September 24th 2006 – 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

True Greatness
Greatness today is measured by the nonsense that surrounds celebrities. The silly and vapid aspects of their lives are put before us for admiration and even imitation. At times we drip-feed ourselves on this empty diet.
In today’s gospel the disciples argued among themselves about ‘which of them was the greatest.’ Earlier in the story the same disciples did not understand and were afraid (verse 32). I find this line helpful because today (as then) it is difficult to accept the demands of discipleship.
The disciples are beautifully human: they looked for admiration, prestige and power among themselves. Titles, honours, the desire to be the centre of decisions and complacency in the authority entrusted to us are temptations to be found in all of us. Today’s gospel reminds us that the mark of the disciple consists in ‘being the last of all and the servant of all.’ Anything else is a major perversion of the Gospel.

Collection to help cost of training young priests
The annual collection at Masses in the diocese for the Education of Students for the Priesthood will be held on this weekend of September 23rd/24th 2006.
The proceeds of the collection go to the Diocesan Education Fund which means the cost of seminarians’ fees at St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth, and also contributes to post-graduate studies of priests of the diocese.
Two new seminarians have begun studying to be priests in Cork & Ross this year.
The average cost per student at a seminary, including fees, accommodation and board, is €15,000.
A portion of the costs is also met by the generous support of the St. Joseph’s Young Priests Society.

This Week’s Calendar
Mon. 25    St. Finbarr, patron of Cork City and Diocese. He founded monasteries at Gougane Barra and at the mouth of the Lee.
Tues. 26    Sts. Cosmas & Damian, martyrs. Patrons of Physicians.
Wedn. 27    St. Vincent de Paul, priest. He organised the distribution of food and clothing for the poor. Also provided for their spiritual needs. Patron saint of the Vincentians, the Daughters of Charity and Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
Thurs. 28    St. Wenceslaus, martyr. Also St. Laurence Ruiz & Companions, Japanese martyrs.
Frid. 29    Sts. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels. Gabriel brought the message to Mary at the Annunciation. Raphael was guide to Tobias. Michael has been venerated through the centuries as protector.
Sat. 30    St. Jerome, priest & doctor of the Church. He translated the Bible into Latin (the Vulgate) and wrote commentaries on Sacred Scripture. Patron saint of Scripture scholars & librarians.

A Thought – Ryder Cup

'You can only play one hole at a time.
Keep your mind on the hole you're playing. Don't worry about the shot you just missed or how you're going to play the 18th.
Taking care of the present lets the future take care of itself.'

~Tom Kite former U.S Ryder Cup golfer.

There is lots of advice doing the rounds this weekend with the Ryder Cup in full swing. The above advice is relevant not just to golfers but to all of us as well. So often in real life we want to do everything at once and right now. All things can't happen together and neither can we.
So often as well our minds are elsewhere. We're thinking about tomorrow and what we should and could be doing. How about starting with today!! Today is God's most precious gift to us.
Looking after today as best we can, will ensure that tomorrow will be well looked after too. May the best team win. Up Europe !!
Thought for today by Fr.James McSweeney

Gougane Barra Devotions on October 1st.
The annual ceremonies at Gougane Barra to mark the Feast of St. Finbarr will take place on the afternoon of Sunday October 1st. The Mass will be celebrated by Bishop John Buckley and the homily will be preached by Fr. Tom Deenihan, Diocesan Secretary.

Important Dates 2007
28 March 2007    Parish Confirmations
12 May 2007    First Holy Communion Boys
19 May 2007    First Holy Communion Girls

Information Night
An information night will take place for all parents of First Holy Communion Children 2007 from both Christ King Girls N.S. and Scoil Chríost Rí on this Tuesday Sept. 26th at 7.30pm in the Church of Christ the King. The programme ‘Do This in Memory’ seeks to resource the partnership of home and parish and in doing so will support the work of the teacher in the classroom. Our hope for this parish programme is that it offers an opportunity for parents/guardians and the parish community to become more actively involved in the work of preparing the child for the celebration of First Penance and First Eucharist.

Deaths
We remember in our prayers Jeremiah Birmingham, Maiville Terrace, and Sr. Perpetua Dineen, Ballyphehane Convent, who died recently. We extend our sympathy to their families and community. May they rest in peace.

Bereavement Group
A support group is beginning in S.M.A. Parish, Wilton.
Sessions begin on Wednesday 4th October. Time: 8pm. Room 10. Open to all people recently or long-term bereaved.
Further information call Margaret 4544429. Kathleen 4544262. Chris 4546392.

Turners Cross Gramophone Circle
Recital resumes on this Tuesday 26th September in the Parish Centre at 7.30pm (note time).  Presenter: Billy Collins.

Pope Benedict
Pope Benedict’s recent words about Islam, a subject more than adequately dealt with elsewhere. Speaking at his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square on Wednesday, Our Holy Father Pope Benedict  reflected on his recent visit to Germany and said: "In no way did I wish to make my own the words of the medieval Emperor. I wish to explain that not religion and violence, but religion and reason go together. I hope that my profound respect for world religions and Muslims is clear. Let us continue the dialogue both between religions and between modern reason and the Christian faith."

To Wish
‘To wish you were someone else is to waste the person you are.’
It’s amazing the efforts that people are making in an attempt to get close to the golfers in the Ryder Cup. This weekend Ireland proudly hosts this huge sporting event at the K Club. On the practice days the gale-force winds, lashing rain, queues and other obstacles did not stop the crowds flocking to see some of the action. Many will dream and wish hey were like Tiger Woods, Pádraig Harrington and all the big golfers of the world. All the wishing in the world will not change our situation. We may not become as famous as our celebrities but we are celebrities in our own right. This is the heart of the Gospel Message. We possess all we need to live fruitful, active and fulfilling lives. We can only start with ourselves. Wishing we were someone else is only a distraction.
Lord, help me to learn from others, including celebrities,
but help me to realise that it is only myself
who can make things really happen.

Congratulations to Ballineaspaig Parish on becoming  Ireland's first Fairtrade parish
The designation comes after three years of preparation and promotion in the parish area, to meet the criteria set out by Fairtrade Ireland.
Products with the FAIRTRADE label are imported and traded in such a way that consumers may know that the producer has been paid the minimum price required to cover the necessary costs of production and still make a reasonable profit.     twww.fairtradecork.com/