The Eucharistic Congress Bell
The Eucharistic Congress Bell will be travelling around the Diocese of Ossory from 8th to 19th January 2012. The aim of the Bell travelling around the Diocese and all around the other Irish Dioceses is to call people to prayer and bring them to a greater awareness of the forthcoming International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin next June.
The Bell will be welcomed into the diocese by Bishop Seamus Freeman during a short prayer service on Rice Bridge, Waterford at 2.00pm on this Sunday afternoon. We encourage as many parishioners as possible to travel to Waterford and participate in the ceremony on Rice Bridge.
Following prayers the Bell will be taken up the River Suir by boat to Polerone in Mooncoin Parish where the local people will become the first parish community to receive the Bell in the Diocese of Ossory. Visitors are welcome at Polerone and Mooncoin for the event. (Polerone is accessed via the road which runs along the side of Mooncoin Parish Church).
During the following ten days the Bell will be taken to many of the parishes in the Diocese of Ossory.
It will be our parish community’s turn to welcome the Bell on next Friday evening and Saturday morning. The Bell will arrive outside James Stephen’s GAA Club, Larchfield at about 7.00pm on Friday evening. From there it will be brought in procession to St. Fiacre’s Church where it will be received by Bishop Freeman and the Parish Clergy. Our parish has been asked to host a concelebrated Mass for the young people of the diocese at St. Fiacre’s Church on Friday evening. This will take place at 8.00pm. We appeal to as many as possible to come along and pray with our young people in the presence of the Bell.
On Saturday morning the Bell will be transferred to St. Patrick’s Church in time for 9.30am Mass. The Bell will be taken to the Black Abbey (10.30am – 11.45am), the Capuchin Friary (12.00 noon – 1.00pm), City Hall and High Street (2.00pm – 4.00pm) MacDonagh Junction (4.00pm – 6.00pm), St. John’s Church (6.30pm Mass), to meet the Mayor and Borough Councillors at City Hall (7.30pm) for procession to St. Mary’s Cathedral for 8.00pm Mass.
Frs. Dan, Roderick and Liam appeal to all our community to come out in response to the Bell’s call to prayer. This is an opportunity to join in solidarity with people throughout our land and beyond in prayerfully preparing for the Eucharistic Congress in June of this year.
Pray For Our Deceased Friends
Recently Deceased: Michael Kennedy, “Weggis”, Waterford Road. Funeral Prayers at his residence at 11.00am on Sunday followed by removal to St. Fiacre’s Church for 12 noon Requiem Mass; burial in Foulkstown Cemetery. Maureen Hanrahan, Tullaherin. Hilda Bayliss, Cuffesgrange. Lizzie Brennan, Poulgour. John Hayes, Gaol Street & London. Tim Hickey, Perth, Australia & late of Newpark.
Anniversaries: Billy & Anastasia Hickey (Sat 6.15), Teresa Holden (Sat 7.00), Dick O'Hara (Sun 9.30), Tommy Hickey (Sun 10.00), Michael Kenny & John Condon (Sun 10.30), Sean O’Dwyer (Sun 11.00), Teresa Walsh (Sun 12.00), Catherine Dunphy (Sun 12.30), Paddy O’Byrne (Tues 10.30), Bridget Marchetti (Wed 10.30), Mary Reynolds (Thurs 10.30), Peg Larkin (Fri 10.30), Martin McCorry (Sat 9.30 Months Mind), Roseanna Smyth, Eileen Kenny, Tom Purcell, John, Mamie & Terry Brett, Maura Molloy, Christopher & Mary Ryan, Patrick, Delia & Margaret Taylor, Rita Bourke, Mick & Annie Ruth, Mary Kate Hayes, Jimmy Coyne, Peg Larkin, Michael Kelly, Rose Walsh , Ann Smyth, John Lanigan, Lorenzo Mahony, Frank O’Shea, Tommy, Mary & Thomas Drohan, Pauline Hogan.
Intentions for next weekend: James Ryan (Months Mind Sat 6.15), Anna Campion (Sat 7.00), Maureen O’Shea (Sun 9.30), Maura Nolan (Sun 10.00), Michael Drennan (Sun 10.30), Mary Reynolds (Sun 11.00), Beattie O’Connell (Sun 12.00), Oliver Mannion (Sun 12.30).
St. Joseph's Young Priests Society
The monthly meeting of St. Joseph's Young Priests Society will take place in the Parish Centre, immediately after the 10.30am Mass, on Friday, January 13th 2012. All welcome.
