Saturday, October 30, 2010

Thirty First Sunday in Ordinary Time, 31st October 2010

Holy Days in November
The Feast of All Saints is celebrated on Monday, 1st November. Holy Day Masses in our parish will follow the usual weekend schedule: St. Fiacre’s 6.15pm on Sunday, 10.30am and 12.00 noon on Monday; St. Patrick’s 7.00pm on Saturday, 9.30am, 11.00am and 12.30pm on Monday; St. Joseph’s 10.00am on Monday.
Staff and Service Users at the S.O.S. will attend the 10.00am Mass on Monday.
The Commemoration of the Faithful Departed is celebrated on Tuesday. Masses in St. Patrick’s at 9.30am and St. Fiacre’s at 10.30am.

Proclaiming the Word of God
We are currently recruiting people to proclaim the Word of God at Sunday Mass. Please contact any of the priests or a sacristan if you would consider fulfilling this role. Volunteers will be put on a roster and asked to read every few weeks.

An Evening of Prayer for Vocations
St. Patrick’s Parish Conference of the St. Joseph’s Young Priests Society will hold an evening of Prayer for Vocations on this Thursday, 4th November at St. Fiacre’s Church, at 7.30pm. The evening will consist of Holy Hour, Rosary and Mass. A cup of tea will be served afterwards in St. Patrick’s Parish Centre. All are welcome to come along and join in prayer for vocations to the priesthood and religious life in our diocese.

Bible Stories
Sr. Mairead Murphy invites you to a series of reflections on Bible Stories from 8.00pm to 9.00pm on the five Tuesdays of November. Venue: 33 Newpark Close. Contact 779 6123.

Peace in Christ
The annual collection in aid of Peace in Christ Retreat House will take place on Saturday, 6th and Sunday, 7th November.  Peace in Christ is our diocesan retreat house and the sisters and staff provide an excellent service to all. We ask that you support this worthy church gate collection next weekend.

Questions People Ask
Q. Recently at a wedding in another church everybody was invited to take communion. But at a Catholic wedding the priest at the start said that only practising Catholics should receive. Isn’t this rather narrow-minded and hurtful?
A. Catholic belief is that receiving the Lord in the Blessed Eucharist is the greatest privilege of our religion. The Catholic Church will not water down this doctrine and safeguards it with certain regulations: the recipient must be baptised and not in the state of mortal sin. A period of fasting is recommended as a mark of respect. By upholding these regulations we let others know how sacred the Blessed Eucharist is in our religion.
Fr. Silvester O’Flynn OFM

Pray for the DeceasedRecently Deceased: Liam Brett, Inch Mills, Sion Road. Paddy Clancy, Red House, Kilmanagh.

Anniversaries: Birute Poskaite (Sat 6.15), Ann Shortall (Sat 7.00 Months Mind), Madge McIntyre (Sun 9.30), Jennifer Mulhall (Sun 10.00), Mary Byrne (Sun 10.30 Months Mind), Michael Phelan (Sun 11.00), Tom Shanahan (Sun 12.00), John Joe Kealy (Sun 12.30), Jack Garrehy (Sun 6.15), Paddy Wallace (Months Mind), Margaret Wallace (Sun 7.00), P.J. Marrinan (Mon 10.30), Henrietta Hyland (Fri 9.30), Anastasia Muldowney, Mary Kate Morris, John Drennan, Michael Mullins, Margaret Dunlop, Tess O’Neill, Anna, Michael, Mary & Paddy Bowe, Joe Gargan, Diane Keenan, Michael & Mary Lawlor, Patrick Cantwell, Margaret Skehan, Thomas Tynan.

First Holy Communion
We are delighted to welcome Andrea and Aidan Casey to receive the Eucharist for the first time at the 12.00 noon Mass at St. Fiacre’s Church on this Sunday. Andrea and Aidan have prepared well for this important event in their lives. We welcome them into full participation in our Eucharistic Community and look forward to sharing the Eucharist with them on a regular basis.

Credit Union Stamps Found
A number of Credit Union saving stamps were found in the offertory collection last weekend. If these were intended as a donation we will put them to good use - thanks. On the other hand, if they were dropped in by accident we would like to return them to the saver. Please contact the sacristan at St. Fiacre’s Church for further information.

St. Joseph’s Young Priests Society
A special meeting of the Society will take place on Wednesday, 3rd November after the 10.30am Mass in St. Fiacre’s Church. This meeting, which will take place in the Parish Centre, will be brief and it is hoped that as many members as possible will attend.

Envelope Collection
The total for last week’s envelope collection was €1,495.00. Many thanks.

Latin Mass
There will be a Traditional Sung Mass in St. Patrick’s Church on this Sunday, 31st October at 5pm. All welcome.

Altar Servers
The new altar servers rota is now available. Please collect at the sacristies.

Newsletter Extra
Items that do not fit in the printed newsletter are available on our parish website. Surf to www.patricksparish.net for particulars.

Re-launched Diocesan Website
The Diocese of Ossory has re-launched a completely revamped website at www.ossory.ie. It contains Catholic news and information from around the world in written and video format. It also provides information about all parishes in the diocese including Mass times and directions and maps to the churches. The site also hosts parish newsletters from around the diocese which subscribers can have emailed directly to their inbox. The site is a fount of information and help for locals and visitors alike.

Parish Feature in The Irish Catholic
St. Patrick’s Parish is among a number of Kilkenny parishes to be featured in next week’s The Irish Catholic newspaper. We look forward to reading the articles about life here in our parish. To mark the occasion (and let you get a ‘feel’ for the paper) the publisher is providing complementary copies next weekend. Make sure you pick up a copy at church.

Voices of Hope
During the month of November St. Canice’s Parish presents a series called Voices of Hope – Reflections for November. Against the backdrop of continuing difficulties in our Church and in our country we hope that this time of reflection will offer some light and guidance in dark and confusing days.
Series begins on this Thursday, 4th November when Baroness Nuala O’Loan will speak at 7.30pm Mass.

Westcourt News
The November Mass for the blessings of Edmund Rice on our lives and for his canonisation will be celebrated in Westcourt on Monday, 8th November at 7.30pm. Please note the change of date. All welcome.

James Stephens GAA
Mass for the deceased members of James Stephens GAA Club will be celebrated at the clubrooms at 8pm on Monday, 8th November.

Do This In Memory
We welcome this weekend those preparing for First Holy Communion in our parish’s primary schools. Those from Gaelscoil Osraí and Kilkenny School Project will attend 10.30am at St. Fiacre’s Church while those who attend St. Patrick’s De La Salle and St. John of God will be at 11.00am at St. Patrick’s Church. We welcome their parents and guardians and other family members who have come along.

The Kilkenny Gospel Choir
We welcome the choir to 12.00 noon Mass at St. Fiacre’s Church.
St. John’s De La Salle Reunion
50th Anniversary Reunion of 5th/6th Class St John’s De La Salle will take place at St John’s Senior School on Thursday, 4th November at 6.30pm. Mass at 7.00pm followed by refreshments. Please confirm intention to attend with Pat Gray (086 838 0658), Jim Kavanagh (087 280 5059) or Donie Butler (087 315 6359).

