Happy Easter
The priests and members of the St. Patrick’s Parish Team wish all in our community a very happy Easter. May the blessings of the Lord’s resurrection give us new hope and strengthen our faith.
Holy Week Liturgies
Thanks to all who helped celebrate our Holy Week Liturgies. Many people worked away in the background while others came forward to help in the sanctuary. Thanks to one and all.
Thanks also to all who attended our Holy Week Liturgies. It was uplifting to join in prayer with so many like-minded people from within our community and beyond.
Easter Week in our Parish
Mass will be celebrated at St. Patrick’s Church at 11.00am each morning during the coming week. Please note: there will be no 9.30am Mass at St. Patrick’s Church and no 10.30am Mass at St. Fiacre’s Church.
Blessed Sacrament Exposition
All are invited to come to St. Fiacre’s Church at any time between 11.00am and 10.00pm on Monday to spend some time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.
Parish Envelopes
New sets of parish contribution envelopes are being distributed at the moment. Distributers who have not yet received their envelopes from the Parish Office are asked to contact Fr. Liam during the week (776 4400).
Parishioners who do not receive an envelope pack within the next few weeks are asked to contact the Parish Office (776 4400). Those who have not received contribution envelopes in the past and wish to contribute to the parish and priests in this way should contact the Parish Office and request a pack.
We take this opportunity to thank those who contribute to the parish and priests through the envelope pack and/or standing orders.
Surfing in the Highest
According to The Times newspaper (14/12/2009) millions of young people in Britain are lonely despite having hundreds of so-called ‘friends’ on social networking sites. Presumably Britain is not alone in this. Those who seek friends at arms-length are bound to be unhappy. Friendship is intended to be right up close and personal. Virtual reality can’t substitute for the real thing. Surfing the Net may seem cool, bright and breezy, even exciting; but it’s well to remember that it’s not called ‘the net’ for nothing. Being trapped by virtual friendships that may well be just illusionary, if not downright predatory, won’t fill the void within an individual. The survey of more than 2,000 adults found that loneliness was a major worry for 21 per cent of people aged 18-24, compared with only 8 per cent of those aged 55 and over. Easter Sunday is the Church’s most important celebration. It may seen a bit of virtual reality to some, but not to those of faith. Jesus came right up close and personal to bring us resurrection. Today’s Second Reading (Col 3:1-4) tells us what we should be ‘surfing’ for: the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. The ‘catch’, if you want to call it that, is that resurrection can’t be found in virtual reality. You won’t find it outside daily living with those who like and dislike. Resurrection is rising through reality – even because of reality – to the glory God has in store for those who value real friends in real life.
Fr. Tom Cahill SVD
St. Patrick’s Adult Folk Choir
The Adult Folk Choir is celebrating its 20th year since formation. To mark the occasion the choir will sing at a celebratory Mass on Saturday, 24th April at 7pm in St. Patrick’s Church. They would love all former members to come and join them on this special evening. All are welcome.
There will be a ‘get together’ after Mass in Delaney’s, Patrick Street.
Questions People Ask
Q. Why isn’t there a set date for Easter as for Christmas? Wouldn’t it be much more practical for arranging school terms, holidays, etc?
A. We celebrate Easter on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox, that is, 21st March. This ancient tradition developed from the Jewish Passover. By taking account of the cycle of the sun and the phase of the moon, the resurrection is connected to the entire universe. It points to the exalted position of Jesus Christ, the Beginning and the End, to whom all the time belongs and all creation. Having a set date for Easter might be practical, but we need reminders that there is more to life and religion than practical planning. Fr. Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap
Pray for Our Deceased Friends
Recently Deceased: Eileen Martin, late of Newpark, Kilkenny. Requiem Mass at St. John’s Church at 12.00 noon on Sunday followed by burial at St. Kieran’s Cemetery. Patrick Burke, Kells Road. Michael (Mick) Grace, Palmerstown.
Months Mind: Matthew Gleeson (Sun 12.00)
Anniversaries: Josephine O’Neill (Sun 10.00); Sheila Ramsbottom (Thur 11.00), Pope John Paul II; Martin & Elizabeth Brennan; Edward, Mary & Theresa McDonald; Mary Lawlor; Paddy Slattery; Neil Cooke; Paddy & Billy Cleere; Ellen Kelly; Alan Kelly.
