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
