Locked Doors
I don’t know if you’re into symbolism, but try this for size: locked doors that mean nothing to the resurrected Jesus. Signifying security to the disciples, they are of no hindrance whatsoever to the power of Jesus’ resurrection entering that sealed room in today’s Gospel reading (John 20:19-31), or to that same power going out. John doesn’t describe Jesus as walking through the doors. No Hollywood special effects here. He states simply that Jesus ‘came and stood among them’ (v. 19). Such simplicity conveys clearly just how insignificant locked doors are. So how about our ‘locked doors’? God’s word is telling us that God’s power can be with us even though we are locked into ourselves. We don’t have to open them first for God to enter! Just think of that and what it implies! We can burden ourselves with all sorts of baggage on our journey through life. We can lock out people and events from our mind and heart to preserve our sanity or our comfort. We can circle the wagons and live in fear of life’s threats and dangers. We can run from life and its challenges. Our locked doors can be all sorts of things: prejudices, fears, neuroses, mé-féin-ism, anger, whatever. Now this is the important bit of the symbolism. We don’t have to unlock those doors for God to come and stand with us. In fact, we wouldn’t be able to. Mission doesn’t demand perfection. The disciples got their mission behind locked doors. So do we: to proclaim that God stands among us.
Fr Tom Cahill SVD
Questions people ask
Q. Why do the Gospels put such an emphasis on the risen Jesus showing the disciples his hands and feet?
A. The wounds in his hands and side served to remove any doubts as to the identity of Jesus and the reality of his crucifixion. The Lord invited Thomas to touch his wounds and in doing so, Thomas made the highest act of faith by anybody in the Bible. There is a message here for people of all times. The risen Lord showed his wounds to let us know that we can meet him in our wounded condition. Many people have experienced a wonderful development of faith in meeting their wounded Lord through their own wounds of pain, failures or addiction.
Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap
Pray for the deceased
Recently Deceased: Sr. Joseph Concepta Tarpey, St. Patrick’s Kells Road and Mayo. Funeral Prayer at 2pm on Monday at St. Patrick’s Convent, Kells Road followed by removal to St. Joseph’s Church Foulkstown for Requiem mass at 2.30. Burial in the adjoining cemetery.
Anniversaries: Martin Hoyne (Sat 6.15), Dick Keating (Sat 7.00), Margaret Banahan (Sun 9.30), Pierce Grace (Sun 10.00), Gerry & Mary Coyne (Sun 10.30), Michael O’Reilly (Sun 11.00), Michael & Mary Burke (Sun 12.00), Betty Byrne (Sun 12.30), Mary Muldowney (Mon 9.30), Bridie Murphy (Tues 9.30), Brigid Currid (Tues 10.30), Tobias Butler (Wed 10.30), Wendy Curley, Martin Hoyne, Mary Muldowney, Mary Brennan, William Leahy, Brigid Kelly, Peggy & Michael Bourke, Sean Ryan, Kitty Ryan, Elizabeth Geoghegan, Thomas & Noel Fry, Michael O’Reilly, Kate Coyne, Kitty O’Keeffe, Geraldine Carroll, Bess & Mick Delaney, Goss Murray, Andrew O’Neill, Eileen Hickey.
Intentions for next weekend
Months Mind: Sr. Genevieve Brennan (Sat 7.00)
Anniversaries: Frank O’Brien (Sat 6.15), John Byrne (Sun 10.00), Michael Gaule (Sun 10.30), John Hennessy (Sun 12.30), Mary & Eddie O’Keeffe (Wed 10.30), Mary Cantwell (Fri 10.30)
Eucharistic Ministers
Rotas for the coming year are now available at the sacristies of all three churches. Please take yours from where you minister.
100 years young
All in the Parish join with the priests in wishing Sr. Marie Joseph Fleming a very happy 100th birthday. The celebrations for this big day were mighty.
Trócaire Boxes
Thanks to all who took Trocaire boxes and used them during lent. You can now return your box to any of the sacristies or to the parish centre.
Parish Envelopes
Parish contribution envelopes are currently being distributed and thanks to all who support our parish by making regular contributions. With a large parish to maintain and run and a parish centre to pay for, were grateful for all the support we get.
