Prayer for Christian Unity
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity begins this weekend and runs until Sunday, 25th January. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is an expression of the ecumenical movement – a worldwide movement among Christians to heal the divisions within the Church; to promote dialogues among churches and Christian communities; and to encourage Christians everywhere to better understand and reflect the implications of “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” Each year from January 18th to the 25th, Christians are encouraged to pray together as a sign of the unity that is already theirs in Christ and that that unity will become complete.
The theme for this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity was selected by a local ecumenical group from South Korea. Members of the group were from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea and the National Council of Churches of Korea. The text they chose for this year’s celebration is Ezekiel 37:15-19, 22-24a. The theme will be “That they may become one in your hand.”
To mark this year’s Week of Prayer the Rev. Elaine Murray, Church of Ireland Vicar of the Kilkenny Group of Parishes, will address the congregation at the 6.15 p.m. Mass at St. Fiacre’s Church on next Saturday. The Rev. David Moore of the Kilkenny Presbyterian Church will speak at the 7.00 p.m. Mass at St. Patrick’s Church on the same day. Please give a very warm Village welcome to our guests from these neighbouring churches. While none of our parish clergy are involved in this year’s exchanges priests from a number of the City parishes and religious houses will address the congregations in the Protestant churches on the same weekend.
Senior Citizens’ Party
The annual party for our senior citizens will be held at the Parish Centre on Monday, 2nd February. Tickets will be available at the Parish Office and sacristies during the week. Booking essential.
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity begins this weekend and runs until Sunday, 25th January. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is an expression of the ecumenical movement – a worldwide movement among Christians to heal the divisions within the Church; to promote dialogues among churches and Christian communities; and to encourage Christians everywhere to better understand and reflect the implications of “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” Each year from January 18th to the 25th, Christians are encouraged to pray together as a sign of the unity that is already theirs in Christ and that that unity will become complete.
The theme for this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity was selected by a local ecumenical group from South Korea. Members of the group were from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea and the National Council of Churches of Korea. The text they chose for this year’s celebration is Ezekiel 37:15-19, 22-24a. The theme will be “That they may become one in your hand.”
To mark this year’s Week of Prayer the Rev. Elaine Murray, Church of Ireland Vicar of the Kilkenny Group of Parishes, will address the congregation at the 6.15 p.m. Mass at St. Fiacre’s Church on next Saturday. The Rev. David Moore of the Kilkenny Presbyterian Church will speak at the 7.00 p.m. Mass at St. Patrick’s Church on the same day. Please give a very warm Village welcome to our guests from these neighbouring churches. While none of our parish clergy are involved in this year’s exchanges priests from a number of the City parishes and religious houses will address the congregations in the Protestant churches on the same weekend.
Senior Citizens’ Party
The annual party for our senior citizens will be held at the Parish Centre on Monday, 2nd February. Tickets will be available at the Parish Office and sacristies during the week. Booking essential.
Kieran Goss in Concert
The well-known performer Kieran Goss has agreed to give some of the proceeds of his forthcoming Kilkenny concert to St. Patrick’s Parish Funds. We will benefit from all tickets sold by the Parish Office for the concert which takes place at the Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny on Friday, 20th February. Tickets cost €25 at the Parish Office.
Questions People Ask
Q. Jesus often spoke about the kingdom of God, especially in his parables. Was he referring to the next life or to life here on earth?
A. Sometimes the kingdom means the next life, but, more often in the Gospels, the kingdom or reign of God refers to living according to the rule of God here on earth. It means the end of the reign of sin as the ideals of Christ become the rule of life in society. This is what Jesus proclaimed at the start of his public mission. We pray for this in saying ‘Thy kingdom come.’
Fr. Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes
The annual diocesan pilgrimage to our Lady’s Shrine at Lourdes will be from 22nd to the 27th May 2009. Price for ordinary pilgrims is €725 p.p.s. plus €25 for coach to the airport. Bookings are now being taken at Glenmore Parish Office, telephone 051 880414. Opening Hours: Monday & Tuesday 10.30am - 2.30pm and Thursday & Friday 10.30am - 2.30pm. Closed Wednesdays.
Getting Married Soon?
The following are the dates for Accord Pre-Marriage Courses in Kilkenny during the coming year:
17th January, 7th February, 7th March, 23rd May, 13th June, 27th June, 19th September, 24th October and 21st November. Course fill up quickly and early booking is strongly advised. The Accord Office may be contacted at 772 2674. www.accord.ie
Pray For The Deceased
Recently Deceased: Michael Drennan, 8 Cashel Drive. Rosary at his home at 8.00pm on Sunday. Funeral prayers at his home on Monday at 11.15am followed by removal to St. Fiacre’s Church. Requiem Mass at 12 noon followed by burial at Foulkstown Cemetery. Pauline Hogan, St. Anthony’s, Newpark. Jimmy Haide, Troy’s Court.
Anniversaries: Anna Campion (Sat 6.15), Oliver Mannion (Sat 7.00), Patrick Morris (Sun 9.30), Paul Prodromou (Sun 10.30), Maureen O’Shea (Sun 11.00), Sally Mullally (Sun 12.00), Thomas Walton (Sun 12.30), Richard Brennan (Tue 10.30), Brigid Currid (Wed 9.30), Maureen & Paddy Dwyer (Wed 10.30), John Phelan (Thur 10.30), Elizabeth Mulligan (Fri 9.30), Kathleen Kelly (Fri 10.30), Sarah Kelly, Cornelius Carroll, Ned Larkin, Patrick Fewer, Ellen Fewer, Frank Moran, Martin Coyne, Albert & Bridget Downes.
