Live as Children of Light
We associate darkness with the negative, and indeed this has caused much prejudice in our world. But light can also be terrifying, blinding, and dangerous. A street child in India once greeted me with the words, ‘Black is beauty, white is danger’. Could I disagree with him? No. This brings me to Lent. How is it going? How is that long hard look at our relationships with the world going? The Second Reading calls us to live in the light. Living in the light is not only about being happy but committing oneself to justice and compassion for all human beings. Instead of hiding ourselves and hiding injustices, we first realise that we are children of light. Then, we must recognise that light bears fruit and that fruit is goodness, justice and truth. As the saying goes, ‘better to light a candle than blame the darkness but that candle will always have to give of itself in order to give light.
Jane Mellett
Do you want to garden?
Our parish gardening group is looking for new members. The group takes responsibility for the grounds around the Parish Centre and do a wonderful job managing to win a prize for their efforts last year. No expertise is required: just an interest in gardening and a willing pair of hands will suffice. The group will meet at the Parish Centre at 7.00pm on Monday evening.
Just a Thought
My face in the mirror isn't wrinkled or drawn.
My house isn't dirty, the cobwebs are gone.
My garden looks lovely, and so does my lawn.
I think I might never put my glasses back on.
Public Rosary
The monthly rosary on the First Sunday in James Green at the statue of Our Lady of Kilkenny continues on this Sunday, 3rd April at 3pm. All welcome.
Pray for our Deceased Friends
Recently Deceased: Liam Renehan, ‘Ashboro’ Drakelands. Funeral Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral at 2.00pm on Monday. Andrew Delaney, Pinewood Avenue. Kathleen Reilly. Gerard (Gerry) Fagan. Fr. Edmund Prendergast MHM, Roscommon and late of Kilkenny. Con Davis, Maudlin Street. Joe Webster, Urlingford.
Anniversaries: Michael O’Sullivan (Sat 6.15), William (Billy) Brennan (Sat 7.00), Laurence O’Donoghue (Sun 9.30), Denis Kavanagh (Sun 10.30), Dr. WJ & Margaret Phelan & Moya Bligh (Sun 11.00), Charlie Blackmore (Sun 12.00), Bridget Lawlor (Sun 12.30), Michael Malone (Thurs 6.15), Sheila (Daisy) Ramsbottom (Fri 9.30), Michael & Patrick Massey, Eileen Byrne, John Jack Dowling, Ellen & Alan Kelly.
Intentions for next weekend: Martin Hoyne (Sat 6.15), William Morris (Sun 9.30), Josephine O’Neill (Sun 10.00), Pierce Anthony Grace (Sun 11.00), Sheila Keaney (Sun 12.00), Dick Keating (Sun 12.30).
Parish Confirmation
Bishop Séamus Freeman will join us on next Saturday morning to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation. The ceremony begins at 11.00am and, because of the numbers involved, will take place at St. Mary’s Cathedral. Pupils from St. Patrick’s De La Salle Boys’ School, St. John of God Girls’ School, St. Patrick’s Special School and Kilkenny School Project will receive the sacrament. Please pray for the candidates during the coming week.
Christian/Gospel Music Concert
St. Fiacre’s Church will play host to a concert of Christian music at 7.00pm on this Sunday, 3rd April. The event will raise funds to help young people with special needs and will feature The Cullinanes, a popular musical family from North Kilkenny. The combined folk choirs from St. Patrick’s Parish, Danesfort Children's’ Choir and Castlecomer Life in the Spirit Group and other guests will provide support. Admission is only €5. Please support.
Contribution Envelopes
A sincere thank you to all who contribute to our parish and clergy through the numbered envelope packs and standing orders. Using this system helps us record your contributions and, in many cases, enables us to recover tax paid on your donations. New sets of envelopes are being distributed at present and you should get yours within the next few days. Please contact the Parish Office if you did not receive the envelopes packs in recent years and would like to do so at this stage.
We are also in need of volunteers to deliver the contribution packs in some areas, especially the newer housing estates. A call to the Parish Office offering help on this matter would be greatly appreciated.
Westcourt News
The monthly Mass to pray for the intercession of Blessed Edmund Rice and for his canonisation will be celebrated in Westcourt on Monday, 4th April at 7.30pm.
World Youth Day 2011
Young people from the Diocese of Ossory are invited to attend World Youth Day in Madrid in August 2011. Pope Benedict XVI extended the invitation at the end of the WYD celebration in Sydney in 2008. If you are 18 years or older on the 1st August 2011 and would like to be part of this world wide pilgrimage please telephone Fr. Richard Scriven at 087 242 0033 or email him on rscriven2009@gmail.com. More information on www.madrid11.com/en
Lenten Pilgrimage
Last weekend’s pilgrimage along the banks of the River Barrow was a wonderful success and people returned home in good spirits. (See www.ossory.ie for reports and photographs).
