A Simple Life
Do not worry about your life, what you are to eat or what you are to wear. Do not worry about NAMA or the IMF. Do not worry about the banks, about negative equity, about death of a Tiger that never really existed for the majority of people. God will provide? Is HE serious? Today’s trouble is certainly enough for today as we are constantly led into situations where we can respond with anxiety or with trust. Whatever we set our hearts on will receive most of our time and energy and for sure, anxiety drains our energy. In today’s Second Reading Paul also gives us another reason not to be obsessed with material things – we have too much to do! We are stewards of a Kingdom. These messages are a mega challenge for all who live in the so-called ‘developed’ world. If a Kingdom of justice is our prime concern, then there is no storing up of things. There is instead a sharing, in such a way what we all have what is necessary to live. It is living simply, living sustainably, living in solidarity with all members of our society. Today we are asked to reflect on our life values: What is more important? What we have or who we are? Anthony de Mello said, ‘You have everything you need right now to be happy’. Do we really believe that? If we do, that is a great liberation and one that enables us to set out hearts on His Kingdom first.
Jane Mellett
Walking Group
A walking group will meet on Wednesday mornings at 9.45 at the track in the Watershed. This group will be led by a qualified walk leader and all abilities are welcome.
If you are retired, have dropped children to school, want to walk with your buggy or would simply like to walk with some company, come along any Wednesday from the 2nd of March! Contact Kilkenny Recreation and Sports Partnership on 056 7720870 or info@krsp.ie.
Our Website: www.patricksparish.com
Questions People Ask
How can a God of love condemn any soul to hell?
The Catholic Catechism calls hell’ the state of definitive self-exclusion from communion with God and the blessed.’ Notice the words self-exclusion, inferring that people exclude themselves from God’s invitation by deliberately rejecting God and the ways of justice and love. ‘And the judgement is this, though the light has come into the world people have preferred darkness to the light because their deeds were evil. And indeed, everybody who does wrong hates the light and avoids it, to prevent his actions from being shown up’ (John 3:19-20). Hell is self-inflicted.
Fr. Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap
Pray For Our Deceased FriendsRecently Deceased: Bernard Dowling, London. Mary Burke, Castlewarren. Seamus Burke, Assumption Place. Requiem mass Monday 2pm St. John’s. Margaret Fahy, 7 Haltigan Tce & England.
Month Mind: Maureen Barry (Sun 9.30), Ann O’Shea (Sun 11.00). Fr. Joe O’Shea, Washington (Mass Sat 12 noon St. Fiacre’s Church).
Anniversaries: Bridget & Tommy Casey (Sat 6.15), John Dinneen (Sat 7.00), David Maher (Sun 10.00), Tommy McCarthy (Sun 10.30), Brian Griffin (Sun 12.00), Joe Lawlor (Sun 12.30), Mikey Holland (Tues 9.30), Catherine Cullen (Wed 9.30), Michael McKane (Wed 10.30), Ann Mulhall, Johanna Fanning, Paddy Barry, Catherine McDonald, William Holland, Ann & Michael Purcell, Bridget O’Rourke, Mary Fitzpatrick.
Intentions for next weekend:
Dympna O’Byrne (Months Mind Sat 6.15), Pat Adams (Sat 7.00), Ann Nolan (Months Mind (Sun 9.30), Tommy Hickey (Months Mind) & Eileen & Kieran Hickey (Sun 10.00), Margaret McGrath (Sun 10.30), Evelyn Herlihy & Christian Maher (Sun 11.00), Michael Brophy (Sun 12.00), Lulu Lynch (Sun 12.30)
First Friday of March
The first Friday of March occurs this week. The Fr. Dan & Fr. Roderick will visit the sick and housebound as usual. Please note: Fr. Liam will make his calls on Thursday.
Youth Choir
If you attend the 12.30 Mass in St. Patrick's Church please consider joining the choir. We have a lot of musicians but we need singers. If you would like to join the choir please be at the Church for 12noon each Sunday.
Weekly Envelope Collection
The envelope collection last week amounted to € 1365.00. Sincere thanks to all. The new envelope contribution packs are being ordered and prepared for distribution. If you didn’t receive envelopes last year and would like to contribute to the parish in this way, then contact the parish office.
