The second collection at all Masses this weekend will be for Pakistan
The Punisher
An atheist doesn’t usually feel the need for a supernatural being – and one that’s a punisher to boot! But last year at the annual conference of the British Association of Science its president said that religion may have helped to protect society from itself in the past, and may be needed to do so again. His concern was not for divinity but for human failure, as he saw it, to take effective action against global warming. A supernatural punisher, he suggested, might be part of the solution. That’s raising global warming to the fire and brimstone temperature of pulpit thumpers of yesteryear. He’d like today’s Second Reading (Heb 12:5-7, 11-13) as it talks about being punished by the Lord. However, verse 6 is a quotation from the Book of Proverbs 3:12. The language there is softer, less punitive than in Hebrews, at least in the NRSV Bible. In Proverbs we have ‘reprove’ not ‘punish’; and a father who ‘delights’ in his son, and not merely ‘accepts’ him, as in Hebrews. Impressions are important. They must have blur our image of the loving God we believe in. He who delights in us in not vindictive or judgemental. But neither is he a softie. Evil exists up to its most abhorrent forms because of a misuse of the freedom our loving God gave us. When we misuse it there are consequences always. They’re built in to the way things are. Unfortunately, there are times when we can’t seem to learn by any other means than through the dire consequences of out acts.
Fr. Tom Cahill SVD
Questions people ask
Q. I am sometimes addicted to pornography on the internet. Afterwards I feel really ashamed. But I fall again and again. Any advice?
Yes, it is a form of addiction. As with any addiction it takes away freedom. The first step in rehabilitation is the humble admission of having lost your freedom in dealing with the problem. Then you must sincerely ask for God’s help, not just once, but every time you open your internet. For somebody addicted to alcohol, what is important is not to take the first drink. For you, the important step is not to switch on the site where you lose your freedom and dignity.
Fr. Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap
Pray for Our Deceased
Recently Deceased: Mary Byrne, Waterford Road, John Breen, 70 Newpark, Sean Cahill, Clonmoran & Manchester
Anniversaries: Tom Casserly (Sat 6.15), Eddie Kelly (Sat 7.00), Paddy Mullen (Sun 10.00), Evelyn Hughes (Sun 10.30), Hugh McCorry (Sun 11.00), Della Harney (Sun 12.00), Christopher Lawlor (Sun 12.30), Kitty Mullins (Tues 9.30), Annie McKenna (Tues 10.30), James Delaney (Wed 9.30), Catherine & Pierce Marnell (Wed 10.30), Peter Keenan, Nance O’Neill, Mary & Patrick Blanchfield, William & Mary Watson, Pat Murray Lavender, Margie, Bob & Glenn Brady, Sheila Batten, James Browne, Jack Allen, Marie Kealy Carson, Sheila & George Mastino, Joseph O’Shea, Katie Leahy, Michael Burke.
Intentions for next weekend
Anniversaries: Bridget Kenny (Sat 6.15), Patrick McDonald (Sat 7.00), Ben Delahunty (Sun 11.00), Tom Byrne (Sun 12.000, Jacqueline Rainey (Sun 12.30).
Would you like to volunteer once a week?
Kilkenny Contact is a community based voluntary organisation for older people covering Kilkenny City & County, and we are looking for additional volunteers to commit to one hour per week only, to befriend /visit older people who live alone in your area. All you need is to be kind, caring and have good listening skills. Our older people have a lot to give back to you also, along with the benefit of their experience of life. If you are interested please call to Eleanor Doyle Coordinator Kilkenny Contact at The Fr McGrath Centre 056/7751988 Ext 6 or Mobile 086/8530994 anytime.
Trocaire
Trócaire staff are reporting that children are filling plastic bottles with filthy water from canals for their families and using it for washing, cooking and even drinking. This puts them at extreme risk of contracting illnesses from water-borne diseases, but they have no choice - Bishop Kirby
A national collection will be held this weekend, 21 and 22 August, in Catholic churches across Ireland in aid of survivors of Pakistan's devastating floods. Bishop John Kirby, Bishop of Clonfert and Chairman of Trócaire, is urging Irish parishioners to support collections in their local parishes so as to help Pakistani people cope with the worst flooding in the history of the State. Trócaire is the official overseas development agency of the Catholic Church in Ireland. Trócaire is providing emergency food, clean water, water purification tablets, cooking utensils, sleeping mats, sanitary goods and other essential items for thousands of affected families. It is ensuring that children and the most vulnerable get enough calories to protect their health. The organisation will work with the Pakistani people to recover in the long-term by rebuilding homes and helping people to begin farming and earning a living once the flooding subsides.
S.O.S.
The annual church gate collection i aid of S.O.S. will be taken up at all Masses this weekend 21st & 22nd August 2010.
Nore River Walk
The Kilkenny Archaeological Society event, marking Heritage Week ,is the Nore River walk on next Wednesday evening at 7.00pm beginning from the Peace Park which is located at the end of the Canal Walk close to Greens Bridge. Pat Foley, an engineer has done great research on the river and those persons and premises along both its banks. The walk/talk will take us from there to John's Bridge. Following the River walk those taking part will be invited to return to Rothe House where we have a range of attractions to entertain and inform. All are invited to Rothe House at 8.15 blunt (as opposed to sharp!) after the walk even if you do not care to take part in the walk element of the evening.
St. Fiacre’s Well Annual Novena
The annual novena prayers begins at St. Fiacre’s Well, Kilfera this Saturday 21st at 8.00pm. The rosary will continue at the same time on each evening of the coming week. The novena will conclude with public prayers at the well at 3.00pm next Sunday, 29th August followed by the celebration of Mass afterwards.
All are invited and encouraged to make this a special time of prayer in our parish to one of our patron saints.
Parish Team
Come September, St. Patrick’s Parish will begin the process of recruiting new members onto the Parish Pastoral Team. This follows the retirement of a number of current team members who have served over 8 years and now wish to retire and allow ‘new blood’ onto the team. We are extremely grateful to our outgoing members who have worked long and hard to build our parish into what it is today.
For those of you who are not familiar with the Parish Team, the Team consists of lay men and women (and religious) who work with and assist the priests in the planning and running of the Parish. The Team meets on a regular basis to discern and plan for the future of St. Patrick’s.
If you are a regular mass goer who is interested in how our parish grows and develops then perhaps you might consider putting your name forward as a candidate. More on this in the coming weeks.
Parish Registration
If you are new to our parish, then welcome. If you have not joined us in a while, then welcome too.
We strive to keep an accurate and up to date record of our parish and so we invite all who wish to do so to register with us.
In recent weeks we have a had a number of people applying for references and other information from the parish and in most cases, we had no record or knowledge of them. We may know grandparents, parents or some family members, but there’s nothing better than being registered yourself.
Fill out the form above and send it back and we will reply with an acknowledgement.
Humour
How many of you will ‘get’ this one?
A Franciscan and Jesuit were debating which order was the greatest. So, they decided to ask for a sign from God. This is what they received falling down from heaven:
My sons,
Please stop bickering about such trivial matters,
Sincerely,
God, O.P
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 056 778 4532/778 4600.
The Ossory Diocesan Policy on Safeguarding Children is available on www.ossory.ie
