June 1st 2003 – Feast of The Ascension

The Show Must Go On
Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela — men and women of insight, vision, and with the courage wisdom and love to go the extra mile, have mainly left our world but their spirits remain to work among us.
Today the charismatic figure of Jesus, Lord of the Dance, Good Shepherd, makes his exit. The disciples, men and women, realised as they stood beside him on the mountain that while one journey was over, a new one was starting for them. Saipan, then Japan and then the real world: lessons learned, bridges burned, but the show must go on.

Bishop John Buckley writes — Mission in South America
It is now almost 40 years since the late Bishop Lucey established the Cork & Ross Mission in Peru. The outreach to South America was a response to a request by Pope John XXIII to help in the renewed evangelisation of South America, a continent which was experiencing a severe shortage of priests and sisters. Primarily, the work of the priests and sisters in South America was to make Christ better known and loved. From this came a commitment to the material welfare of the people. Medical centres, schools and parish centres have been built, and vibrant parish communities have been formed. The faith of all of us is strengthened when it is shared because the Church of its nature is missionary. That missionary work will continue until the end of time. In 1992 the late Bishop Michael Murphy visited Ecuador and was moved by the poverty and shortage of priests in that country. In 1993 he made a commitment to the Archbishop in Ecuador that he would take responsibility for two parishes on the outskirts of Manta for a period of ten years. That contract has expired since March 2003, and the priests are returning home. I have decided that our commitment in Peru will end in March 2004, and the three priests at present working there will then return home. A most significant chapter in the history of the Diocese of Cork & Ross will end at that time. The Lord will reward the people at home for their generosity, prayers and sacrifices over the years. The Sisters of Mercy and Bon Secours will continue to work in parishes in Peru. We will continue to support them. We will be contributing €30,000 this year to help defray the expenses involved in the training of those who will work in the parishes in Ecuador as priests, catechists and pastoral workers. As this is the final public collection since 1965, I thank you very sincerely for your generosity over the years. I trust and encourage you to continue to help our new commitment in Peru and Ecuador. Please continue to keep those people in your prayers.

Christ the King Church Restoration Fund
CORK CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Leader:  Adrian Petcu
Soloist:  Gerard Kelly, cello
World Premiere of Angel Climent’s cello concerto
Thursday, 19th June, 2003, 8 pm
in Christ the King Church
Tickets €10 each on sale in Parish Office

Ministers of Word & Eucharist
Please collect your Rota for the coming weeks in the Sacristy after Mass.

Mass Notice
Because of the Bank Holiday, there will be no 8 am Mass on Monday. Mass at 10 am.

Exam Time
The 6 pm Mass this Saturday evening (31st May) and the 8 am and 10 am Masses on Wednesday 4th June will be offered for those doing Junior Cert. and Leaving Cert. exams. Our good wishes, thoughts and prayers are with those doing exams.

Prayer for those doing exams
Lord, pour out your Spirit of Wisdom on those students doing exams. Help them to remain calm, to attend carefully to the questions asked, to think clearly, to remember accurately and to express themselves well. Grant that they may reflect the best of the work they have done and the best of teaching they have received. Accept their best efforts in these examinations and in the great test of life on earth.
May your love be upon them, O Lord, as they place all their trust in you.

LOTTO DRAW May 26th
Numbers drawn:  2,  7,  9,  18.
NO WINNER
€35 CASH
D. Kiely,  A. Keating,  M. Dunphy,  M. O’Sullivan
Promoters Prize €35       L. Cronin
THIS WEEK’S JACKPOT :    €2300
Last week’s net “take”       €2,931
Last week’s second Collection       €1,315
Anonymous Donation    €50
Because of the Bank Holiday, the Lotto Draw will take place this Tuesday 3rd June at 7.30 pm in the Parish Centre.