Illness or Health Care Issues?
Is chronic illness part of your life? Are you a carer or do you have a chronic health condition? Would a Self-Management Programme help? Self-management is about using simple skills to take control of the way you think and feel about your health condition/your caring situation and how you cope in everyday life. Six week course begins on Thursday, 4th November in the Castlecomer Community Hall from 10.00am to 12.30pm. For further information contact Anne Cody 087 902 8534 or check the website www.ceartpatientwise.ie

Church Gate Collection
Annual collection for Susie Long Foundation this weekend.

Loughboy Area Resource Centre
The following courses are available at the Bishop Birch Training Institute, Nuncio Road:
Women’s Fashion & Beauty starts on Wednesday, 3rd November from 7.00 - 9.00pm. 7 week class. Cost: €5 per class.
Older Persons Exercise through Dance Movement: dance/movement classes for over 50s.
Parents Exercise Class: Do you want to get in shape for Christmas? L.A.R.C are offering a fun aerobic class specifically for parents one morning a week at a low cost. Childcare may be provided. For details: Connie 056 776 4700.

H.Q - (HEADQUARTERS)
H.Q. (HEADQUARTERS) is a new space for young people in 6th Class who would like somewhere to go to hang out with other young people of their age. The club will be open every Tuesday evening from 5.00pm - 6.30pm in the refurbished Youth Centre, Desart Hall, New Street. It will be staffed by youth workers, volunteers and Transition Year/5th Year Student Leaders. It is a place for young people to meet new people, make friends, take part in activities. Membership fee of €2 per week.

On Sale at the Parish Shop
DVD showing Historic Video Footage of the Diocese of Ossory 1956 – 2007 (Featuring the construction and blessing of the Collier Wing, St. Kieran’s College, the granting of the Freedom of the City to Bishop Peter Birch, the Pastoral Renewal Conference in 1977 and the Ceremonial Installation of three Ossory Bishops).
DVD showing the Official Opening and Blessing of St. Patrick’s Parish Centre
in January 2010. €10 each

Home Alone
If there are little green men out there, why haven’t we seen any sign of them? They could be big instead of small and blue instead of green, like the Na’vi on Pandora in the sci-fi file Avatar. Size and colour don’t matter. What does matter is that to date we seem to be the only intelligent life form in this or any neck of the universe. According to recent scientific investigations complex life is rare even in our own galaxy and probably even rarer in other parts of the universe. Like it or not, it seems we’re home alone. That’s a scare scenario for some – and would be for all did God not exist. His word in today’s First Reading (Wis 11: 22-12:2) expands our min. It asks us to think big, to embrace the universe and allow the inevitable feeling of wonder to work its magic in our spirit. It tells us that God hates nothing he has made. What exists is here because he want s it here. As we’re still relatively new to the universe we’re still finding these things out. Therefore, an open mind is essential both towards little green men and God alike. The crowd in today’s Gospel (Luke 19:1-10) don’t have an open mind towards Jesus eating with Zacchaeus, a tax collector and, in their eyes, a sinner. Because of that, they miss out on an important truth: Jesus comes to seek out and save the lost. What truths do we need to open our minds to so as not to lose out?
Fr. Tom Cahill SVD

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 24th October 2010

MISSION SUNDAY
Together in Mission - Mission Sunday 2010
The theme for World Mission Sunday in Ireland this year is Together in Mission. This togetherness found a deep resonance during Mission Month last year when we were praying for the safety and speedy release of Fr Michael Sinnott, the Columban Missionary who had been kidnapped in the Philippines. His plight and the response to it was a fitting tribute to how we are truly together in mission - each of us involved according to our circumstances, contributing our gifts of prayer, the offering of our sufferings and whatever financial contribution we can make to bring about the Lord's kingdom of justice and peace.
“The out-pouring of prayers, Masses, vigils, Holy Hours and other religious services offered for me while I was in captivity are an example of what lay people can do to support the missionary work,” wrote Fr Mick.
In his letter for Mission Sunday this year, Pope Benedict XVI wrote, “Please support the Younger Churches by your prayers. In spite of present economic difficulties, please also give them material support. The Mission Sunday collection organised by the Pontifical Mission Societies, to whom I express my gratitude, will go towards the support of priests, seminarians, religious and catechists in distant missionary lands.”

Mission Sunday Collection
Please give generously to the Mission Sunday collection this weekend and the proceeds will be forwarded to the Society for the Propagation. The collection will be taken up after Holy Communion at all Masses.
The Society for the Propagation of the Faith currently supports 1,096 mission dioceses. It works continually to increase public awareness of sharing the good news throughout the world and raise financial aid to assist Catholic missions. At present, more than 1,900 Irish missionaries are serving in 80 countries. Financial aid from this Society supports: formation of laity, building of mission churches, construction and support of pastoral centres, and provision of essential transport and equipment.
The Diocese of Ossory contributed €38,594 last year. Let’s keep up the good work. Thanks for your support and prayers.

Mission Sunday Posters
This year’s posters - see church porches - feature 79 year old Columban Missionary Fr. Michael Sinnott from Clonard in Wexford. Fr. Mick was captured last year and held for 31 long days. Following his release and some recovery time at home Fr. Mick returned to his mission in Pagadian in the Philippians. “It seemed the natural thing to return as I had worked here most of my life,” he said recently.

Ossory Listens
During May 2010 Bishop Freeman attended ten ‘Listening Sessions’ during which the people of the Diocese of Ossory had an opportunity to express their views about the current state of the Church in Ireland. The results were quickly compiled and published on the diocesan website and made available on photocopied pages in most parishes. The complete text has now been professionally printed in booklet form and copies are available in the church porches this weekend. Please ensure each household receives a copy.

Congratulations to our Gardeners
Well done to the dedicated team of volunteer gardeners and grass cutters who helped develop and maintain St. Fiacre’s Gardens surrounding our Parish Centre. While you may not always receive the recognition you deserve your work is not unappreciated. We are delighted with the news that the garden has been awarded 1st Prize in the Environmental Category of the Keep Kilkenny Beautiful Awards 2010. Well done to those involved. Keep up the work.

Please Return Chy 2 Certs
We appeal to those with outstanding Chy 2 Certs to complete and return them to the Parish Office immediately as we are about to make a submission to the Revenue Commissioners.
Readers in Church
We are currently recruiting people to proclaim the Word of God at Sunday Mass. Please contact any of the priests or a sacristan if you would consider fulfilling this role. Volunteers will be put on a roster and asked to read every few weeks.

Coffee with the Bishop
Bishop Freeman invites you to a Coffee Morning at his home, Blessed Felix House, Tilbury Place, Kilkenny, on next Friday, 29th October from 10.30am – 12.30pm in aid of the Special Olympics. Please come along for a cuppa and support this very worthy cause. All welcome. (Tilbury Place is just off James Street and a few metres from St. Mary’s Cathedral).

