Strange Attraction
In his book, Jesus Today, Albert Nolan writes, ‘It seems that systems of various kinds often exist in a state of chaos or, as they say, “on the edge of chaos,” and then suddenly and unpredictably there emerges something called a “strange attractor” that rearranges the chaos into some new order.’ Today, on the feast of the Ascension we celebrate not the arrival but the departure of the strange attractor: the Risen Lord.Change ‘systems’ to ‘individuals’ above and you have many a person’s life story. Confusion and doubt are necessary for intellectual and psychological growth. As Timothy Ferris writes in Coming of Age in the Milky Way, ‘Yet it is turmoil and confusion and not calm assurance that mark the growth of the mind.’ Into our personal confusion steps the ‘strange attractor’. As we flounder, his helping hand pulls us up and out of our confusion – not, however, on to a placid and permanent plateau, but to a higher level of confusion. No sooner are our feet placed firmly on Mother Earth than we are whisked to heights that make us dizzy. If our faith doesn’t s-t-r-e-t-c-h our mind, we’re not people of faith, but people of reason. Belief in the Ascension should make us gasp. Do we realise what we’re saying we actually believe in! First: that someone flatline dead didn’t just revive and return to his former state but resurrected to a higher, super-human, everlasting one. Second: having done so, then ‘ascended’ to a totally new quantum-leap environment we call ‘heaven’.
Wow! Wow! Wow! is all I can say.
Fr Tom Cahill SVD
Richard Quirke Support Fund
The Committee of the Richard Quirke Support Fund would like to thank you for your generosity in respect of the Musical Feast held recently in St. John's Church, Kilkenny. We had a very successful and enjoyable evening. Thank you to all involved for the wonderful support.
In his book, Jesus Today, Albert Nolan writes, ‘It seems that systems of various kinds often exist in a state of chaos or, as they say, “on the edge of chaos,” and then suddenly and unpredictably there emerges something called a “strange attractor” that rearranges the chaos into some new order.’ Today, on the feast of the Ascension we celebrate not the arrival but the departure of the strange attractor: the Risen Lord.Change ‘systems’ to ‘individuals’ above and you have many a person’s life story. Confusion and doubt are necessary for intellectual and psychological growth. As Timothy Ferris writes in Coming of Age in the Milky Way, ‘Yet it is turmoil and confusion and not calm assurance that mark the growth of the mind.’ Into our personal confusion steps the ‘strange attractor’. As we flounder, his helping hand pulls us up and out of our confusion – not, however, on to a placid and permanent plateau, but to a higher level of confusion. No sooner are our feet placed firmly on Mother Earth than we are whisked to heights that make us dizzy. If our faith doesn’t s-t-r-e-t-c-h our mind, we’re not people of faith, but people of reason. Belief in the Ascension should make us gasp. Do we realise what we’re saying we actually believe in! First: that someone flatline dead didn’t just revive and return to his former state but resurrected to a higher, super-human, everlasting one. Second: having done so, then ‘ascended’ to a totally new quantum-leap environment we call ‘heaven’.
Wow! Wow! Wow! is all I can say.
Fr Tom Cahill SVD
Richard Quirke Support Fund
The Committee of the Richard Quirke Support Fund would like to thank you for your generosity in respect of the Musical Feast held recently in St. John's Church, Kilkenny. We had a very successful and enjoyable evening. Thank you to all involved for the wonderful support.
First Holy Communion
We congratulate the boys from St. Patrick’s De La Salle who received their First Holy Communion yesterday and the boys and girls from Kilkenny School Project who will receive theirs today.
Questions people ask
Q. What does the Ascension add to the Resurrection of Jesus? Surely it means something more than his body floating up into the sky?
A. Forty days in the Bible is a block of time when something important is happening. These days from Easter to Ascension were an important transition period for the disciples. Jesus was no longer physically present with them but in various appearances he showed that he had not deserted them, and he prepared them to continue his mission. The Ascension, on the fortieth day, marks the closure of this period of transition. After some days of prayerful preparation they would receive the power of the Holy Spirit to commence their new mission.
Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap
Coffee Morning
The Presentation Associates invite you to a Coffee Morning in St. Mary’s Day Care Centre on Friday 29th May 10am to 12 noon all proceeds going to PRESENTATION Sisters Missions in the Philippines. Come along and bring a friend. Lots of raffle prizes. See you there.
Middle Deanery Pastoral Council
The first meeting of the Middle Deanery Pastoral Council of the Forum took place in Peace in Christ on Wednesday, 13th May. This meeting was chaired by Canon Patrick Dalton, Vicar Forane. Bishop Freeman gave a very inspiring address about the reason for the Forum and its role in the Diocese. The next meeting of this DPC will take place on 10th June.
