No Shortcuts
The Manual of Zen Buddhism by Cheng-tao ke tells us that the sage:
Walks always by himself, goes about always by himself;
Every perfect one saunters along one and the same passage of Nirvana;
His tone is classical, his spirit is transparent, his airs are naturally elevated,
His features are rather gaunt, his bones are firm, he pays no attention to others.
Compare that Buddhist sage to the Biblical one found in today’s First Reading. There, Solomon prays for a discerning mind – one that can distinguish between good and evil, to enable him to govern God’s people fairly. No elitism there. No focus on a lean and hungry look. Outward appearance means nothing to God. And, there’s no aloofness either. No indifference to other people’s plight. Quite the opposite, in fact.
Biblical wisdom is geared to engagement, to service, to responsibility.
The wise one is he, or she, who knows how to live well with others. Biblical wisdom is outward looking. While it comes from on high it’s found at the coalface. It’s found in those who don’t settle for the sidelines, who are not afraid to make the journey to authentic self. As Robert Jingen Gunn puts it in Journeys into Emptiness (p.7): ‘Yet we remain deeply ambivalent about becoming ourselves. Afraid of the anxiety that attends self-knowledge, afraid of the possible demands of authentic life, we run away, hiding in false selves, or smaller selves, avoiding the challenge of our true self.’
Solomon faced God, God’s people and himself to acquire wisdom. There are no shortcuts.
Fr. Tom Cahill SVD
First Friday
The first Friday of August occurs this week. The priests will visit the sick at the usual times. Contact the Parish Office if you or a friend would like to be added to the list.
The Manual of Zen Buddhism by Cheng-tao ke tells us that the sage:
Walks always by himself, goes about always by himself;
Every perfect one saunters along one and the same passage of Nirvana;
His tone is classical, his spirit is transparent, his airs are naturally elevated,
His features are rather gaunt, his bones are firm, he pays no attention to others.
Compare that Buddhist sage to the Biblical one found in today’s First Reading. There, Solomon prays for a discerning mind – one that can distinguish between good and evil, to enable him to govern God’s people fairly. No elitism there. No focus on a lean and hungry look. Outward appearance means nothing to God. And, there’s no aloofness either. No indifference to other people’s plight. Quite the opposite, in fact.
Biblical wisdom is geared to engagement, to service, to responsibility.
The wise one is he, or she, who knows how to live well with others. Biblical wisdom is outward looking. While it comes from on high it’s found at the coalface. It’s found in those who don’t settle for the sidelines, who are not afraid to make the journey to authentic self. As Robert Jingen Gunn puts it in Journeys into Emptiness (p.7): ‘Yet we remain deeply ambivalent about becoming ourselves. Afraid of the anxiety that attends self-knowledge, afraid of the possible demands of authentic life, we run away, hiding in false selves, or smaller selves, avoiding the challenge of our true self.’
Solomon faced God, God’s people and himself to acquire wisdom. There are no shortcuts.
Fr. Tom Cahill SVD
First Friday
The first Friday of August occurs this week. The priests will visit the sick at the usual times. Contact the Parish Office if you or a friend would like to be added to the list.
Questions People Ask
Q. Jesus had many parables about the kingdom of heaven. Do these parables refer to the next life or to present reality?
A. At the beginning of his preaching Jesus announced that his mission this world would be about the kingdom or reign of God. Its perfection would be in the next life but its growth would begin in this life. The kingdom on earth means what life would be like if everybody lived according to the ideals of the gospel. A beautiful prospect indeed, involving repentance and believing. Jesus said it is a treasure waiting to be discovered, a precious pearl to be sought by every means at our disposal.
Fr. Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap
Ossory Pilgrims Return Home
World Youth Day came to an end last weekend in Sydney. An all-night vigil was spent on Saturday night in Randwick Stadium finishing with an open air Mass celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI in Randwick Stadium on Sunday morning. At the conclusion of the Mass the Holy Father did not say goodbye but rather arrivederci to the international group of pilgrims as he announced that the next WYD would take place in Madrid in 2011. Following the Mass on Sunday morning 450,000 pilgrims made the walk back into Sydney and gradually left the host city on their journey home.
The Ossory Pilgrims enjoyed three days in Sydney before their departure on Thursday arriving back in Dublin on Friday morning. Accompanied by Bishop Freeman all were delighted with the three weeks spent ‘down under with Pope Benedict’ and spoke of the experience that was deeply religious.
Congratulations to all who raised the Ossory flag in Australia renewing many links through meetings with the Irish Christian Brothers in Sydney, the Sisters of Mercy in Parramatta, the St. John of God Sisters in Ballarat and the home of Count O'Loughlin in Bungaree and Dunstown and the Kilkenny Association in Sydney.
Ossory Pilgrims Return Home
World Youth Day came to an end last weekend in Sydney. An all-night vigil was spent on Saturday night in Randwick Stadium finishing with an open air Mass celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI in Randwick Stadium on Sunday morning. At the conclusion of the Mass the Holy Father did not say goodbye but rather arrivederci to the international group of pilgrims as he announced that the next WYD would take place in Madrid in 2011. Following the Mass on Sunday morning 450,000 pilgrims made the walk back into Sydney and gradually left the host city on their journey home.
The Ossory Pilgrims enjoyed three days in Sydney before their departure on Thursday arriving back in Dublin on Friday morning. Accompanied by Bishop Freeman all were delighted with the three weeks spent ‘down under with Pope Benedict’ and spoke of the experience that was deeply religious.
Congratulations to all who raised the Ossory flag in Australia renewing many links through meetings with the Irish Christian Brothers in Sydney, the Sisters of Mercy in Parramatta, the St. John of God Sisters in Ballarat and the home of Count O'Loughlin in Bungaree and Dunstown and the Kilkenny Association in Sydney.
