Here’s a piece of worldly wisdom: A man is incomplete until he’s married; then when he is, he’s finished? In other words: marriage makes or breaks. The Pharisees in today’s Gospel reading are aware of this too when they ask Jesus if it’s lawful for a man to divorce his wife. Note that it’s the legal aspect of marriage they focus on to test him – not a respectful attitude to Jesus or the Law. Law’s purpose is to guide, not to entrap. So, too, with God’s word.
Today it guides us to an understanding of marriage between a man and a woman as a relationship that lasts. This may be hard to take. So a few questions: if divorce is good for society then should it not be on call? Why limit it to just once or twice? If people who marry want the divorce option down the line should this not be expressed in the marriage ceremony? How could someone marrying, who wants divorce as an option, promise ‘to have and to hold for better or for worse until death do us part’? To be honest would they not have to declare: ‘to have and to hold for better but not for worse and until one of us decides to divorce’? But who would want to begin their life together saying that in public? Could love be so calculating? If it could, then perhaps a comment on marriage that the Reader’s Digest carried many years ago might still be true: marriage is an illusion and a snore?
Fr. Tom Cahill SVD
Youth Choir
The Youth Choir returns to the 12.30 Mass in St. Patrick’s Church on Sunday, 11th October. Anyone interested in singing or playing any instrument is welcome. The choir practices just before the 12.30 Mass each Sunday.
St. Joseph’s Young Priests Society
The Annual General Meeting of the St. Joseph’s Young Priests Society will take place after the 10.30am Mass in St. Patrick’s Parish Centre on Friday, 9th October.
Day for Life 2009
The Catholic Church in Ireland celebrates Day for Life 2009 on this Sunday, 4th October. The theme for this year’s Day for Life is suicide, building on 2008’s focus on mental health. On behalf of the Irish Bishops’ Conference, Bishop John Fleming, Bishop of Killala, launched the Day for Life Pastoral Letter You are Precious in my Sight (Isaiah 43:3).
Speaking on the occasion of the launch, Bishop Fleming said “You are precious in my sight is the theme for this year’s Day for Life – the day dedicated to raising awareness about the meaning and value of human life at every stage and in every condition. Day for Life 2009 focuses on suicide and in particular on the pastoral dimensions of this difficult and sensitive subject. It highlights why the Church believes that life is worth living and looks at some of the reasons why people may contemplate suicide. In particular, we reflect of the issue of mental illness, the stigma which tends to surround it and the resources which are available to those who suffer from it, as well the need for the promotion of positive mental health in our society.
Some copies of the Bishops’ Pastoral are available at the church doors. The Pastoral may be downloaded and further information obtained at www.catholicbishops.ie
Legion of Mary
The Rosary will be recited at the Grotto at Seville Lodge on the Callan Road each Sunday during October at 3pm.
Rosary
The monthly rosary on the First Sunday in James Green at the statue of Our Lady of Kilkenny continues this Sunday, 4th October at 3pm. All are welcome.
CBS Parents’ Council
The Annual General Meeting of CBS Parents’ Council will be held on Thursday, 8th October at 7.30pm at the school on James’s Street. Dr. Vincent Maloney, Child Psychiatrist, will give a talk on “Rearing Teenagers – 10 Golden Rules” at 8pm. All welcome.
"Be Still and know that I am God”
Christian meditation will resume in Peace in Christ Retreat House, Sion Road every Wednesday at 4pm from 7th October 2009.
Mass for Loreto Past Pupils
Mass to mark the 400 anniversary of Loreto education will be celebrated at St. Mary’s Cathedral on Sunday, 11th October at 3pm.
Is Chronic illness part of your life?
Are you a carer or do you have a health condition? Would a self-Management Programme help? Self management is about using simple skills to take control of the way you think and feel about your health condition/your caring situation and how you cope in everyday life. Six week courses will begin:
1) Tuesday, 3rd November: 10am to 12.30pm at the Citizens Information Centre, The Parade, Kilkenny
2) Saturday, 7th November: 10am to 12.30pm at the Irish Wheelchair Association, Claddagh Court, Kilkenny
For further information contact Anne Cody 087 902 8534 or check out www.ceartpatientwise.ie
Priesthood and Religious Life
The St. Patrick’s Parish branch of the St. Joseph’s Young Priests Society has invited Fr. Liam Burke, Director of Vocations in the Archdiocese of Dublin, to speak at a number of Masses next weekend. Fr. Burke, who is known for his work in promoting vocations, will speak at 6.15pm Mass on Saturday and 12.30pm Mass on Sunday. He may be available at other Masses.
