Gioraíonn Beirt Bóthar
Gioraíonn beirt bóthar - the Irish proverb roughly translates as ‘two people shorten the road for each other’. The presence and company of others makes all the difference on a journey. Anyone who has climbed Croagh Patrick, walked the Camino in Spain or gone backpacking abroad will know the importance of encounters with fellow travellers. Storytelling and shared meals are the bits and pieces that forge friendships along the way.
It is only a couple of days since Jesus was crucified. We’re told Emmaus is around seven miles from Jerusalem - a couple of hours’ walk. I imagine that the two disciples, Cleopas and his friend, were relieved to get away from Jerusalem, to get out of the city and have time for a chat about all that had happened. When this ‘stranger’ falls into step with them, their disbelief that he has not heard about the dramatic days leading up to Jesus’ death, and the reports of the empty tomb, shows just how fresh the events are in their minds. But this meeting is no ordinary encounter. While the disciples believe they are speaking with a learned stranger, it is not until they invite him to stay with them and he breaks bread with them that they recognise Jesus. Thinking back it now makes sense to them; ‘Did not our hearts burn within us as he talked to us on the road and explained the scriptures to us?’ they wonder, and they rush back to Jerusalem to share their story.
When was the last time your heart burned within you?
Triona Doherty
First Holy Communion
Congratulations to the boys of St. Patrick’s De La Salle school who received the Eucharist for the first time on Saturday. We congratulate you and are delighted to welcome you as members of our Eucharistic Community.
Well done and thanks to the parents, guardians, Godparents, teachers, programme coordinators and others who were involved in the preparation of the children. Your role was invaluable in handing on the faith to the next generation.
Questions People Ask
Q. My faith has gone very dead. Scandals in the Church haven’t helped but I don’t lay all the blame there. Missing Mass no longer bothers me like it would have years ago. Any prayers I say are mechanical. Have you any suggestions?
A. The world we live in has gone very secular and it is all too easy to drift with the flow. One has to make very deliberate efforts today to nurture faith. Just as our diet has a huge effect on our physical health, our mental diet dictates the wellbeing of our mind and soul. Drop into a church more often to adore the Lord. Read the scriptures as a source of developing a personal listen-and-talk relationship with God. Break out of self-centeredness by offering your services to a charitable or sporting organisation. There are many Retreat Centres where you might avail of a helpful programme. Above all, pray for the gift of a lively faith.
Fr. Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap
Pray for our Deceased Friends
Recently Deceased: Marian O’Sullivan, 20 Dukesmeadows Avenue. Helen Renehan, Waterford Road (former principal of Loreto Secondary School).
Anniversaries: Gordon Deevy (Months Mind Sat 6.15), Fintan Brennan (Sat 7.00), Marie Coyne (Months Mind Sun 9.30), Lar Doyle (Sun 10.00), Margaret Glynn (Months Mind Sun 10.30), Frank Cantwell (Months Mind Sun 11.00), Billy O’Brien (Sun 12.00), Gerry Carolan (Sun 12.30), Martin Ryan (Wed 10.30), Michael Deegan (Thurs 10.30), Paddy Dorney, Francis McNulty, James Downey, Nicholas Downey, James Thornton, Patrick O’Neill, Mary Carroll, Catherine (Kit) Grace, Billy & Paddy Cleere, Sean & Kitty Ryan.
Intentions for next weekend: Anthona Burke (Birthday Remembrance Sat 6.15), Paddy O’Connell (Sun 10.00), Patricia Murphy (Sun 10.30), Jim Lanigan (Sun 11.00), Mary Deegan (Sun 12.00), John Coppinger (Sun 12.30).
Divine Mercy
There will be an hour of prayer and adoration in honour of divine mercy in the Capuchin Friary Church on Sunday, 8th May at 3.00pm.
Brainwave
The Irish Epilepsy Association hold their annual church gate collection this weekend. Your support is appreciated .
St. Joseph’s Young Priests Society
The monthly meeting of St. Joseph’s Young Priests Society will take place on Friday, 13th May in the Parish Centre immediately after the 10.30am Mass. The society prays for and supports vocations to the priesthood and religious life. All are welcome.