Some areas of our parish have no distributor and if anyone can help in these areas delivering contribution boxes, we’d be most grateful. The areas are Clongowan and Parcnagowan, Shellumsrath, Kells Road, Cedarwood close and crescent. All others will be posted out in the coming week.
Don’t forget, if you currently don’t receive an envelope for contributions and would like to, then please contact the parish office or any of the priests.
Tax Reclaim
As a registered charity, St. Patrick’s Parish is entitled to claim back income tax from the revenue commissioners on contributions from PAYE workers that are over €250 per year (€5 per week). This reclaim is at no extra expense to the contributor. If you have received one of these forms then please complete it and return it to us. Much appreciated !
St. Fiacre’s Garden
Work will commence shortly on the new garden at the parish centre in Loughboy. The garden, when finished will consist of seating benches, a water feature and various shrubbery.
In order to get this off the ground, a number of volunteers (particularly able bodied men) are required to help with the preparation of the ground. If you are handy about the garden and would like to help out, then leave your name at reception.
St. Joseph’s Young Priests Society
The next meeting of the St. Joseph’s Young Priests Society will take place on Friday, 8th May 2009. The Society prays for vocations to the priesthood and religious life in our diocese. New members very welcome.
Back to Normal
After the Easter break, everything returns to its normal schedule. Our morning masses return to 9.30 in St. Patrick’s and 10.30 in St. Fiacre’s. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament takes place on Monday’s in St. fiacre’s from 11am to 10 and in St. Patrick’s on Fridays from 10 am to 1pm and 4 pm to 9pm.
Diabetes Management
“Step by Step Diabetes Management – easy ways to make a difference” on Sunday 26th April at 2.00pm at the Tower Hotel, Waterford. A number of informative speakers will address the conference. Free Admission. All Welcome. Hosted by The Waterford Branch.
Alzheimer Tea Day
The Alzheimer Society of Ireland will hold their national Tea Day fund raising event on Thursday, 7th May. Would you like to host a Tea Day in your home/work place/community centre & invite family and friends on that day or any day during that week to raise funds for Kilkenny Homecare. If interested contact Marie O’Shea Homecare coordinator on 086 609 0421 or asikilkenny@alzheimer.ie
I don’t know if you’re into symbolism, but try this for size: locked doors that mean nothing to the resurrected Jesus. Signifying security to the disciples, they are of no hindrance whatsoever to the power of Jesus’ resurrection entering that sealed room in today’s Gospel reading (John 20:19-31), or to that same power going out. John doesn’t describe Jesus as walking through the doors. No Hollywood special effects here. He states simply that Jesus ‘came and stood among them’ (v. 19). Such simplicity conveys clearly just how insignificant locked doors are. So how about our ‘locked doors’? God’s word is telling us that God’s power can be with us even though we are locked into ourselves. We don’t have to open them first for God to enter! Just think of that and what it implies! We can burden ourselves with all sorts of baggage on our journey through life. We can lock out people and events from our mind and heart to preserve our sanity or our comfort. We can circle the wagons and live in fear of life’s threats and dangers. We can run from life and its challenges. Our locked doors can be all sorts of things: prejudices, fears, neuroses, mé-féin-ism, anger, whatever. Now this is the important bit of the symbolism. We don’t have to unlock those doors for God to come and stand with us. In fact, we wouldn’t be able to. Mission doesn’t demand perfection. The disciples got their mission behind locked doors. So do we: to proclaim that God stands among us.
Fr Tom Cahill SVD
Questions people ask
Q. Why do the Gospels put such an emphasis on the risen Jesus showing the disciples his hands and feet?
A. The wounds in his hands and side served to remove any doubts as to the identity of Jesus and the reality of his crucifixion. The Lord invited Thomas to touch his wounds and in doing so, Thomas made the highest act of faith by anybody in the Bible. There is a message here for people of all times. The risen Lord showed his wounds to let us know that we can meet him in our wounded condition. Many people have experienced a wonderful development of faith in meeting their wounded Lord through their own wounds of pain, failures or addiction.
Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap
Pray for the deceased
Recently Deceased: Sr. Joseph Concepta Tarpey, St. Patrick’s Kells Road and Mayo. Funeral Prayer at 2pm on Monday at St. Patrick’s Convent, Kells Road followed by removal to St. Joseph’s Church Foulkstown for Requiem mass at 2.30. Burial in the adjoining cemetery.