Church Gate Collection
The Annual Church Gate Collection for the School of the Holy Spirit will
take place on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th March. The monies raised will go
towards essential complimentary therapies for the pupils. Thank you so much
to the people of Kilkenny for their continued support.
Parish Shop
As well as the usual offerings of religious goods the Parish Shop now includes a selection of Confirmation items. The shop is located in the Parish Centre and is open during office hours each weekday.
Feast of St. Kieran
On the weekend 5th/6th March as the Diocese celebrates the feast of St. Kieran, our patron Saint, we will launch the forthcoming International Eucharistic Congress 2012 at our Weekend Masses.”
The congress takes place in Dublin in 2012 and will bring people from all over the world.
Cake Sale and Coffee Morning
Group 174 of the Irish Pilgrimage Trust (of which Fr. Dan is chaplain) takes 11 young people with special needs to Lourdes each Easter. In Lourdes Group 174 becomes part of a great international pilgrimage with visitors from other parts of Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales, Croatia, West Indies and the United States. Each adult helper pays his or her own fare and commits to help raise €13,500 to pay for the young people’s travel and accommodation. Group 174 plans a Cake Sale and Coffee Morning at St. Patrick’s Parish Centre after 10.30am and 12.00 noon Masses on Sunday, 6th March.
We appeal for your support on the day and anyone who can help with baking produce etc. beforehand you assistance is greatly appreciated.
Please give Ena or Rita a call on 056 776 4400 if you feel you can help. For more information visit www.irishpilgrimagetrust.com.
Loughboy Library
Exhibition Space—for 2011 is still available free of charge - please book at 7794176. Paula Holohan from Grovine is exhibiting a photographic collection of wildflowers until March 4th.
Toddler Hour will take place at 11.30am on Friday this week instead of Thursday.
World Book Day - Thursday March 3rd . Book club meeting at 10.30am or Writers Group at 2pm.
NALA Distance Learning Service - log onto www.writeon.ie. Free phone 1800202065 or text ‘Learn’ to 50050.
New Candelabra
A beautiful new candelabra has been placed in St. Patrick’s Church. By all accounts it is a welcome addition to the Parish Church. Candles will increase to 30c each on account of the increased cost. The new candelabras in both St. Patrick’s and St. Fiacre’s are more efficient, cut down on waste and use a wax which is more environmentally friendly while burning for the same length as a standard candle.
Security
Due to the relative quietness of the church during the day and for increased security, we have installed a CCTV system in St. Patrick’s Church. This discreet system will not be an intrusion on worshippers. There is already a system in operation in St. Fiacre’s church and in the parish centre.
World day of Prayer
On Friday 4th March 2011 at St. John’s Church of Ireland, John St, Kilkenny at 8pm. All are welcome.
Radio Masses
St. Patrick’s Parish has been invited to host three broadcast Masses on RTE Radio. We are honoured to accept the invitation and look forward to sharing our parish celebrations with a wider congregation. For technical and timing reasons the Masses will be broadcast from St. Joseph’s Church, Foulkstown.
The dates of these masses are: Sunday, 27th February and Sunday, 6th March. The third Mass will be broadcast at 7.00pm on Ash Wednesday, 9th March.
St. Patrick’s Day Televised Mass
St. Patrick’s Brass and Reed Band has accepted an invitation from RTE Television to provide the music for the televised Mass on St. Patrick’s Day. This will be the first time a band has provided the music and the members are currently rehearsing their programme. The band also intends to be back in Kilkenny to take part in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Some Important Dates in 2011
First Holy Communion will be celebrated in our parish on the following dates:-
St. Patrick N.S.: 11.00am on Saturday, 7th May 2011 at St. Patrick’s Church.
St. John of God N.S.: 11.00am on Saturday, 14th May 2011 at St. Patrick’s Church.
Kilkenny School Project.: 12 noon on Sunday, 15th May 2011 at St. Fiacre’s Church
Gaelscoil Osraí: 11.00am on Saturday, 28th May 2011 at St. Fiacre’s Church.
Bishop Seamus will celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation with young people from schools in our parish on the following dates:-
Gaelscoil Osraí: 11am on Saturday, 14th May 2011 at St. Mary’s Cathedral.
Other Schools in the Parish: 11am on Saturday, 9th April 2011 at St. Mary’s Cathedral.
