Celebration of Confirmation
Congratulations to the pupils in St. Patrick’s School, Kells Road and the School of the Holy Spirit, Seville Lodge who received their Confirmation on Thursday last. Twenty one young people received the sacrament and a great celebration was enjoyed by all.
Diocesan Draw
The next draw in the St. Mary’s Cathedral Refurbishment Draw takes place in the Chapter House, St. Mary’s Cathedral at 8.00pm on Wednesday 29th April. All are welcome to attend. Tickets for the draw cost €10 and are available from any one of the priests and from the Parish Office. We encourage all to support the work being carried out at St. Mary’s Cathedral - the Episcopal see of our diocese.
Ossory Times Magazine
The latest edition of the Ossory Times is now available in the sacristies. €2.00 each. This edition documents a significant moment in our diocese: the development of a pastoral plan. This plan has been shaped slowly through a long process of listening, exploring and only then compiling. The article about this process offers not only a look back on the work that was done to achieve this but also and more importantly, a glance ahead at the vision the Ossory Pastoral Council has shaped for the diocese and its people for the years ahead. This excellent production features articles of interest from around the diocese. This edition also features an article about the St. Joseph’s Young Priests Society in our parish. There is also a contribution by Fr. Dan, writing about his radio programme. Fr. Liam contributed a piece on the recent re-mapping and indexing of Foulkstown Cemetery. Pick up a copy today!
First Holy Communion
Looking for First Holy Communion gifts? The Parish Shop, located in the foyer of our Parish Centre in Loughboy, has been stocked with many items for First Holy Communion. Medals, rosaries, prayer books, cards etc and a wide range is available.
Pray For Our Deceased Friends
Recently Deceased: Kay Hennessy, Archers Avenue. Funeral prayers at her home at 11.00am on Monday followed by removal to St. Fiacre’s Church. Requiem Mass at 12.00 noon followed by burial in St. Kieran’s Cemetery. Rosary at her home at 7.30pm on Sunday evening. Luke Bateman, late of Upper Patrick Street who died in Oxford. Funeral prayers at Johnston’s Funeral Home at 6.30pm on Friday followed by removal to St. Patrick’s Church. Requiem Mass at 11.00am on Saturday followed by burial at Foulkstown Cemetery. Kitty Murray, Fr. Murphy Square and Dublin. Reposing at her home with funeral prayers at 5.30pm on Sunday followed by removal to St. John’s Church. Requiem Mass at 10.30am on Monday followed by burial at St. Kieran’s Cemetery. Stella Hynes, Mayfield. Liam Heffernan, formerly of Willow Close who died recently in Galway. Memorial Mass at St. Patrick’s Church at 12.30pm on Sunday. Ursula Crotty, Manchester and formerly Patrick Street. Tony Murray, Ballyragget. Sr. Baptiste Meany, Presentation Sisters, Dublin & Kilkenny.
Anniversaries: Michael O’Sullivan (Sat 6.15). Joe Ayres (Sat 7.00). Paddy & Josephine McGrath. (Sun 10.00). Michael Gaule (Sun 10.30). Anastatia Fitzpatrick, Kathleen & Pierce A. Grace (Sun 11.00). Aideen & Peadar Flanagan (Sun 12.00). Mary & Eddie O’Keeffe (Tue 10.30). Patrick O’Neill (Wed 9.30). Kathleen Tobin (Wed 10.30). Julia & Marie Phelan (Thur 10.30). Ned & Rita Foley (Fri 10.30). Billy Dwan (Sat 9.30). Mairead Dowling. Brian Kenealy. Jimmy Maher. Paddy Ryan. Des Hehir. Molly & Ann Martin. Jim Frawley. Joseph & Austin Kelly. Martin & Patrick Browne. James Morris. John Murphy. Mary & Jack Brennan. Patrick & Ellen Moran.
Intentions for next weekend: Patrick Dorney & Ted O’Dwyer (Sat 6.15). Fintan Brennan (Sat 7.00). John Byrne (Sun 10.00). Paddy Ryan (Sun 10.30).
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes
Spaces are still available. To book your place on the diocesan pilgrimage please contact Eleanor in Glenmore Parish on 051 880 414 (Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 10.00am - 2.30pm) or glenmore@ossory.ie
White Collar Jobs Available
‘Some white collar jobs are more challenging than others!’ is a caption in a publicity campaign launched by one Irish Diocese in an effort to provoke young men into considering priesthood as a life option. The Fourth Sunday of Easter is often called ‘Good Shepherd Sunday’ or ‘Day of Prayer for Vocations’. It is all our responsibilities to foster vocations to the priesthood and religious life – we do so through our prayers and words of encouragement and support.
