Mission Sunday 19th October 2008

Go and Tell
In a youthful, uppity manner many years ago I remarked at an inter-faith dialogue meeting in Selly Oaks, Birmingham that Jesus wasn’t crucified because he dialogued. That remark – no less incisive for being rather obvious – didn’t go down well. While useful as a getting-to-know-you exercise, thereby improving relations between different faith traditions, dialogue is not the preferred option for Christian missionary activity. It may be a necessary first step in a missionary approach, but it can hardly be considered the only or the final one. Were Jesus sending out his disciples on mission today would he tell them to dialogue instead of to teach? Personally, I doubt it. But then I don’t have a hot line to God. Missionaries are people called to tell. They tell people basically two things: God has created them for a purpose; and, by following Jesus, they fulfil that purpose most assuredly. In telling this good news, missionaries do more than just talk. They present truth in various ways but always with humility; they meet weakness with understanding and they confront evil with firmness. They respect diversity; they promote growth both individually and collectively; and, they bear witness to what they say. Put that way it doesn’t really matter where you are: at home, or away, at work, or at play. If you defend truth, allow for weakness, oppose evil, respect others, promote growth, and live honestly – and do so because you love God, then you are a missionary. Fr. Tom Cahill

Do This In Memory
We welcome the young people preparing for their First Holy Communion to our churches this Sunday. Our 10.30am Mass and 11.00am Mass are special liturgies for the young people preparing for this Sacrament, their parents, families and community. The students of Gaelscoil Osrai and KSP will be at St. Fiacre’s while those from St. John of God and De La Salle will attend St. Patrick’s Church.

Questions People Ask
Q. Jesus said ‘You must call no one on earth your father.’ Isn’t it wrong to call priests Father?
A. It is misleading to take this one quotation literally while disregarding the many places where scripture refers to fathers. St. Paul regarded himself as a Father in Faith: ‘Remember that it was I who fathered you in Christ Jesus by the gospel’ (1 Cor. 4:15). He addressed Timothy as his son. Priests are called father because of their ministry in nurturing Christian life in proclaiming the word of God, in baptism, Eucharist etc. Speaking as a priest, being called father is a humbling reminder of the standards of faith, reverence and behaviour that people expect of me.
Fr. Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap

Altar Server Recruitment
During the week the priests will visit the parish schools to recruit new altar servers. Servers assist the priests at Mass and other special occasions. This is an important ministry which is open to young people from 4th class upwards. Candidates must have received their First Holy Communion, be a regular Mass goer and have an interest in what goes on at Mass. Parental consent and support is needed.
Those who wish to be considered for serving in our three churches should take a form at school and discuss the matter with their parents/guardians. Those interested who do not attend our parish schools should contact one of the priests. Those who are currently serving will also need to take a form and obtain their parents’ permission for another year.
To those who are retiring this year we say ‘well done’ and ‘thank you’ Your serving has been exemplary and on many occasions people have commented on how well you have served.

Ten Commandments of Parenting
Talk by Dr. Vincent Maloney on Tuesday, 21st October at 8pm at the St. John of God School Hall. Free Admission. All are very welcome.

Today is Mission Sunday
World Mission Sunday reminds us of our role as disciples of Jesus. Today we are called upon to play our role in helping to bring the word of God to those who are still hungry for his message. We are given the opportunity to share in the experience of our brothers and sisters who carry on the missionary task today as they ‘Go and Tell’, often in difficult and dangerous circumstances.
Our spiritual and material offerings are crucial for the continued work of missionaries throughout the world, allowing them to share God’s love and compassion. The total raised in today’s collection will be sent in its entirety to support various mission projects. Please give what you can afford, every gift – no matter how small- makes a difference.

St. Vincent De Paul Collection
The monthly collection for the local St. Vincent de Paul Society will be held next week.

Parish Cookery Book
Good Food for Healthy Living is still available. The book contains about 120 easy-to-follow recipes submitted by the sportspeople of our parish, city and county. Copies are available for €10 at the presbytery and at the sacristies of all our churches.

Pregnant and Distressed?
If you are pregnant and distressed and would like to talk to someone in confidence. Telephone 1850 622 626 or 056 772 2739 (local centre). Telephone or drop in. Opening hours: 2 - 4 on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; Thursday evenings 7 - 9pm.

Attention Gardeners
We appeal to those who are “decluttering” gardens to offer spare plants, trees, spring bulbs or suitable cuttings for use in the landscaping at St. Fiacre’s Church. Please contact Doreen at the sacristy at St. Fiacre’s Church if you can help. Thanks to all who responded generously to last week’s appeal.

