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
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
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.
