Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Twenty Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 20th September 2015

Ossory Coach to Eucharistic Congress
The National Eucharistic Congress, in preparation for the main event in the Philippines in January 2016, will be held in Knock on next Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th September. The theme of the Conference is Hope and Mercy.  The Diocese of Ossory is sending an official coach on Saturday, 26th September.  Fr. Brian Griffin, St. John’s Parish, will accompany the faithful on the coach.  Bishop Freeman will attend the Congress and will meet the Ossory group in Knock. Collection point: 7.00am; Loughboy Car Park, Kilkenny. 7.20am; The Square, Ballyragget.  Cost: €13.00 per person.  Contact: Marian Fennelly at 086 069 3510.  The coach will stop in Moate both ways of the journey.

Altar Servers
Applications forms for new altar servers are now available from the Parish Office.  All boys and girls from 4th class upwards who have received their First Holy Communion can become an altar server in our parish.  Please note that current altar servers will need to complete the application forms also. 

A.C.T.S. Retreat
The A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Community, Theology, and Service) Retreat is a spiritual retreat weekend. The ACTS Team mission is to provide the retreatants a time of reflection, prayer and insight to help them rediscover a new trusting relationship with God, their families and their community. It will foster a spiritual awakening that will be an ongoing witness to all. It is a time to relax and get to know yourself better and to develop friendships with other men from our community.  The retreat will take place on 15 - 18th October at the De La Salle Pastoral Centre, Castletown, Co. Laois.  For more information please text or call: Joseph Mahon 086 775 8709, Jim Maher 086 127 6649 or Trevor Hayes 086  240 9615.

Camphill Communities Open Day
The annual open day at the Camphill Community in Ballytobin, near Callan, takes place on Sunday, 20th September from 2.00pm - 5.00pm. 

Pray For Our Deceased Friends
Recently Deceased: Eileen McGrath, Ormonde Road. Rosary at Johnston’s Funeral Home at 8.00pm on Sunday.  Funeral prayers at 9.45am on Monday followed by removal to St. Patrick’s Church for Requiem Mass at 11.00am.  Burial at Foulkstown. Catherine O’Keeffe, Melville Heights.
Months Mind: Tony White (Sat 7.00).
Anniversaries: Eugene & Paddy Somers. (Sat 6.15). Edward McPhillips, Patrick Johnston. (Sat 7.00). Patrick & Sarah Leahy (Sun 9.30). Ciss Holland (Sun 10.30). Mary Ward (Sun 12.00). Milo Grogan (Sun 12.30). James & Mary Long (Tues 10.30). David O’Rourke. Paddy Larkin. Jimmy Owens. Syd & Elizabeth Bluett. Anna Beale.  Josephine Neary. Bridget Cahill. William & Elizabeth Tyrell.
Intentions for next weekend: Christy Kerwick (Months Mind Sat 6.15). Patrick Murray (Sat 7.00). Helen Kelly (Sun 10.00). Ann Kavanagh (Sun 10.30). Noreen Faul (Months Mind Sun 11.00). Peter Gaule (Sun 12.00). Margaret Jones (Sun 12.30).
May they rest in peace.

Loreto Secondary School
The closing date for application for a First Year place is Wednesday, 7th October 2015.  Application forms and admissions policy can be obtained from our website at www.loretokk.ie or from the school office. 
Open night for 6th Class Girls will take place on Wednesday, 23rd September at 6.30pm. This is a ticketed event and tickets are available by either emailing your request to office@lorettokk.ie or by calling to the school office.

CBS Secondary School
The Parents’ Council of CBS Secondary School, Kilkenny will hold its AGM on Tuesday, 6th October at 7.30pm in the school.
Dr. Fergus Heffernan will give a talk to parents following the meeting, at 8.00pm.
We look forward to seeing you on the night.  All welcome.  No Fee.

Care for our Common Home
The Association of Catholics in Ireland is hosting a discussion  on the recent encyclical from Pope Francis Laudato si (on the Care for our Common Home -the Environment) on Thursday 15th October at 8.00pm in the Parish Centre, Leighlinbridge. Speakers: Fr. Sean McDonagh SSC, the well-known environmentalist who advised the team drafting the encyclical and a speaker from Concern.  All welcome.

Climate Change and Farming
The Environment Committee of the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory is holding a conference to raise awareness of the issues surrounding Climate Change and Farming. The Conference will be held in Kilkenny College on Saturday 3rd October  at 2.00pm.  The whole area of climate change is something which concerns everybody and which the Pope has recently addressed.  All welcome.