Pray for the Deceased
Recently Deceased: `Michael Quinn, 12 Hebron Park. Removal from his home at 5.30pm on Sunday to The Curragh Camp. Funeral after 10am Mass on Monday to St. Conleth’s Cemetery, Newbridge. Catherine Kavanagh, 92 Maudlin Street. Con Gowen, UK. Lily Spiers (nee McCormack).
Anniversaries: Nancy Coyne (Sat 6.15), Ned Nolan (Sat 7.00), Gerard Cleere (Sun 9.30), Joseph Eardly (Sun 10.00), Tom Foley (Sun 10.30), John Frawley (Sun 11.00), Richard Kelly (Sun 12.00), Eithne O’Connor (Sun 12.30), Carmel Casserly (Tues 10.30), Bridget Butler (Wed 10.30), Henrietta Hyland (Fri 9.30), Doris Americas (Sat 9.30), Jimmy O’Leary, Maureen Bryan, Therese Brennan, Brigid Butler, Bill Cody, Tommy Hackett, Breda Hehir, John Cantwell, Mary & Joe Hurley.
Intentions for next weekend: Anthona Burke (Sat 6.15); Michael Davin (Sun 10.00), Gerard Moynihan (Sun 11.00), Mary McCormack (Sun 12.00), Henrietta Hyland (Sun 12.30).

Volunteers Urgently Needed
St. Patrick’s Parish urgently needs adult volunteers to help with the 4-2-1 Parish Drugs Education Programme. Adults are needed to help with the programme which will see specially trained young people teaching 12 year olds in a peer initiative that will lead to young people saying ‘no’ to drink and drugs. The campaign is aligned to the Irish Bishops’ Drugs Initiative and has the backing of the Kilkenny City Drugs Initiative at Ossory Youth and the Health Services Executive. Interested adults are asked to come along to the St. John of God School at 7.30pm on Monday. Our young people need your help.

Parish Drugs Initiative
The training in the 4-2-1 Parish Programme continues at the St. John of God School from 7.30pm - 9.30pm on this Monday. We are delighted with the enrolment and, please God, great things will happen as a result.

October Station Envelope
The October stations for the support of the priests of the parish and the bishop is due this month. This is one of five special collections and is the priests’ main source of income.
The five collections are represented by the green envelopes in the envelope pack which many families received earlier this year. If you didn’t receive any envelope and would like to support this collection, just place your donation in an envelope and put your name and address on it. Many thanks.

Readers in Church
We are currently seeking volunteers to read the Word of God at Masses in our parish. Contact the presbytery if willing to help.

Kavanagh in Kilkenny
To commemorate the poet Paddy Kavanagh’s one and only talk in Kilkenny in 1958, Dr. Una Agnew will give a lecture on the poet’s legacy in Rothe House on Friday, 24th October at 8pm. Admission €10 on the night

Talk for Pauline Year
The Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin has arranged for Bishop Tom Wright, Anglican Bishop of Durham to speak at Carlow Cathedral on Monday, 10th November on “Paul: faith and hope for tomorrow’s world”. All welcome to this interesting presentation. Further details are available on www.kandle.ie

Year of St. Paul Pilgrimage
To mark the Year of St. Paul the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin has organised a diocesan pilgrimage to some of the Pauline sites in Turkey. The itinerary includes a visit to Tarsus and along the path of Paul’s first missionary journey. Booking should be made as soon as possible. Contact Map Travel, 36 O’Connell Street, Dublin 1. Telephone 01 878 3116.

St. Martin De Porres Novena
The annual novena in honour of St. Martin De Porres will be held at the Black Abbey from Sunday, 26th October—Monday, 3rd November. Preacher: Fr. John Harris OP. Further details on our church notice boards.

Mass times at the Friary
Masses at the Capuchin Friary will be as follows from the First Sunday of Advent, 30th November 2008.
Sunday/Holy Days: Mass at 7.00pm on Saturday evening. Masses at 7.30am, 10.30am (Irish) and 12.00 noon on Sundays. Extra Mass at 5.40pm on holy days only.
Week Days: Masses at 7.30am and 10.30am.
Saturdays: Masses at 10.30am and 7.00pm.
Bank Holidays: Mass at 10.30am.