Intentions for next weekend: Martin Hoyne (Sat 6.15); Paddy Burke (Sat 7.00 Months Mind); Sheila Keaney (Sun 10.30); Paddy McGrath (Sun 11.00); Denis Kavanagh (Sun 12.00); Andy Henderson (Sun 12.30, Months Mind).
Rosary
The monthly rosary on the First Sunday in James Green at the Statue of Our Lady of Kilkenny continues this Sunday, 4th April at 3pm. Come and celebrate the Risen Christ.
A Walk on the White Side
An exhibition of Paintings by Pat Holland now showing at Loughboy Library. The exhibition runs until 10th April.
St. Joseph’s Young Priests Society
The April meeting of the St. Joseph’s Young Priests Society will take place on Friday 16th April (not on the second Friday) due to the Easter Break. New members always welcome.
Healing Service
A healing service will take place in St. Fiacre’s church on Thursday, 15th April at 7.30pm. Healing service and Mass in St. Fiacre’s Church on Thurs 29th April at 7.30pm.
IHCPT Lourdes Pilgrimage
Fr. Dan and a number of local volunteers head to Lourdes with the Irish Children’s Pilgrimage Trust very early on this Easter Sunday morning. The Trust raises money and brings young people with special needs to Lourdes each Easter. Adult helpers pay for themselves but agree to raise funds to provide for the young people. Funds were particularly low this year and the members of the local group would like to say a special thank you to those who supported our fundraisers so generously. Your generosity enabled us to reach our target once again.
A special Trust Mass will be celebrated in Lourdes on Thursday morning next at 9.00am (Irish time). The Trust group will also be at the grotto for Mass on Friday morning at 7.30am (Irish time). Both of these celebrations will be broadcast live on the internet at www.lourdes-france.com
Fundraiser
The Irish Professional Photographers Association are fundraising for the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland. The money raised in Kilkenny will go to providing isolation facilitates for people living with CF in the area should they need hospitalisation. The local participating photographer is Maria of Kilkenny (Oliver’s) on High St. For a donation €25 to CFAI we will provide a mini portrait session and desk portrait. 100% of all monies raised will go to the charity. This is the 5th year of the event and we have raised €180,000 so far.
Trócaire Family Fast Boxes
Thanks to all who contributed to Trócaire during Lent by using the Family Fast Boxes. Please return the contents to our church as soon as possible and the money will be forwarded to Trócaire on your behalf. It is possible to write a cheque for the amount collected and forward it directly to Trócaire - details on the boxes.
Westcourt News
The Mass for the blessings of Edmund Rice on our lives and for his canonisation will be celebrated in Westcourt on Monday, 5th April 2010 at 7.30pm. All are welcome.
Pilgrimage to Knock
There will be a pilgrimage to Knock Shrine on Sunday next the 11th April for Divine Mercy Sunday. A bus will run from the Parade, Kilkenny at 8am. Booking Murphy’s Boutique, 11 High Street, Kilkenny. Tel 056 772 1495.
Daffodil Day Thanks
A huge thank you to everyone who came out to support us on Daffodil Day Friday, 26th March! Whether you took to the streets and sold Daffodil Day merchandise or bought some on the day, please know we simply could not do it without you!
Every daffodil, keyring or pin sold allows the Irish Cancer Society to continue to provide information services and free cancer patient care.
Nursing Homes Support Scheme
A new scheme of financial support for long-term nursing home care has recently been introduced by the HSE. If you or a loved one is in need of nursing home care, or if you would simply like to find out more about the new scheme, please call the HSE Infoline on 1850 24 1850 and ask for information on the Nursing Homes Support Scheme, A Fair Deal. Alternatively, log on to www.dohc.ie/issues/fair_deal.
Eucharistic Ministers
A number of parishioners were commissioned as Ministers of the Eucharist on Holy Thursday evening and some more were recommissioned having served the parish for three and six years. Thanks to all who provide this wonderful service to the local community.
More on Envelope Distributors
We need distributors for the following areas:
Beechpark, Archers Avenue, and Castle Gardens. If you think you can help please contact Fr. Liam. Thanks once again.
Parish Office
The Parish Office will be closed this coming week. Notices can be left into the Parish Centre and to Fr. Liam (Green Door) or Fr. Roderick’s house (Red Door). Please do not leave notices into Fr. Dan’s.
Notices for the newsletter must be in by Thursday at the latest in order to guarantee publication. Thanks for your cooperation.