Our Youth Head for Medjugorje
Almost sixty young people from the diocese of Ossory - including fourteen from St. Patrick’s Parish - head to Medjugorje this weekend. During the next two weeks over 40,000 young people and 400 hundred priests from all over the world will assemble at the Croatian shrine for the annual youth festival of prayer, testimonies, music, procession, adoration, concert and dance.
This is the 19th International Youth Festival or ‘Mladifest 19’ as it is called. The theme of the encounter is, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8). This theme is in harmony with the theme of the 23rd World Youth Day, which has just ended in Sydney. The Holy Father is addressing his word to young people: “My dear young friends, the Holy Spirit continues today to act with power in the Church, and the fruits of the Spirit are abundant in the measure in which we are ready to open up to this power that makes all things new. For this reason it is important that each one of us know the Spirit, establish a relationship with Him and allow ourselves to be guided by Him.
I know very well that you young people hold in your hearts great appreciation and love for Jesus, and that you desire to meet Him and speak with Him. Indeed, remember that it is precisely the presence of the Spirit within us that confirms, constitutes and builds our person on the very Person of Jesus crucified and risen. So let us become familiar with the Holy Spirit in order to be familiar with Jesus.
May Mary, united in prayer with the Apostles in the Upper Room, accompany you throughout these months and obtain for all young Christians a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit to set their hearts on fire. Remember: the Church has confidence in you! We pastors, especially, pray that you may love and lead others to love Jesus more and more and that you may follow Him faithfully. With these sentiments I bless you all with deep affection.”
Pray For the Deceased
Recently Deceased: Joe Cody, 11 Noremount. Funeral prayers on Sunday morning at 11.15am followed by removal to St. Patrick's Church for requiem Mass at 12.30pm. Interment afterwards in St. Kieran’s Cemetery. Rosary at his home on Saturday evening at 9pm. Edward Kirwan, Wexford and formerly Gregara, Jenkinstown. Tommy Byrne, Blanchfields Park, Gowran.
Anniversaries: Thomas McGuire (Sat 6.15), Devina Crosby (Sun 10.00), Ann Quirke, Peter Wiltshire, Mary Guiry, Annie Campion, Delia O’Hara, Jimmy Bourke, Billy Bourke, Catherine Manogue, Nancy Larkin, Mary Tynan, Mary Holland.
Intentions for Next Weekend: Angela Tiernan (Sun 10.00), Martin Mulhall (Sun 11.00), Tom Burns (Sun 12.00), Ger Dooley & P.J. O’Neill (Sun 12.30).
Foulkstown Cemetery Mass
The annual Mass at Foulkstown Cemetery will take place at 7.30pm on next Thursday. All are encouraged to assist our hard-working Cemetery Committee by attending to family graves before the event. Christian virtue insists that we help those who are unable to care for their family plots. Please do the best you can to help neighbours and friends who are unable to attend to their family plots.
Recalling the heavy traffic which accumulates in the area on the occasion of the Mass we ask that people come as early as possible and be patient on leaving the area.
Clonmacnois Youth Festival
Want a different kind of Summer festival? The Clonmacnois Youth Festival is a lively 4 day festival with workshops, concert, inspiring talks, great music and prayer. And plenty of time for relaxing, chilling out and meeting new people. Age 16 - 35. No cost/free bus from Kilkenny. Bring a sleeping bag. Further information is available on www.youth2000.ie or 01 675 3690.
Croagh Patrick
For the first time the national “Reek Sunday” pilgrimage to Croagh Patrick will be televised live on RTÉ1. The annual pilgrimage, which takes place on this Sunday 27th July, will be led by Archbishop Michael Neary, Archbishop of Tuam. Television coverage will begin at 10.45am and include Mass from the summit at 11.00am.
In keeping with this specially dedicated Year of Vocation for the Catholic Church in Ireland, the theme for the 2008 Croagh Patrick pilgrimage is ‘Vocation’.
St. Fiacre’s Well Novena
The annual novena at St. Fiacre’s Well begins at 8.00pm on Saturday, 23rd and concludes with Mass on Sunday, 31st August. Bishop Freeman has accepted our invitation to be principal celebrant at this year’s Mass.
Our Lady’s Island
The annual pilgrimage season is from 15th August to 8th September. The Opening Ceremony will be on the Feast of the Assumption, Friday, 15th August: Assembly on the Island at 2.45pm; Mass at 3pm; Eucharistic Procession at 3.45pm concluding with benediction. Mass will be celebrated at 3pm each day of the pilgrimage season. Further information on our church notice boards.
Parish Draw
The July Draw will be held at the Sacristy of St. Fiacre’s Church on this Tuesday, 29th July at 8.30pm. All welcome. Monies and tickets may be returned directly to Ted Byrne or to St. Fiacre’s Sacristy from 6.30pm on Tuesday evening.
Lectors at Weekend Masses
Readers are asked to call to the sacristy before Mass. This will ensure that the celebrant can be confident of the lector’s presence and any last minute arrangements can be communicated. Thanks.
Ballykeeffe Amphitheatre
Coming up during August:
August 2: Summer sounds from the best loved classical and popular pieces with Tanya Sewell and choir. Admission €12.
August 16: A tri-cophany of sound from Moonlight, the Garda Band and Kilkenny Gospel Choir. Admission €12.
Tickets for all the summer events can be obtained from O'Connor's Shop, Kilmanagh and The Book Centre, High Street, Kilkenny.
Life Coaching Course
Beginning in September Empower Training is offering a course leading to a Diploma in Life and Personal Coaching in Kilkenny. Further information from Colette at Empower Training on 777 6736 or 087 988 8575.