Weekly Envelope Collection
The envelope collection last week amounted to: €1,820. Thank you very much.

Altar Servers
Boys and girls in 4th Class and above who are interested in becoming Altar Servers should return their application forms this week. New rotas will be issued next weekend.

Get to Know Your Bible
‘An introduction to the Bible - The Bible in its Context’ continues at the St. Patrick’s Parish Centre on this Tuesday, 26th October from 10am to 12.30pm. We are delighted that about 25 people have enrolled to learn more about the Word of God. Costs €5 per session.

October Rosary
Members of the Legion of Mary will recite the rosary at the Seville Lodge Grotto, Callan Road each Sunday during October at 3pm.

Lost & Found
Two sums of money found between Lidl and St. Fiacre’s Church. For further information contact the Sacristan at St. Fiacre’s Church.
There is a lot of ‘found’ property in all our churches - eg. four spectacles in St. Patrick’s Church. Call in if you have mislaid something.

Bank Holiday Weekend
We welcome all who have joined us for the bank holiday weekend. We hope you enjoy your visit and return to your homes refreshed.
The only public Mass in our parish on Bank Holiday Monday will be at St. Patrick’s Church at 11.00am. Exposition of Blessed Sacrament at St. Fiacre’s Church from 12.00 noon.

Pray for our Deceased Friends

Recently Deceased: Albert Bolger, Shandon Park. Mamie Shortis, Margaret’s Field..
Months Mind: Chrissie Scott (Sun 9.30)
Anniversaries: Nancy Coyne (Sat 6.15), Ned Nolan (Sat 7.00), Anthona & Neddy Burke (Sun 10.00), John Frawley (Sun 10.30), Paddy Cullen (Sun 11.00), Mary McCormack (Sun 12.00), Bernadette Delaney (Sun 12.30), Ann O’Shaughnessy (Tue 10.30), Bill Cody, John Drennan, Ned Mahon, Alfie Sheehy, John Cantwell, Patrick Cantwell, Anna, Mary, Michael & Patrick Bowe, Maura Crowley, Joe Dowling, Margaret Skehan.
Intentions Next Week: Birute Poskaite Sat 6.15), Ann Shortall (Sat 7.00 Month’s Mind), Madge McIntyre (Sun 9.30), Jennifer Mulhall (Sun 10.00), Mary Byrne (Sun 10.30 Month’s Mind), Michael Phelan (Sun 11.00), Tom Shanahan (Sun 12.00), John Joe Kealy (Sun 12.30).

Career Day
Meet employers from your community and have an opportunity to ask questions about different types of work at St. Patrick’s Parish Centre on next Friday, 29th October from 10.45am. All are welcome.

Federation for Victim Assistance
Interested in helping Victims of Crime? The Federation for Victim Assistance is setting up a branch in Kilkenny. This will provide a free and confidential service to all victims of crime and traumatic incidents.
If you are interested in volunteering or would like to know more you are invited to an information night at: Hotel Kilkenny on Wednesday, 27th October at 8pm. Contact the National Office on 066 7119830 or email to fedva@eircom.net for further information.

Interesting Local Courses
‘Child Welfare and Protection in Sport’ is a 4 hour basic awareness course looking at how we can keep adults and young people safe and happy within the club environment. Open to sports leaders, children's officers and other adults involved in the organization of sport for young people. St. Patrick’s Parish Centre on Wednesday, 10th November from 6.00pm. €20 per person - limited to 16 people per night.
‘Basic First Aid’ will take place in Desart Hall, New Street for four Monday nights, from 6.30pm to 9.30pm starting on 8th November. €80 per person to complete the course – limited to 16 people.
Provided by Kilkenny Recreation & Sports Partnership, Desart Hall, Kilkenny. Tel:  056 772 0870 for more information.

Kilkenny City Macra
Kilkenny City Macra will hold its next meeting on Monday, 8th of November in Glendine Inn, Kilkenny at 9.30pm. Macra na Feirme is a voluntary organisation for young people between the ages of 17 and 35. New members welcome. Please contact Mary at 085 283 9023 for further details.

Just for Fun
The Parish Priest was preoccupied with thoughts of how he was going to ask the congregation to come up with more money than they were expecting for repairs to the church building. Just before Mass, he asked the organist to think of something to play after he made the announcement about the finances.
During the service, the priest paused and said, “Brothers and sisters, we are in great difficulty; the church repairs cost twice as much as we expected and we need €20,000 more. Any of you who can donate €100 or more, please stand up.” At that moment, the organist started to play “Amhrán na bhFiann.”

Loughboy Library
Nintendo Wii Training for over 55s continues on Wednesday mornings at 10.30am and 11.45am. This is a wonderful fun way of getting some light exercise and meeting new like-minded friends. Tel 779 4176.

GAA Monthly Newsletter
James Stephen’s GAA Club is launching a monthly e-newsletter. To be included send an email to villageEnewsletter@gmail.com.

Trócaire - Pakistan Appeal
It is now three months since devastating floods hit Pakistan and Trócaire has expressed sincere thanks to everyone that supported its emergency appeal. Over the past few months people have generously donated over €5.5 million to help survivors of the disaster. Almost half of this, €2.5 million was raised as a result of the church collections that were held around the country in August. This figure is expected to increase to €4 million in the coming weeks. Thanks to the generosity of clergy and parishioners Trócaire was able to rescue over 20,000 people from the floodwaters in the first weeks of the disaster and provide more than 100,000 people with food, water, hygiene kits and other essentials. Trócaire is now providing seeds, tools and other essentials so that families can begin to recover and rebuild their livelihoods. Trócaire would like to thank dioceses and parishes for their extraordinary response to the Pakistan crisis. For more information about how your support has changed lives log onto www.trocaire.org or call 1850 408 408.

Questions People Ask
Every year I have this problem on Mission Sunday. Who gave Christians or any other religion the right to impose their beliefs on other people?
It was Jesus Christ who sent out his followers to proclaim his message by lifestyles and word to people of every nation and time. If your concern is about people’s rights, then remember that people have the right to know the truth about Jesus Christ who came to teach and save all people. Anybody who appreciates God’s love and mercy as revealed in Jesus Christ would want all people to share his belief and hope.
Fr. Silvester O’Flynn OFM

U9 Tourney
Well done to the Village U9 panel who played outstanding hurling in the Kilmacud Crokes Cup hurling tournament. This group has made great strides under the guidance of Village coaches Liam Trant and Bryan Phelan. A big thank you must go to the players and coaches for your super effort in 2010. This panel will move onto the U10 grade in the new season.

Floodlight Tourney
The Village U12 A squad will be taking part in the annual Carrigeen floodlight hurling tournament throughout the next few weeks. The games will be played under flood lights in the fantastic astro-turf pitch in Carrigeen GAA. Best of luck to the players and mentors.

