What the Children can teach us

It’s that time of year again. Girls in white dresses and boys with rosettes are conspicuous every weekend. All over Ireland, children are receiving First Holy Communion.

These children have been taught a lot. They’ve learned beautiful prayers and songs. They’ve learned how to stand still, sit, kneel, walk, receive the host, be quiet, pray. But maybe they have lessons for us as well.  Could we learn from these children how precious a gift it is to receive Communion?  Could the children teach us that the Bread of Life is nourishment for every weekend, not just an occasional pick-me-up?

Could we begin to see why First Communion is so important?
(Because it’s part of the three-step process of becoming a full Catholic Christian: the three steps being Baptism, First Communion and Confirmation.) Congratulations to all who take this important step in 2002. May they (and we) always hunger for the Bread of Life!

Important Dates

* Sat. 11th May, 10:30 am – Girls’ First Holy Communion
* Wed. 15th May, 10:30 am – Parish Confirmations
* Sat. 25th May, 10:30 am – Boys’ First Holy Communion
* Sat 25th May, 6 pm – Solemn Rededication of the Church with Bishop John Buckley and Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor

Something to Think About
If the world had a population of only 100 people, there would
be:

* 57 Asians, 21 Europeans, 14 from the Americas and 8 Africans.
* 52 would be female, 48 would be male; 70 would be non-white and 30 white.
* 59% of the world’s wealth would belong to only 6 people, and all of them would be Americans.
* 80 would live in sub-standard housing, 70 would be unable to read and 50 would suffer from malnutrition.
* 1 would be near death and 1 near birth.
* Only 1 would have a third-level education, and 99 would not see this message because only 1 would have a computer.

When one considers our world in that light what does it say?

Lotto Draw 29th April
Numbers Drawn:  3,  19,  20,  25
NO WINNER
€35 CASH :
N. Reilly,  C. O’Leary,  A. Langan,  M.
Long
THIS WEEK’S JACKPOT :  €7755
Last week’s net ‘take’      
€3,581
Bishops’ Commissions Collection    
€943

The Change has come to and end!
The banks are no longer accepting old coins. Last week
€343 came in. Many thanks to all who sent in their
coins.

Sponsorship

* a seat with memorial plate:  €400
* a slab for front of Church paving: €25
* Votive Light Stands for the new statues of St. Joseph and St. Anthony for the Church.
* Vestments for Mass.
* Thurible & Incense Boat: €25

Coming Fund Raising Event
Race Night:
Nemo Rangers Hall, 25th May,  9 pm. Horses for the 10
races on sale (€15) after Mass today.

Sponsored Walk
Our thanks to all who braved the elements to be part of the
sponsored walk last Sunday. Don’t forget to hand in your
cards.
Please Note:  Because the Bank Holiday, the Lotto Draw
will be on Tuesday May 7th in the Girls’ Primary School.