The annual Foulkstown Cemetery Mass will take place on this Thursday, 28th July. Mass will begin at 7.30pm As usual large crowds are expected for this annual event. We appeal to all to be patient and careful on your journey to and from the cemetery. Please follow the advice of the Gardai and stewards on the evening.
The Cemetery Committee has made great efforts to have our burial ground looking very well on the evening and we thank them sincerely for their voluntary work. We appeal to plot owners to attend to family graves in preparation for Thursday evening and invite your family and friends, especially those who live some distance away, to come along.
Have you understood?
‘Have you understood all this?’ Jesus asks his disciples. Over the past few weeks we have heard Jesus speak in many parables as he moves around Galilee, speaking to the crowds from an offshore boat and explaining the parables privately to his disciples. You can imagine the crowds outside still puzzling over what Jesus has said, even as the privileged disciples get the benefit of his interpretation. And we, too, are treated to this ‘insider’ view. The parables of Jesus challenge us to look at the world in a different way. Jesus asks them to keep his listener’s attention. They are not supposed to be straightforward; they are more like riddles, intended to tease the mind. The parables often begin ‘The kingdom of heaven is like...’, and today’s Gospel contains three such comparisons to illustrate the supreme value of the kingdom of heaven – it is like treasure hidden in a field, a pearl, a haul of fish which will be separated into good and bad. The succession of metaphors can be confusing as we try to get our head around what Jesus is trying to tell us about the mysteries of his kingdom. Which one resonates with you?Triona Doherty
Last weekend your contribution was €2,095.00. Thank you for your generosity.
Questions People Ask
Q. How might a person apply the parable of the hidden treasure in life today? What is this hidden treasure?A. This is one of seven parables about the kingdom of God. The kingdom, or reign of God, means that a person accepts the importance of God in life and resolves to live by God’s law. It is the key to inner peace. Sadly, for many the treasure remains hidden because they search in the wrong places. As C.S. Lewis put it, there is a God-shaped emptiness in the human heart. Knowing Christ Jesus is a treasure awaiting discovery.
Fr. Silvester O’Flynn OFM CapPray for our Deceased Friends
Recently Deceased: Sr. Carmel Rita Maguire, Religious Sisters of Charity, St. Patrick’s Convent, Kells Road. Requiem Mass at St. Joseph’s Church, Foulkstown at 2.30pm on Sunday. Burial immediately afterwards in the Community Plot, Foulkstown Cemetery. Joseph Doyle, Dominic Street. Anne Skelley, Banim Terrace. Charlie Adams, formerly of Garden Villas who died in England. Billy O’Carroll, Gowran and late of Upper Patrick Street.
Anniversaries: Mick Coonan (Sat 6.15), Davina Crosbie (Sun 10.00), Vera Brannigan (Sun 11.00), Joe Cody (Sun 12.30), Geoffrey Drennan (Thurs 10.30), Rokas Sinkevicius (Fri 6.00), Delia O’Hara, Jimmy Carroll.
Intentions for next weekend: Thomas McGuire (Sat 7.00). Denis Treacy (Sun 10.00). Peg McGrath (Sun 11.00, Months Mind). Maureen Walsh (The Friary, Sun 12.00, Months Mind). Teresa Delahanty (Sun 12.30).
Clara Parish and surrounding parishes are organising an October pilgrimage to Lourdes and the Shrines of France. 7th - 14th October. Seats still available, book immediately. Visiting Lourdes, Avignon, Ars, Paray-Le-Monial, Nevers, Paris and Lisieux. 7 Nights. Cost €799 including insurance. Contact Fr. Larry O’Keeffe, Clara 056 772 6560.
Youth 2000 Summer Festival
Clonmacnois 4th – 7th August 2011
Are you looking for some refreshment and revitalisation? Hoping to meet like-minded young people to share in your walk of faith or are you simply searching for something more to life? Why not come along to Youth 2000’s Summer Festival in Clonmacnois, Co Offaly from 4th – 7th August 2011. This is a lively 4-day Catholic festival for 16-35 year-olds with workshops, concert, inspiring talks, great music, prayer, and plenty of time for relaxing, chilling out and meeting new people. Our theme for this year is “Lord, it is wonderful for us to be here.” (Matt 17:4)
The guest speaker for the festival is Fr. Bernard Murphy, of the Community of Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. Fr Bernard works primarily with the poor and destitute and is well known for his inspirational preaching and infectious joy.