Irish Conker Championship Festival
The 11th Irish Conker Championship Festival takes place in the Village Square, Freshford this weekend; 22nd - 24th October.  Art, Craft and Book Stalls, a range of Halloween games and activities, Story telling, Pumpkin Carving and Penalty Soccer Shoot Out's - all in addition to the Irish Conker Championships which takes place today, Sunday, from 12 noon onwards. Art in the Annex Viewing of Championships is absolutely free, so come and join the fun!

The Race
The legendary Greek, Pheidippides, ran the first ‘marathon’ in 490 BC. Running 40 km from Marathon to Athens, he brought the good news of Persian defeat. Unfortunately he overdid it and dropped dead. Besides his good-news message, he brought another too – albeit unintended: if you run a marathon, prepare for it. You have to train a lot. You have to sacrifice time and comfort. And you must be able to cope with physical stress and endure pain. Yet each year more than 800 marathons are held worldwide. That means that several hundreds of thousands of people run 42.195 km in what is considered to be recreational running. In today’s Second Reading (2 Tim 4:6-8) Paul says that he has fought the good fight and finished the race. Neither is recreational. The distance he covers is not measured in kilometres, miles or any such units. It’s measured in terms of spiritual maturity. The ‘units’ used to measure this ‘distance’ are: faith, witness and proclamation. His, as ours, is not a race that covers distance. It covers time, and life’s experiences both good and bad. It covers advances and retreats, ups and downs, and the about turns we make in life. It covers the ‘walls’ we face that block our progress to God. It has its highs too: the exhilaration of insight, the thrill of hope’s promises, the calm of a clear conscience, the peace of mind from goodness shown and the security of God’s love. This good news is worth dying for. Paul did so. This is not Greek legend.
Fr. Tom Cahill SVD

Twenty Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 17th, October 2010

Pray for our Deceased Friends
Recently Deceased: Mary Flynn, Maudlin Street. Bridie Brennan, Castlecomer. Joe O’Leary, London and formerly Kells Road. Bill West, Baunlusk.
Months Mind: Joe O’Brien (Sun 12.30).
Anniversaries: Breda Hehir (Sat 6.15), Judy O’Brien (Sat 7.00), Richard Kelly (Sun 9.30), Gerard Moynihan (Sun 10.00), Tom Foley (Sun 10.30), Jimmy Bateman (Sun 11.00), Martin Brett (Sun 12.00), Patrick Morris (Mon 9.30), Brigid Butler (Wed 10.30), Doris Americas (Sat 9.30), Eithne O’Connor, Martin Mulhall, Mary Dunne, Jimmy O’Leary, Gerard Cleere, William Dalton, Patrick Tynan, Julie Burke.
Intentions for Next Weekend: Anniversaries: Nancy Coyne (Sat 6.15), Ned Nolan (Sat 7.00), Chrissie Scott (Month’s Mind Sun 9.30), Anthona and Neddy Burke (Sun 10.00), John Frawley (Sun 10.30), Paddy Cullen (Sun 11.00), Mary McCormack (Sun 12.00), Bernadette Delaney (Sun 12.30).

Confirmation Programme Enrolment
Those candidates for the Sacrament of Confirmation who attend Kilkenny School Project will enrol in their Confirmation Programme and make a public commitment to prepare well for the Sacrament during 12.00 noon Mass at St. Fiacre’s Church on this Sunday. As a Christian community we welcome them and promise to pray for all those preparing to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation.

St. Vincent De Paul Collection
The monthly collection for the Society of St. Vincent De Paul will be taken up at all Masses this weekend. Please give a little extra in the second collection and we will pass the proceeds to the local conference.
Members of the St. Patrick’s Parish Conference meet at St. Patrick’s Parish Centre on Monday evenings at 8.00pm.

Altar Servers
The recruitment of new Altar Servers begins now. Those from 4th Class and above who are regular Mass goers are welcome to volunteer. Parental consent is required and a commitment of one year is expected. Those interested in taking on this role in the Church may collect an application form at the sacristies of each of our churches. Current Altar Servers who wish to continue serving must also complete a form.

Get to Know Your Bible
A course ‘An introduction to the Bible - The Bible in its Context’ begins at the St. Patrick’s Parish Centre on this Tuesday, 12th October for 6 weeks from 10am to 12.30pm. The course will be conducted by Sr. De Lourdes Sheridan and costs €5 per session.

October Rosary
Members of the Legion of Mary will recite the rosary at the Seville Lodge Grotto, Callan Road each Sunday during October at 3pm.

Conscience, Church and Society 
Recently beatified Cardinal John Henry Newman was a profound thinker and much of what he had to say has a lot to offer us today.  Find out more at a public lecture entitled Cardinal Newman: Conscience, Church and Society at St. Patrick’s Parish Centre on this Monday evening at 8.00pm. Rev. Dr. Tom Norris, former lecturer in Systematic Theology at St. Patrick’s College Maynooth will explore Newman’s understanding of conscience and what it can offer to our church and society today. Admission free. All are welcome.

Eucharistic Congress 2012
Bishop Freeman invites all the priests, religious and lay people, especially those involved in pastoral ministry (Parish Councils, Liturgy Groups, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Adoration Groups, St. Joseph’s Young Priests Society, etc.), to a meeting to launch the Diocese of Ossory preparation for Congress 2012.
The meeting will take place at St. Kieran’s College on Thursday, 21st October at 7.30pm. We encourage as many as possible to represent our parish at this event.

Weekly Envelope Collection
The envelope collection last week amounted to: €2,470.00. Thank you very much.

Please Return Chy 2 Certs
We appeal to those with outstanding Chy 2 Certs to complete and return them to the Parish Office as soon as possible as we are about to make a submission to the Revenue Commissioners. Completed forms are used to recover for the parish, at no extra cost to you, the tax paid on your contributions to the church. Please get the completed forms in as soon as possible.

Readers in Church
We are currently recruiting people to proclaim the Word of God at Sunday Mass. Please contact any of the priests or a sacristan if you would consider fulfilling this role. Volunteers will be put on a roster and asked to read every few weeks.

Questions People Ask
Q. If God can read our inmost hearts and already knows our secret thoughts, why must we use words to pray?
A. God does not need our words but in many instances it’s we who need words to focus our attention, to clarify out thoughts and help us to persevere. The effort to find our own words, or using prayers known by heart or prayers such as the Psalms or the Lord’s Prayer draw us into the world of prayer. Words are not always needed and may even get in the way of silent pondering. Saint Paul wrote that the Spirit within us can express our pleas in ways that could never be put into words.
Fr. O’Flynn OFM Cap

Career Guidance
Ossory Youth Service is launching its career guidance service again after a break for the summer. 1-2-1 professional career guidance. Appointments 45 minutes = €20. CAO, Career Direction, Subject Choices, Gap Year (up to 25yrs). Alternate Tuesday evenings from 5.30 - 8.00pm. Desart Hall, New Street, Kilkenny. Telephone Jane on 776 1200 to make an appointment.

Church Gate Collection
The Irish Heart Foundation is holding church gate collections this weekend.