Receiving Holy Communion
Last weekend, an adult came forward to receive Holy Communion at one of our Masses. As she took the host in her hand, she clasped it tight and took it to the back of the church without consuming it. This is something we have noticed children doing in the past and we keep a close watch as they may not know any better, but an adult’s doing this is a different matter. We hope this person consumed the host before she left the church otherwise it would be more serious.
As most people will know, the Eucharist (Holy Communion) is our most revered and precious sacrament. It is the actual Body and Blood of Jesus our Lord and as such it demands our utmost reverence, first, in being prepared to receive Jesus spiritually and mentally, and then in how we receive the host.
Once received reverently into the hand, the host must be consumed immediately at the altar. It must not be brought back to one’s seat and must never be removed from the church building. Bringing the host back to one’s seat increases the risk of particles breaking away and getting trampled upon. It also gives rise to the question of whether or not the person fully understands what they are doing in receiving Holy Communion.
We ask parishioners to be diligent and keep a lookout for children or adults who are not consuming the host at the altar. Bring this to the attention of one of the priests and they will follow up on the matter.
Parish Centre Shop
Our parish shop is proving to be a great success with a wide variety of religious goods on sale. There are many items available for Confirmations and First Holy Communions and items can usually be ordered. Feel free to have a look and see.
Anniversaries
We strive to include all anniversaries each week as requested by people but sometimes we make mistakes and errors/omissions occur. If we miss an anniversary that you submitted, please let us know and we will include it the following week. If you have booked a particular Mass, it is always good practice to remind the priest before Mass in case there are omissions. Please have names for inclusion into the office by Friday at the very latest, after this we cannot guarantee inclusion. Likewise, leaving anniversaries on altars, under sacristy doors etc can lead to them getting lost and causing upset. It is better to telephone, email, post or drop them into the Parish Office.
Loughboy Library
The library will host a Creative Writing Workshop for Teenagers with popular Irish author Claire Hennessy on next Saturday, 14th May. This is a free event and will take place from 11.00am to 4.00pm. Please book at 779 4977 or email brenda.ward@kilkennylibrary.ie
Toddle Hour continues on Thursdays at 11.30am. All are welcome to come along for great stories, games and paper-craft fun. Library membership is free for children.
Do This in Memory
This weekend we welcome in a special way the young people attending schools in our parish who are preparing for their first Holy Communion. We also welcome family members who accompany them. The De La Salle boys will already have received the Eucharist by this time and the big event for the others is drawing closer and closer. Thanks to the coordinators who have facilitated this programme this year.
The Servant at the Supper
Preparing for the 2012 Eucharistic Congress the Diocese of Ossory will host Eleanor Glenn a retired Canadian Catholic Elementary School Principal in the play The Servant at the Supper. Costumed as the ‘servant girl’ who baked the bread and served the wine at the Last Supper, Eleanor takes her audiences with her as she moves on to witness the crucifixion, the women returning to tell Peter of Christ’s Resurrection, the coming of the Holy Spirit and a visit of St. Paul.
This is a 40 minute creative, innovative experience of evangelization. It is a Catholic, scripture-based, one woman performance. Using over 20 direct Bible quotations and inspired by the Holy Spirit, Eleanor Glenn takes her audience into the very heart of the Upper Room to experience first-hand the final days of Christ and our call in this 21st century to be His modern day messengers. Venue: Wednesday, 18th May at St. Fiacre’s Church Kilkenny at 8.00pm. Admission: Donation of €5 requested. Contact Fr. Martin Tobin on 086 240 1278 for further information. The play will also be presented at Borris-in-Ossory on 17th May.
Stars for Bars
Kilkenny Final of Stars for Bars is being held in The Kilford Arms Ballroom on Friday 13th May at 8.00pm. Doors will open at 7.30pm.
Tickets cost €10. Proceeds in Aid of O’Neill Centre, Kilkenny.
Kilkenny Flower Club
Kilkenny Flower Club will meet in Butler House next Thursday, 12th of May at 8.00pm. Mary Egan from Wexford will give a talk on gardening and there will also be a Flower Quiz. Non members will be most welcome.
The Risen Lord is Watching
Up at the head table in the cafeteria, one of the nuns had placed a big bowl of bright red, fresh, juicy apples. Beside the bowl, she placed a note which read, “Take only one. Remember, Jesus is watching.” At the other end of the table was a bowl full of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, still warm from the oven. Beside the bowl was a little note scrawled in a child's handwriting which read, “Take all you want. Jesus is watching the apples!”
