The Mountain Top
In the Scriptures, the mountains are often places where people encounter God. Jesus takes the disciples up to the mountain top to pray, to a quiet place, away from all the attention and the crowds. They have the most wonderful experience as we read in the Gospel today. Can you recall a place where you have felt deep peace or a sense of experiencing God? In nature or in the places you go for some ‘time-out’ for yourself? Perhaps it is in special moments with family and friends; times of joy or sorrow. These ‘mountain-top’ experiences nourish us, can bring us insights or help us to deal with difficult periods in our lives. They can bring feelings of euphoria, deep joy and blessing and often sustain us in life. No wonder the disciples wanted to build ‘three dwellings’ so that Moses, Elijah and Jesus would stay with them like this forever. However, we cannot remain in those experiences forever. Jesus’ way involves both time for encounters with mystery but also coming down from the mountain and continuing on life’s journey and mission. Can we carve out these moments of quiet in our busy days to be with the Word, to create the space to listen and make room for these encounters with the Lord? This week, imagine yourself in this story as you read ‘Jesus took me with him and went up on the mountain to pray …’
‘To pray the scriptures is to descend to the level of the heart and find God’ Michael Casey OCSO
Jane Mellet
Dates for your Diary
St. Fiacre’s Well, Sheestown - Sun 27th August at 3.30pm.
Rosary
The monthly rosary on the first Sunday in James’s Green at the Statue of Our Lady of Kilkenny continues this Sunday 6th August at 3pm.
Bank Holiday Weekend
As this is a bank holiday weekend the only public Mass in our parish on Monday will be at St. Patrick’s Church at 11.00am. There will be no exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at St. Fiacre’s Church on Monday.
Pray for Our Deceased Friends
Recently Deceased: Mary Dwyer, St. Fiacre’s Place. Sr. Ethne McHale, St. John of God Convent. Jennifer Gaffney, Grove, Cuffesgrange. Paddy McDonald.
Months Mind: Judy Moore (Sun 12.30).
Anniversaries: Elizabeth Hickman (Sat 6.15). Patrick Dorney Jnr (Sat 7.00). Phil O’Neill (Sun 10.00). Nell Mullally (Sun 10.30). Martin Mulhall (Sun 11.00). Paddy Henderson (Sun 12.00). Eileen Tynan (Wed 9.30). Ellen McEvoy (Thurs 10.30). Gabriel Warde (Fri 10.30). Richie Fleming (Sat 9.30). Edward O’Shaughnessy Snr. Ned O’Shaughnessy Jnr. Eileen Grace.
Intentions for next weekend: 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).
Anniversaries must be submitted to the office by Thursday at the latest. Anniversaries after that will be published the following week.
St. Mary’s Cathedral Restoration
Draw Results
The July results are as follows: 1st: Bernie & Anna, Thomastown. 2nd: Martin Brennan, Muckalee. 3rd: Regina Byrne, St. Mary’s. 4th: Mrs Holohan, St. Mary’s. 5th: The Power Family, Callan. 6th: Seir Kieran National School, Seir Kieran. 7th: Fr. O Maher, Urlingford. 8th: Tom & Anne Tynan, St. Mary’s. 9th: Ellen McCormack, Ballyragget. 10th: St. Marie Helen Hicks, St. Mary’s. 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.
Race Night: A Race Night in aid of St.Mary's Cathedral Restoration Fund will take place in Kilkenny Greyhound Track on Friday 11th August with the 1st Race at 8.00pm. Admission/Supporter Tickets €10 available on the night or from Parish Offices.
Nomination of Dogs at €100 being canvassed for. Contact Fr. Pat Dalton 086-8283478 or the Diocesan Office
Emergency Collection for Trocaire
An emergency collection in aid of Trócaire's work in East Africa will take place in the Parish this weekend and will be taken up as part of the second collection at all Masses. Nearly 25 million people in Somalia, Kenya, South Sudan and Ethiopia are currently in urgent need of food and water due to drought. Trocaire is reaching over 150,000 people across the region with emergency food, water and sanitation. Needs are enormous—please support our appeal an help us reach more people with life-saving aid. See www.trocaire.org for more information.
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
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
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 ‘Amoris: Let’s talk Family, Let’s be Family!’. 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. Details of pick-ups, times and cost are available from Fr. Dan on 087 907 7769.
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. For further information and to book, see www.classicalartatelier.com or telephone 087 660 9644.
Volunteer Appreciation Night
The Parish Pastoral Council has decided to have a Volunteer Appreciation Night in Hotel Kilkenny on Sunday 22nd October 2017. We cordially invite volunteers in all ministries in St. Patrick’s Parish to come and enjoy this function which is being held especially for all of you, as a token of our deep appreciation of your volunteers spirit. Further details later.
