Catholic Schools: Called to Serve
National Catholic Schools Week is the annual celebration of Catholic education. It starts on this Sunday and runs all week. Our parish schools will mark the week with Masses and other activities for students, families, parishioners and community members. Through these events, schools focus on the value Catholic education provides to young people and its contributions to our church, our communities and our country.
The theme of Catholic Schools Week 2015 is Catholic Schools: Called to Serve. This call comes from Christ himself. Jesus is called ‘teacher’ on forty-six occasions in the Gospels. It is the title most commonly associated with him by his first followers. So what did Jesus teach? In the villages, hills and valleys of Galilee he taught the people that the reign of God was dawning in their midst. He spoke of the reign of God as healing for the sick, hearing for the deaf, new sight for the blind, freedom for prisoners and good news for the poor.
All Christians are called to serve their brothers and sisters. This means helping them to stand up and walk on their own, exorcising their fear of the unknown and expanding their minds through education. It entails feeding them when they are too weak to feed themselves, opening their eyes to the reality of life, challenging them to let go of hurts and prejudice, and liberating those who are unjustly oppressed. It involves introducing them to ever-greater horizons of transcendence and beauty. This is how we continue the healing ministry of Jesus so that ‘the blind see again, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, the good news is proclaimed to the poor’.
In Evangelii Gaudium the Pope says that the social dimension of the preaching of the Gospel is critically important. If we are truly Christian then we are called to live with others and for others. This is because God, in Christ, has redeemed human society and not just each of us as individuals. This is an important insight for Catholic education. Pope Francis states: “No one can demand that religion should be relegated to the inner sanctum of personal life, without influence on societal and national life, without concern for the soundness of civil institutions, without a right to offer an opinion on events affecting society. Who would claim to lock up in a church and silence the message of St Francis of Assisi or Blessed Teresa of Calcutta? They themselves would have found this unacceptable. An authentic faith – which is never comfortable or completely personal – always involves a deep desire to change the world, to transmit values, to leave this earth somehow better than we found it.”
Catholic schools are called to serve. This is the call we celebrate during Catholic Schools Week 2015.
Parish Senior Citizens’ Party
The major event in our parish this week, if not this year, is the annual St. Patrick’s Parish Senior Citizens’ Party which will be held at the Parish Centre at 8.00pm on Monday, 26th January. Some tickets (€10) are still available and these will go on sale at the Parish Centre on Monday morning. Over 60’s. We ask people to purchase tickets to enable us to plan the catering on the night. Music by the Marble City Swingers. We hope as many people as possible come out and enjoy a wonderful event. Get ready to have a great evening.
Dr. Heffernan on the Family
“Family Dynamics and our Emotional Well-being” is the title of a talk on the family which Dr. Fergus Heffernan, Psychologist and Family Therapist, will present at St. Fiacre’s Church on Thursday, 29th January at 8.00pm. Whether you are a parent trying to cope with children, or a parent struggling with teenagers, or a parent whose children have left the nest, this talk is particularly suited to you. It helps us to make sense of the many life challenging situations that are facing families now and offers simple strategies that we can implement to create greater balance and contentment in our families. Cost €10 at the door. Proceeds in aid of Irish Pilgrimage Trust which takes young people to Lourdes at Easter.
Pray For Our Deceased Friends
Recently Deceased: Justin Ring, Castlecomer. Requiem Mass in Castlecomer Church at 2.00pm on Monday. Brendan Conway, Greenshill (Funeral arrangements later). Derek Tyrrell, Archers Crescent. Mary O’Hara, St. Francis Terrace. Eileen Mullally, Drakelands. Johnny Ryan, Dunbell. Carrie Larkin Coyle, Derry.
Months Mind: Eddie Walsh (Sun 10.00).