Anniversaries: Martin Hoyne (Sat 6.15), Dick Keating (Sat 7.00), Margaret Banahan (Sun 9.30), Pierce Grace (Sun 10.00), Gerry & Mary Coyne (Sun 10.30), Michael O’Reilly (Sun 11.00), Michael & Mary Burke (Sun 12.00), Betty Byrne (Sun 12.30), Mary Muldowney (Mon 9.30), Bridie Murphy (Tues 9.30), Brigid Currid (Tues 10.30), Tobias Butler (Wed 10.30), Wendy Curley, Martin Hoyne, Mary Muldowney, Mary Brennan, William Leahy, Brigid Kelly, Peggy & Michael Bourke, Sean Ryan, Kitty Ryan, Elizabeth Geoghegan, Thomas & Noel Fry, Michael O’Reilly, Kate Coyne, Kitty O’Keeffe, Geraldine Carroll, Bess & Mick Delaney, Goss Murray, Andrew O’Neill, Eileen Hickey.
Intentions for next weekend
Months Mind: Sr. Genevieve Brennan (Sat 7.00)
Anniversaries: Frank O’Brien (Sat 6.15), John Byrne (Sun 10.00), Michael Gaule (Sun 10.30), John Hennessy (Sun 12.30), Mary & Eddie O’Keeffe (Wed 10.30), Mary Cantwell (Fri 10.30)
Eucharistic Ministers
Rotas for the coming year are now available at the sacristies of all three churches. Please take yours from where you minister.
100 years young
All in the Parish join with the priests in wishing Sr. Marie Joseph Fleming a very happy 100th birthday. The celebrations for this big day were mighty.
Trócaire Boxes
Thanks to all who took Trocaire boxes and used them during lent. You can now return your box to any of the sacristies or to the parish centre.
Parish Envelopes
Parish contribution envelopes are currently being distributed and thanks to all who support our parish by making regular contributions. With a large parish to maintain and run and a parish centre to pay for, were grateful for all the support we get.
Some areas of our parish have no distributor and if anyone can help in these areas delivering contribution boxes, we’d be most grateful. The areas are Clongowan and Parcnagowan, Shellumsrath, Kells Road, Cedarwood close and crescent. All others will be posted out in the coming week.
Don’t forget, if you currently don’t receive an envelope for contributions and would like to, then please contact the parish office or any of the priests.
Tax Reclaim
As a registered charity, St. Patrick’s Parish is entitled to claim back income tax from the revenue commissioners on contributions from PAYE workers that are over €250 per year (€5 per week). This reclaim is at no extra expense to the contributor. If you have received one of these forms then please complete it and return it to us. Much appreciated !
St. Fiacre’s Garden
Work will commence shortly on the new garden at the parish centre in Loughboy. The garden, when finished will consist of seating benches, a water feature and various shrubbery.
In order to get this off the ground, a number of volunteers (particularly able bodied men) are required to help with the preparation of the ground. If you are handy about the garden and would like to help out, then leave your name at reception.
St. Joseph’s Young Priests Society
The next meeting of the St. Joseph’s Young Priests Society will take place on Friday, 8th May 2009. The Society prays for vocations to the priesthood and religious life in our diocese. New members very welcome.
Back to Normal
After the Easter break, everything returns to its normal schedule. Our morning masses return to 9.30 in St. Patrick’s and 10.30 in St. Fiacre’s. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament takes place on Monday’s in St. fiacre’s from 11am to 10 and in St. Patrick’s on Fridays from 10 am to 1pm and 4 pm to 9pm.
Diabetes Management
“Step by Step Diabetes Management – easy ways to make a difference” on Sunday 26th April at 2.00pm at the Tower Hotel, Waterford. A number of informative speakers will address the conference. Free Admission. All Welcome. Hosted by The Waterford Branch.
Alzheimer Tea Day
The Alzheimer Society of Ireland will hold their national Tea Day fund raising event on Thursday, 7th May. Would you like to host a Tea Day in your home/work place/community centre & invite family and friends on that day or any day during that week to raise funds for Kilkenny Homecare. If interested contact Marie O’Shea Homecare coordinator on 086 609 0421 or asikilkenny@alzheimer.ie
