Monday, September 14, 2015

Twenty Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, 13th September 2015

Ossory Coach to Eucharistic Congress
The National Eucharistic Congress in preparation for the main event in Cebu, Philippines in January 2016 will be held in Knock on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th September. The main theme of the Conference is Hope and Mercy.  The Diocese of Ossory is sending an official coach on Saturday, 26th September 2015.  Father Brian Griffin, St. John’s Parish, will accompany the faithful on the bus.  Bishop Séamus 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.

Pray For Our Deceased Friends
Recently Deceased: Jimmy Long, Maple Drive. Sean Curran, Connolly Street. Alice Stapleton, St. Francis Terrace. Mona Lambe, Monaghan. Josephine Hoyne, Dublin Road.  Mary Cotter, Cork. Dr. Martine Millet-Johnston, Bennettsbridge.
Anniversaries:   Sean O’Keeffe (Sat 6.15). Chrissie Scott (Sat 7.00). Mary & Joan Bissett (Sun 9.30). Ernie Harrington (Sun 10.00). Eileen Barham (Sun 10.30). Matthew Dwyer (Sun 11.00). Catherine Grace (Sun 12.00). Lillie Coyne (Sun 12.30). Rita McCarthy (Wed 10.30). Marian Lennon (Thurs 10.30). Ciss Holland (Fri 10.30). Ger Kavanagh. Billy & Statia Tallent. Molly Browne. Sally Holden. Kathleen Murphy. Maureen Holden. Margaret Morris. Anastatia Ayres. Tom Little. Mary Cotter.
Intentions for next weekend: Eugene & Paddy Somers. (Sat 6.15). Edward McPhillips, Patrick Johnston  & Months Mind of Tony White (Sat 7.00). Mary Ward (Sun 12.00). Milo Grogan (Sun 12.30).

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

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

Divine Mercy
An hour of adoration and prayer in honour of Divine Mercy will take place in the Capuchin Friary Church on Sunday, 13th September from 3.00 - 4.00pm. 

Solidarity  with Syria
Carlow/Kilkenny Solidarity with Syria is one of a number of groups taking initiatives collecting and fundraising to show solidarity with our brothers and sisters in need.  On Saturday, 19th September they are holding a collection day for Calais in St. Canice’s Parish Hall on the Granges Road from 10.00am until 2.00pm.  It is hoped donated items will be packaged and forwarded on to Cork for a convoy of goods which leaves on 24th September.  Full details of items that we can receive are on the Drop Off Day for Calais Facebook page and will be published in the Kilkenny People this week.

Understanding the Suicidal Mind
Kilkenny Bereavement Support is hosting a free public talk, “Understanding the Suicidal Mind” on Thursday, 17th September at 7.30 in the Ormonde Hotel, Kilkenny.  It will be given by leading psychologist, Dr. Eoin Galavan. He will explain what happens in the suicidal mind and how we can understand the psychology behind the suicide. All welcome.

Irish Patchwork Society
Meetings every 3rd Thursday of the month in St. Patrick’s Parish Centre from 7.30pm. For further information: 086 608 9828.  All are welcome.

Loughboy Library
Summer Reading Challenge: awards day and crafts on Thursday, 17th September from 10.00am.
Culture Night: Ceolaltas Ceoltoirí Ēireann will perform from 6.30pm. 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.

Seeking Refuge
Trócaire is calling on the Dáil to be recalled early to establish an immediate and effective response from Ireland. The people of Ireland have made it clear that they want to help distraught refugees arriving in Europe and are looking for leadership on how we as a nation can act. In the past year, 3,573 people have died attempting to reach Italy, Greece and Spain by sea, an average of ten people a day. This is both a humanitarian crisis and a crisis of humanity. The EU must apply humanitarian standards to save lives, protect those most vulnerable and reduce the scandalous suffering being met by refugees reaching European borders.
Trócaire is responding to the growing needs of extremely vulnerable refugees in partnership with Caritas Serbia and has allocated €50,000 so far to provide sleeping bags and raincoats, hygiene kits, health services and psychosocial support. Trócaire also works with partners in Syria, Iraq, South Sudan and Somalia, which are burdened by protracted conflicts and in Jordan and Lebanon, countries which are hosting 1.75 million Syrian refugees. 
You can donate to Trócaire by phone or online: 1850 408 408 and www.trocaire.org

Cooking with Kangen
At the Village Inn, Patrick Street on Monday, 14th, at 1.30pm and 6.30pm executive chef John Flynn will cook a delicious dish showing how alkaline ionized water gives you healthier, cleaner, tastier food. Feel free to bring along a sample of water for testing.


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.  A representative of ACTS will provide some further information at all Masses this weekend.

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. This is an important fund-raising occasion for our community which cares for children and adults with special needs.

Stop Smoking Group
The HSE is running a free 6 week stop smoking group at St Patricks Parish Centre, Loughboy.  Starting Date: Thursday 17th September. Time: 7.30pm – 8.30pm. Topics which will be covered: benefits of quitting, tobacco addiction, nicotine replacement therapies, healthy eating and physical activity while quitting, managing stress. If you would like to attend this course please contact Bernie O’ Brien. Phone 056 773 4863 or email bernadette.obrien1@ hse.ie 

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 

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.

Church Gate Collection
The Ray of Sunshine Foundation will hold a church gate collection this weekend to aid in the building of a Rescue Centre for Children in Mombasa, Kenya.

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.

Theology Matters!
The Priory Institute invites you to join their enthusiastic student community and study theology from home or in class.  Application deadline is 21st September.  Email: enquiries@prioryinstitute.com or phone 01 404 8124.

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.