Reflecting on their experience at last year’s festival, one young person commented:
“When I arrived I really did not know what to expect but now I am so thrilled to have made the journey – it was so fantastic and inspiring, and for the first time in my life I feel as if I met God personally.”
Youth 2000 invites you to come along and experience this weekend for yourself. The festival is donation-only with free buses from around the country, just bring a sleeping bag.
To book on-line and for information on free buses please visit our website www.youth2000.ie or telephone 01675 3690 or 085 828 9231.
World Youth Day
World Youth Day celebrations take place in Madrid, Spain in the middle of August. Hundreds of thousands of young people from all over the world will gather with the Pope to celebrate their faith.
While there will be no official representation from Ossory we have discovered that four young people from our parish are travelling. We would love to hear of any others from the parish who intend going. Please let us know at 776 4400.
Collection for East Africa
Bishop Seamus has asked that a special collection be taken up at Masses this week-end to provide aid for the people of East Africa. The proceeds will be forwarded to Trócaire. The New Roman Missal
What should we, as a faith community, reflect on as we prepare to use the new Missal?We have been praying our current texts for over thirty-five years. Moving to new texts will be a challenge and will require that we exercise patience and support for one another. Priests and people, musicians and others involved in preparing the liturgy all need to work together to make the change as easy as it can be. Ultimately we need to remember that the words of our liturgy are crucial - we pray as we believe. But when we pray the Mass we do more than recite words – those words are recited in the context of all the actions, symbols and people of the liturgy. As we work towards implementing the changes, may we keep in mind the bigger task of which the words of the Missal are a part: namely the Mystery of our Faith, the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ made present for us in the Eucharist.
Certificate in Theological Studies
The Diocese of Ossory is providing a new course in theology to provide general theological education and formation in the main aspects of faith and to provide the theological background needed for lay involvement and leadership roles at parish and diocesan level. 100 hours part-time over one academic year from September 2011 to May 2012. For an application form and further information please contact: Course Director, St. Kieran’s College Kilkenny, Email declanmurphy@ossory.ie. Telephone 056 772 1086. Closing date for applications: 19th August 2011. St. Patrick’s Parish may be in a position to offer some financial support to registered parishioners who are accepted on this course. Contact the Parish Office for further details.
Solemn Sung Latin Mass
Solemn Sung Latin Mass and veneration of a 1st Class Relic of St. Oliver Plunkett
will take place on this Sunday, 24th July at 5.00pm in St. Patrick's Church, College Road. All are welcome to attend.
will take place on this Sunday, 24th July at 5.00pm in St. Patrick's Church, College Road. All are welcome to attend.
Towards Healing Helpline
Towards Healing is an organisation which provides telephone counselling and a counselling and psychotherapy referral service for people who have suffered physical, emotional or sexual abuse when they were children by persons working for the Catholic Church in Ireland – www.towardshealing.ie or telephone 1800 303 416.
Pregnant and Distressed?
CURA office is now located at: No. 7, Priory Square, Dean Street, Kilkenny. Opening hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 2.00pm to 4.00 p.m. and Thursday from 7.00pm to 9.00pm.
If you are pregnant and distressed and would like to talk to someone in confidence phone CURA at 1850 62 26 26 or local number 056 772 2739.
Concert at St. Patrick’s Cancelled
The S.O.S. concert with the Garda No. 1 Band which was to be held at St. Patrick's Church on next Tuesday evening has been cancelled. This is due to reasons beyond the control of the organizers.
Carers’ Association
Support Group Meetings will now be held monthly. Next meeting taking place on 28th July: Mass in St. Fiacre’s Church, Loughboy at 10.30am and meeting in the Parish Centre at 11.00am. We look forward to seeing you there.
Local Youth to Medjugorje
On Friday of this week a group of almost 40 young people from the city and county will travel with their adult leaders to the Marian Shrine at Medjugorje. The group, including 11 from our parish, will take part in the 22nd International Youth Prayer Festival which will be celebrated from 1st to 6th August. The group will leave from the Parish Centre at about 3.00am on Friday. We wish them God’s blessing on their pilgrimage. Further information may be obtained on www.medjugorje.ie