Volunteers Needed
The St. Vincent de Paul Society in Kilkenny urgently require suitable volunteers with three hours or more per week to staff their charity shop "Fred's Fashions" at the Butts Green Kilkenny.
If interested in doing this very rewarding work please contact the shop on 065 770 2637 or Mobile on 087 212 0201.

Twenty Eight Sunday in Ordinary Time 12th October 2008

Cherry Pickers Beware!
A street-wise and disarmingly down-to-earth Christian Brother once told his class of second-year secondary students, “The first miracle Jesus worked was to make booze!” Not a particularly reverential way of referring to the miracle of Cana. But true, nonetheless. Put that way it could be a stumbling stone for inter-faith dialogue. You’ll find more stumbling stones in today’s Gospel reading. Take the bit about bringing both the good and the bad to the wedding feast. Doesn’t seem to matter whether you’re good or bad, does it? You’re invited regardless. How do you get your head around that? Let me know if you do. Anyway, everyone seems to be invited, and not very formally either. It’s almost as if they’re put on the spot in the street. Here’s the invitation. Take it or leave it. It’s up to you. What a godsend for freeloaders, cherry pickers and opportunists! But wait. There is a sting in the tail. One of these, let’s say a cherry picker, who ‘answers the call’ hasn’t done his homework. Life has ground rules – and that’s the most basic one of all. Poor fellow! He saunters in without a care in the world and what happens? He’s out on his ear before he knows it. The reason? His dress code. Nothing to do with him being good or bad. Though come to think of it, flouting social mores can indicate arrogance, selfishness or stupidity. Flouting religious ones can indicate the same. Whichever. Cherry pickers of the world be warned. You’re on note!

Fr. Tom Cahill

Divine Mercy
There will be an hour of prayer and adoration in St. Mary’s Cathedral on this Sunday, 12th October from 3 to 4pm. All are welcome.

Choir Practice
The St. Patrick’s Parish Adult Folk Choir practice in St. Patrick’s Church at 8pm every Thursday and provide the music at the 7pm Saturday Mass. New members are always welcome. Drop in any Thursday.

Questions People Ask
Q. My mind is constantly battling with wrong thoughts, uncharitable, envious and impure. Are these terrible sins?
A. St. Teresa of Avila called the imagination the fool of the house. Imagination and memory come up with every sort of improper thought. Improper thoughts are to be regarded as sinful only when they are wilful, that is, when one deliberately nurtures them. You sound as if you do not want them. When you talk of battling, I wonder if an unnecessary feeling of guilt is causing a certain obsession in your mind. Be more gentle with yourself in accepting that we have a fallen nature and praise God who sees your desire to be better. Fr. Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap

Readers in Church
We are currently compiling the lists of readers for next year. Please contact Fr. Dan if you would consider proclaiming the word of God in our parish. Volunteers nominate the Mass at which they would like to read and are rostered well in advance.

St. Vincent De Paul Society
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul urgently requires suitable volunteers with three hours or more per week to spare to staff their charity shop “Fred’s Fashions” at the Butts Green. If interested in doing this very rewarding work please contact the shop on 065 770 2637 or 087 212 0201.

Church Redecoration
St. Fiacre’s Church has been repainted and re-carpeted and we believe worshippers will be pleased with the results. Thanks for your patience while the church was closed.
Now is an opportune time to appeal for volunteers to keep St. Fiacre’s Church in pristine condition. Please contact the sacristans if you could see your way to join the church cleaning roster. We really need your help in this area. Please take pride in your church and help in this way.

Attention Gardeners
We are currently preparing a landscaping plan for the area around St. Fiacre’s Church and the new parish centre. Needless to say it will help curtail costs if we can get gifts of suitable plants, shrubs etc. We appeal to those who may be “decluttering” their gardens to consider offering spare plants, trees or suitable cuttings to the parish. Please contact Doreen at the sacristy at St. Fiacre’s Church if you think you can help.

Pray for our Deceased Friends
Anniversaries: Eddy Dean (Sat 6.15); Judy O’Brien (Sat 7.00); Patsy Walsh (Sun 10.30); Kit Grace (Month’s Mind on Sun 12 noon); Evelyn Coppinger (Sun 12.30); Thomas & Ellen O’Neill (Thurs 10.30); Patrick Morris (Sat 9.30); May Wallace, William Meehan Snr, William Meehan Jnr, Ned Brennan, Mary Dunne, William Maher, Billy & Patty Reinhardt, Patrick Tynan, Kitty Lucas, Josephine Kavanagh, Martin Grace, Margaret McNamara, Michael & Hughie Dollard.
Intentions for Next Weekend: Nancy Coyne (Sat 6.15), Ned Nolan (Sat 7.00), Gerard Cleere (Sun 9.30), Tom Foley (Sun 10.30), John Frawley (Sun 11.00), Eithne O’Connor (Sun 12.30).

Mission Sunday — Go and Tell
Next week marks the annual worldwide Catholic celebration of Mission Sunday. Our prayers and donations on Mission Sunday help to support missionaries and those they reach out to in countries where the Church is new, young or poor. Our support allows Catholic communities throughout the world to become self-sufficient and progress according to their own needs and traditions. A special collection will be taken up next Sunday in aid of our brothers and sisters currently on mission allowing them to continue their difficult but vital work reflecting the theme for Mission Sunday 2008: ‘Go and Tell’.

Parish Drugs Initiative
Last Tuesday evening fifty-six Transition Year and Fifth Year students from local second level schools gathered at the St. John of God School to enrol on a plan to extend the award-winning 4-2-1 Drugs Education Programme to our parish. The programme will see specially trained young people teaching 12 year olds in a peer initiative that will lead to young people saying ‘no’ to drink and drugs. The campaign is aligned to the Irish Bishops’ Drugs Initiative and has the backing of the Kilkenny City Drugs Initiative at Ossory Youth and the Health Services Executive and will continue well into next Spring.
The first training session will be held at the St. John of God School, New Street between 7.30pm and 9.30pm on this Monday, 13th October. This is the final opportunity for 16 - 17 year olds to enrol on the training programme. Interested adult volunteers are also urgently required. Further information from Mel Bay on 087 984 5019 or Fr. Dan.

Traveller Community
Next Tuesday, 14th October will be a very important date for every Traveller in Ireland. It marks the day when the Census for the All-Ireland Traveller Health Study - Our Geels - begins. The Parish of the Travelling People, along with the main traveller organisations countrywide, are encouraging all travellers to participate in the census and the health study which aims to improve travellers’ health and well-being.

Brassed Off
The renowned CWU Concert Band from Dublin will perform a concert “Brassed Off” in the Watergate Theatre on Saturday, 18th of October at 8pm in aid of Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin. Tickets: Adult €10, Children €5 from the Watergate.

Ossory Social Services
The annual church gate collection for Ossory Social Services will be held this weekend.
Parent and Toddler Group
If you are a parent, guardian or childminder of a child/children aged between 0 - 5 years and are interested in availing of this service, please come along for a chance to meet other parents, guardians and childminders of young children in your nearest centre.
Time: 10.30am - 12.30pm. Age Group: Children from 0 - 5 years. Locations: Fr. McGrath F.R.C. (Mondays). Newpark Close F. R.C. (Tuesdays). O’Loughlin Court Community Centre (Wednesdays).
For further information please contact Mailyn on 087 7538484 or at Newpark Close F.R.C. at 056 772 3309.

Come on the Village!
We join in wishing our parish Senior Hurling Team all the best in this Sunday’s St. Canice’s Credit Union SHC semi-final against O’Loughlin Gaels at Nowlan Park. The match is at 2.00pm and we encourage as many as possible to come along and shout for our lads!

Parish Cookery Book
Good Food for Healthy Eating is selling well and has proven very popular among parishioners and visitors alike. The book contains about 120 easy-to-follow recipes submitted by the sportspeople of our parish, city and county. Copies are available for €10 at the presbytery and at the sacristies of all our churches.

Do This In Memory
The next liturgy in our Do This In Memory Programme for First Holy Communicants will take place on next Sunday, 19th October at St. Fiacre’s Church (10.30am) and St. Patrick's Church (11.00am). We look forward to meeting the children and their families again.

The Most Holy Rosary
The Rosary will be recited at the Grotto, Seville Lodge, Callan Road, each Sunday during October at 3pm. All are welcome.

Legion of Mary Series of Talks
In St. Patrick’s College, Thurles (sponsored by the Legion of Mary)
Tuesday, 14th October: “Mary Disciple & Mother” by Fr. John Littleton.
Tuesday, 21st October: “Mary Queen of Apostles: the call of all to be missionaries of “the Way, the Truth and the Life” by Bishop Séamus Freeman, Bishop of Ossory.
Talks will start at 8pm and tea will be served. Cost: €5.00. All welcome.

Helping to Defeat Depression
Aware is seeking volunteers, drawn from all walks of life, to help with their work in defeating depression. If you would like to be involved please contact Mick on 087 94 98 100 or email mick@awaresoutheast.com for further information or to arrange an informal interview. Training and support will be given.