Volunteer Appeal
Enable Ireland urgently needs volunteers to help with the running of their charity shop on High Street. If you can spare two or three hours a week please drop into the shop or call 056 776 1045 for more information.

Loughboy Library
Free Computer Courses: Course details and application forms available at the library.
Social Inclusion Week (17th-22nd October): a collection of materials for children and teachers relating to Traveller Culture will be available at Loughboy Library next week. Group visits are welcome.

Village Special Awards Night
James Stephens CLG is holding a special U-14 & U-16 double championship medals/awards celebration night in the clubrooms on next Friday, 22nd October 7.30pm sharp. A special guest will make the presentations.

Health and Wellbeing Evening
The National Dairy Council/Glanbia Health and Wellbeing evening will be held at the Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel on Thursday, 21st October at 7:30pm. Admission is free. Proceeds of raffle go to Irish Society of Autism (Kilkenny).

GAA Monthly E-newsletter
James Stephen’s GAA Club is launching a new monthly e-newsletter. If you wish to be included please send your email address to 
villageEnewsletter@gmail.com
Congrats to the Village U10 starlets on winning the Shield title of the Kilmacud Crokes hurling tournament last Sunday. Well done to all!
Village Notes: If any community group or organiser would like to include any news related items relating to St. Patrick's Parish, you can do so by sending the news item by e-mail to villagenotes@gmail.com

Kellogg’s Field of Dreams
Please support Danesfort GAA Club in the Kellogg’s Field of Dreams Final: Text "Kelloggs Leinster" to 53799 or vote online on www.kelloggs.ie. You may vote once every day until 28th October.

Mayfair Ballroom Anniversary
The Mayfair Ballroom Anniversary Dance will be held at Hotel Kilkenny on Sunday 24th October with showband legends: Paddy Hanrahan, Art Supple and Sonny Cullen, Special Guest: Kevin O’Dwyer as Elvis. Music by The Marble City Sounds. Contact 087 958 2127 for tickets (€12.50 each). All proceeds to Enable Ireland, O’Neill Centre.

Kilkenny Youth Bank
Masquerade and Black Tie Ball.
Tickets €20. Ages 14 - 19. Buffet and Non - alcoholic bar. Masks can be purchased at door or bring your own. To Mark Ossory Youth 25th Anniversary Celebration. Date: 12th November 2010. Time 9pm until 1pm. Venue: Springhill Court Hotel. Tickets on sale from: Ossory Youth, Rollercoaster Records, Youth Bank members. Contact 776 1200

Child Welfare & Protection Course
Wed 10th Nov 2010 St Patrick’s Parish Centre 6 - 10pm.
Wed 24th Nov 2010 -Castlecomer Community Hall 6 - 10pm. €20 per person – limited to 16 people per night
This 'Child Welfare and Protection in Sport' training is a 4 hour basic awareness course, looking at how we can keep adults and young people safe and happy within the club environment. This course is open to sports leaders, children's officers and other adults involved in the organization of sport for young people. This module will help to create and maintain a safe and fun environment for young people within the sports club or organization. As well as undertaking child protection training, all governing bodies of sport and related organizations should adopt child protection policies and procedures as outlined in the Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children's Sport.

First Aid
A Basic First Aid  Course will take place in Kilkenny – Desart Hall, New Street, for four Monday nights, from 6:30pm to 9:30pm, starting on the  8th November 2010 until 29th November 2010. €80 per person to complete the course – limited to 16 people
Kilkenny Recreation & Sports Partnership
Desart Hall, New Street, Kilkenny
Tel:  056 7720870


Soccer Tournament
An intercultural soccer tournament will be held in the Watershed Campus on Saturday, 16th October.  Between 12 and 15 teams are expected to take part in this inaugural family day, followed by a social evening for everyone. Those interested in participating should contact Niamh from Kilkenny Recreation & Sports Partnership: email Niamh@krsp.ie or 056 772 0870 for information.

Kilkenny Sessions Concert
Set Theatre, Saturday 23rd October at 8pm. Performing on the night will be: Anthony McAuley (Fiddle), Jim Maher (Seanachai/Bodhran), John Touhy (Uileann Pipes), Liam Moor (Guitar/Vocals), Tommy Lanigan (Bodhran/Vocals), Paddy Cleere (Bazouki/Banjo/Vocals), Mick Foley (Uileann Pipes), and more. MC for the night is Malcolm Noonan. Contact 087 958 2127 for tickets (€12.50 each). All proceeds to Enable Ireland, O’Neill Centre, Kilkenny.

Mission Month
October is Mission Month. Please remember the missions in your prayers.


Spiritual ‘Makeover’
It’s one approach to getting people off the dole, but it’s controversial. To ease unemployment in the Netherlands three local councils are offering unemployed singe women a €1,400 fashion and beauty makeover. The better you look the better your chances, the idea seems to be, of finding a husband or a job. Those chosen for the scheme will also be schooled in the social graces. When the crash course in carrying oneself is completed a professional photograph of the new you will appear on the website of an exclusive dating agency that claims a 75 percent success rate. However, with over 600 unemployed singles eligible not everyone considers the expense involved as money well spent. It just goes to show the importance some people attach to outward appearance. Today’s Second Reading (2 Tim 3:14-4.2), however, doesn’t. It presents us with a different set of values – ones concerned with the quality of what’s inside a person rather than their skin-deep looks. For a thorough spiritual ‘makeover’ Paul reminds us there’s nothing better than immersion in what he calls the ‘sacred writings’. All scripture is inspired by God, he tells us. And it has many uses. It can teach, correct, reprove and train in righteousness. It motivates and equips people both to be good and to do good. While this type of spiritual ‘makeover’ doesn’t cost a penny, it doesn’t come cheap either. Its cost isn’t in euro, but I the currency of faith, hope, love, generosity, kindness, service and other equally attractive characteristics. Too bad not everybody wants to employ these.
Fr. Tom Cahill SVD

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Twenty Eight Sunday in Ordinary Time, 10th October 2010

Anniversary Masses
Those wishing to book anniversary Masses on particular dates are advised to do so as early as possible as available Mass times fill up quickly. Those who just want a name mentioned as part of the anniversary list need not enclose money for this. We will assume that those who enclose money with Mass requests but do not specify a particular date do in fact want a Mass offered for the deceased person. In such cases we will forward the stipend to Aid to the Church in Need, the Catholic Church charity we support with excess Mass stipends from the parish.

Altar Servers
The recruitment of new Altar Servers begins now. Those from 4th Class and above who are regular Mass goers are welcome to volunteer. Parental consent is required and a commitment of one year is expected. Those interested in taking on this role in the Church may collect an application form at the sacristies of each of our churches. Current Altar Servers who wish to continue serving must also complete a form.

Parish Centre Volunteers
Did you know that the Parish Centre is run entirely by volunteers? Everyone from management, gardening, cleaning and the dedicated legion of receptionists are volunteers, giving up their spare time to make sure our Parish Centre is open and accessible to all. We are grateful to them for their dedication.

