Monday, May 23, 2016

The Most Holy Trinity, 22nd May 2016

Most Holy Trinity
Today we celebrate the central mystery of our Faith. The mystery of the Trinity, that our God shows himself in three different ways as Father, Son and Spirit.  This sense of wonder that enables us to recognise our God, is the same sense of wonder that enables the poet to see daffodils dancing, or to recognise God in a rose.  We are made in the image of God and loved unconditionally.  At our Baptism, the sign of the Cross was traced on our foreheads - we were marked with the Trinity.  As we grew into adulthood, Jesus became our friend and companion.  He became real in our world.  His powerful Spirit continues to help, inspire and guide us, as we try to do our best and make a difference in family and community.
Holy God, Holy Strong One,
Holy Immortal One,
have mercy on us.
To you be praise, To you be glory,
To you be thanksgiving
Through endless ages,
O Blessed Trinity.
Amen.

Thank you for you generosity
Many thanks for your support for the recent collections held in the Parish.  The amount collected for each were are follows Holy Shrines €800, Emigrants €800 and Ukraine €1779.

Congratulations
Congratulations  the boys from St. Patrick’s De La Salle  who received their First Holy Communion on  Saturday at St. Patrick’s Church. 

Welcome to our Faith Community
The following children were baptised into our faith community last weekend.  Welcome, Henry, James, Jack & Paul. 

St. Mary’s Cathedral Draw
Its not too late to join the draw. Subscription €10 per month. Please contact the Parish Office 0567764400. 

Pray for Our Deceased Friends
Recently Deceased: Nan Bateman, Fr. Hayden Road. Jarlath Casserly, Cedarwood Avenue. June Dunne, Old Callan Road & Richview.  Joan Phelan, Granges Road. Richard O’Dwyer, Leggestrath. Martin Noonan, Kilmoganny. John Lennon, Las Vegas.
Months Mind: Ellen Costello (Sun 10.30), Martin Coyne (Sun 11.00).
Anniversaries: Kathleen King (Sat 7.00). Jackie Maher (Sun 9.30). Lar Doyle (Sun 10.00). Billy Costelloe (Sun 10.30). Jack Carroll (Sun 12.00). Bridget Lawlor (Sun 12.30). Bridget Barry (Mon 9.30). Tom & Oliver Kennedy (Tues 9.30). Martin Neylon (Tues 10.30). Richard Conway (Wed 10.30). Deceased Members of Kilkenny Active Retirement (Thurs 10.30) . Molly Owens. Annie Bourke. Michael Smyth.  Jerry Keyes.  Noreen McDonald.  Sean  & Kitty Ryan.  Peg & Peter Swift
Intentions for Next Weekend:  Patrick Downes (Months Mind Sat 6.15).  William Doheny (Sat 7.00). Blanaid Cleere Manning (Sun 10.00). Ellen & Denis Garrehy, Teresa Hawkes, Ann Conway, Mary O’Meara  (Sun 10.30). Tommy, Kitty & Martin Phelan (Sun 12.00). Maureen Butler (Months Mind Sun 12.30). 

Foulkstown
The groundwork surrounding the bell will hopefully be complete within the next couple of weeks. When this is finished, we will then look at options for ringing the bell on special occasions etc.  It is hoped that the bell will be blessed and officially rang at the Foulkstown Cemetery Mass.  The cemetery committee are busy maintaining and looking after our cemetery.  Thanks to all involved.  We offer congratulations and prayerful good wishes to Mr. Billy Mullally who celebrates his 90th birthday this coming week.  Billy has been a driving force in the maintenance and running of Foulkstown Cemetery for many years.  We are grateful to Billy for his many years of dedication to Foulkstown and the Parish. 

Parish Office Opening Hours
The parish office opens Mon, Tues, Thurs & Friday from 9am to 1pm  and from 2pm - 4pm. Closed for lunch from 1pm—2pm. Closed on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. See banner above for phone number and email address. 

Kilkenny Alerts
Kilkenny County Council has launched Kilkenny Alerts which is available online at www.kilkennycoco.ie.  The service is free of charge to the public and once registered Kilkenny residents will receive alerts on any Water Outages, Flood Alerts, Road Closures etc that are relevant to them based on their home and work locations. 

Coeliacs
Those who suffer due to coeliac disease are invited to receive from the chalice if they so wish.  Please come forward with the regular Eucharistic Ministers.  Those who do not wish to receive from the chalice, with some notice we can provide gluten free hosts. 

Family Carers Ireland
Family Carers Ireland are currently looking for staff in Carlow & Kilkenny who hold a full cert in FETAC / QQI Level 5 Healthcare Support.  We are especially looking for staff in Kilkenny city, Thomastown, Graiguenamanagh, Stoneyford, Freshford & Carlow town and county.  Send your CV by email to mwalsh@familycarers.ie or by post to Family Carers Ireland, Springhill Clinic, Waterford Rd, Kilkenny.

Plant Sale
Rothe House & Garden are holding their annual plant sale on Saturday May 28th between 10.30am and 5pm.  There will be a large selection of plants available to purchase in the historic garden.  Admission Free. guided tour at 11am, 1pm or 3pm. 

Be security conscious
We ask parishioners to be security conscious while attending Masses  in our Parish. Make sure to remove all valuables from cars before locking them. Also please do not leave handbags unattended in the churches. 

Parish Pilgrimage to Knock
The Parish Pilgrimage to Knock will take place on Thursday 23rd June.  More details later. 

Celebrate the 8th
A national pro-life gathering to celebrate the 8th Amendment, Ireland’s constitutional protection for unborn babies will take place on Saturday 4th June from 3-4pm on Molesworth St, Dublin. The Celebrate the 8th event will be a positive and hugely important expression of all that is great about Ireland’s Right to Life Amendment. Your presence at this event is vital. www.prolifecampaign.ie. 01 662 9275.

The Rosary
Will be recited each Sunday in month of May at 3pm in the Grotto on the Callan Rd.

Gospel Festival Concert
A free Gospel Festival concert of music for Healing and Hope will take place in the Black Abbey Church on Sat evening May 28th at 7.30 pm with Mark Anthony Henry, The Kilkenny Gospel Choir, In Caelo choir and Angus McNally.  The festival mass takes place in St. Fiacres Church on Sunday May 29th @ 12 noon.

Camp Veritas
Camp Veritas is a one week 'play and pray' sleep away summer camp for teens 12 to 18 years old.  It is being held in Maynooth University Campus from the 26th June to July 1st this year.  Cost is €450   Volunteers are also needed and can be aged 18 and upwards (free for volunteers).   www.campveritas.ie.

Loughboy Library
Knitting Club on Wednesdays at 10am. Exercise As You Age Class with Kilkenny Sport & Recreation Partnership on Thursday at 11am.  Irish Circle Walk (Siúlóid as Gaeilge) May 31st-meet in Bennettsbridge at 10.15am to walk by the river back to Kilkenny.

Dates For Your Diary
Cemetery Mass at Foulkstown:  Thurs 28th July, 7.30pm.
St. Fiacre’s Well Mass:  Sheestown: 28th Aug, 3pm.

Parish Centre Bookings
St. Patrick’s Parish Centre is available for meetings and social groups etc.  All bookings for the Centre to be made through Mr. Ted Byrne.  056 776 4400.

Church Notice Boards
Due to limited space, church notice boards can only be used for Parish and Diocesan notices.  Please ensure that no poster covers the child safe guarding notices, such posters will be removed. 

Baptisms
Two weeks notice is required for a baptism in the parish.  Baptisms take place on the 2nd (St. Patrick’s)& 4th (St. Fiacre’s) Saturdays and the 3rd (St. Patrick’s) Sunday of each month.  Please contact the parish office 056 776 4400. 

Our Parish Shop
There are lots of items of a religious nature available at reasonable prices in our Parish Shop which is located in the foyer of the Parish Centre.  Papal blessing parchments to mark weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, jubilees and some other occasions are available through the Parish Shop.

Al-Anon
Every Wednesday at the Parish Centre from 11.30am - 1pm.

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.
· Contact the parish where you now reside where pre-marriage papers will be prepared for forwarding to the place of marriage.

Mass Cards
Individual & Shared Mass cards signed by the priests of the Parish are available at the Parish Centre.  The shared Mass is offered every Thursday at St. Patrick’s Church at 9.30am.  Individual Masses are offered by Aid to the Church in Need. 

Eucharistic Ministers & Readers
If you did not get a copy of the new Eucharistic Ministers rota, they are available in the Sacristies. Readers should have received their rotas by now, if you have not please contact the Parish Office. 056 776 4400.  If you are unable to minister at  a particular assigned Mass please arrange a substitute or contact the Parish Office.

Candle Shrines
We have candle shrines in all 3 churches of the Parish.  Candles cost 30c each.  We ask people to be careful when lighting candles.

Starburst Summer Camp
Art, Drama, Games and much more 4th,5th & 6th July, 10-1pm daily. The Scout's Den, Kilkenny. Suitable for children 4+ years. Contact Kate on 0851142686 or Roisin on 0857360864 or email starburstspeechanddrama@gmail.com for queries and bookings.