Twenty Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time 5th October 2008

Day for Life
When I started using a computer for the first time I had to download some loony lingo into my brain. Acronyms were all the go. You had WYSIWYG: what you see is what you get, or don’t blame your computer for your silly mistakes. Another was GIGO: garbage in, garbage out, or, don’t blame your computer for spewing out your sow’s ear instead of a silk purse. The GIGO maxim applies not only to computers but also to life, especially today as we celebrate Ireland’s ‘Day for Life’. It’s a response to the proposal of the late Pope John Paul that “a day for life be celebrated each year in every country to foster individual consciences, in families, in the Church and in civil society, a recognition of the meaning and value of human life at every stage and in every condition.” Now, back to GIGO, or, what you put into life is what you get out if it. In today’s Second Reading Paul tells us what to put in: truth, honour, justice, purity, excellence, and whatever is pleasing, commendable, or worthy of praise. We should focus on these, absorbing them, savouring them and allow them to do their work of bringing happiness, gratitude, and peace into the human heart. Perhaps, GIGO needs an update; goodness in, goodness out.
Fr. Tom Cahill SVD

Pastoral Letter
The Catholic Church in Ireland will mark the ‘Day for Life’ 2008 on this Sunday at Masses throughout the country with a Pastoral Letter addressing an important aspect of health care: mental health. Copies of the Pastoral are available at the back of the churches and on www.catholicbishops.ie. This year’s Day for Life focuses on the issue of mental health and, in particular, on the needs of those affected by mental ill-health, their family, friends, and carers. It also acknowledges the support which the parish community and the professional services can bring to those affected.

Pray for our Deceased Friends
Recently Deceased: Anne Roche, 19 Beechpark. Requiem Mass at St. Fiacre’s Church at 12 noon on Sunday. Burial afterwards in Ballymore Eustace cemetery. Thomas Kealy, Connolly Street.
Months Mind: Ben Delahunty (Sun 12.30)
Anniversaries: Billy Roche (Sat 6.15), Dan Gorey (Sun 10.00), Joanie Waters (Sun 11.00), Evelyn Coppinger, John & Mary O’Connell (Tues 9.30), Bridget McKenna, Mark Nugent, William Tallent, Tom O’Neill, Anne Conway, Garry & Norah Dunne, Eileen Barry, Paddy Ryan.
Intentions next weekend: Eddy Dean (Sat 6.15), Judy Owens (Sat 7.00), Patsy Walsh (Sun 10.30), Kit Grace (Sun 12.00 Months Mind), Evelyn Coppinger (Sun 12.30).

St. Patrick’s Parish Cookery Book
St. Patrick’s Parish cookery book, Good Food for Healthy Living, contains about 120 easy-to-follow recipes submitted by the sportspeople of our parish, city and county. The book is excellent value at €10 and is available at the Presbytery and the sacristies of all our churches.

Questions People Ask
Q. This year of St. Paul bothers me. Was he not an anti-woman chauvinist who regarded women as inferior to man?
A. Quite the contrary. In a society where women were regarded as second class. Paul struck a mighty blow for the equality of the sexes: ‘There is no longer Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus ‘(Gal. 3:28). When he writes to the Ephesians that the husband is the head of the wife, he is referring to their different roles in the family. This passage taken in its entirety makes greater demands on the husband in asking him to love his wife with the self-sacrificing love which Christ showed for his church.
Fr. Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap

4-2-1 (Parish) Programme
St. Patrick’s Parish, as a community, has a duty to prepare our young people for the obstacles they will face in life. Drug use is just one of the obstacles. A programme has been developed in Kilkenny to help young people understand how the gifts of the Holy Spirit can help them to avoid the pitfalls of drug use. This programme is called the 4-2-1 (Parish) Programme. Young volunteers (15 to 18 years) are recruited and undergo a training which enables them to create their own Drug Awareness and Gifts of the Holy Spirit Programme. They then deliver these programmes to the Confirmation classes over an eight week period. Training takes place for two hours, one night a week for 14 weeks. It is designed to be fun and social and is based on the award winning 4-2-1 (Schools) Peer Drug Education Programme. Training is delivered by local drug and youth workers from Ossory Youth. Adult volunteers from the parish are recruited and undergo training in conjunction with the HSE Substance Misuse Team which equips them to work with young people and to train and support the young people in the delivery of the programme. If you are a young person aged 15 to 18 years who would like to become a peer educator or if you are an adult who would like to help please come along to a meeting at The St. John of God School, New Street at 7.00pm sharp on this Tuesday or contact Mel Bay on 087 984 5019 or Fr. Dan on 776 4400 for further information. See you there.

