Do This in Memory
We welcome to our 10.30am and 11.00am Masses the boys and girls who are preparing to receive their first Holy Communion next May. We also welcome the parents, siblings and grandparents who have come along to these special Masses. We remind ourselves again of the important role to be played by parents, family members, the local parish community and teachers in preparing our young people for this sacrament.
Half Way Review Point!
We are midway through Lent and we may need to renew our Lenten resolutions. It is time to ask ourselves if we are using this season well as we prepare for Easter. Even if we have failed it is not too late to start again or even to begin for the first time. We suggest attending daily Mass for Lent. For your convenience we have an extra Mass at St. Fiacre’s Church each weekday at 6.15pm.
Lent: Time for Enjoying God’s Mercy
It is easy to discourage, and far too easy to criticise, complain, rebuke. Let us try to be quicker to see even a small amount of good in a person and concentrate on that. (Desmond Tutu).
Trócaire Boxes
Trócaire Family Fast Boxes are available in all our churches this weekend. Please do take one and use it during Lent. www.trocaire.org for more information.
Cake and Craft Sale
Some local parishioners are hosting a Cake and Craft Sale for the Irish Pilgrimage Trust at St. Patrick’s Parish Centre after Masses at St. Fiacre’s Church at 6.15pm on this Saturday, 10.30am and 12.00noon on this Sunday.
A variety of cakes, tarts, breads and dainties will be available. There will also be tables with knits, crafts, hand-made cards, costume jewellery, handbags, pashminas and, of course, a raffle. The proceeds will help send young people with special needs to Lourdes at Easter.
Parish Contribution Envelopes
We are currently preparing this year’s parish contribution envelopes for use from the first weekend of April. A few things come to mind.
1) First and foremost we offer our grateful thanks to those who contribute to our parish through envelopes, standing orders and annual contributions. In doing so you enable us to trace and account for the money contributed to the parish. In cases where your contribution to the parish and ‘stations’ averages €5 per week we can increase the value of your contribution (at no extra cost or bother to you) by reclaiming from the Revenue the tax you have already paid on your contributions.
2) Some people have not registered in our parish or taken envelopes and others have lapsed over the years. We appeal to all to take seriously your responsibility as members of St. Patrick’s Parish and register as members of our parish community and take and use a pack of envelopes. In this way you will continue to support the many fine services provided by the parish and used by so many.
3) The packs of envelopes are distributed to the various streets, estates and town lands by volunteers. We are currently recruiting helpers for this task in many areas. We would love to hear from you in the Parish Office (056 776 4400) if you feel you could drop a pack in letterboxes in your neighbourhood.
Taking Control of Our Lives Again
This is the title of a talk by Dr. Fergus Heffernan to be held at St. Fiacre’s Church, Loughboy, Kilkenny at 8.00pm on Thursday, 3rd April. Cost €10. Creating resilience in challenging times teaches how to:-
· Build self-confidence
· How your diet affects your mood
· Take positive control of yourself and your future
· Have fulfilling relationships with family, friends and co-workers
· Free yourself from persistent fears and worries
· How to manage what goes on in your mind
For further information call 087 335 6738
Pray For Our Deceased Friends
Recently Deceased: Tess Burke, Kilmacow. Dinny Brennan, Ballybought Street. Eileen O’Carroll, The Railyard. Reposing at her son Billy’s home at Shellumsrath. Funeral prayers at 12.30pm on Sunday followed by removal to Moneenroe Church for Requiem Mass at 2.00pm. Burial in Moneenroe.
Anniversaries: Jack & John Ryan (Sat 6.15). Chris Kenny (Sat 7.00). Rusty Scanlon (Sun 10.30). Pat Mullins (Sun 11.00). Margaret Dunne (Sun 12.00). Paddy Walsh (Sun 12.30). Baby Jessica Harper Brennan & Denis Kavanagh (Tues 6.15). Des Cullen (Wed 10.30). Tommy Byrne (Fri 6.15). Richard & Billy Brennan. Dan & Peggy Kennedy. Philip, Johanna & John Larkin. Rose Keany. Elizabeth Kavanagh. Eileen Quigley. Lou McCarthy. Michael & Mary Conway. Adrian Bligh.
Intentions for next weekend: Paddy Tomney (Sat 6.15). Oliver Kelly (Sat 7.00). Mary Lawlor (Sun 9.30). Michael Whelan (Sun 11.00). Marie Phelan (Sun 12.00). Con & Patsy Kenealy (Sun 12.30).
Service for those Touched by Cancer
A service for those whose lives have been touched by cancer will take place in St. Mary's Cathedral on Friday, 28th March at 7.30pm. The Relic of St. Peregrine will be available for those who wish to be blessed. St Peregrine is the patron saint of those whose lives have been touched by cancer.
Dochas Nasamu
An Irish run Aids orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya, is holding a used clothing appeal of ladies, gents and children’s clothes, shoes, household linens i.e. towels, sheets, blankets, soft toys, handbags etc. Friday, 28th March, from 9.00am to 10.30am in St. Patrick’s Parish Centre car park. For further information, contact Marie on 087 689 0995.
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2014
The annual Ossory Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes will take place between 22nd and 27th May. Places: €745 pps. Please contact Eleanor, Glenmore Parish Office on 051 880 414.
The Integritas Centre
On Wednesday, 26th March at 8.00pm, Peter Hannan S.J. will give a personal and audio-visual presentation at The Integritas Centre, Ennisnag entitled How can I be transformed by the love experienced in relationships through prayer and reflection?
Explore how we can be transformed through praying with and reflecting upon the experience of significant relationships in the history of our lives. Integritas Centre: 056 772 8902 and enquiries@integritas.ie
Loughboy Library
A new Book Club will start on Tuesday, 1st April at 10.30am. Names to Eoghan Murphy on 086 059 2070 or Library on 056 779 4176.
Computer Tips with TY students continue on Fridays at 3.45pm. Craft Club takes place every Wednesday at 2.00pm.
Exhibition Space is still available for crafts, photography, art, etc. Please contact the Library on 056 779 4176.
Computer Course
Kilkenny Leader Partnership is taking registrations for a Benefit 4 Computer Class which they will be delivering shortly. The course is a good basic computer course covering topics such as using the internet, emails, digital photography, Skype and using social media such as Facebook and Twitter. The course is for 5 weeks commencing on Monday, 24th March in Kilkenny City. Fee for the course is €10.00. For more information or to register for course contact Connie McGee on 086 771 8040.
Who Will be My Witnesses?
The Samaritan woman, whose story is told in today’s gospel, was the first and only person in the public life of Jesus through whose word of witness, a group of people is brought “to come and see and to believe in Jesus”.
The fields are still white for the harvest. Who will come to Jesus and believe in him, because of my word of witness?
Lenten Stations
The Lenten Station envelope for the support of the priests of the parish and the bishop is taken up around this time. It is the next white envelope in your pack of contribution envelopes which you received last year. We say a sincere thanks to all who support us through these contributions. We are conscious that many people are finding these time tough and it makes us all the more grateful for your generosity and prayerful support.
