Cross Purpose
Parents can be pushy, a study has found. Not satisfied with their kids’ long school day, many parents muscle their munchkins into an assortment of after-school activities. Counting the hours of a regular school day, of heaped homework, of club commitments and of pursing hobbies, shows that children can average up to 53 hours of work a week. And all in the name of achievement! Well, for Paul in today’s Second Reading (Gal 6:14-18) nothing short of becoming a new creation fits the bill for achievement. As he says, ‘a new creation is everything’ (v 15). However, his formula for success is not the No 1 of most people. His is an attitude of boasting of nothing other than the cross of Jesus Christ. Does he mean that physical, cross-beamed implement of torture used to kill him? Let’s hope not. The cross as a piece of wood has no special significance. What is significant is Jesus’ loving faithfulness to his Father, and his integrity in witnessing to what he believed in, that enabled him to face the horror of the cross. This same love of God and uncompromising commitment to his mission is what fastens Paul to the world and the world to him. Far from being a catalyst for depression, or the trigger for a spirituality of gloom, the cross – though stark and uncompromising – nevertheless reveals a heart warm with love for God and his creation. Our ‘cross’ will weigh us down if borne with gripe, but will raise us up if borne with grace.
Fr Tom Cahill SVD
Thank You
The St. Patrick’s Parish Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul would like to thank sincerely the pupils and teachers of the Confirmation Classes at St. Patrick’s De La Salle Boys’ School, St. John of God Girls’ School and the Kilkenny School Project for their recent generous donations to the local conference. The pupils made the contributions from the money received on the occasion of their recent confirmation.
Questions People Ask
Q. How can I answer somebody who claims that the beast known by the number 666 (Apoc. 13:18) refers to the Pope’s title as the Vicar of Christ?
A. The Apocalypse is not a book foretelling future historical people, although people of every age have fancifully applied it that way. It was written for Christians of the First Century AD who were being persecuted by the Roman Emperor to assure them of God’s ultimate triumph over evil. Six is one short of seven, the number of perfection, but near enough to deceive people for a while. Three sixes represent the triple invocation of a false god. It is a coded reference to worship of the Emperor as a god.
Sylvester O’Flynn OFM Cap
Pray for Our Deceased Friends
Recently Deceased: Mick Byrne, Kennyswell Road. Funeral prayers at Hehir’s Funeral Home at 7.00pm on Sunday followed by removal to St. Mary’s Cathedral. Requiem Mass at 11am on Monday. Burial at Foulkstown Cemetery. Michael Wall, Dublin Road. Requiem Mass at St. John’s Church at 12.00 noon on Sunday Burial at St. Kieran’s Cemetery. Eamonn Wallace, Lord Edward Street. Maisie McDonald.
Anniversaries: John Joe Traynor (Sat 6.15), Sean Hennessy (Sat 7.00), Pauline Kennedy (Sun 10.00), Sharon Galvin (Sun 10.30), Dr Tom McIntyre (Sun 11.00), Austin Murphy (Sun 12.00), Francis Ryan (Sun 12.30), Noreen Llewellyn (Tues 10.30), Martin Crotty (Wed 9.30), Sr. Margaret Mary Bergin & Paddy Bergin (Fri 10.30), Annie Cody, Sean & Kitty Ryan, John Phelan, Edward & Anne Whelan, Michael McGrath, Denis Molloy, Anna Nolan, Mary Fry, Mary Norris.
Intentions for next weekend: Joan Cody (Sat 7.00), Dr. Patrick Boyd (Sun 11.00), Gerard Doheny (Sun 12.30).
Society of St. Vincent De Paul
The next meeting of the local conference will be at the Parish Centre on Monday, 12th July at 8.00pm. During the summer the conference will meet every two weeks. At other times the members can be contacted on 087 681 0589.
St. Oliver Plunkett
Last Thursday marked the 419th anniversary of the martyrdom of St. Oliver Plunkett at Tyburn on 1st July 1681 (he was also the last Catholic martyr to die in England). To mark the 90th anniversary of his beatification Cardinal Sean Brady will lead the 2010 Festival Day of St. Oliver Plunkett in Drogheda, Co. Louth on this Sunday, 4th July. The theme for this year’s festival is ‘The Young Church’. Speaking ahead of the Festival Day, Cardinal Brady said “At the age of 22 years Oliver Plunkett left his native Meath to sail from Waterford for Flanders in February 1647 en route to Rome to study for the priesthood. It was a hazardous journey for many reasons and it was May 1647 when Oliver Plunkett reached the Eternal City. He spent the next 22 years in Rome studying and teaching until in 1669 he was appointed Archbishop of Armagh. As he left Rome a Polish friend said prophetically: “You are now going to shed your blood for the Catholic faith.” A new website dedicated to the life and times of St Oliver Plunkett has been launched to coincide with this year’s Festival Day by St Peter’s Parish, Drogheda. The newly developed website may be viewed at www.saintoliverplunkett.com
Latin Mass
The Society of St. Oliver Plunkett, which organises the weekly Latin Mass at St. Patrick’s Church, has acquired a 1st class relic of St. Oliver Plunkett which will be available for public veneration at St. Patrick’s Church during Vespers and Benediction on Saturday, 24th July at 3.30pm. The votive Mass of St. Oliver Plunkett will be celebrated at St. Patrick’s Church on the Sunday, 25th July. Mass time and further details will be available in future newsletters. See http://societyofstoliverplunkett.blogspot.com/ for details.