SOS needs Volunteers
Do you have 2 hours a fortnight to spare helping someone to become an active member of the community?  If you do, please contact Sinead Mehigan. 056 776 4000. Email smehigan@soskilkenny.com

September Literature Course
Explore the poetry of WB Yeats and Seamus Heaney in evening classes suitable for all levels. Eight-week course starts Thursday, 24th September from 7.00 - 9.00pm at Kilkenny Campus at St Kieran’s College. Fee €120, incl. tea/coffee. Email margaret.irish@nuim.ie or call 086 393 5513.

Historical Society Lecture
O Donovan Rossa Commemorated: Speaker: Mr Gabriel Doherty (UCC). Date: Thursday, 24th September. Time: 8.15pm. Venue: Mullinavat Parish Hall. Admission Free. All welcome.
The lecture will be preceded, at 8.00pm, by the launch of the Society’s 1916 Commemoration Programme by Cllr. Mary Hilda Cavanagh, Chairperson Kilkenny County Council.

Inquisitive about the Priesthood?
Why not join us at St. Mary’s Cathedral for our Vocations Open Day on Sunday, 4th October from 2.00 to 4.00pm.  Informal talks, testimonials and refreshments.  Further information from Fr. Willie Purcell on 087 628 6858 or ossoryvocdir@gmail.com

Future of Our Church
A series of three important public talks will begin at St. Patrick’s Parish Centre on Monday, 28th September at 8.00pm.  First talk: “A poor Church for the poor.” What is our call/response?  Speaker: Fr. Peter McVerry.  Admission €10 per talk or €20 for series.

Fibromyalgia Support Group
Meetings held each Saturday in Ossory Park Community Centre, near Nowlan Park, at 2.30pm. All newcomers are welcome for tea/coffee and chat, sharing of advice. Guest speakers/therapists to be scheduled. Please contact Doris on 086 234 6491or Tommy on 086 108 0291 for further information.

Annual Memory Barrow Walk
The FirstLight Annual Memory Barrow Walk is taking place on Saturday 26th September from 10.00am. Spend the day walking the Barrow in memory of a loved one. FirstLight supports suddenly bereaved parents nationally. To register call Margaret on 01 8732711 (9.00am -1.00pm).


Papal Pastoral Visits
This week (19th to 27th September) Pope Francis will visit Cuba and the United States of America.  Let us pray for the success of these visits and for safety and protection for our Pope.

Heavenly Father,
be pleased to bless and protect our Holy Father, Pope Francis, whom you have chosen as the successor of St. Peter as the chief minister of unity and charity in the Church. Keep him safe in holiness of life and in wise fulfillment of his awesome responsibilities.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.  Amen.
Papal Blessings
Papal blessing parchments to mark weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, jubilees and some other occasions are available through the Parish Shop.  Please enquire at the reception desk in the Parish Centre.
There are lots of other items of a religious nature available at reasonable prices in our parish shop which is located in the Parish Center.

Thank you for your support
The Ray of Sunshine Foundation would like to thank St Patrick's Parish for their generous support at last weeks church gate collection. St. Fiacre's raised €638.75 and St. Patrick's raised €187.18, total of €825.93 towards the very worthy cause of a rescue centre for children caught up in the sex trafficking industry. The foundations for this centre have already been laid down and the building will commence in January 2016.

Monastic Experience Days
The Poor Clares in Galway are hosting a Monastic Experience Day on Saturday, 26th September from 10.00am to 5.00pm.  The day is designed to help young women between the ages of 21 and 40 to find out more about the Poor Clare way of life. To book a place: poorclaresgalwayvocations@gmail.com

Thinking of Getting Married Soon?
Couples wishing to be married in our parish are asked to note the following:  Contact the Parish Office (776 4400) as early as possible to book your preferred date.  Bookings are on a first-come-first-served basis.  Please note that it is a civil requirement to inform the Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths of your intention to marry at least three months before the date - see www.gro.ie for more information about this aspect of preparations.
Contact the parish where you now reside where pre-marriage papers will be prepared for forwarding to the place of marriage. www.gettingmarried.ie is a useful source of information for couples as they plan the big day.

Certificate in Theology
Do you want to know more about your faith? Your Church? Its history? Our Bible? Our moral theology? Our liturgy and the sacraments?  Or just to know more about the God we pray to.  Why not consider taking part in the Certificate in Theology at St Kieran’s College.  A new course starts October 2015 - more at www.ossory.ie 

Tommy Fleming In Concert
Early notice of a concert on Thursday 1st October 2015 at 8.00pm at St.  Colman’s Church, Conahy Jenkinstown.  Tickets available from Post Office, Castlecomer and Ballyragget, and Rollercoaster Records Kilkenny.