A similar pilgrimage will take place on Slievenamon on this Sunday, 3rd April. Departing (2.30pm) from the Cross at the base of Slievenamon the group will walk to the summit taking the opportunity to reflect on the scenery and the world we look upon.
Indicate your interest by texting 086 609 7483.
Children’s Liturgy Group
The Children’s Sunday Mass (10.30am) continues at St. Fiacre’s Church during Lent. All children are welcome! Practice will take place in St. Fiacre’s Church on Wednesday, 6.40pm.
Thursday Healing Service
The fortnightly healing service will be held at St. Fiacre’s Church on this Thursday at 7.30pm. All are welcome.
Remembrance Service for Babies
The Maternity Department of St. Luke’s General Hospital for Carlow/Kilkenny has organised a Remembrance Ceremony for families who have suffered a pregnancy loss through stillbirth or miscarriage. The service is being held at St. Fiacre's Church on Tuesday, 12th April at 7.30pm. All are welcome to attend.
Evenings of Prayer in Thomastown
Thomastown Parish Church hosts three evenings of prayer at 7.30pm on:-
Tuesday, 5th April: ‘Christ Gathers Us’ led by Fr. Richard Scriven, Inistioge
Wednesday, 6th April: ‘Christ Gathers us to Listen to His Word’ led by Chris Kelly.
Thursday, 7th April: ‘Christ Calls us to Reconciliation’ led by Derek Dooley.
Weekly Envelope Collection
Last week’s envelope collection: €1,510. Thanks to all who contribute.
Vocations Awareness Evening
A Vocations Awareness Evening of prayer and a workshop led by Fr. Willie Purcell, Vocations Director will take place in Mooncoin Parish on the 8th and 9th April. Taize prayer and adoration will take place in the Parish Church, Mooncoin on Friday, 8th April beginning at 7.30pm. A workshop on fostering vocations to the priesthood in our diocese will take place on Saturday, 9th April beginning at 11.00am. All are invited to these two days of reflection on how we can as parishes foster vocations to the priesthood in the Diocese of Ossory.
Al-Anon & Alateen
Al-Anon & Alateen provide hope for families and friends of problem drinkers. Phone helpline for local details 01 873 2699. Meetings in Kilkenny: Mill Hill Missionaries, St. Joseph’s Waterford Road; Tuesdays at 8.30pm. Kilkenny Social Services, Waterford Road; Wednesdays at 12.30pm. St. John’s Hall, St. John’s Church, Dublin Rd; Fridays at 8.15pm. Visit www.al-anon-ireland.org.
Pope John Paul II
This weekend marks the sixth anniversary of the death of the late Pope John Paul II (2nd April 2005). The late Pope will be beatified on the Feast of Divine Mercy, 1st May 2011.
Dochas Nasamu
An Irish run and Irish built orphanage, in Nairobi, Kenya, is holding a used clothing appeal for ladies, gents and children’s clothes, shoes, household linens, i.e. towels, sheets, blankets etc. Also, soft toys. Drop off outside St. Patrick’s Parish Centre before noon on Thursday, 7th April. Contact Marie on 087 689 0995.
Bangers & Mash Lunch for Amber
Amber Women’s Refuge Project is holding a Bangers & Mash Lunch in The Aspect Hotel (Woodie’s Retail Park) on Thursday, 14th April from 12.30pm until 2.30pm. Donation €10.00. This venture gives the opportunity to have a quick lunch in a lovely environment.
Trócaire Family Fast Boxes
On this fourth Sunday in Lent we think of vulnerable mothers overseas who are raising their children against the odds. The inequalities that women and girls face all over the developing world condemn them to a future of poverty. By supporting Trócaire's Lenten campaign you can help them look forward to a better future. For more information on the campaign visit www.trocaire.org/lent or call 1850 408 408.
Questions People Ask
Q. Somebody at a prayer meeting said that a person who lives a sinful life will be punished by God with all sorts of bad luck. Is that correct?
A. That idea is there in the early Old Testament but it is certainly not the mind of Jesus Christ. There has been a development of doctrine in the meantime. In today’s Gospel Jesus dismissed the claim that a man’s blindness was because of sin on his own part or by his parents. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spoke of God’s love for all people, sinner as well as saint, causing his rain to fall and sun to shine on all, without discrimination. God’s love for all his creatures is never vindictive, even when people live sinful lives.
Fr. Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap
