A Voice in the Wilderness
Recently I contacted a company on behalf of my province. This company could register me only as ‘Mr’, ‘Mrs’ or ‘Ms’. ‘Fr’ or ‘Rev’ was not a programmed option. I settled for ‘Mr’. Then the members of my Order, on whose behalf I had approached the company, could enter the company’s computer only as ‘employees’. It was not programmed to recognize ‘religious’ as a legitimate species. Since then I’ve developed a new empathy with John the Baptist who, in today’s Gospel reading describes himself as ‘the voice in the wilderness’. In moments of disappointment, or gloom that come - and mercifully go - it seems to me that society at large is that wilderness. You wonder who’s listening to you whether you’re preaching in public or being published in periodicals. But it’s not listening to me that’s the concern, or indeed listening to anybody else for that matter. The concern is people’s level of attention to the Word of God. The vociferous ones who came to John the Baptist came to confront him, not to listen to him. Sent by those who pulled the strings, i.e. the Pharisees, they demanded that he give an account of himself. As followers of Jesus, we too must give an account of ourselves for we make some extraordinary claims; not least that the Creator of all that is would want to be born a human being, and could do no better than start life in a manger! Who in their right mind would want to listen to that!
Fr. Tom Cahill SVD
Annual Christmas Carol Service
The annual St. Patrick’s Parish Carol Service takes place on Sunday, 21st December at 3pm in St. Joseph’s Church, Foulkstown. For many this has become a must-attend event in the lead up to Christmas and all are welcome.
Practices: Sunday, 14th December at 3.15pm; Tuesday, 16th December at 7pm; Thursday, 17th December at 7pm in Foulkstown Church. All parish choirs and St. Patrick’s Brass and Reed Band will participate.
Recently I contacted a company on behalf of my province. This company could register me only as ‘Mr’, ‘Mrs’ or ‘Ms’. ‘Fr’ or ‘Rev’ was not a programmed option. I settled for ‘Mr’. Then the members of my Order, on whose behalf I had approached the company, could enter the company’s computer only as ‘employees’. It was not programmed to recognize ‘religious’ as a legitimate species. Since then I’ve developed a new empathy with John the Baptist who, in today’s Gospel reading describes himself as ‘the voice in the wilderness’. In moments of disappointment, or gloom that come - and mercifully go - it seems to me that society at large is that wilderness. You wonder who’s listening to you whether you’re preaching in public or being published in periodicals. But it’s not listening to me that’s the concern, or indeed listening to anybody else for that matter. The concern is people’s level of attention to the Word of God. The vociferous ones who came to John the Baptist came to confront him, not to listen to him. Sent by those who pulled the strings, i.e. the Pharisees, they demanded that he give an account of himself. As followers of Jesus, we too must give an account of ourselves for we make some extraordinary claims; not least that the Creator of all that is would want to be born a human being, and could do no better than start life in a manger! Who in their right mind would want to listen to that!
Fr. Tom Cahill SVD
Annual Christmas Carol Service
The annual St. Patrick’s Parish Carol Service takes place on Sunday, 21st December at 3pm in St. Joseph’s Church, Foulkstown. For many this has become a must-attend event in the lead up to Christmas and all are welcome.
Practices: Sunday, 14th December at 3.15pm; Tuesday, 16th December at 7pm; Thursday, 17th December at 7pm in Foulkstown Church. All parish choirs and St. Patrick’s Brass and Reed Band will participate.
Questions People Ask
Q. The parents of Mary were Joachim and Anne. Who were the parents of Joseph?
A. The names of Mary’s parents are not given in the Bible but come from Christian tradition. Matthew 1:16 lists Jacob as the father of Joseph, whereas Luke 3:23 calls Joseph the son of Heli. It is possible that Jacob and Heli were different names for the same person, something not unusual at the time. These genealogies were not compiled for reasons of historical accuracy. Matthew’s purpose was to trace Joseph back, through David, to Abraham. The universal scope of the Gospel of Luke prompted him to trace Jesus back to Adam. Neither written texts nor popular devotion tell the name of Joseph’s mother.
Fr. Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap.
Pray for our Deceased
Recently deceased: Eddie (Amy) O’Dwyer, California and late of Jacob Street. Evelyn Ryan, Dublin (Thurs 10.30), Therese & Geoff Brook, Threecastles.
Anniversaries: Dick Lynch (Sat 6.15), Julia O’Carroll (Sat 7.00), Michael Hynes (Sun 9.30), Angela Murphy (Sun 10.00), Laurence Healy (Sun 10.30), Joe & Nan Mulhall (Sun 11.00), Padraig “Podge” Butler (Sun 12.00), Kathleen Redpath (Sun 12.30), Margaret Quinlan (Wed 10.30), Patrick Morris (Thurs 9.30), Thomas Saunders (Fri 10.30), Stephen Fanning, Jimmy Bergin, James Hogan, Freda Tynan, James Murray, James Hoyne, Patrick “Darby” Malone, Sylvester Lacey, Eddie McEvoy, Margaret Doyle, Margaret Larkin, Ann Quinn, Laurence Quinn, Mary O’Neill.
Intentions for Next Weekend: Elizabeth Comerford (Sat 6.15), Tommie Tyrell (Sat 7.00), Florrie Cleere (Sun 9.30), Jane & Jeff Power (Sun 10.00), Christopher & Mary Cogan (Sun 10.30), George Byrne (Sun 11.00), John Glynn (Month’s Mind Sun 12.00), Mary Blanchfield (Sun 12.30).