Anniversaries: Norah Foley (Sat 6.15). Ann O’Shea (Sat 7.00). Mary & Joseph O’Reilly & Joseph O’Mahony (Sun 9.30). Maureen Barry (Sun 10.30). Jimmy McGrath (Sun 11.00). Kathleen Kelly (Sun 12.00). Kitty Hickey (Sun 12.30). Michael McDonald (Tues 9.30). Peg Brennan (Tues 10.30). Bridget Drea (Wed 10.30). Ellen, John, Pat & Mary Butler (Thurs 10.30). Paddy & Maureen Dwyer (Fri 10.30). Fr. John Nyhan. John Hennessy. Matthew Gleeson. Anne Kenny. Tom Walton. Elizabeth Kavanagh. Peadar Flanagan. Martin Coyne.
Intentions for Next Weekend: Michael White (Sat 6.15). Sr. Brigid Leech (Months Mind Sat 7.00pm). Lil, Billy & Eamon Costelloe (Sun 10.00). Loretta Barr (Months Mind Sun 10.30). Jim Loughlin (Sun 11.00). Billy Clune (Sun 12.00). Michael Moore (Sun 12.30).
Cake Sale
A cake sale in aid of the Diocesan Youth Pilgrimage to Lourdes in May 2015 will take place in the Parish Centre after this Sunday’s 10.30am Mass in St. Fiacre’s Church. Please support our young people.
Bridge
Come and enjoy a game of bridge every Tuesday at St. Patrick’s Parish Centre from 2.30pm. Everyone welcome. No partner required.
The Kilkenny Solemn Novena
The annual Kilkenny Solemn Novena takes place in St. John’s Parish from Tuesday, 3rd February to Wednesday, 11th February. Services at usual Mass times on Sundays and on weekdays at 7.30am, 10.30am and 7.30pm each day. See flyers in church.
Taizé Diocesan Youth Pilgrimage
The third youth pilgrimage to Taizé in France organised by Ossory Youth and under the patronage of the Bishop of Ossory will take place from 16th to 23th August 2015. The Taizé community is an ecumenical monastic order in Taizé, France. Over 100,000 youth from around the world make a pilgrimage to Taizé each year.
The pilgrimage is open to TY, 5th Year and LC students. Closing date for applications is Friday, 13th February. For information, including cost and application forms: Joseph Mguni, at 056 776 1200 or 087 937 9546 or jmguni@ossoryyouth.com or Patrick Bookle at 087 212 9006 or pbookle@ossoryyouth.com.
Victim Assistance in Kilkenny
The Kilkenny Federation for Victim Assistance is here to provide emotional and practical service to all victims of crime in Kilkenny and surrounding areas.
This is a free and confidential service. If you or someone you know has been affected by a crime call/test us anytime at 083 125 4461.
Art Classes
Art Classes in Watercolour Painting with Mary Dillon. 'Let your creativity flow...!' at St. Patrick's Parish Centre. Course is suitable for beginners and for people with more experience. Starting on Wednesday, 4th February for 8 weeks, 10.30am - 12.30pm. Contact Mary on 087 222 4260 or dillonmary@eircom.net
Taking Stock
“Taking Stock” is a free 8 week Positive Aging Course for men and women of 55 years of age and older. It covers topics like, keeping connected, mental health, physical health, assertiveness and safety.
Starting on 28th January from 11.00am to 1.00pm in St. Patrick’s Parish Centre. Information/booking: call/text Meabh on 087 126 0979. This is an Age and Opportunity Course delivered by the HSE.
Loughboy Library
Mobile Phone Training including tablets, iPods, iPads and laptops for the elderly will be available on Fridays at 11.00am. Just come along with your device.
Ossory Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2015
Under the Patronage of the Bishop Seamus Freeman S.A.C., Bishop of Ossory, takes place from May 22nd – May 27th 2015. Cost is €755pps. All bookings for both regular and assisted pilgrims please contact: Glenmore Parish Office on 051 880 414 or email glenmore@ossory.ie Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 10.00am - 2.30pm & Friday 9.15am – 12.15pm (closed on Wednesday).
Loughboy Library
Mobile Phone Training including tablets, iPods, iPads and laptops for the elderly will be available on Fridays at 11.00am. Just come along with your device.
Creative Prose-6 week writing workshop commencing on Friday Feb 6th from 6-8pm. To secure a place contact the Arts Office on 056 779 4938 or email niamh.brophy@kilkennycoco.ie. Cost €45.00