Aware
An Aware Support Group for relatives of those affected by depression will take place on Wednesday, 7th Oct and the first Wednesday of every month in St. Mary’s Centre, Haughney Green, Kilkenny (behind Cineplex) at 8pm. The group allows relatives to be supported in a confidential and non judgemental atmosphere and all are welcome. If you need and further information you can contact the Southeast Office: 053 918 4525 or info@awaresoutheast.ie
Pray for the Deceased
Recently Deceased: John Casey, 4 Old School House, Patrick’s Street. Kevin Dowling, 43 St. Fiacre’s Place. Ann Kavanagh, Cypress Avenue.
Months Mind: Joan O’Connell (Sun 12.00)
Anniversaries: Eugene & Paddy Somers (Sat 6.15), Evelyn Coppinger (Sat 7.00), Frank English (Sun 10.00), Patsy Walsh (Sun 10.30), Anne Roche (Sun 11.00), Patrick O’Shea (Sun 12.30), Rose McDonagh (Mon 9.30), John & Mary O’Connell (Thurs 9.30), Tom O’Neill, Eileen Barry, Bridget McKenna, Martin Grace, Mary Delaney, Jimmy Morrissey, Mark Nugent, Nora Hogan.
Intentions for next weekend: Eddie Dean (Sat 6.15), Sean O’Keeffe (Sat 7.00 Month’s Mind), Joanie Waters (Sun 11.00), Mary Kelly (Sun 12.30).
Notices for the Newsletter
Please deliver notices/anniversaries for the newsletter to the Parish Office by hand, mail, fax or email before 5pm on Thursdays. Notices should not be addressed to individual priests.
King of the Castle
Fund-raising events in the King of the Castle campaign continue locally. Your local GAA Club has joined forces with St. Patrick’s Parish to raise funds for community projects. We appeal to parishioners to support:-
Coffee Morning and Book Sale
This will take place at St. Patrick’s Parish Centre from 10.30am to 1.30pm on this Sunday, 4th October. All are welcome to drop in for a cuppa, a cake and a chat after Masses this Sunday.
Ticket Sellers Urgently Needed
As part of the King of the Castle campaign the parish has responsibility for selling its share of tickets for the forthcoming Gala Dog Night at Kilkenny Greyhound Stadium on Friday, 16th October. We urgently need volunteers to sell tickets for the Buster Draw and for the night itself. Please contact the Parish Office (776 4400) if you can help.
Earthquake in Sumatra
Trócaire has pledged €250,000 to recovery efforts following the earthquake on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Thousands of people are trapped in collapsed buildings and many schools and hospitals have been destroyed in the city of Padang. The death toll is climbing and is expected to be in the thousands. The scale of this disaster is still unclear and Trócaire is asking the public for their support. To make a donation, log onto www.trocaire.org or call 1850 408 408.
Cystic Fibrosis
The Kilkenny Branch of Cystic Fibrosis “CF” would like to thank the people of St. Patrick’s Parish for their kindness at their recent church gate collection, Over €1,000 was raised.
October Stations
The annual October Stations Collection for the clergy will be taken up this weekend. This is one of five collections taken up to provide an income for our priests and the bishop.
Thank you for your support.
St. Patrick's Parish September Draw Results
Prize Winner Promoter
1st Prize €1000 Noel Burke, 5 Westfield Joan Leahy
2nd Prize €200 Maria Dunphy, c/o promoter Fr. Roderick Whearty
3rd Prize €100 Eileen Muphy, Riverview Brigid Armstrong
4th Prize €100 Edwin Stallard, Danville Kitty Byrne
5th Prize €100 John O'Neill, 13 Archers Crescent Brigid Armstrong
6th Prize €50 Berni & Joan Clarke, c/o promoter John Comerford
7th Prize €50 Richard Reynolds, 18 Loughboy Park Catherine Kinsella
8th Prize €50 Peadar Barrett, Waterford Road Helen Devlin
9th Prize €50 Josie O'Dowd, 44 Dukesmeadows Michael McLoughlin
10th Prize €50 Sarah Doyle, 29 Hollybank Michael McLoughlin
11th Prize €50 Robert Byrne, 21 Cedarwood Crescent Catherine Kinsella
12th Prize €50 Marain Doherty, Noremount Margaret Kelleher
13th Prize €50 Ethel Lonney, 27 Marble Crest Joan Leahy
Promoter's Prize: Joan Moloney, Cashel Downes & Billy Murphy, Callan Road