Divine Mercy
An hour of adoration and prayer in honour of Divine Mercy will take place in the Capuchin Friary Church on Sunday 8th January from 3.00pm - 4.00pm. All are welcome to come along and join in our prayers.
Envelope Collection
The total amount collected for last weekend’s parish envelopes amounted to €3,431.00. Thank you for your continued support.
First Saturday Devotion
Will take place in St. Fiacre’s Church on Saturday January 7th after 6.15pm Mass. Prayers and adoration will end at 9pm. All welcome.
Eucharistic Ministers
We ask Eucharistic Ministers to continue to be vigilant in their ministry of Holy Communion. In particular we ask you to keep watch for people taking the Sacred Host back to their seat with them and people presenting pyxs in order to take Holy Communion away with them. Remember to refer such requests to the priest. We thank you for your cooperation.
Parish Office Opening Hours
The Parish Office is now open during the following hours:-
Mondays: 9.00am - 1.00pm, 2.00pm - 4.00pm
Tuesdays: 9.00am - 1.00pm, 2.00pm - 4.00pm
Thursdays: 9.00am - 1.00pm, 2.00pm - 3.30pm
Fridays : 9.00am - 1.00pm, 2.00pm - 4.00pm.
Baptisms, wedding bookings, certificates, etc. are all arranged during office hours.
Afternoon Bridge
Afternoon Bridge at St. Patrick’s Parish Centre on Tuesday afternoons, 3.00pm - 5.00pm. No partner required. All are welcome.
KRSP
Kilkenny Recreation and Sports Partnership offers the following: Hydrotherapy sessions (warm water exercises for people with reduced mobility); Reduced Rates Adult Swim Lessons; Morning Meet & Train Group/Strollers Groups (with buggies); Parents and Tots exercise class. All classes in the Watershed and can be booked on 056 772 0870. We would like to invite you to join us for Operation Transformation Kilkenny in Castlecomer Discovery Park on 14th January at 11.00am. Contact us for more information.
Type 2 Diabetes Education Programme
X-PERT- free education programme for people with Type 2 Diabetes. This 6 week (2 ½ hr per week) group programme is facilitated by a HSE Dietician to support people with Type 2 Diabetes. It will be held in the HSE headquarters, Dublin Road, Kilkenny, on Friday mornings, from 10am to 12.30pm. It will commence on Friday 17th February 2012 ending on Friday 23rd March 2012. Places are limited. To book a place on this course, please contact: Frances Leahy , Health Promotion Office, Dean Street, Kilkenny
Telephone: 056 776 1400.
What’s The Catch?
The majority of us are more careful with money now than we ever were. I’m sure I’m not the only one who sometimes has to check my finances before I accept an invitation to go somewhere. Over the past few years, many of us have had to think carefully about how we spend our money, maybe even turning down an invitation here or there. Even those whose jobs previously came with a certain level of perks have found that ‘freebies’ are now far fewer.
Yet today’s First Reading from Isaiah issues a no-strings-attached invitation: ‘Oh, come to the water, all you who are thirsty; through you have no money, come!’ And, even more astonishingly: ‘Buy corn without money, and eat, and, at no cost, wine and milk’. Not only do we not need money, but good things come for free. So it is when we answer God’s call.
Today we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus, the moment when God revealed Jesus as his Beloved Son. It marks the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. Our readings are rich with water imagery, from the call to the water of our First Reading, to the joyful imagery of the psalm: ‘With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.’ We are called to the water, to that moment when we recognise who Jesus really is – the Beloved Son, God’s favoured one – and what he has to offer. (Triona Doherty)
Questions People Ask
Q. The gospel Mark will be used on Sundays this year. What should I look for in Mark?
A. Mark is a great storyteller with the gift of bringing the reader right into the heart of the action. You will read of Jesus establishing eye contact with people or reaching out to touch people. This is a great Gospel for the sort of mediation that asks you to put yourself into the scene and became part of the story. Mark moves the story forward at a great pace and develops a sense of drama. He presents Jesus as a victim of misunderstanding and rejection. It seems as if his mission was a failure as Jesus dies with a cry of desolation, ‘My God, why have you forsaken me.’ But just then, dramatic things happen and the Roman centurion declares Jesus to be the Son of God. There is a powerful message of hope in this portrait of Jesus in solidarity with those who suffer injustice, misunderstanding and rejection.
