Little Things Mean A Lot
Somebody described a diamond as a lump of coal that did well under pressure. Not so for dandelion seeds. Under pressure, recently, they caused problems. A train travelling from Halifax, West Yorkshire to King’s Cross, London, had its engines clogged by drifting dandelion seeds. These spindly, puffy parachutes blocked the air filters in four of its five engines. The mighty machine could only inch ignominiously into King’s Cross station. Even more troublesome were the grains of fine ash from Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull volcano. Consisting of pulverised rock and glass, such as can wreak havoc on planes. Sandblasting windscreens, they effectively ‘blind’ pilots. They pit fuselages, damage landing lights, and clog sensors making air speed indicators unreliable. Being charged particles, they disrupt radio communication and even cause power failure. None of these pitted pellets of rock and glass is more than 2 millimetres in diameter. As the song says: little things mean a lot.
Had the manager in today’s Gospel (Luke 16: 1- 13) known that, he might have been more careful with his employer’s property. Caught in the mire of cheating, he sinks deeper into scheming and theft. Anyone crooked enough to go along with his dishonest ruse could hardly be relied upon to come to his help at a later date. Why should they? Honour among thieves? I doubt it. When life’s worries weigh us down, let’s remember the lump of coal. Pressure transformed it. It can transform us too. We’re already halfway there when we remember, if not the diamond then, the pearl of great price we carry within us: God’s Holy Spirit.
Fr. Tom Cahill SVD
Mass for Retired Teachers
The annual Mass for retired teachers will be celebrated at St. Fiacre’s Church at 10.30am on next Thursday, 23rd September 2010. Tea/Coffee will be served afterwards in St. Patrick’s Parish Centre. All are welcome. Come and join in prayer with our retired teachers.
Questions People Ask
Q. How can I answer my son who has me demented constantly criticising the Pope? He says that educated people today don’t need the Church to teach them how to live.
A. If he is so highly educated, ask him to read what the Pope has actually written. Challenge him to read the Encyclical Letter, Charity in Truth, which addresses the ethical questions underlying social injustice, the financial meltdown, rights and responsibilities, Third World poverty and hunger, the meaning of life.
The world would be a much better place if the Church’s social teaching was heeded. I find that most people who criticise the Pope have never actually read anything he wrote.
Fr. Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap
Pray for our Deceased FriendsRecently Deceased: Chrissie Scott, 10 Fr Hayden Road. Kathleen Beale, 45 Walkin Street. Mikhail Bak, Breagagh Place. Molly Denieffe, Fatima Place.
Month’s Mind: Billy O’Neill, Margaretsfield (Foulkstown Church at 4.00pm Saturday).
Anniversaries: Catherine & John Alley (Sat 6.15), Ciss Holland (Sat 7.00), Margaret Brennan (Sun 10.00), Margaret Jones (Sun 11.00), Mary Kelly (Sun 12.00), Paddy Johnston (Sun 12.30), Bob Roche & Jean Smith (Mon 9.30), Mary Kennedy & Marjorie Foskin (Tue 9.30), Fr. John Lennon (Sat 9.30), Bridget Cahill, Ger Kavanagh, Margaret Beehan, Anna Beale, William Hickey, Bob Roche, Jean Smith, Paddy Larkin, Jimmy Owens.
Intentions Next Weekend: Kevin Dowling (Sat 6.15), Patrick Traynor (Sat 7.00), The Byrne Family (Sun 9.30), Ann Kavanagh (Sun 10.00), Stella O’Rourke (Sun 10.30), Julie Foley (Sun 11.00), Peter Gaule (Sun 12.00), Sandra O’Neill (Sun 12.30).
Traditional Latin Mass
A traditional High Mass (sung) will be celebrated in St. Patrick's Church at 5.00 p.m. on Sunday, 19th September 2010. All are welcome.
Youth Choir Returns
Our parish youth choir, which provides music and song at the 12.30pm Sunday Mass at St. Patrick’s Church, returns following the Summer break on next Sunday, 26th September. New members are always welcome.
Guitar Lessons
Guitar lessons will recommence at St. Patrick’s Parish Centre on Monday, 27th September at 7.00pm. Contact Michelle at 056 776 4400 for further details.
Collection for St. Vincent De Paul
The monthly collection for the local conference of the Society of St. Vincent De Paul will be held at all Masses this weekend. Please give as generously as possible to this local group.
The local conference meets at the St. Patrick’s Parish Centre on Monday evenings from 8.00 to 9.00pm. The member on duty may be contacted in confidence on 087 681 0589.
Adult Folk Choir
We are delighted to have the Adult Folk Choir return to the Saturday evening 7.00 o’clock Mass at St. Patrick’s Church following their Summer break. The choir practices at the St. Patrick’s Parish Centre on Thursday evenings between 8.00 and 9.00 o’clock. New members are welcome.
More Music
The Saturday evening 6.15 choir at St. Fiacre’s Church have also returned. They practice at the St. Patrick’s Parish Centre on Monday evenings from 8.00pm. All welcome.
Loughboy Library
Toddler Hour will commence on Thursday mornings at 11.30am from September 30th. This is a free amenity and will include interactive story time fun word games and colouring. Just turn up on the day.
Magazine Donations - don’t bin your old magazines - donate them to the library instead!
John Henry Cardinal Newman
This Sunday the Catholic Church rejoices at the beatification of John Henry Cardinal Newman long held as one of the greatest Catholic minds. His writings are extensive and inspiring. For more information why not visit one of the many websites dedicated to the writings of Cardinal Newman: www.newmanreader.org/.
‘We can believe what we choose. We are answerable for what we choose to believe.’
Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman
Complete live television coverage of the beatification airs on September 19th on EWTN. Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) can be watched on SKY (Channel 589) as well as on Chorus/UPC (Channel 815). Also free to air with a dish and receiver.
Patsy Cline - The Concert
This concert will be in Langton’s Set Theatre on Sunday, 26th September featuring Sandy Kelly and her band. All the old hits including Crazy, I Fall to Pieces, Your Cheating Heart, Sweet Dreams, Blue Moon and many more. Proceeds in aid of St. John’s Parish Funds. Tickets €22.50 are available at St. John’s Presbytery.
Congratulations
Well done to all involved in winning the Gold Medal for Kilkenny City in the All Ireland Tidy Towns Competition. Thanks to all civic minded people who helped in any way during the campaign. Let’s take pride in our city and keep Kilkenny as the tidiest large urban centre in Ireland.
Log on Learn Computer Classes
Computer classes are beginning in the Presentation Secondary School, Loughboy on Wednesday 13th October at 11am for 8 weeks. The programme involves transition year students helping older people in the community to start learning about the computer or to improve their computer skills. Internet and email and any other modules of interest to the learner will be covered. Anyone interested should contact the school secretary at 056 776 5684.
Art Classes Available
Art Classes in Kilkenny Art Café on Kieran Street. Advanced Classes from 10:00am – 12:00pm and Beginner Classes from 7:30pm – 9:00pm. For further information please contact Sonja on 083 394 1220 or 056 770 8155. Email: sonjavrsajkov@gmail.com.
Fáilte Isteach classes in Kilkenny
English language conversational classes for migrants will begin in the St. Mary’s Parish Hall in Kilkenny and we are looking for volunteer tutors for this project. No experience or qualifications necessary as training will be provided. A commitment of two hours per week is desirable. Info: Maura Hickey on 779 4921.
