Jack-of-all-trades
Jack has been the most popular name for baby boys in Britain for 13 years running. In Ireland for a number of years it was the second most popular name to… yes, Seán. No playmate leapfrogging from John to Jack. It was up front, plain and simple, in-your-face-from-the-start, Jack. So what, you may ask. Well, it might indicate that the poetry of life has gone out the door for many parents and that a pedestrian prose has replaces it. If so, what a pity! With due apologies to the Jacks of all shades, the name does have its yawn factor. The equally soporific Charles, on the other hand, can be an intoxicant when followed by the name Dickens for collectors of curious. Proof? Well, a 150-year-old wine bottle of his sold for £1,500. Just the bottle, empty! But then, it did have part of a label on the outside and dried sediment on the inside. But it was the owner’s name that counted. Joe Blogg wouldn’t have got a look in.
Today’s First Reading refers to a name: As they left the council they rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer dishonour for the sake of the name. (Acts 5: 27-32, 40-41) If a famous name can add so much value to an otherwise worthless object how much more so the name of Jesus when branded by baptism on a human heart! It’s important that the ‘brand’ name ‘Christian’ be recognised through its bearer becoming ‘all things to all men’, and not just a Jack-of-all-trades to the few.
Fr. Tom Cahill SVD
Bereavement Support Group
The St. Patrick’s Parish Bereavement Support Group offers one-to-one support to bereaved parishioners. Telephone 086 162 9089 to make an appointment to meet members of the group, in the Parish Centre. This is a free and confidential service. Appointments necessary.
Happy Birthdays!
Congratulations and best wishes to Sr. Marie Joseph Fleming, St. John of God Convent who was 101 on Friday and to Margaret Cantwell, Drakelands Nursing Home (formerly St. Fiacre’s Place) who was 100 on Saturday!
Questions People Ask
Q. What do you think people who are officially signing themselves out of the Church?
A. I feel sorry for people who would deprive themselves of the privilege of participating with Jesus in the Eucharistic worship of the Father, and turn their backs on the astounding invitation to receive Jesus as the Bread of Life. The Lord’s presence in the Eucharist is not conditional on the holiness or sinfulness of the priest at the altar. It is a divine gift, not something of human making. The first person to say count-me-out was Judas as he left the Last Supper. The Gospel says that he went into the dark. Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.
Fr. Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap
Pray for Our Deceased Friends
Recently Deceased: Bill Brennan, Bodalmore. Dan Bolger, Bennettsbridge.
Anniversaries: Michael & Mary Burke (Sat 6.15), Margaret Banahan (Sat 7.00), Patrick Morris (Sun 9.30), Eileen Byrne (Sun 10.00), Billy & Ken Dunphy, Betty Byrne (Sun 12.00), Dick Keating (Sun 12.30), Johnny Cullen (Thurs 9.30), Andrew O’Neill (Thurs 10.30), Margaret Layton (Fri 10.30), Andrew O’Neill, Wendy Curly, Geraldine Carroll, Mary Muldowney, Eileen Mullins, Peggy & Michael Bourke, Patrick & Tom Delaney, Johnny Delaney, Mary Crotty, William Maher, Mary, Kate Coyne.
Intentions Next Weekend: Joe Brennan ( Sun 10.00), Michael Gaule (Sun 10.30), Pierce Grace (Sun 11.00), John Hennessy (Sun 12.30).
Spring Gardens
A meeting of volunteer gardeners for St. Patrick’s Parish Centre will take place in the Parish Centre on Thursday next, 22nd April at 7.30pm. More volunteers are needed and anyone interested will be most welcome.
Another Birthday!
Pope Benedict celebrated his birthday on Friday last and Monday, 19th April will be the 5th anniversary of his election as Pope.
St. Patrick’s Folk Choir
The very popular Folk Choir which provides music at the 7.00pm Mass on Saturdays celebrates its 20th birthday this year. To mark the occasion the choir will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving in St. Patrick’s Church at 7.00pm on next Saturday evening. All former members are invited to attend and join in the singing.
A reception will be held in Delaney’s Bar, Patrick Street following the Mass. All past members and supporters welcome.
Polish Tragedy
MultiCity, the Polish Association in Kilkenny, has written: It is our great honour to invite you to attend the Mass which is going to take place on 18th April at 5.00pm on Sunday at St. John’s Church, Dublin Road. We would like to pay tribute to the victims of the tragedy which deeply affected our nation. The Mass is on the same day of their burial, let’s say a prayer all together along with participants of the ceremony in Krakow.
St. Vincent de Paul Society
The monthly collection for the local conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society will be taken up at all Masses this weekend. Please support the local conference in these difficult times.
The local conference can be contacted at the Parish Centre on Monday evenings from 8.00pm or by telephone on 087 681 0589. All enquires are dealt with in strictest confidence.
Computer Classes
We will soon restart computer classes in the parish centre. The dates are: Monday 19th April, Friday 23rd April from 10am to 12 noon. If you are interested then contact Debbie on 087 968 5901. Beginners and more advanced are welcome. St. Patrick’s Parish Centre maintains a dedicated computer room for use in training and other computer related work.
