Our Diocese, Our Parish – has a New Mission!
In May each year, an extra collection used to be held to support our Mission in Peru and Ecuador. This was in the days when priests and sisters from Cork & Ross worked there. It was before the shortage of vocations at home and the priests on the Mission had to be recalled.
The new collection to be taken up this weekend 12/13th May, reflects our situation now. It wont be long before the parish with more than one priest will be a rarity. For parishes to survive, systems of lay involvement have to be put in place. To achieve this, the Diocese has employed a lay team and priests to make it happen, working with Fr. Tom Hayes. Our Parish and many parishes have been glad of their support. Whats at stake is continuing the work of the Good Shepherd, who always cares for the flock. In every parish a pastoral structure has to be put in place if this is to happen.
Since the publication of "Pilgrim Steps" – The Diocesan Pastoral Plan – in 2005, the Bishop has committed extra funds to meet the cost of implementing the plan. The principal extra cost is related to extra personnel now employed by the Diocese and the setting up of the Pastoral Development Office located in the former Parochial House in Ballyphane. Today's Second Collection will help offset some of the extra costs involved in extending these services to the 68 parishes of the diocese.
Having appealed for volunteers and your help last December our Parish Steering Group was set up Chairperson: Frank McKevitt, Secretary: Lilian Lernihan, Alan Kennedy, Ger Hodkinson Sheila Morgan Barry Gould, Sheila Cahalane, Fr. Charlie, Fr. Kerry and Sr. Karen Kent from the Diocesan Pastoral Planning Team. We have been meeting on a regular basis. The findings of the group will be presented to you in the coming months.
First Holy Communion
On Saturday next 19th May the Girls from Christ King N.S. Will receive their First Holy Communion at 10.30 am. There will be no Mass at 10 am. We wish the Girls, their Families and Teachers a lovely day. We also congratulate the boys from Scoil Chríost Rí who received their First Holy Communion this weekend.
Prayer After Holy Communion
Lord Jesus I love and adore you.
Youre a special friend to me.
Welcome, Lord Jesus, O welcome.
Thank you for coming to me.
Thank you, lord Jesus, O thank you
for giving yourself to me.
Make me strong to show your love wherever I may be.
Be near me Lord Jesus, I ask you to stay
Close by me for ever and love me I pray.
Bless all of us children in your loving care
and bring us to heaven to live with you there
Im ready now Lord Jesus to show how much I care
Im ready now to give your love at home and everywhere.
Masses for Exams
All those preparing for or doing exams will be included in our Shared Mass offered each Friday Morning at 10am. Special Exam Mass Cards are now available from the Sacristy
Deaths
We offer sincere and prayerful sympathy to the Families of Denis Murphy, Greenlawn, Diar ORiordan, late of Fr. Matthew Rd, who died in England and Patricia (Pat) Murphy.
Lord grant them eternal peace and joy, and to their families & friends strength and comfort
Baptism
We welcome into the Christian Community: Jessica Maria Sexton who was baptised recently.
Weddings:
Our congratulations and good wishes to
Padraig Cripps and Karen Kelleher and to
Albert Casssells and Eleanor Foley
who were married recently. We wish them many years of health and happiness.
St. Joseph's Young Priests Society
The monthly meeting will take place on Tuesday 15th May in the Parish Centre at 8pm
Ministers of the Word & Eucharist
Rotas are now available for all Ministers of the Eucharist & Word from the sacristy.
Congratulations
To Fr. Kieran OReilly, Fr. Matthew Rd. who has been re-elected as Superior General of the Society of the African Missions.
Fr. Kieran was chosen by delegates at the 19th General Assembly of the SMA in Rome for a second mandate after first being elected in 2001. Our prayers and good wishes to Fr. Kieran and to his parents Sean & Teresa who live in Fr. Matthew Rd. It is a great honour for us all.
Nyle P. Wolfe – Cork Baritone
Nyle P. Wolfe, will be appearing in the Briery Gap, Macroom on Sunday May 20th at 8pm with his hit show MOODSWINGS featuring swing, jazz and opera classics. Special guest performers that night are Corr Ban Chuilada. Tickets 20
CUH FM, Cork Hospital Radio. Frequency 102 fm
Daily Mass from Hospital Chapel 8.30am & 12 noon
Rosary Mon.- Fri. 7.30pm. Stations of the Cross Sat.12.30pm
Sat. Vigil Mass 7.15pm Sunday Masses 8.30am & 10am
Parish Steering Group:
Meeting in Fr. Kerrys House on Monday 14th May at 8pm
Arthritis Ireland — Cork Branch, are hosting information lectures on arthritis at Brú Columbanus, Wilton, Cork, on Saturday 26th May at 2pm.Talks by a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon and an Occupational Therapist. Free Admission. All Welcome. Enquiries to 086 – 8118489.
Catholic Papers
This weeks Irish Catholic has a Catholic Voters Guide to the election.
The Catholic Papers are on sale at the back of the Church
The Irish Catholic 1. The Universe 1.50. Catholic Times 1.50
We give thanks to God
Northern Ireland has come to a time of peace, a time of hate will no longer rule words of Ian Paisley last Tuesday coupled with the image of him laughing and joking with Martin McGuinness hearlded a new dawn as devolved government was restored to Northern Ireland. There was a tangible sense of hope and looking forward with enthusiam – we give thanks to God for all that has been accomplished.
A Thought
'Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you,
a peace the world cannot give, this is my gift to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid' John 14:26-27
Peace has been given many descriptions. It is not just an absence of war, nor is it simple harmony. True peace is not the same as tranquility. Tranquility is external whereas peace is internal. It is an inner state of calm. Everyone longs for it, few find it fully and we are reminded that it is a precious gift from God. Whereever God's peace is to found, one will also find love. The invitation is to allow ourselves to be loved and if we love we will find a greater peace than we ever imagined. For all this to happen we need to accept ourselves as we are, the ugly and the beautiful in each of our lives, the good and the bad, our strengths and weaknesses. Whatever part of our lives are worried or anxious we pray especially for God's peace and calm.
Thought For Today by Fr.James McSweeney www.2u.ie/