Do This In Memory
We welcome the young people who today enrol in the Do This In Memory Programme. The programme will run at the 10.30am Mass (Gaelscoil Osrai and KSP) and the 11.00am Mass (St. John of God’s and St. Patrick’s De La Salle) on one Sunday per month until next June.

Rosary
The monthly rosary on the first Sunday in James Green at the Statue of Our Lady of Kilkenny continues this Sunday, 5th October at 3pm. All are welcome.

Repainting St. Fiacre’s Church
The re-painting and re-carpeting of St. Fiacre’s Church continues this week. Masses at St. Fiacre’s Church will be as usual on Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings. There will be no weekday Masses at St. Fiacre’s Church until the work has been completed. Neither will there be exposition or access to the church while work is underway. We apologise for the disruption this will cause but allowing the workers full and easy access means they will finish earlier.
Daily Mass will be celebrated at St. Patrick’s Church at the usual time of 9.30am.

St. Joseph’s Young Priests Society
The monthly meeting of the St. Joseph’s Young Priests Society will take place on Friday, 10th October after the 9.30am Mass. The meeting will take place in St. Patrick’s Presbytery on the Ormonde Road. Please not the change of time and venue. All welcome.

Legion of Mary
The Rosary will be recited at the Grotto, Seville Lodge, Callan Road, each Sunday during October at 3pm. All are welcome.

Westcourt News
The October Mass for the canonisation of Blessed Edmund Rice will be celebrated in Westcourt on Monday, October 6th at 7.30pm. The Irish Nurses Guild are preparing the liturgy.

Series of Talks
In St. Patrick’s College, Thurles (sponsored by the Legion of Mary)
Tuesday, 7th October: “The Rosary” by Archbishop Dermot Clifford.
Tuesday, 14th October: “Mary Disciple & Mother” by Fr. John Littleton.
Tuesday, 21st October: “Mary Queen of Apostles: the call of all to be missionaries of “the Way, the Truth and the Life” by Bishop Séamus Freeman, Bishop of Ossory.
Talks will start at 8pm and tea will be served. Cost: €5.00. All welcome.

Helping to Defeat Depression
Aware is a not for profit national organization which helps those affected by depression by providing confidential support groups, depression information and a Helpline service. Volunteers, drawn from all walks of life, are essential to this. Aware-South East is currently seeking to involve volunteers in the facilitation of its support groups in Carlow and Kilkenny. The ideal volunteer is someone who has good listening skills, common sense and who can empathize in a non-judgmental way with those who have had or are experiencing depression. If you would like to be involved please contact Mick on 087 94 98 100 or email mick@awaresoutheast.com for further information or to arrange an informal interview. Full and ongoing training and support will be given to selected applicants. See our websites at www.awaresoutheast.com and www.aware.ie

Kilkenny Flower Club
Kilkenny Flower Club will host a teaching demonstration next Thursday in Butler House at 8pm. Demonstration by Margaret Collins. An informative and entertaining evening. All welcome.

Twenty Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time 28th September 2008

Repainting St. Fiacre’s Church
At long last we are getting to the stage of renovating St. Fiacre’s Church. It has been long overdue and we have been waiting until the new development is near completion before undertaking this task.
The downside of the repainting is that the church will have to remain closed to the public on weekdays for two to three weeks. In light of this, the arrangements will be as follows:
Masses at St. Fiacre’s Church will be as usual on Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings. There will be no weekday Masses at St. Fiacre’s Church until the painting has been completed. Neither will there be exposition or access to the church while work is underway. We apologise for the disruption this will cause people but allowing the painters full and early access means they will be able to finish earlier.
Daily Mass will be celebrated at St. Patrick’s Church at the usual time of 9.30am.
We are sure you join with us in looking forward to a newly renovated church.

First Friday
The first Friday of October occurs this week. The priests will happily visit in their homes those who are unable to attend church. Contact the Presbytery someone known to you would like to be included.

