High Flyers
Cleo, a 13 year-old pet parrot, is usually a model macaw. But one day she has a panic attack and just lost it. She shot up 15m (50 ft) into a tree and couldn’t come down. Having branched out, she fazed out. Her owner had to hire a cherry picker to bring the petrified parrot down to earth. Cleo had never flown so high before, her owner said, and she thought that the unfortunate bird just didn’t know how to come down. The moral of the story? Don’t be a bird-brained high flyer. Today’s readings have high flyers and ‘bird brains’ in mind when they say: be humble. Sirach tells us to go about our business with humility (3:17). Luke gives some street-wise advice on not being pushy in public and hogging the limelight (Luke 14:100. Both readings come with a health warning on losing the run ourselves. Humility gets a bad press usually. It seems a weakness to many, a sign of immaturity, or a personality defect. Today’s go-getter geist is aggressive and competitive, not kind and cooperative. It operates an in-your-face, nothing-succeeds-like-success marketplace. There are no humility-friendly zones there. In part, that’s because humility isn’t a loner. It brings friends: reverence for the sacredness of human life, respect for every person, a willingness to accept gracefully that others may be more intelligent, gifted and capable. And the most bothersome buddy of all: regard for God. To prevent panic attacks, and high flying that puts you out a limb, avoid cherry picking. Just take the straight and narrow.
Fr. Tom Cahill SVD
Questions people ask
Do we have to believe the Bible’s account of the first 6 days of creation?
It is not a scientific account but an imaginative, poetic reflection on the origins of life. First we get three separations: light from darkness, the waters above from the waters below, then dry land from water. The next three stages see the adornment of the separated entitles: light is adorned by the sun, moon and stars; sea and land are adorned with fish and winged birds; on the sixth day, the image and likeness of God. The goodness of all creation is repeatedly stated and the glory of human life is especially stressed.
Fr. Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap
Pray for the Deceased
Recently Deceased: Billy O’Neill, Margaretsfield, Jack Shortall, Shellumsrath, Maria Murray, De Loughery Place.
Anniversary: Bridget Kenny (Sat 6.15), Patrick McDonald (Sat 7.00), Thomas Phelan (Sun 10.30), Ben Delahunty (Sun 11.00), Tom Byrne (Sun 12.00), Jacqueline Rainey (Sun 12.30), Elizabeth Carroll (Mon 9.30), Emily, Jack & John O’Farrelly (Wed 10.30), John & Catherine Waldron (Fri 9.30), Martin Ward, Patty Mulhall, Evelyn Bobbi Leahy, Christopher Kenny, Bro. Martin Cassidy.
Intentions for next weekend
Anniversaries: Ann Marie Manogue (Sat 6.150, Jim Ryan (Sat 7.00), John Delaney (Sun 12.00)
Computer Classes
ECDL computer night classes will begin again in Castlecomer Community School in September. Classes will be laid on for those wishing to pursue the core ECDL which covers seven modules including Word Processing, Spreadsheets, PowerPoint, Internet and Email. Those who successfully complete the course will receive internationally recognised certification. The cost of the course is €350 which includes all tests and notes. All classes run for two to two and half hours per night, one night per week. Please contact (086) 8230888 for booking and information.
Bridge in the Afternoon
St. Patrick’s Parish Centre every Tuesday from 3 - 5pm. No partner required everyone is welcome.
Young at Heart Club
The Young at Heart Group re-opens on Wednesday 1st September @ 2.30pm.
St. Vincent de Paul
The society will meet on Monday 30th August from 8-9pm in the Parish Centre. The next meeting will be on Monday 13th September at the same time.
Don’t forget the society an be contacted at any time by calling 087 6810589.
First Saturday Devotion
Devotion will take place in St. Fiacre’s Church, Loughboy on Saturday September 4th after 6.15pm Mass. Prayers and adoration will end at 9pm. All are welcome.
Healing Service with Eddie Stones
Friday 10th September in the Capuchin Friary.
7pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Rosary and talk by Eddie Stones.
8pm: Confession & Individual prayer with Eddie Stones.
9pm: Blessing, Prayer & Mass.
40th Anniversary
To mark the occasion of the 40th Anniversary of Beech Park, Mass will be celebrated (if weather permits) in Beech Park. If weather is not permissible Mass will be in St. Fiacre’s Church, Loughboy on Saturday 4th September 2010 at 3pm. All are welcome to join with the residents of Beech Park in celebrating this happy occasion.
Support Group
A support group for parents and carers of children with special needs, takes
place the first Wednesday of every month 10.30am to 12.30pm in St.
Patricks Parish Centre, Loughboy (Adjacent to . St. Fiacre’s Church)
Please note change of day from 1st Tuesday to 1st Wednesday of the month.
Next meeting will take place on Weds 1st Sept. For more information please contact, Noreen Irwin @ 087 9581315 or Therese Buckley @ 0879040208
St. Fiacre’s Well Novena
The novena to St. Fiacre’s concludes this Sunday, 29th with mass at St. Fiacre’s Well, Sheastown at 3.30pm. All are welcome to attend. Sincere thanks to all who help to bring this novena and Mass to fruition.
Priest On Call
The priests in St. Patrick’s try to maintain a 24/7 cover by taking turns on duty. This we know is especially important after hours and at night. To contact the priest on duty, simply dial the parish number 7764400 and select the ‘Priest on Duty’ option. This will put you through to one of the priests..
Pakistan Flood Appeal
Last weeks special collection for the flood victims of Pakistan raised €8694 from St. Patrick’s Parish. A sincere thanks to all who supported this collection and your generosity is gratefully appreciated. The money was sent last Tuesday to Diocesan office for forwarding to Trocaire the Irish Aid Agency..
Irish Catholic Newspaper
This truly excellent Catholic newspaper is for sale in all our churches and we encourage people to purchase a copy as a way of keeping up to date with all that is happening within our Church. It features a wide range of articles and opinions that are relevant to today’s Church. While most other media fails to give a fair or accurate view of the Church, the Irish Catholic gives us unparalleled coverage in Church happenings. And the newspaper isn’t some fawning voice either, it’s not afraid to call a spade a spade and offer constructive criticism where necessary.
First Friday
The priests of the parish will visit the sick and housebound next Friday. If you or someone you know is ill and/or housebound, and would like a priest to call, then let us know. Tel. 7764400 and ask for any of the priests.
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.
Parish Centre Bookings
For all bookings of rooms,, halls etc. contact Ted Byrne at 7764400 (follow extension) or call to the parish centre.
And Finally
A little boy was listening to a long and excessively boring sermon in church. Suddenly the red sanctuary lamp caught his eye. Tugging his father`s sleeve, he said, "Daddy, when that light turns green can we go?"