Pray For Our Deceased
Recently Deceased: Stefan Wogdyla (Wed 10.30), Frank Brennan, Thomas’ Square,
Anniversaries: Catherine & Tommy Phelan (Sat 6.15), William Doheny (Sat 7.00), Joe Davy (Sun 9.30), Ciaran Flood (Sun 10.00), Rev. Richard Conway (Sun 10.30), Jim Carew (Sun 11.00), Gertrude & Patrick Tyrrell (Sun 12.30), Francie McKenna (Tues 9.30), Jack Carroll (Thurs 10.30), Joe Hehir (Fri 9.30), Jimmy Hogan (Sat 9.30), Bridget Culleton, Brian Mahon, Nan Dooley, Kit Kelly, Mary Walsh, Agnes Dermody, Nellie Garrehy, Molly Fitzgerald, Annie Bourke, Mollie Owens, Jack Carroll, Margaret Morrissey, Josephine Knox, Noreen McDonald, Michael Smyth, Harry Kelly, Bridget Barry.
Intentions for next weekend
Months Mind: Margaret Leyton (Sun 10.30)
Anniversaries: Tony Martin (Sat 6.15), John Cleere (Sat 7.00), Patrick Banahan (Sun 9.30), Harry Kelly (Sun 10.00), Kathleen O’Carroll (Sun 11.00), Gerald Keys (Sun 11.00), Fran Blanch (Sun 12.30), Richard Ruth (Tues 10.30)
Mass for those doing Exams
A special mass for all those sitting examinations will take place on Tuesday, 2nd June at St. Fiacre’s Church at 7.30pm.
Ossory Senior Citizens Awareness
Week 2009
25th May 2009 - 31st May 2009
Ossory Senior Citizens’ Mass on Wednesday, 27th May at 3pm.
Venue: The Mill Hill Missionaries
St. Joseph’s, Freshford House
Waterford Road
Kilkenny
Cup of Tea and Entertainment with Pat Shortis & Friends afterwards at Kilkenny Social Services, Waterford Road
All are welcome
Transport at the usual pick up points around the City.
Young at Heart Club
The Young at Heart Club will celebrate their annual Mass at St. Fiacre’s Church on Wednesday 3rd June at 2.30pm. Refreshments afterwards is the Parish Centre. Members and non members welcomed. The club will also hold an afternoon tea in the Parish Centre in aid of the Susie Long Foundation on Wednesday 10th June at 2.30pm. All are welcome. Admission €5.00. Bring a cake and buy a cake.
Loughboy Library Bealtaine Festival
Tues. May 26th @ 11am - Complementary Medicine and Positive Thinking by Ms. Breda Gardner.
Wed. May 27th @ 11am - Mobile Phone Training (please book)
Tues. June 2nd @ 11am - Cookery Demonstration with chef Edward Hayden.
All events are free and all are welcome.
Pilgrimage to Knock
Mill Hill Missionaries annual pilgrimage to Knock will take place on Saturday 13th June 2009. Leaving Prague House, Freshford at 8am, pick up at Mill Hill House, Waterford Road, at 8.30am. Main celebrant and preacher is Fr. John Nevin MHM. Fare: Adults €20, children €10. Contact (056) 7721482 to book your seat.
Charity Hill Walk
A Charity hill walk to the top of Slievenamon will depart the community hall Kilcash village on Sunday 24th of May at 2pm. Banna Cluain Mealla will provide entertainment for one hour prior to the ascent. This event is supported by South East Mountain Rescue Association In aid of Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children. All welcome. For further information contact Liam on 087 212 0201
Our Parish Website
Visit us at : www.patricksparish.com
Wanted:
Host families in Kilkenny City for an English Summer school to house teenagers for 2, 3, 4, or 6 weeks in July and August 2009. Payment €25 per day per student. Please contact 087 9395106, mail: host@mackdonald.com.
Melville Heights Mass
The re-scheduled mass for Melville Heights will take place this coming Friday 29th at 7.30pm. We hope that the weather will be kinder for our celebration
We invite all the residents and of Melville to attend and sincere thanks to the committee who have organised this annual event.
Parish Centre Shop
The parish shop which sells cards and various other religious items is proving a popular success with people. At present you can buy various items for First Holy Communion, for baptisms and other special occasions. The shop is open when the parish centre is open and people wishing to purchase an item can do so through the receptionist or parish secretary.
Parish Centre Booking
The parish centre is available for booking. Contact Ted Byrne for an application form and further information. The Centre consists of two large halls, an I.T room, two counselling rooms, and a number of other meeting rooms. Facilities are also available for refreshments.
Parish Team Meeting
The parish team will meet next Thursday at 8:15 in the Parish Centre. Advance notice for the parish team: On the 15th of June, we are bringing together the 4 city parish pastoral councils in St. Patrick’s Parish Centre. This is a meeting to meet, get to know each other and make plans for future and better collaboration between parishes.
The Abbey Singers
The Abbey Singers will provide the music at the 12 noon mass in St. Fiacre’s next Sunday, Pentecost Sunday.
Help!
We are urgently in need of people to help plant the new beds at the Parish Centre. Right now, the grounds look like a chopped field and if we are to get it planted and looking like a garden we need help.
If interested and available please leave your name at the Parish Office (776 4400) today!
Items for Newsletter
Please leave items for the newsletter into the parish office by Thursday if possible. Anniversaries can be left into the sacristies at St. Patrick or St. Fiacre’s. Thanks for your cooperation.