Good Luck to the Cats
We wish all from our parish the very best in this weekend’s hurling final.
Broadcast Masses
Our parish has been asked by RTE to host a number of broadcast Masses during the coming weeks. Details to hand are as follows:
Sunday, 18th July: Televised Mass on RTE 1 featuring the St. Patrick’s Adult Choir. Celebrant: Fr. Dan.
Sunday, 1st August: Televised Mass on RTE 1 featuring the Kilkenny Gospel Choir. Celebrant: Fr. Roderick.
Both these Masses will be broadcast from RTE studios in Dublin.
Sunday, 25th July: Mass on RTE Radio 1 Long Wave 252 at 10.00am. St. John’s Parish Folk Choir. Celebrant: Fr. Richard Scriven.
Sunday, 1st August: Mass on RTE Radio 1 Long Wave 252 at 10.00am. St. Patrick’s Folk Choir. Celebrant: Fr. Dan.
Sunday, 8th August: Mass on RTE Radio 1 Long Wave 252 at 10.00am. St. Fiacre’s Folk Choir. Celebrant: Fr. Roderick.
These three Masses will be broadcast live from St. Joseph’s Church, Foulkstown.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
The annual Triduum in honour of Our Lady of Mount Carmel will be held in the Carmelite Friary, Knocktopher later this month.
On Thursday, 15th July there will be a Eucharistic Procession, Rosary and Benediction at the shrine at 7.30pm.
On the feast day itself, Friday, 16th July, there will be Mass for the Sick and Anointing at the Abbey at 7.30pm.
The Tridium will end with the Cemetery Mass in Knocktopher Abbey on Saturday, 17th at 7.30pm.
Loughboy Area Resource Centre
There will be a consultation group held for older people of Loughboy and surrounding environs in the Loughboy Area Resource Centre in Thursday 15th July at 11am. The consultation group is a great opportunity for older people to get their views across about what they would or would not like to see in Kilkenny. Topics such as transportation, access to services, safety etc will be covered.
Book Launch
The launch of St. John's Parish History - "A Church Centenary" - by Mr. Micheal O Muircheartaigh and Bishop Séamus Freeman, SAC, will take place on Wednesday, 7th July 2010 at 8.00 p.m at The Set Theatre, Langton's, Kilkenny. All are welcome to attend the launch.
Loughboy Library
Next Tuesday is registration day for the Summer Reading Challenge for children which is called ‘Space Hop’ this year. Children are encouraged to read 6 books over the holidays and will receive stickers and novelty prizes along the way. There will be a celebration party in September for all who completer the challenge. So come on in and get ready for “blast off”.
Rosary
The monthly rosary on the first Sunday in James Green at the statue of our Lady of Kilkenny continues this Sunday July 4th at 3pm. Our Lady of Kilkenny pray for us. All are welcome to attend.
More Catholic Dictionary
This week: P - U
PEW: A medieval torture device resembling a seat that is still found in Catholic Churches.
PROCESSION: The ceremonial formation at the beginning of Mass, consisting of altar servers, the celebrant, and late parishioners looking for seats.
RECESSIONAL: The ceremonial procession at the conclusion of Mass - led by parishioners trying to beat the crowd to the car park.
RECESSIONAL HYMN: The last song at Mass, often sung a little more quietly, since most of the people have already left.
RELICS: People who have been going to Mass for so long, they actually know when to sit, kneel, and stand.
TEN COMMANDMENTS: The most important Top Ten list not given by David Letterman.
USHERS: The only people in the parish who don't know the seating capacity of a pew.
Safeguarding Children
Please note our policy on reporting allegations listed below.
Safeguarding Children
If you or anyone you know has a child protection concern or wishes to report an allegation of child abuse in relation to any member of Church personnel directly to Church authorities, please contact either of the Diocesan Delegated persons: Fr. Daniel Bollard on 056 772 4279 or Fr. Daniel Cavanagh on 051 421 515.
Alternatively you can report to the statutory authorities: Kilkenny Gardaí on 056 777 5042 or HSE Social Work Department on 056 784 532/778 4600.
The Ossory Diocesan Policy on Safeguarding Children is available on www.ossory.ie