In the western Catholic world we have an unfolding challenge with the ageing profile of our priests and so few putting themselves forward for religious life. This year Pope Francis has highlighted the commitment of all in the Year of Consecrated Life.
Towards the end of June, Brian Griffin – a native of Slieverue Parish – will be ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Ossory. Brian’s vocation was nurtured in his family home and local community and in the witness and goodness of local people of faith. All of us who call ourselves followers of Jesus, have the potential to nurture a vocation in the heart and spirit of young people, through our Christian witness and prayer. Is it possible that we could, through such prayer, witness and encouragement, inspire some young people in our community to serve us as priests and religious in the years to come?
The Village Draw
James Stephens GAA Club wishes to thank most sincerely all those who supported their Kells Road Development Draw over the past five years. The club is greatly indebted to, and appreciative of, all the fantastic support it has received from promoters, club members, the people of St Patrick's Parish and beyond in helping to develop this magnificent facility out on the Kells Road. The final draw will take place on Wednesday, 29th April at our Larchfield clubrooms and we extend a warm welcome to all.
First Friday Calls
The priests will visit as usual on this coming Friday.
Pilgrimage to Knock
The Nurses Guild will hold their annual pilgrimage to Knock Shrine on next Saturday, 2nd May leaving the Butts Green at 7.30am. Please contact Ann on 056 772 2204. All welcome.
Eucharistic Minsters
We have a large and faithful group of Eucharistic Ministers in our parish and we’re thankful for that. Some ministers have kindly agreed to take communion to the sick and housebound. Ministers, please take note of the following:
· You must take communion from the church each day, preferably from the Mass you have attended. A minster must NEVER store hosts in their houses overnight or at weekends. This is expressly forbidden as the Body of Christ must be held in the reverence and security of the church tabernacle.
· Please, do not leave your pyx on the altar for the priest to put hosts in it. Bring it up with you when you’re coming up to communion yourself and hold it out to receive the host. Please, only approach the priest and not a minster if you are taking communion to the sick.
· Only ministers validly commissioned in our parish may bring communion to the sick. People from outside the parish must seek permission beforehand from the priest. Ministers can only minister in their own parish.
All the above is necessary in order to protect the sacrament. Not all people who try to take communion from the church are minsters and we must be vigilant!
Many Thanks
Referring to last weekend’s appeal Fr Gerald Doyle wrote on behalf of the Mill Hill Missionaries to extend their thanks to the people of our parish for our great generosity, our faith and our understanding of belonging to a universal church. The MHMs will keep us all in their prayers.
Loughboy Library
The Bealtaine Festival will be launched next Friday during the Tea Day in aid of The Alzheimer’s Society. Doors open at 10.00am and all support appreciated.
Computer Classes aimed primarily at jobseekers will commence next Thursday & Friday afternoons. Tel 056 779 4176 for more information.
Camp Veritas 2015
Join Camp Veritas for a ‘play-and-pray’ experience. Camp Veritas is a week long, sleep-away summer camp and pilgrimage open to teens 12 to 18 years old. Details: www.campveritas.com
Carlow Fibromyalgia Support Group
Please note change of venue for all our meetings: we will meet on the last Tuesday of every month at 7.30pm at the Talbot Hotel, Carlow. Our next meeting will be on Tuesday 28th April. Margot Kearney, nutritionist, will be talking about the role of diet in the management of fibromyalgia We also meet every Thursday at 10.30am for coffee in the Talbot Hotel. All welcome. Katharine 089 438 7283.
Dates For Your Diary
Gaelscoil First Holy Communion: 2nd May, 11.00am, St. Fiacre’s, Loughboy.
KSP First Holy Communion: 3rd May, 12noon, St. Fiacre’s Church, Loughboy
Gaelscoil Confirmation: 9th May, 11.00am, St. Mary’s Cathedral.
St. John of God First Holy Communion: 9th May, 11.00am, St. Fiacre’s, Loughboy.
St. Patrick’s de la Salle, First Holy Communion: 16th May, 11.00am St. Patrick’s Church.
Cemetery Mass at Foulkstown: Thursday, 30th July, 7.30pm.
St. Fiacre’s Well Mass: Sheestown: 30th August, 3.00pm.