Questions People Ask
Q. I have the unfortunate habit of saying the Holy Name. What can I do to break that habit?
A. As a general rule in life, the best of way to break from any unwanted habit is to replace it with another exercise which eventually becomes habitual. Practice makes perfect. Develop the good habit of quietly repeating the Holy Name of God or of Jesus Christ in prayer. Saint Paul tells us that every knee should bend at the name of Jesus. The irreverent use of God’s name betrays a shocking shallowness of faith.
Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap

The Fast Lane
‘If my doctor told me I had only six minutes to live, I wouldn’t brood. I’d type a little faster.’ So said fiction writer Isaac Asimov. Today’s Gospel reading put me in mind of that because it touches on an important point: the need to live authentically. Each of the sons in today’s reading says one thing and does another. The first son, the rebellious one, who says ‘no’, represents those despised in Jewish society: tax collectors because they take money from Jews for Roman authorities, and prostitutes because they sell their services, often to Roman soldiers. The second son, the ‘yes-man’, represents the religious leaders who publicly appear faithful to the Father but aren’t. Yet, when compared to the chief priests and elders - also, in fact, collaborators with the Romans to maintain the status quo - the despised ones fare better before God. You can’t say, ‘read my lips’ to God. Action is what counts, action according to one’s principles. Nobody gets that action right from the word go. You have to work at it. Two steps forward, one step back is the shuffle for many. It’s better than two steps forward in the wrong direction.
Mark Twain once wrote: ‘Let us so live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry.’ If my doctor ever tells me I’ve only six minutes to live I won’t brood either. I’ll chuckle at that advice, hope for the best – and write a little faster. How about you?

Give Blood
The mobile blood donation clinic will be in the Rivercourt Hotel, Kilkenny on the following days: Sunday, 28th September from 11.30am - 3.30pm; Monday, 29th & Tuesday, 30th September; Wednesday, 1st & Thursday, 2nd October from 4.30pm - 8.30pm.

History of St. Mary’s Cathedral
The Story of a Dream, a history of St. Mary’s Cathedral, Kilkenny 1857 – 2007, by Ray Cleere is now available at the Kilkenny Book Centre; St. Kieran’s College; Rothe House and the Watergate Theatre. Cost €10.

Pray for our Deceased Friends
Recently Deceased: Liam Grace, 4 Oak Road, Dukesmeadows & Lisdowney: Funeral Prayers on Sunday morning, at 10.00am at his residence, followed by removal to Lisdowney Church for Requiem Mass at 11.00am. Burial immediately afterwards in St. Lachtain's Cemetery, Freshford. Nell Sweeney, Tramore and late of John’s Quay, Kilkenny: Requiem Mass at St. Joseph’s Church, Foulkstown at 11.30am on Wednesday followed by burial at Foulkstown Cemetery. Mary Golden, 34 Dominic Street: Funeral prayers in Johnston’s Funeral Home at 6.30pm on Sunday followed by removal to St. Mary’s Cathedral. Burial after 11.00am Requiem Mass on Monday to St. Kieran’s Cemetery. Sr. Immaculata Healy, Presentation Convent, Clonmel (late of Conahy and Castlecomer). Kevin McBride, France and late of Kilfera. Peggy Walsh, Tullogher.
Anniversaries: Eugene & Paddy Somers (Sat 6.15); Patrick Traynor (Sat 7.00); Catherine & John Alley (Sun 9.30); Michael Doyle (Sun 10.00); The Byrne Family (Sun 10.30); Dick Furniss (Month’s Mind, Sun 11.00); Julie Foley (Sun 12.30); Peter Alan Bull (Tues 9.30); Séamus & Josie Murray; Elizabeth Connick; Robert Roche (Florida); Terry Kelly; Anastasia Buckley; Anne McKevitt; Nora Hogan.
Intentions for next weekend: Dan Gorey (Sun 10.00); Joanie Waters (Sun 11.00); Evelyn Coppinger (Sun 12.00); Ben Delahunty (Month’s Mind, Sun 12.30).

St. Patrick’s Parish Cookery Book
St. Patrick’s Parish cookery book, Good Food for Healthy Living, contains recipes submitted by the sportspeople of our parish, city and county. In all there are more than 120 easy-to-follow recipes for starters, soups, main courses, desserts, buns and cakes which should get the taste buds watering and the kitchen utensils ringing. The book is excellent value at €10 and is available every day at the Presbytery and the sacristies of all our churches.