Parish Shop
In the foyer of our Parish Centre we have a shop that sells religious items such as books, statues, beads etc. Feel free to drop in and have a look. There’s no obligation to buy and the volunteer on reception will be happy to help with any enquiry. Items not on display can usually be ordered.

October Rosary
Members of the Legion of Mary will recite the rosary at the Seville Lodge Grotto, Callan Road each Sunday during October at 3pm.

Pray for our Deceased Friends

Recently Deceased: Fr. Jim Forristal, St. Canice’s Parish. Eileen Kennedy, Dublin.
Months Mind: Bill Hackett (Sun 10.30).

Anniversaries: Eugene & Paddy Somers (Sat 6.15), The Byrne Family (Sat 7.00), Joanie Waters (Sun 11.00), Evelyn Coppinger (Sun 12.00), Nicola Conway (Sun 12.30), Eddie Dean (Wed 10.30), Paddy Ryan, Michael & Mai Brennan, Paul Grace, The Dollard Family, John & Mary O’Connell, Catherine Lucas, Martin Grace, Billy & Patty Reinhardt, Mary & Joe Hurley, Margaret McNamara,. Billy Maher, Eileen Barry, Gary & Nora Dunne, Josephine Kavanagh.

Intentions for Next Weekend: Breda Hehir (Sat 6.15), Judy O’Brien (Sat 7.00), Richard Kelly (Sun 9.30), Gerard Moynihan (Sun 10.00), Tom Foley (Sun 10.30), Jimmy Bateman (Sun 11.00), Martin Brett (Sun 12.00), Joe O’Brien (Months Mind Sun 12.30).

Confirmation Enrolment
Those pupils attending the Kilkenny School Project who are currently preparing for Confirmation will celebrate a short Confirmation Enrolment Ceremony during 12.00pm Mass at St. Fiacre’s Church on next Sunday.

Get to Know Your Bible
A course ‘An introduction to the Bible - The Bible in its Context’ begins at the St. Patrick’s Parish Centre on this Tuesday, 12th October for 6 weeks from 10am to 12.30pm. The course will be conducted by Sr. De Lourdes Sheridan and costs €5 per session.

October Station Collection
The October Station envelope is due to be returned this month. This is the first of the five orange envelopes in your contribution pack. This collection supports the priests of the parish and the bishop and is one of five special collections held each year. We are extremely grateful to all who support St. Patrick’s Parish and its priests financially. Your continued generosity in these difficult economic times is much appreciated. Thank you.

Youth Prayer Group
Come and join a Youth Prayer Group (16-35 yrs) between 7.00 and 8.00pm on Mondays in St. Mary’s Parish Centre (behind cinema). Contact Fr. Mark on 086 600 5402 or Sean on 086 234 8361. Please join us for prayer, reflection, chat and friendship. For more information contact info@youth2000.ie or see our website at www.youth2000.ie.

Healing Service
Come along and experience the healing power of God’s love in St. Fiacre’s Church, Loughboy on this Thursday, 14th October commencing at 7.30pm. Bring a friend.

Knights of St Columbanus
As an order of Catholic laymen the Knights of St. Columbanus welcomes practicing Catholics over 18 years of age.  We invite you to attend an information evening at Villa Maria, Freshford Road, Kilkenny on Monday 11th October at 8.00pm. If you cannot attend and wish to know more please call Peter on 087 237 3043 or Brian on 086 085 3242 or log on to www.knightsofstcolumbanus.ie

Conscience, Church and Society 
Cardinal Newman, as a result of his recent beatification, has received great attention lately.  It is well deserved.  He was a profound thinker and much of what he had to say has a lot to offer us now.  Therefore, on Monday, 18th October at 8pm in St Patrick's Parish Centre in a lecture entitled Cardinal Newman: Conscience, Church and Society : What it is that Cardinal Newman's understanding of conscience can offer to our Church and Society today the Rev. Dr. Tom Norris will explore Cardinal Newman’s understanding of conscience and what it can offer to our Church and Society today.   Admission is free. All are welcome.

Weekly Envelope Collection
The envelope collection last week amounted to: €1,350. Contributions by standing orders amounted to €3,623.81 during September.

Learn Guitar for Free
Have a guitar? Can’t play it?? Want to learn??? The talented guitarists from the 12.30 Youth Choir are giving free lessons every Monday at 7.00pm in the Parish Centre. The lessons are fun and easy and we aim to repeat last year’s success where the budding musicians gathered for Mass on Christmas Day and we had a wonderful liturgy. Show up on Monday at the Parish Centre.

Evening of Prayer
A Medjugorje Evening of Prayer including the rosary, Mass and adoration and prayer for healing will be held at the Mill Hill House, Waterford Road on Monday, 11th October beginning at 8.00pm. All welcome.

Eucharistic Congress 2012
Bishop Freeman invites all the priests, religious and lay people, especially those involved in pastoral ministry (Parish Councils, Liturgy Groups, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Adoration Groups, St. Joseph’s Young Priests Society, etc.) to a meeting to launch the Diocese of Ossory preparation for the International Eucharistic Congress 2012.
The meeting will take place at St. Kieran’s College on Thursday, 21st October at 7.30pm.

Adoration
There will be an hour of adoration and prayer in honour of Divine Mercy in the Capuchin Friary Church on Sunday, 10th October from 3.00 - 4.00 pm. All welcome.

Google Maps
Check out the Parish Centre in all it’s glory on the new ‘Street View’ offered by Google Maps. Just type in ‘Bohernatounish Road, Kilkenny’ and click on our approximate location. Why not look to see if your own house is also pictured? Well done Google!

Speech and Drama
Classes from 4.00 - 5.00pm every Tuesday at the Parish Centre. Girls from 9 upwards welcome. Contact Margaret on 086 249 9329.

Kilkenny Flower Club
The club will meet in Butler House on Thursday 14th October, at 8 p.m. The demonstration will be by Maura Donnelly, always an inspiring floral artist. All welcome.

Co. Kilkenny Horticultural Society
Creative Gardening with Containers - Lecture and Slide Show, by Hester Ford R.H.S.I. in the Club House Hotel, on Wednesday 13th October at 7.30pm sharp. Admission €5. Plant Sale. All welcome.

Monthly Newsletter
James Stephen’s GAA Club is launching a new monthly e-newsletter. If you wish to be included please send your email address to
villageEnewsletter@gmail.com.
Bag Packing Weekend: James Stephen’s has secured a bag packing week-end in Dunnes Stores on Thursday, 14th, Friday 15th and all day Saturday, 16th October. We need all hands on deck so if any Village parents or adults have 2 hours to spare please contact Tony Scanlon (087 262 2321) to book your slot over the weekend.

Soccer Tournament
An intercultural soccer tournament will be held in the Watershed Campus on Saturday, 16th October.  Between 12 and 15 teams are expected to take part in this inaugural family day, followed by a social evening for everyone. Those interested in participating should contact Niamh from Kilkenny Recreation & Sports Partnership: email Niamh@krsp.ie or 056 772 0870 for information.