Intentions for next weekend: Pauline English (Sat 6.15), Kitty Hickey (Sat 7.00), Nora Foley (Sun 9.30), Thomas Drohan (Month’s Mind, Sun 10.00), Jack, Peg & Breda Molloy (Sun 10.30), Kathleen O’Neill (Sun 11.00), John Comerford & Christy Comerford (Sun 12.00), Michael Moore (Sun 12.30) Ellen, John & Pat Butler (Thurs 10.30), Sr. Theophane Duggan (Month’s Mind, Fri 9.30), Jim Loughlin (Sat 9.30).
Christian Brothers, Kilkenny
The Christian Brothers’ Community in James’ Street, Kilkenny will cease as a religious community on 31st January 2009. The present brothers will be redeployed.
The Irish Christian Brothers have served the people of Kilkenny City and the Diocese of Ossory for the past 149 years. They began their ministry here in 1860.
To mark the departure of the brothers from Kilkenny City there will be a Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Mary’s Cathedral on Sunday, 8th February at 2.30pm. The brothers invite all past-pupils to join them as they say farewell.
Howls of Protest
This is something you may not want to hear. Even with faith in God it takes some getting used to. It’s what Paul says in today’s Second Reading: ‘you are not your own’ (1 Cor 6:19). You don’t have the final say over what you can and can’t do.
I can almost hear howls of protest from those who claim total ownership over themselves, from those who claim the ‘right’ to do whatever they wish provided it’s not illegal, from those who claim the ‘right’ to end their life at a time and in a manner of their choosing – and generally from anybody who doesn’t like being told what to do. And that covers a lot of people. But isn’t it basic to our faith that we belong to God, and are happy with that? Isn’t that what baptism is about: acknowledging God’s ownership of us? We didn’t make ourselves, cause ourselves to be born, give ourselves life in any way whatsoever. So how can we possibly claim ownership over something we had no hand or act in making? We have been given as a gift unto ourselves – a gift for purpose not whimsy, for freedom not licence, forever not just for a day. But suppose, for the sake of argument, that God’s word in Scripture were to tell us that God couldn’t care less what we did here; that God couldn’t be bothered whether we wiped ourselves off the face of the earth, for that matter, how would we feel? I can almost hear howls of protest.
Fr. Tom Cahill SVD.
Recovering From Depression
Aware as part of Depression Awareness Week Nationwide (DAWN) 19th to 24th January is hosting a talk entitled “Recovering from Depression” in the Talbot Hotel, Carlow on Monday, 19th January at 8pm. The speakers will be Dr. Ben Parmeter and Annette (an individual with experience of depression). Admission is free and all are welcome.
Evening Lectures
Trinity College Dublin and Carlow College present the Michael Slattery Lectures. ‘Irish Reputations’ is a series of 12 Tuesday evening lectures examining 12 iconic names in Irish history and literature including Wolfe Tone, O’Connell, Parnell, Pearse, Joyce, Heaney. The lectures begin on Tuesday, 20th January at 6.30 p.m. in Carlow College – St Patrick’s with Dr. Micheal Ó Siochru of TCD History speaking on ‘Oliver Cromwell and Ireland’. Enquiries: telephone Carlow College on 059 915 3200 or infocc@carlowcollege.ie
Fit Walk Programme
Kilkenny Recreation and Sports Partnership is organising a Fit Walk programme in The Watershed, under the Irish Sports Council, Women in Sport, Initiative. The Programme is a walking based fitness programme, comprising six one hour sessions each of which will take you a step further along the way to understanding fitness walking. Between sessions you will be invited to do weekly home walks! Elements of the programme include posture, resistance, stride walking and power walking. The programme starts Wednesday, 21st of January in The Watershed at 10am and will run for six weeks. Contact Kilkenny Recreation and Sports Partnership to book or for more details at 772 0870 or info@krsp.ie
CAO Information Evening
A CAO Information Evening takes place in the Library of Carlow College – St. Patrick’s, Carlow on Monday, 19th January at 7.30 pm.
The Importance of Family
The Church’s Sixth World Meeting of Families, which was not highlighted in the Irish media, started last Wednesday in Mexico City. Some 7,500 pilgrims from 98 countries attended the opening ceremony alongside Mexican President Felipe Calderon and Church officials. Since Wednesday families from around the world, 22 cardinals and 60 bishops have participated in a congress on the family. A video message from Pope Benedict will be broadcast at Sunday’s closing Mass which, it is expected, will be attended by around 1 million people. The Pope is being represented at the event by Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.
The family is ‘the most effective school’ of values in societies that are ‘sick with individualism and relativism,’ said Cardinal Ennio Antonelli, President of the Pontifical Council for the Family, as he opened the meeting. ‘We are all aware of the fact that the family's educational mission encounters extremely serious difficulties today,’ Cardinal Antonelli said. The meeting studied the family from many perspectives and with relation to the challenges and the opportunities of our time. See the official congress website at www.wmf2009.com for more information and details of the discussions.
Psychotherapist
A psychotherapist/counsellor has rented a room in the Parish Centre on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. Call Robert on 086 878 6353 to arrange an appointment.
