Catholic Schools Week
Thanks to all who involved themselves in the various activities to mark Catholic Schools Week which comes to an end this weekend.
Senior Citizens’ Party
The annual dinner and party for the senior citizens of St. Patrick’s Parish will be held at the Parish Centre on this Monday, 6th February. Good food and a great night’s entertainment is guaranteed. Thanks to all who helped with planning by booking tickets early. A very limited number of tickets (4) are still available at the Parish Office. A great night is promised.
Pray for our Deceased Friends
Recently Deceased: Nora Wise, Assumption Place. Kieran Joseph Kehoe, Blanchfield Park, Clara. Ann Bolger, Clara. Frank Coogan, USA.
Anniversaries: Ann Nolan (Sat 7.00), Shane Holland (Sun 9.30), Noeleen Flood (Sun 10.00), Ann & John Waldron (Sun 10.30) Jimmy McGrath (Sun 11.00), Michael Kennedy (Months Mind, Sun 12.00), Michael Moore (Sun 12.30), Mary O’Brien (Mon 9.30), Sean O’Grady (Tues 10.30), Philly & Stasia Grace (Wed 10.30), Margaret Foran, Eamonn, Frances, Padraig & Seamus Costello, Joseph Kirwan, Michael Burke, Paddy Bourke, Mary Dooley, Monica & Ger Dooley, Bridie Dooley, Liam Devlin, Rory Quinn.
Intentions for next weekend
Anniversaries: John O’Rourke (Sat 6.15), Michael Walsh & Milo Bourke (Sat 7.00), Ursula Maher (Sun 9.30), Catherine Maher (Sun 10.00), Paddy Bourke (Sun 10.30), Eileen Cummins (Sun 11.00), Peter Quinn (Sun 12.00), Dr. Richard Purcell (Sun 12.30).
May the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.
Westcourt News
The monthly Mass to pray for the intercession of Blessed Edmund Rice in our lives and for his canonisation will take place in Westcourt on Monday, 6th February at 7.30pm. The Callan Heritage Society will organise the Liturgy for this mass. All are welcome.
Parish Confirmation
We look forward to welcoming Bishop Freeman to our parish on Saturday, 25th February for the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation with 115 of our young people. While the ceremony will be held at St. Mary’s Cathedral it will be a great day of celebration in our parish community.
Please continue to pray for our young people, their families and teachers as they continue their preparations for this wonderful event.
St. Joseph’s Young Priests Society
The monthly meeting of St. Joseph’s Young Priests Society will take place on Friday, 10th February in the Parish Centre immediately after the 10.30am Mass. New members welcome.
Hospitality Morning
Don’t forget to join us for a cup of tea or coffee and some treats after 10.30am Mass on Tuesday mornings. This is a very popular way of meeting your neighbours and sharing a chat and a cuppa. All are welcome.
Weekly Envelope Collection
Last week’s weekly envelope collection amounted to €1,455.21. Thank you.
Facebook
St. Patrick’s Parish is now on Facebook. Keep up to date with all that’s going on in our parish.
Parish Shop
The Parish Shop - in the foyer of the Parish Centre - now stocks a limited number of the New Missal with the revised translation of the Mass.
The Shop also carries a wide range of gifts suitable for Confirmation, First Holy Communion and Baptism candidates. Open during office hours.
Chernobyl Children International
Many thanks to all who supported the recent coffee morning and book sale in the St. Patrick's Parish Centre.
St John’s Parish Solemn Novena
St John's Annual Parish Solemn Novena commenced last Friday and continues until Saturday, 11th February. It is being conducted by the Redemptorists. Daily Sessions (excluding Sunday) are at 7.30 & 10.30am and 7.30pm. Special Sessions include: Sunday 5th, 3.30 pm - Blessing of Babies & Small Children; Friday 10th, 7.30pm - Special Session for Youth. All are welcome to any or all of the sessions.
Golden Jubilee
Congratulations to John & Bernie McCormack, Bohernatounish Road who celebrate 50 years of married life at this time.
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes
The Ossory Pilgrimage to Lourdes, led by Bishop Seamus Freeman S.A.C., will take place from 22nd to 27th May 2012.
Bookings may be made by contacting Eleanor at glenmore@ossory.ie or telephone 051 880 414 on weekdays except Wednesday. It is important to book as early as possible as places are limited.
