Has the Priesthood a Future?
Its Vocations Sunday again. Looking for vocations to the priesthood has not got easier, and yet the Church needs good priests. No doubt God, whose Church it is, will continue to call them. With all the scandals, its harder to be a priest in this context, much more challenging. But people still want to hear the message of hope and need to see God;s care take human form in caring priests.
In our Diocese of Cork & Ross we are experiencing a shortage of priests. The high ratio of priests to people cannot be maintained.
What a priest does:
Visitation homes, schools, hospitals
Accompanies people in sickness, death, bereavement, family-personal difficulties
Helps others to pray
Shares happy times: weddings, First Communions,
Confirmations, local success (in sport, etc.)
He is there for deeper moments: of searching, of conversion (Sacrament of Reconciliation), of tragedy.
Pope John Paul says: There is an urgent need, especially nowadays, for a more widespread and deeply-felt conviction that all members of the Church, without exception, have the grace and responsibility to look after vocations.
Prayer for Vocations
God our Father, send workers into your harvest. May the Spirit we received in Baptism touch the hearts of many to offer themselves in priesthood, religious life and other forms of service. Give the parents and families of our Parish the wisdom and courage to support young people in searching for and following the call of God in their lives.
Jesus said: `Ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers into his harvest.
Cork & Ross Vocations: Fr. Aidan ODriscoll , St. Finbarrs College, Farranferris, Cork. Tel. 4303158.
Gala Concert
in aid of our Church Restoration Fund
Mary Hegarty, Nyle Wolfe
The Garda Choir, Wilcollane Singers
School of Music Orchestra
This Thursday 15th May at 8 pm sharp
in Christ the King Church
Adm. 15 Tickets from the Parish Office after Mass today
and during the week.
Mick OConnell Appeal
The Sponsored Walk for Mick takes place this Sunday. If you would like to contribute to the Appeal, Boxes are at each exit door as you leave Mass today. Mick is a parishioner and lives in Ashdale Park.
St. Josephs Young Priests Society
Monthly meeting in the Parish Centre this Tuesday at 8 pm. Our Parish is blessed to have a branch of the Society here. It is one of the longest established lay organisations in the Irish Church. The main purpose of the Society is to promote vocations to the priesthood and religious life. In our Parish last year the members collected 7,137.34 towards the education of students for the priesthood at home and abroad. New members are always welcome.
The Irish Catholic
on sale each week at the back of the Church. This week has excellent articles on vocations and the first of four extracts from Tears at Night, Joy at Dawn, a journal by Andrew Robinson, a young seminarian confronted with his impending death from cancer.
Living Stones
It comes as a surprise that the psalm chosen for Good Shepherd Sunday is not about sheep but about the rejected stone. Peter used this image for the resurrection.
As Jesus, the self-sacrificing shepherd, laid down his life and took it up again, so is the stone once rejected now taken up and used as the keystone that takes the pressure off all the other stones. The greater the pressure, the more tightly bound is the structure. This is the work of the Lord, a marvel in our eyes.
Trócaire: To date, 6,862 has come in.
Deaths
We remember in our prayers
Barrry Hayes, Fermoy and late of Mercier Park,
Jerry Murphy, St. Josephs, Derrynane Road, and
Patrick Sheehan, Connolly Road,
who died during the week.
We extend our sympathy to their families.
Parish Visitation
Fr. Kerry will visit Connolly Road and St. Patricks Road.
LOTTO DRAW May 6th.
Numbers drawn: 5, 12, 15, 23.
NO WINNER
35 CASH
M. Hayes, Buckley Family, L. OConnell, Mrs Morgan
Gala Concert Ticket Winners
F. Hourigan, Cathbert, L. OBrien
THIS WEEKS JACKPOT : 1325
Last weeks net take 3,159
Last weeks second Collection 1,120
The Old Money that was changed recently in the Central Bank, Dublin, came to 1,542.90. Our thanks to all and especially the good lady who brings it to Dublin to be changed. The Old Money is still welcome for the Restoration Fund. Box at back of the Church.