421 (Parish) Programme

Drug use is one of the most pertinent problems facing young people today. Alcohol use in Ireland is amongst the highest in Europe. Cannabis use is commonplace while the use of cocaine is reaching epidemic levels and crack cocaine and heroin are now both to be found in Kilkenny.
St. Patrick’s Parish, as a community, has a duty to prepare our young people for the obstacles they will face in life. Drug use is just one of the obstacles. But how can we do this? We look to the Holy Spirit to guide us in this matter as much as in others. In the Sacrament of Confirmation we receive the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. A programme has been developed in Kilkenny to help young people understand how the gifts of the Holy Spirit can help them to avoid the pitfalls of drug use. This programme is called the 421 (Parish) Programme.
So, how does the 421 (Parish) Programme work? Young volunteers (15 to 18 years) are recruited and undergo a training which enables them to create their own drug awareness programme and Gifts of the Holy Spirit programme. They then deliver these programmes to the Parish Confirmation classes over an eight week period. Training takes place for two hours, one night a week for 14 weeks. It is designed to be fun and social and is based on the Kilkenny based 421 (Schools) Peer Drug Education Programme that was awarded the Council of Europe Prevention Prize 2006. Training is delivered by local drug and youth workers from Ossory Youth. Adult volunteers from the parish are recruited and undergo training in conjunction with the HSE Substance Misuse Team which equips them to work with young people around the area of drug use and to train and support the young people in the delivery of the programme.
If you are a young person aged 15 to 18 years who would like to become a peer educator or if you are an adult who would like to help please contact Mel Bay on 087 984 5019 or Fr. Dan on 056 776 4400 for further information.
You will find it to be a fun and rewarding experience.
Significant Parish Dates in 2009

First Holy Communion Dates
Gaelscoil Osrai - Saturday, 9th May;
St. Patrick’s De La Salle - Saturday 23rd May;
K.S.P. - Sunday 31st May;
St. John of God - Saturday 6th June.
Confirmation Dates
Gaelscoil Osrai - Saturday, 14th March.
St. Patrick’s De La Salle, St. John of God N.S. and K.S.P. - Saturday, 16th May.

C.B.S. Parents’ Council
The AGM of the CBS (Secondary) Kilkenny Parents’ Council will be held on Thursday, 2nd October at 7.30pm in the school. At 8pm there will be a talk by Mr. John Leahy former Tipperary Hurler, who will speak on the subject of “Substance Use Awareness”.

Fit Walk Programme
The Fit Walk Programme is taking place at 9.30am in the Sports Hall in St. Patrick's School, Kells Road. This is a walking based fitness programme, comprising five one hour sessions each of which will take you a step further along the way to understanding fitness walking. Between sessionsyou will be invited to do weekly homewalks! Elements of the programme include posture, resistance, stride walking, power walking and the increasingly popular nordic walking. For more information, contact Kilkenny Recreation and Sports Partnership at 056 772 0870.

Table Quiz for Samaritans
The Samaritans will hold a table quiz on Monday, 29th September in the Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel at 8pm sharp. €10 per person.

Brassed Off!
The internationally renowned CWU Concert Band from Dublin will perform a concert "Brassed Off " in the Watergate Theatre on Saturday, 18th of October at 8pm, in aid of Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin. Tickets: Adult €10, children €5 from the Watergate. Information from Liam on 087 212 0201.

Positive Ageing Week
To mark Positive Ageing Week a seminar will be held in Springhill Court Hotel on Tuesday, 30th September. Those who are working/caring for older people are invited to attend. General inquiries to Philip O’Reilly Age Action Ireland on 087 695 1053

Adult Evening Classes
St. Brigid’s College Callan offers Evening Classes. Tuesdays: Advanced Computers €90; Pilates €100; English for Non-nationals €25; Painting for Beginners €90; First Aid €100. Wednesdays: Flower Arranging €90; Computers for Beginners €90; Interior Design €90; Soul Dancing/Yoga followed by dance workout, 7.30 - 9.30 €100. For details phone (056) 772 5189 or (086) 831 2537. Classes begin on Tuesday, 7th October and Wednesday, 8th October at 7.30pm. Enrolment from 25th September to 2nd October in the school at 8.00pm.

Aware - Helping to defeat Depression
Aware is a not for profit national organisation. We help those affected by depression by providing confidential support groups, depression information and a telephone Helpline service. Volunteers drawn from all walks of life are essential to this.
Aware - South East is currently seeking to involve volunteers in the facilitation of its support groups in Carlow and Kilkenny. The ideal volunteer is someone who has good listening skills, common sense and who can empathise in a non judgemental way with those who have had or are experiencing depression.
If you would like to be involved in this type of voluntary work please contact Mick on 087 9498100 or email mick@awaresoutheast.com for further information or to arrange an informal interview. Full and ongoing training and support will be given to selected applicants.