Kilkenny Sessions Concert
Set Theatre, Saturday 23rd October at 8pm. Performing on the night will be: Anthony McAuley (Fiddle), Jim Maher (Seanachai/Bodhran), John Touhy (Uileann Pipes), Liam Moor (Guitar/Vocals), Tommy Lanigan (Bodhran/Vocals), Paddy Cleere (Bazouki/Banjo/Vocals), Mick Foley (Uileann Pipes), and more. MC for the night is Malcolm Noonan. Contact 087 958 2127 for tickets (€12.50 each). All proceeds to Enable Ireland, O’Neill Centre, Kilkenny.

Mission Month
October is Mission Month. Please remember the missions in your prayers.

Special Awards Night
James Stephens CLG is holding a special U-14 & U-16 double championship medals/awards celebration night in the clubrooms on FRIDAY 22nd October 2010 at 7.30pm sharp. A very special guest will be attending to make the presentations to the U-14/16 championship winning panels along with a special photograph to be taken of all Village ALL STAR winners (some real former/current Village greats). It's the place to be so come along for a great night in the club to celebrate the fantastic current Village hurlers on this great season in 2010 and also acknowledge the fantastic achievements of the All Star Village greats like Phil 'Fan' Larkin, Brian Cody, Mick Crotty, Joe Hennessy, Brian McEvoy, Philip Larkin, Liam “Chunky” O'Brien, Peter Barry, Eoin Larkin and Jackie Tyrrell.

The Mayfair
The Mayfair Ballroom Anniversary Dance Hotel Kilkenny Sunday 24th October with Showband legends: Paddy Hanrahan, Art Supple and Sonny Cullen, Special Guest: Kevin O’Dwyer as Elvis. Music By The Marble City Sounds. Contact 087 9582127 for tickets (€12.50 each). All proceeds to Enable Ireland, O’Neill Centre, Kilkenny.

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Twenty Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, 3rd October 2010

Day for Life 2010
This Sunday is Day for Life 2010, a day dedicated to raising awareness about the meaning and value of human life at every stage and in every condition. This year’s theme is the meaning of Christian death and care for those who are dying - Lord for your faithful people, Life is changed, not ended. A Pastoral Letter has been published by the Irish Bishops and this is available with some video resources on the Irish Bishops’ website – www.catholicbishops.ie.  Video resources include an interview with Bishop John Fleming, Bishop of Killala and interview and reflection with Marie Gribbons, a chaplain at St Francis Hospice in Raheny, Dublin.
In his 1995 Encyclical Letter, Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life), the late Pope John Paul II proposed that “a day for life be celebrated each year in every country”. The primary purpose of this day should be “to foster in individual consciences, in families, in the Church, and in civil society, a recognition of the meaning and value of human life at every stage and in every condition” (EV #85).
The Bishops of Ireland responded to this invitation by announcing an annual celebration of Day for Life. Since 2001, the Bishops have published a Pastoral Letter every October celebrating a different theme for each Day for Life.
Since 2001, the following themes have been chosen to celebrate the Catholic Church’s annual Day for Life:
2006: Celebrating the life and presence of people with disabilities in the Church and in society
2007: Blessed is the fruit of your womb – dedicated to protecting all human life
2008: Mental Health - Mental ill-health can happen to anyone
2009: Focus on suicide, particularly the pastoral dimensions of this difficult and sensitive subject
2010: Focus on the meaning of Christian death
Some copies of this year’s pastoral are available at our churches and it may be downloaded from www.catholicbishops.ie

Anniversary Masses
Those wishing to book anniversary Masses on particular dates are advised to do so as early as possible as available Mass times fill up quickly. Those who just want a name to be mentioned as part of the anniversary list need not enclose money for this.
We will assume that those who enclose money with Mass requests but do not specify a particular date do in fact want a Mass offered for the deceased person. In such cases we will forward the stipend to Aid to the Church in Need, the Catholic Church charity we support with excess Mass stipends from the parish.

Confirmation Dates
The bishop has announced that our parish celebration will be on Saturday, 9th April 2011 while the celebration for those attending Gaelscoil Osraí will be on Saturday, 14th May 2011. We look forward to preparing with the young people in our parish.

First Holy Communion Dates
The following dates have been chosen for the celebration of First Holy Communion in our parish next year.
7th May St. Patrick’s De La Salle School
14th May St. John of God’s School
15th May Kilkenny School Project
28th May Gaelscoil Osraí
As a parish we begin to prepare with the children this weekend. The candidates will be enrolled in the Do This In Memory programme at the 10.30am (Gaelscoil Osraí & Kilkenny School Project) and 11.00am (St. Patrick’s De La Salle & St. John of God) Masses on this Sunday. Please pray regularly for the children, their families and teachers as they prepare to celebrate First Eucharist.

St. Joseph’s Young Priests Society
The monthly meeting of the St. Joseph’s Young Priests Society will take place in the St. Patrick’s Parish Centre immediately after the 10.30 Mass (St. Fiacre’s Church) on Friday, 9th October 2010. New members very welcome.

Pray for the Deceased
Recently Deceased: Paddy Wallace, Fr. Albert Place and late of Castleinch. Funeral prayers at Hehir’s Funeral Home at 6.30pm on Sunday followed by removal to St. Patrick’s Church. Requiem Mass at 11.00am on Monday followed by burial in Foulkstown. Rosary at Hehir’s Funeral Home at 8.00pm on Saturday.
Helen Lynch, Drakelands Middle. Funeral prayers at her home at 6.30pm on Sunday followed by removal to St. Mary’s Cathedral. Requiem Mass at 11.00am on Monday followed by burial at Foulkstown Cemetery.
Joe Renehan, formerly 14A St. Patrick’s Close. Patrick Darcy, St. Francis Terrace. Kathleen Bolger, Newpark Drive. Joan Maher, Tullamore. Jimmy Harold, 21B Dominic Street.
Months Mind: Ellen Reid (Sun 12.30)
Anniversaries: James Bambrick (Sat 6.15), Sr. Gregory Ryan (Sat 7.00), Dan Gorey (Sun 10.00), Ann Roche (Sun 11.00), John Casey (Sun 12.00), John & Mary O’Connell (Thursday 9.30), John Casey, Tom O’Neill, Seamus Cullen, Bridget McKenna, Billy & Patty Reinhardt.
Intentions for Next Weekend: Eugene & Paddy Somers (Sat 6.15), The Byrne Family (Sat 7.00), Bill Hackett (Months Mind Sun 10.30), Joanie Waters (Sun 11.00), Evelyn Coppinger (Sun 12.00), Nicola Conway (Sun 12.30).

October Rosary
Members of the Legion of Mary will offer the rosary at the Seville Lodge Grotto, Callan Road each Sunday during October at 3pm.

Our Lady of Kilkenny Rosary
The monthly rosary on the first Sunday in James Green at the statue of Our Lady of Kilkenny continues this Sunday 3rd October at 3pm. All welcome.