May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen.
Advent Scripture Reflection
Discover God in the nitty gritty of everyday life. Drop-in scripture reflection facilitated by Eileen Ross between 11am and 12 noon on Tuesday, 16th December at the Parish Centre, Loughboy (Following 10.30am Mass). Further information from Eileen at 087 296 4262. All welcome.
Aware Support Group
The Aware Support Group which meets every Monday at 8pm in St. Mary’s Centre, Haughney Green (behind Cineplex) Kilkenny will NOT be closing over the Christmas period. The group, which is totally confidential, is open to those who are experiencing depression. If you require any further information you can contact Mick on 087 94 98 100 or mick@awaresoutheast.com. The Aware Helpline is 1890 303 302.
St. Patrick’s Parish Centre
The Parish Centre will be available to rent to groups and organizations from the beginning of the New Year. Application forms and details of charges are available by contacting the Parish Office at 776 4400 or by calling in person to the Parish Office during opening hours. Tuesdays 9.00am - 12.30pm; Thursday 9.00am - 12.30pm, 2.00pm - 3.30pm and Friday 9.00am - 12.30pm, 2.00pm - 4.00pm.
St. Patrick's Parish Draw
This month’s Parish Draw will take place on Tuesday next, 16th December at 8.30pm in the Parish Centre. Thanks to our promoters and subscribers for their loyalty and support over the past number of years and we wish each of them and their families peace and joy
this Christmas season and New Year.
Christmas Concert
St. Patrick’s Brass and Reed Band will hold their annual Christmas Concert in St. Patrick’s Church on Wednesday, 17th December at 8pm. Come along and join the band and guests for an evening of seasonal music.
Family Liturgy
The Family Liturgy continues on next Sunday at the 10.30am Mass at St. Fiacre’s Church. Those children who would like to participate are invited to a practice in St. Fiacre’s Church on Wednesday evening from 6 to 7pm. Extra adult volunteers are needed.
Irish Wheelchair Association
Bishop Séamus Freeman will be the principal celebrant at the annual IWA Christmas Mass at St. Fiacre’s Church at 3pm on Sunday, 14th December. All are welcome.
Divine Mercy
There will be an hour of adoration and prayer in honour of Divine Mercy in St. Mary’s Cathedral on Sunday, 14th December from 3 - 4pm. All are welcome.
Bag Pack
A fundraising bag pack for the parish will take place in Supervalu, Loughboy on Thursday, Friday & Saturday of this week. Some of our parishioners will pack your shopping to raise money towards the cost of our new Parish Centre. If you have a couple of hours to spare on any of the days and would like to help out, please contact the Parish Office on 056 776 4400. Many hands make light work!
Trócaire Global Gift Campaign
Kimpheuk Tahn has been looking after her two grandchildren for ten years, since her own daughter contracted HIV and died. Kimpheuk has struggled to feed her grandsons but with support from Trócaire Kimpheuk is now able to cope and is sending her boys to school. “I worry about my boys but now I make sure they go to school and get an education so they can look after themselves in the future.”
You can help grandmothers worldwide care for children orphaned by HIV/AIDS by buying one of Trócaire's Global Gifts this Christmas. Log onto www.trocaire.org/globalgift or Callsave 1850 408 408.
Kilkenny Bereavement Support
This is a voluntary organisation which offers a listening service to people of all ages who have been bereaved in recent times or in the past. This is a free and confidential service for people who are feeling the pain of loss and would like t meet someone in confidence who will support them on their journey of grief. To make an arrangement to meet with a volunteer, please telephone 056 775 6538.
Cookery Book
Good Food for Healthy Living - our parish cookery book - is available for sale at the Parish Office and sacristies. An ideal Christmas gift at only €10.
Kieran Goss in Concert
As part of his “I’ll Be Seeing You Tour” Kieran Goss will play the Watergate Theatre, on Friday, 20th February. Part-proceeds of the ticket sales is being donated to St. Patrick’s Parish Homes for the Elderly. Please purchase your tickets from the Parish Office (776 4400) and support our parish. Tickets for the concert cost €25 each and would make welcome Christmas presents.
Christmas Penitential Service
Our parish penitential service will be held at St. Patrick’s Church on Monday, 22nd December from 7.30pm. All welcome.
Society of St. Vincent De Paul
In this time of recession we ask that you be as generous as possible to this parish charity which is taking up its annual Christmas collection this weekend. For many people Christmas is a time of major drain on limited resources and every cent contributed to the society will be used to help people in need in our locality. Please be generous.
The local conference may be contacted at the Parish Centre in Loughboy at 8pm on Mondays and at Parish Office at other times.
Ossory Vocations Team
The One who calls you is faithful
Will you be faithful to his call? God may be inviting you to be a priest, deacon or consecrated religious.
Protest
A number of Kilkenny citizens and others, concerned about the presence of a lap dancing club opposite Kilkenny’s Watergate Theatre, have been protesting outside the club since January. Kilkenny people are invited to join in this protest to keep our City free from such activity. Please come along on Friday or Saturday evenings from 9pm and protect Kilkenny.
Kilkenny Gospel Choir
Will hold a service for those whose lives have been touched by cancer at St. Fiacre’s Church at 7.30pm on Wednesday, 17th December.
