Back to the Mountain Top
Jesus once again goes to the mountain-top to pray. We too are encouraged to carve out space and time out in our everyday lives for quiet, for reflection for prayer or meditation; for whatever it is that we do to nourish that deeper spiritual heart of ourselves. It is so important. The famous story of Jesus walking on the water follows in the Gospel today. What a shock the disciples must have received! Initially Peter is so brave and enthusiastic. Peter is able to walk on the water until he notices the wind, then fear takes over and he begins to sink.
If you have read the book The Shack (and if you haven’t I highly recommend it!) you might remember a scene where the main character, Mack, is led onto the water by Jesus and they walk together on the lake. Mack, like Peter in today’s Gospel, is full of fear, mostly about what might happen in the future. Jesus is clear to Mack that he lives in the present and that we waste time trying to play God and control what might happen in the future: ‘You neither believe I am good nor know deep in your heart that I love you. You sing about it, you talk about it, but you don’t know it’ (The Shack, p. 151)
Jesus’ message for Mack in the story; for Peter in the Gospel and for all of today is ‘Why did you doubt?’ What eliminates our awareness of the love of God? We are urged to keep our eyes fixed on him. It is in the present that Jesus lives, not in our fears about the future or worries about the past.
Jane Mellet
Feast of the Assumption
Tuesday, 15th August is the feast of The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven. This is an important solemnity in the Church and it is a holyday of obligation. Our Masses for this feast are as follows: Vigil Masses on Monday at 6.15pm and 7.00pm and on Tuesday, 10am in Foulkstown, 11am in St. Patrick’s and 12 noon in St. Fiacre’s. Please join us in honouring our Blessed Mother.
Emergency Collection for Trocaire
Many thanks to all who supported last weeks emergency collection for Trocaire. €2797 was collected for this worthy cause.
Pray for Our Deceased Friends
Recently Deceased: Tony Teehan, Warrington. Anne Kelly, Kenealy Avenue. Josephine Purcell, England and formerly Connolly St.
Anniversaries: Mary Coogan (Sat 6.15). Jackie Coonan (Sat 7.00). Maureen Cantwell (Sun 9.30). Christy Kerwick (Sun 10.30). Paddy Murray (Sun 11.00). Eddie & Bridget Kelly (Sun 12.00). Margaret Shanahan (Sun 12.30). Noreen Faul (Tues 11.00). Ann Kenny (Wed 10.30). Bridget Long (Thurs 10.30). Christina Gargan. Peader Blanchfield. Martin Doran. Michael & Sean Bolger. Pat Owens. Nance O’Neill.
Intentions for next weekend: Tom & Mary Byrne (Sat 6.15). William ‘Tony’ White (Sat 7.00)Tom & Michael Casserly (Sun 10.30). Della Harney (Sun 1100). Paddy Heffernan (Sun 12.00). Kathleen Brophy (Sun 12.30).
Anniversaries must be submitted to the office by Thursday at the latest. Anniversaries after that will be published the following week.
St. Fiacre’s Well Novena
This year’s annual novena to St. Fiacre begins with rosary and prayers at the well in Kilfera at 8.00pm on Saturday, 19th August and will continue at 8.00pm each evening with concluding prayers and Mass on Sunday, 27th August at 3.30pm. Devotion to St. Fiacre in our parish has a time-honoured history with annual novena prayers and patterns at the well for many centuries. We invite all to continue the tradition by joining with us in prayer during the coming week and for the novena prayers and Mass on next Sunday afternoon. By kind permission, St. Fiacre’s Well is approached through the avenue of Sheastown House which is a couple of miles out the Bennettsbridge Road.
St. Mary’s Cathedral Restoration
The next draw for St. Mary’s Cathedral Restoration Fund takes place on Wednesday 30th August 2017. If you would like to subscribe to the draw please contact the Parish Office or Fr. Roderick.
Pilgrimage to Knock
The people of Danesfort Parish have arranged a coach to Knock Shrine for the highlight of this year’s annual novena. Join us on Monday, 21st August – the actual anniversary of the apparitions at Knock – for the official launch of the World Meeting of Families 2018 programme. Families representing each diocese will travel to Knock for this special day. During the concelebrated Mass led by Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin, a newly commissioned Icon of the Holy Family will be unveiled and anointed following which, the Icon will travel to each diocese around the country as part of the WMOF2018 celebrations.
Coach will pick-up at Cuffesgrange at 7.45am, Danesfort at 8.00am, St. Fiacre’s Church, Loughboy at 8.15am and The Square, Ballyragget at 8.45am. Cost €20 (€10 for children) for coach with an optional main course meal available at The Grand Hotel, Moate for €10 extra. Contact Fr. Dan Carroll on 087 907 7769 to book or for further information.
Theological Studies
St. Kieran’s College, as part if its mission of education and formation, wishes to offer, on behalf of the Diocese of Ossory, a programme of education for the people of the diocese. The programme will begin next September and will be offered on the Kilkenny Campus of NUI Maynooth, based at St. Kieran’s College. Further information from Declan Murphy on 056 775 3624 or 087 908 1470 or on declanmurphy@ossory.ie
Maynooth University Kilkenny Campus
Drop in Day – Thursday 24th August, 10AM – 2PM
Would you like to study the first year of your BA degree in a unique learning environment with small class sizes and a fantastic student community? You can do that through our 1st Year Bachelor of Arts programme (CAO: MH901). We are holding a Drop In Day on Thursday 24th August at our Kilkenny Campus on College Road. Drop in anytime from 10am – 2pm. Meet with campus staff and students. First Arts course information. Campus tours and more. For more information email kilkennyfirstarts@mu.ie or call 01 7086755
Knock Shrine
Handel's Messiah - Saturday 18th November at 7.30pm sees the return of the RTÉ Concert Orchestra to present Handel's 'iconic' Messiah at Knock Basilica. Conducted by Proinnsías Ó Duinn with soloists, Soprano Claudia Boyle, Alto Anne Marie Gibbons, Tenor Julian Hubbard and Bass Christopher Cull together with Our Lady’s Choral Society, Cór Mhaigh Eo and Ballina Chamber Choir. Presented by Liz Nolan, RTE lyric fm.
Tickets available now at www.knockmessiah.com and at the Witness to Hope office Knock Shrine and Downtown Records Castlebar & Westport.
Novena Programme 2017 - Join us for nine days of reflection and prayer for the National Novena to Our Lady of Knock from the 14th-22nd August. Ceremonies will take place daily at 3pm and 8.30pm with daily guest speakers and workshops at 12 noon and 6pm in the Rest & Care Centre. On Monday 21st August we will celebrate the launch of the World Meeting of Families 2018 Programme. See www.knockshrine.ie/novena2017
Online Theology Course
Join our supportive student community and study theology by distance learning this Autumn. Application deadline September 26th. 01 4048124. enquiries@prioryinstitute.com . www.prioryinstitute.com.
Bargue Gerome Cours De Dessin
(Drawing Course). Explore this famous and fabled 19th-century drawing course. 10-week course, every Wednesday from 10.00am-12.30pm, starting 27 September 2017 at St. Patrick’s Parish Centre. Cost: € 200. All materials supplied. 10% discount from Cork Art Supplies. See www.classicalartatelier.com or telephone 087 660 9644 for info and booking.
Come Join Us
The organisers of the World Meeting of Families 2018 are looking for the help of generous volunteers in August 2018. Visit www.worldmeeting2018.ie/volunteer or call 01 567 6800 for information and application form.