Children with Special Needs
The annual diocesan church gate collection for children with special educational needs will take place this weekend. Please be generous.
Parish Confirmation
Almost 100 young people from schools within our parish will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation on next Saturday morning. Bishop Seamus will be on hand to confirm pupils from St. John of God Girls’ School, St. Patrick’s De La Salle Boys’ School, the School of the Holy Spirit and Kilkenny School Project. The ceremony will take place at St. Mary’s Cathedral and is timed to begin at 11.00am.
Parish Team
The members of the Parish Team are asked to attend a meeting at the Parish Centre on Thursday evening at 8.00pm.
Ossory Pilgrimage to Lourdes
The annual pilgrimage will be held from 22nd to 27th May inclusive. Insurance, flights, transfers, full board and pilgrimage programme costs €720. Contact Eleanor on 051 880 414 or email glenmore@ossory.ie weekdays, 10.30am to 2.30pm except Wednesdays.
Pilgrimage to Oberammergau
Gripped by war, poverty and plague, the villagers of Oberammergau, in Bavaria, southern Germany vowed to put on a ‘passion play’ every ten years… That was back in 1633. They survived, and performed the first Oberammergau Passion Play in 1634. Ever since, their descendants have carried out that pledge. For the past four centuries the tradition has continued, every ten years. Only villagers have been allowed to take part. And that is what will happen yet again in 2010
A small group parishioners from St. Patrick’s Parish has joined together to plan a pilgrimage/holiday around a trip to this year’s Passion Play. The group will be led by Ted Byrne and Fr. Dan Carroll and to date numbers about twelve people. Cost will be €1,675 and travel dates are 20th to 27th August inclusive. There is room for more travellers. Please contact the Parish Office at 056 776 4400, Ted Byrne or Fr. Dan for further details or booking forms. Non parishioners are also welcome.
Diamond Jubilee
We congratulate Sr. Agnes O’Dwyer of the St. John of God Community on her diamond jubilee of religious profession which she celebrated on last Thursday. Ad multos annos!
Listening Sessions
To enable him to listen to what people are feeling about the Church in the aftermath of the Ryan and Murphy Reports, Bishop Seamus Freeman is initiating a series of “Listening Sessions” throughout the diocese of Ossory. He writes: I am now asking the three Deanery Pastoral Councils to organise listening sessions that will give an opportunity to all the people of the diocese to express their feelings and have them heard. This will be the beginning of a process of reflective speaking, listening and discernment that will, I hope, be very fruitful as we move forward.
Dates and venues for people from our area will be announced very shortly.
Pilgrimage to Rome
Mooncoin Parish is organising a pilgrimage to Rome between 25th July and the 1st August.
Led by Fr. Eamonn O’Gorman PP, Mooncoin. Pilgrimage will include as the major sights of Rome. Trips to Assisi, Subiaco and Castelgandolfo will be included. Audience/Angelus with the Holy Father. Cost €1,195 (including taxes).
Places are limited so if you are interested in traveling please contact the Mooncoin Parish Office at 051 895 123. (Monday to Friday 9am - 12.30pm).
Come & See
Painting, flowers and portraits in pastel by Mary O’Brien, showing at Loughboy Library 12th to 26th April 2010. All welcome.
Parent and Toddler Group
The Loughboy Area Resource Centre Parent and Toddler Group runs every Wednesday morning from 10.30am to 12.30pm in the Resource Centre, Bishop Birch Training Institute, Nuncio Road. The group welcomes all parents and love to see you there. Contact Connie at 056 776 4700 for more information.
LARC Book Club
The book club is a new group which meets the second Monday of every month from 11.30am in Loughboy Area Resource Centre, Bishop Birch Training Institute, Nuncio Road. If you would like to take part contact Connie at 056 776 4700 to find out what book the group is currently reading.
Making a difference… in just a day
Happy Heart Weekend 13th - 15th May 2010
The Irish Heart Foundation is looking for volunteers who will come on board and help keep hearts beating this Happy Heart Weekend. With just one day of your time, or even less - volunteers can directly have an impact on saving a life - maybe even the life of someone they know. Make a difference - sign up today. Contact Ciara Mealy on 01 668 5001 or email cmeally@irishheart.ie or visit our website at www.happyheartweekend.ie.
Novena to the Sacred Heart
3—11 June 2010
We are all invited to make this Novena in our own homes, with friends and family in the Parish. This Novena is available in leaflet form (30c) or is published in the June issue of The Sacred Heart Messenger. Order you leaflets from: Messenger Publications, 37 Lower Leeson St, Dublin 2. Phone 01 676 7491. Email: sales @messenger.ie, www.messenger.ie
Holy Souls Crusade Pilgrimages
Divine Mercy, Krakow - 22nd - 29th August, 7 nights half - board. Visiting Czestochowa, Wadowice, Kalwaria & Zakopane. €640 - €250 deposit. Garbandal - 9th-16th October 7 nights (6 at full-board). Visiting Potes, Picos de Europa, Santo Toribio, Covadonga, Oviedo & Limpias, €630 - €250 deposit. Holy Land 2011 - assessing interest. Dates & costs to be arranged. Details: Mary Mullins 091 798407/0872255739