1st Saturday Devotion
This devotion will take place at St. Fiacre’s Church on this Saturday, 2nd October after 6.15pm Mass and will continue until 9pm. All are welcome to come and join in this monthly devotion.

Child Protection Training
Those who missed the training in our parish are invited to St. John’s Parish Centre on Thursday at 7pm for training.
This course is compulsory for all parish volunteers and staff who work with children.

Get to Know Your Bible
A course ‘An introduction to the Bible - The Bible in its context’ will be given at the St. Patrick’s Parish Centre by Sr. De Lourdes Sheridan starting on Tuesday 12th October for 6 weeks from 10am to 12.30pm. Costs €5 per session.

Parish Website
We have added some video concerning vocations to our parish website plus a vocations page which features a quite cool song played by a young priests’ band. Check it out on our website at www.patricksparish.com.
Please tell your friends - especially those away from home - that they can check on parish activity on our website. Suggestions about our website are welcome. Contact Fr. Liam.

Edmund Rice Centre
The Mass for the blessings of Edmund Rice on our lives and for his canonisation will be celebrated in Westcourt at 7.30pm on Monday, 4th October. The Kilkenny Catholic Nurses’ Guild will organise the Liturgy. The blessing of hands will take place during the liturgy. All are very welcome.

October Station Collection
The October Station envelope is due this month. This is the first of the five orange envelopes in your contribution pack.
This collection supports the priests of the parish and the bishop and is one of five special collections held each year.
We are extremely grateful to all who support us financially particularly in these tough economic times. Thanks once again.

Weekly Envelope Collection
The envelope collection last week amounted to: €1705 . Much thanks.

CBS Secondary School
AGM of CBS Secondary School Parents’ Council on Thursday, 7th Oct at 7.30pm in the school. Brian Cody will give a talk at 8pm. All welcome.

Village Double County Champs
Congratulations to the Village U14 and U16 panels on winning the Roinn A hurling championships for the first time since 1987.

Village New E-Newsletter
James Stephens GAA is moving into a new area of communications with the launch of a new monthly e-newsletter. This newsletter will be sent by to all players, members, supporters, parish people and club followers abroad each month. If you wish to be included on the circulation database list please send your e-mail address to villageEnewsletter@gmail.com

Hearing Help and Lip-Reading
Classes will start on Monday, 4th October from 8.00 to 10.00pm and Wednesday, 6th October from 10.30am to 12.30pm for 8 weeks.  Venue: Citizens Information Centre, The Parade.  Info: 086 809 4658. All welcome.

Olympic Handball
A new sports club is being established in Kilkenny in the form of Olympic Handball. The club, which aims to train and compete in national competitions, is looking for new members. Olympic Handball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players (six outfield and a goalkeeper) pass a ball to throw it into the goal of the other team. The team with the most goals after two periods of 30 minutes wins. Open training is on Thursdays from 5.45 to 7.00pm in St Kieran’s College Sports Hall with another training time to be announced very soon. Contact Benny at bennyoregan@yahoo.ie or 086 203 0940.

Loughboy Library
Summer Reading Challenge: children who completed the Space Hop Reading Challenge are invited to a celebration in the Newpark Hotel on Monday, 11th October. Please ensure that you return your card to the library so that you will receive your invitation in the post.
Computer classes - the library has now added a morning class to its schedule so if you would like to enrol for some free computer classes while the children are at school this could be your chance. Courses are available in first aid, CPR and book-keeping amongst others. Book club meets this Thursday at 10.30am and new members are always welcome.

Hospice Week
Susie Long Hospice Week 11-17 Oct 2010
As part of Hospice week “Touch Therapy & See what really matters”, a demonstration and explanation of Comfort Touch Therapy by complementary practitioner Denise O’Connell and a practical workshop exploring ways to enrich your daily life, with life coach Siobhan Sims, takes place at the Ormonde Hotel on Tuesday 12th October at 7pm. Admission is free, donations to the Susie Long Hospice Fund are welcome. www.susielonghospice.com or phone 087 2070737


Questions People Ask
Q. How is it that those places most associated with reading the Bible have produced the most bigoted people on earth, backing self-righteousness, apartheid and colour discrimination?
A. People of the book focus entirely on their sacred book apart from the wisdom of the wider community. The Scribes and Pharisees made this mistake in their time. Christian fundamentalists, Islamic fundamentalists and followers of the Communist Red Book followed suit. People then select those texts which back up their own ideas and miss the total picture. Even the devil selected biblical texts in tempting Jesus. Referees who meticulously follow the book infuriate players and spectators when they do not let common sense prevail. Beware of the man of the one book!
Fr. Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap

Right Spirit
Made to measure medicine is just around the corner. A corner that’s about a decade always, that is. According to the scientist who led the Human Genome Project, most of us in the affluent world will have our genetic codes sequenced by then for less than €800. Knowing our genetic code, a doctor could then prescribe drugs more safely and effectively. I wonder can a gene affect a soul, or spirit – that part of us that doesn’t show up even under the most intense scans, or the most powerful of microscopes? It’s strange then that in today’s First Reading (Hab 1:2-3, 2:2-4) – dating from about 600 BC – the prophet Habakkuk could shrewdly note ‘the spirit of the proud is not right in them’ (2:4). There’s something wrong with them; something askew inside them. But I doubt if knowing their DNA sequence would right their spirit. When it comes to having a right spirit inside us I’d say right parents are needed. A survey by the Catholic Children’s Society of the Westminster Diocese reported that an average people give one hour daily to primetime TV shows, but only 49 minutes daily to their children. Some 68 percent of parents said that their need for money was the reason for giving so little time to their children. The Catholic Children’s Society said that from experience they know that children need relational they know that children need relational stability, the self-esteem that comes from feeling valued for who they are and knowing they’re loved by their parents. DNA is undoubtedly important: Deeply Needed Attention, that is.
Fr. Tom Cahill SVD

COURSES AT MOUNT ST. ANNE'S,
KILLENARD, PORTARLINGTON
Scripture Course commences on Wednesday 6th October for 11weeks.  8pm - 9.30pm.  No charge - voluntary contribution.
Julian of Norwich Day - Saturday 9th October, 2010. 10am - 4pm.  Facilitated by Ms. Vera Coughlan.  Cost 50 euro including lunch.
Centring Prayer - Saturday 23rd October, 2010. 10am - 4pm.  Facilitated by Fr. Tom Hammill.  Cost: 50 euro including lunch
Dream Workshop Weekend - Friday 29th to Sunday 31st October, 2010.  An introduction to the art of interpreting our dreams. Facilitated by Sr. Mairead Murphy.  Cost: 180 euro residential or 110 non-residential.
Meditation every Tuesday night from 8pm - 9pm.  No charge - voluntary contribution.
Art and Craft every Thursday night from 8pm - 10pm.  Come along and share the fun and the skills, including Crochet, Photography, Art, Cardmaking - the list is endless!
Bookings/Enquiries:  The Secretary, Mount St. Anne's  057-8626153 or email: msannes@eircom.net