First Saturday Devotion
This devotion will take place in St. Fiacre’s Church on this Saturday after 6.15pm Mass. Prayers and adoration will end at 9.00pm. All are welcome.
The Good Old Days
The Good Old Days show in aid of the Irish Wheelchair Association (Kilkenny Branch) and Outreach Kilkenny will take place in the Set Theatre Langton's on Sunday, 12th February at 7.30 pm. A host of guests will perform with audience sing-alongs. Special guest for the night is Aonghus McAnally. Admission is €5. Dress in good old days clothes for the show and win a special prize.
Adoration and Prayer
An hour of adoration and prayer for Divine Mercy will take place in the Friary Church on Sunday, 12th February from 3.00pm - 4.00pm. All are welcome.
Eucharistic Congress 1932
The last time an International Eucharistic Congress was held in Ireland was in 1932. Were you there? Have you any stories to tell (personal stories or those of your parents or grandparents) about the 1932 Congress? Have you any photographs or other memorabilia?
The diocese is considering putting together an exhibition of photographs and memorabilia but if we get enough exhibits from our parish we will put together a small local exhibition in the Parish Centre. Have a look in the attic or in that battered biscuit tin or shoe box and see what you can come up with.
Rosary
The monthly rosary on the first Sunday in James Green at the statue of Our Lady of Kilkenny continues this Sunday, 5th February at 3.00pm. All are welcome.
Loughboy Library
Computer Classes for Beginners: Mondays and Thursdays. Book your place on this 7 week course 056 779 4176.
Scrabble: Wednesdays 2.00pm
Toddler Hour: Thursdays at 11.30am
DVDs: a quantity of new DVDs now in stock.
Elvis Gospel Concert at St. Fiacre’s
The Irish Children's Pilgrimage Trust (IHCPT) will benefit from a fundraising Elvis Gospel Concert at St. Fiacre’s Church on Friday, 2nd March. Proceeds will help send young people with special needs to Lourdes at Easter. Concert will feature Thukolo Gospel Choir with John Cassidy and Memphis Cats. Door prizes galore and other prizes on the night. Tickets: €10 available at the Parish Office. Please support.
Apartments For the Elderly
The Little Sisters of the Poor, Ferrybank have opened the Jeanne Jugan Apartments for the Elderly. You are welcome to view. It is preferable that you first telephone Joan on 051 833 006 from Monday to Friday 8.00am - 2.00pm to make an appointment to view the apartment.
Used Goods Collection
Irish Charity Warehouse Killeshin Road, Carlow in partnership with The Holy Angels Day-care Centre are having a Used Goods Collection. Wanted: furniture, building materials, tools, clothes, shoes, toys, books or any saleable items large or small. Please call 059 914 0622 or text 086 400 4680 and we will collect. Your generosity is appreciated.
Dark, Deserted and Prayerful
The Gospel today is a busy one. Jesus goes from teaching in the synagogue, to healing Peter’s mother-in-law, to curing everyone in the city who was sick or possessed. But there is one line in the midst of this text which stands out: ‘In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.’ We don’t have to think too hard about the busyness of our own lives to realise the importance of stopping at some point in the middle of the mayhem to breathe, to give some space, prayer, reflection, whatever we can to focus our minds on the purpose of all the madness… God’s Kingdom.
The Difference
I got up early one morning
And rushed right into the day;
I had so much to accomplish
That I didn’t take time to pray.
Problems just tumbled around me,
And heavier came each task;
‘Why doesn’t God help me?’ I wondered.
He answered, ‘You didn’t ask.’
I wanted to see joy and beauty-
But the day toiled on, grey and bleak;
I wondered why God didn’t show me,
He said, ‘But you didn’t seek.’
I tried to come into God’s presence,
I used all my keys at the lock;
God gently and lovingly chided:
‘My child, you didn’t knock.’
I woke up early this morning
And paused before entering the day;
I had so much to accomplish
That I had to take time to pray.
Questions People Ask
Q. The new translation of the Apostle’s Creed says that Christ descended into hell. What does that mean?
This is not hell as the place of eternal damnation but hell as the abode of those who had died but were awaiting the glorious vision of God to be won by Jesus the Saviour. ‘Jesus did not descend into hell to deliver the damned nor destroy the hell of damnation, but to free the just who had gone before him’ (Cathechism, 633). Two important beliefs are being stated: that Jesus really died; and that he opened heaven’s gates for all who were awaiting redemption.
The old translation, ‘he descended to the dead’ was less confusing.
