdens would be lighter if we would imitate his gentleness and humility of heart.
Fr. Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap
