WORLD MEETING OF FAMILIES
 Coach to the Papal Mass on 26th August 2018.
There will be a meeting in the Church on Tuesday August 14 at 7.30pm for those travelling on the Parish Coach.

Festival of Families  .A limited number of tickets is available from the parish for the Festival of Families celebrations with Pope Francis in Croke Park on the evening Saturday, 25th August.
Rail Travel to the Papal Mass
Irish Rail have additional services operating on Sunday 26th August, see http://www.irishrail/popes-mass-phoenix-park-train-services.  Tickets must be booked online on www.irishrail.ie <http://www.irishrail.ie> .  For information please call 1850 366 222 (Mon-Fri 08:30-18:00hrs).

A call to prayer. The Bishops of Ireland ask that the bells of every church be rung from 7:00pm to 7:15pm on Tuesday 21st August as we open this international event in Ireland.

The Opening Ceremony for the World Meeting of Families on Tuesday 21st August at 7:30pm in the Cathedral of Ss Mary and Anne, Cork. We are invited to join Bishop John who will preside,    Mgr. Aidan O’Driscoll will preach the homily. 

LIVE TRANSMISSION IN THE PARISH CHURCH OF THE PAPAL MASS on Sunday 26th August.
The Television Broadcast of the Papal Mass in the Phoenix Park will be shown on a very large screen in the Church of Christ the King on Sunday afternoon.  This is an opportunity for those not travelling to Dublin to participate as a Parish group.  The transmission will be shown from 2.15 pm, in good time to include the Papal Mass at 3 o’clock.  Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament afterwards.

   Relics of Saint Therese of Lisieux and her parents Saints Louise & Zeile Mrtin at The Carmelite Friary Church, Kinsale from noon Sunday August 19th to 8.00 am Monday August 20th.

Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady Wednesday 15th August, Holy Day of obligation. Vigil Mass 6.00pm Tuesday. Wednesday Masses at 10.00am and 6.00pm

Annual Devotions at the Holy Rosary Shrine, Lee Road, on Wednesday 15th August. The Chief Celebrant will be Bishop John, Homilist Fr Greg Howard, PP. Rosary at 6.30 pm at Our Lady’s Hospital gate and Mass at the Shrine at 7.30 pm.

Deaths:  We remember in our prayers Rita Healy, Capwell Avenue and Friars Walk, Dan Long, Green Lawn, Jim Travers, UK, late of Evergreen Rd and Sr Gabriel Fenton of Limerick and Bermingham. We extend our sympathy to their families.

Hope Foundation.  Aoife McTaggart of Christ King Girls Secondary School is selling Butlers Hope Chocolate Bars after Masses this weekend as part of her fundraising for her volunteer visit to India to work with the Hope Foundation in Kolkata.
.

GOLDEN  JUBILEE                                                                                                   Jubilee Mass of Fr Nick Motherway, a native of Turner’s Cross.  Fr Nick is a Priest of St Patrick’s Missionary Society (Kiltegans) and will be joined by his family and by priest colleagues and friends with whom he has worked over the years of his ministry.  Since his ordination in Kiltegan on Easter Sunday, 1968, he has served the Lord as a missionary in Africa for almost forty years, as well as working on other Kiltegan assignments. We are delighted that he has chosen to celebrate his Jubilee Mass in our Parish Church of Christ the King, where he celebrated his first Mass some fifty years ago.

WORLD MEETING OF FAMILIES
Turner’s Cross Parish Coach
One fifty-three seat Coach has been booked for Turner’s Cross Parish for August 26th and tickets have been reserved for those travelling on the coach.  The coach is almost full, a few seats are still available, and one or two cancellations may be anticipated. Anyone interested in joining the Parish Group on the coach should let us know immediately.
The coach will be registered by the Pastoral Development Office this week as an individual code will be allocated to each coach to provide access to the Phoenix Park drop-off point.

Tickets for the Papal Mass
We have been informed by the Pastoral Development Office this week that those travelling independently must book their tickets directly.  This must be done on line at www.worldmeeting2018.ie <http://www.worldmeeting2018.ie>  as soon as possible. Although there is no charge, a ticket is needed for each person attending the Mass in the Phoenix Park, including children.

Information Meeting
Those travelling to the Papal Mass are invited to an information meeting in Turner’s Cross Church on Friday next 6th July at 7.30 p.m.

Death:  We remember in our prayers John Bickerstaffe, Capwell Avenue, who died recently. We extend our sympathy to his family.

First Friday: Fr. Billy will visit the sick and housebound this week.   If you would like a visit please contact us.

Anointing of the Sick on Saturday next 7th July at the 10.00 am Mass.  Consider offering a lift to a housebound neighbour.

Cemetery Mass: in St. Michael’s Cemetery, Blackrock on Wednesday 27th June at 7.00 pm

Golden Jubilee Mass: Our 6.00 pm Mass next Saturday 30th June will be the Golden Jubilee Mass for Fr Nicholas Motherway, a native of Turner’s Cross. Fr Nick is a Priest of St Patrick’s Missionary Society (Kiltegans) and worked as a missionary in Africa for almost forty years, as well as working on other Kiltegan assignments. We look forward to the celebration of his Jubilee Mass in our Church of Christ the King, where he celebrated his first Mass some fifty years ago.

Graduation Mass: The 10am Mass on this Monday 25th June will be the Graduation Mass for Bunscoil Chríost Rí Sixth Classes as they prepare to leave primary school. The Mass will be offered for the children, their parents and families. Our prayers and good wishes go with them.

Bishop Elect Tom Deenihan: The Holy Father has announced the appointment of Canon Tom Deenihan, Diocesan Secretary of Cork and Ross, as Bishop of Meath. We join Bishop Buckley in wishing Canon Tom every blessing as he undertakes this new ministry in the Church. His Episcopal Ordination is likely to be on Sunday, September 2nd, 2018, in Mullingar.

The Peter’s Pence Collection this weekend 23rd /24th June unites us in solidarity with Pope Francis and his works of charity toward those who are suffering around the world.

Just 4 Fun Kids Camp in Coláiste Chríost Rí the 9th – 13th July 2018 with fun activities for boys and girls from 5-12 years. Book by Brochure or online at www.just4funkidscamp. Telephone 087 182 1594 or 029 70640.

Cork Alzheimers Café on last Friday of each month 1.30–3.30 pm in St Finbarr’s Hospital, Douglas Road, next meeting on Friday 29th June. For people with Alzheimers and other dementias, carers, family and friends, and social and health professionals. Light refreshments, All welcome.

Tramore Athletic under 12 Team recently won their division in the Cork Schoolboys’ League. New players are welcome for next season. Contact the coach, Terence Delaney, at 087 204 9161.

Papal Mass in Phoenix Park on August 26th.
More detailed information will be available for a special meeting in the Church planned provisionally for Friday 6th July at 7.30 pm.
(Note the change of date.)

________________________________________________________________
WORLD MEETING OF FAMILIES

Papal Itinerary
Saturday 25 August 2018
Arrival at Dublin Airport at 10.30 am.
Official Welcome at Áras an Uachtaráin at 11.15am.

Meeting with Authorities and representatives of Civil Society and the Diplomatic Corps in Dublin Castle at 12.10 pm at which the Holy Father will speak.

Visit to St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral and address by the Holy Father at 3.30 pm followed by a private visit to the Capuchin Day Centre for Homeless Families at 4.30 pm.
Arrival at Croke Park for the Festival of Families from 7.30 to 9.30 pm.

Sunday 26 August 2018
Visit to Knock Shrine from 9.45 to 10.45 am, Angelus address.

Arrival at Phoenix Park at 2.30 pm for Mass at 3.00, at which the Pope will preach.

Meeting with the Bishops before arriving at Dublin Airport for a Farewell Ceremony at 6.30 pm and departure at 6.45 pm.

Papal Mass in Phoenix Park on August 26th.
We have fifty-three coach spaces for travel to Dublin on Sunday 26th August. If you wish to travel on the coach please give your name as soon as possible to the sacristy or to one of the priests, a booking deposit of € 5.00 is required. Meals will be arranged for those travelling by coach on the journeys to and from Dublin. We expect that we will have to be in the Phoenix Park some hours before the start of the Papal Mass, and that the walk from the Coach drop off point will take about an hour.

Bishop Buckley has asked that clergy in our area discuss the Mass schedules for this weekend, when many parishioners will be travelling to Dublin for the Papal Mass. Alterations to Mass times may be necessary, to allow priests to travel.

More detailed information will be available for a special meeting in the Church planned provisionally for Friday 29th June at 7.30 pm.

Festival of Families – as announced last week, we have been allocated tickets to invite one family to represent our parish at the Festival of Families on Saturday 25th August at Croke Park with Pope Francis, from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm approximately. Two families have applied so far and a final decision will be made this week. Please let us know by Monday 18th June if you would like to be considered (travel and/or accommodation will be at the expense of the family nominated).
________________________________________________________________

Ice Cream Sunday: Many thanks to everyone who made Ice cream Sunday such a success. Your generosity raised €655 for Down Syndrome Ireland.

Our Students are remembered in the Shared Mass on Fridays at 10.00 am at this time. Special Exam Cards are available in the Sacristy.

Cemetery Mass: in St. Michael’s Cemetery, Blackrock on Wednesday 27th June at 7.00 pm

Lourdes: Fr. Kerry travels to Lourdes with the Diocesan Pilgrimage on Monday 11th June. Our good wishes and prayers go with him. Petitions to be placed at the Grotto may be put in envelopes – no money –and placed in the box at the altar rail before 1.00 pm this Sunday, 10th June.

Do This in Memory: After the 10.00 am Mass there will be a short Eucharistic Procession in the Grounds of the Church with the First Holy Communion Children from Bunscoil Chríost Rí.

Ice Cream Sunday in support of Down Syndrome Ireland. Ice Cream will be available outside the church after the 10.00 am and 12.00 noon Masses.

Exams: All Our Students are remembered in our Shared Mass every Friday at 10am. Special Exam Cards are available in the Sacristy.

Death: We remember in our prayers Patrick McMahon, Churchtown and late of Douglas, who died recently. We extend our sympathy to his family.

Cemetery Mass at St. James’s Cemetery, Chetwynd on Tuesday 12th June at 7.30 p.m.

Blessing of lilies: Lilies will be blessed after the 10.00 am Mass on Wednesday next, 13th June, the feast day of St Anthony.

Mental Health and Addiction Workshop with Dr. Gabor Maté, June 30th to Sunday, July 1st, 2018, UCC, Cork. www.bookwhen.com/gabormate or phone 0861719311.

World Meeting of Families – we have been allocated tickets to invite one family to represent our parish at the Festival of Families on Saturday 25th August at Croke Park with Pope Francis, from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm approximately. Please let us know as soon as possible if you would like to be nominated by the parish, travel and/or accommodation will be at the expense of the family nominated.

CORPUS CHRISTI
This weekend we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, and give thanks for the tremendous gift of the Eucharist.  When we receive Holy Communion, we share the life of Christ.  He is among us in a way that we can see, touch, taste and eat. Jesus is also present in the Word of God, proclaimed at Mass, and he is present in the sisters and brothers around us, for whom he died. Pope Francis comments that the Christ who nourishes us in holy communion is the same Christ we meet in everyday life. He is in the poor person who holds out his hand, in the suffering person who asks for help, in the brother or sister who asks for our time and waits for our welcome. He is in the child who knows nothing about Jesus or salvation, who does not have faith. He is in every human being, even the smallest and the defenceless.  Those who are nourished by the Bread of Life cannot remain indifferent to those who do not have their daily bread.
We pray that the life of Christ may be seen in us as we receive God’s blessing at the end of Mass and are sent out to bring the light of Christ into our world.

Corpus Christi Procession: Our Annual Procession will take place in Cork city on this Sunday 3rd June, 2018, an hour later than usual because of the Cork City Marathon. We will gather at the Church here in Turners Cross at shortly before 4.00 pm and walk in procession to Daunt Square. Most Reverend Denis Brennan, Bishop of Ferns will preach.           Come and join us.
Our Corpus Christi procession brings Christ, and the love of Christ, into our streets; into all the suffering, isolation, loneliness, temptations and fears of our life; a blessing for our city and our parish.

Cork City Marathon, Sunday 3rd June, 2018. 
There is Traffic Disruption this Sunday morning during the Marathon, and access to the Church from South Douglas Road/ Skabeg and Curragh Road will be affected. Signs will direct traffic from the South Douglas Road onto the Cross Douglas Road, travelling via Douglas Road to the church gates on Capwell Road. On leaving the carpark, the signs will direct traffic to return the way they came, with limited access from the southern end of Capwell Road left only onto the South Douglas Road.  Curragh Road will be closed to traffic.  The Church and church car park will be accessible from Evergreen Road.

 Our First Holy Communion Programme “Do This in Memory” concludes on Sunday next, 10th June at the 10am Mass.  After Mass there will be a short Eucharistic Procession in the Grounds of the Church with the First Holy Communion Children from Bunscoil Chríost Rí.

 Ice Cream Sunday: Sunday 10th June is also Ice Cream Sunday in support of Down Syndrome Ireland. Ice Cream will be available outside the church after the ten and twelve o’clock Masses.

Our Parish Novena to the Sacred Heart began last Thursday 31st May and continues to Friday 9th June, the Feast of the Sacred Heart.  Novena Prayers each morning at the 10.99am Mass or families may wish to pray the novena at home.   Novena Prayers – blue leaflet – are available at the back of the Church.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you.

Parish Assembly:  Meeting this Thursday 9th March in Parish Centre at 8.00 pm.

WORLD MEETING OF FAMILIES
Papal Mass in Phoenix Park on August 26th. 
We have fifty-three coach spaces for travel to Dublin on Sunday 26th August.  If you wish to travel on the coach please give your name as soon as possible to the sacristy or to one of the priests, a booking deposit of € 5.00 is required. More detailed information will be issued shortly.
 Prayer for Families
God, our Father,
We are brothers and sisters in Jesus your Son, one family, in the Spirit of your love.  Bless us with the joy of love.
Make us patient and kind, gentle and generous,
welcoming to those in need.
Help us to live your forgiveness and peace.
Protect all families with your loving care,
Especially those for whom we now pray:
[remember family members and others by name].
Increase our faith, Strengthen our hope,
Keep us safe in your love, Make us always grateful
for the gift of life that we share.
This we ask, through Christ our Lord, Amen

Exams:  The 10am Mass on Tuesday 5th June will be offered for all our young people beginning their exams on Wednesday.  We wish them every blessing and success.

All Our Students are remembered in our Shared Mass every Friday at 10am. Special Exam Cards are available in the Sacristy.

Death:We remember in our prayers Eileen Collins, Evergreen Road, who died recently. We extend our sympathy to her family.

Cemetery Masses
 Mass for the bereaved will be celebrated at St. James’s Cemetery, Chetwynd (Maher’s Lane, off the Bandon Road before the Viaduct) on Tuesday 12th June at 7.30 p.m.

Mass on Remembrance will be celebrated in St. Michael’s Cemetery, Blackrock on Wednesday 27th June at 7.00 pm.

Cork Autism Conference 2018. Re-Thinking Autism – A Positive and Integrative Approach, Sunday September 30th, Rochestown Park Hotel, Douglas Cork. Open to Parents, Families, Caregivers, Adults with ASD, Employers, Educators, Professionals, Agencies, Advocates and anyone with an interest in autism and Asperger’s syndrome. Call 089 239 8900. More information from <http://www.bookwhen.com/autismcork> .

Over 60’s Talent Competition:The final of the Over 60’s Talent Competition will take place at the City Hall on June 17th at 8.00 pm. This is the forty second year of the event. Tickets are on sale for €15 at Pro Musica, Oliver Plunkett Street, Blackpool Shopping Centre or call Paddy O’Brien 086 8105585. All proceeds go to The Irish Heart Foundation. Special guest on the night will be the Marina Melodics Choir who will sing at the Pope’s Mass in The Phoenix Park in August.

Lourdes:  Fr. Kerry travels to Lourdes with the Diocesan Pilgrimage on Monday 11th June. with some parishioners from our Parish. Our good wishes and prayers go with them.   Petitions to be placed at the Grotto in Lourdes may be put in envelopes – no money –and placed in the box at the altar rail, not later than Sunday 10th June.

 TRINITY SUNDAY
 Our redemption is the work and gift of the Blessed Trinity: the Son who offers himself, the Father to whom he offers himself and the Holy Spirit through whom he offers himself. This is the love we celebrate at every Mass.  
God is love, the love of the Father who is the source of all life; the love of the son who lays down his life for his friends, dies on the cross and rises again; the love of the Holy Spirit who makes us new and renews the face of the earth.   
Knowing that God is love teaches us to love and to give ourselves to others, as Jesus gave himself to us. Unselfish other-centeredness is at the heart of Christianity and in our practical experience the Other will always be a sister or brother for whom Christ died.
The fullness of Trinitarian life on earth, practised by the very first Christians (Acts 4:32-37), involves a spirituality of sharing, as commended by Pope John Paul and Pope Francis for our times. The new commandment “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34) amounts to an invitation to share in the life of the Blessed Trinity, the eternal Event of Love.

 Cork City Marathon, Sunday 3rd June, 2018.  There will be Traffic Disruption next Sunday during the Marathon, and access to the Church from South Douglas Road/ Skabeg and Curragh Road will be affected. Signs will direct traffic from the South Douglas Road onto the Cross Douglas Road, travelling via Douglas Road to the church gates on Capwell Road. On leaving the carpark, the signs will direct traffic to return the way they came, with limited access from the southern end of Capwell Road left only onto the South Douglas Road.  Curragh Road will be closed to traffic.  The Church and church car park will be accessible from Evergreen Road.

WORLD MEETING OF FAMILIES 2018
 Papal Mass in Phoenix Park on August 26th.
We have fifty-three coach spaces for travel to Dublin on Sunday 26th August.  If you wish to travel on the coach please give your name as soon as possible to the sacristy or to one of the priests, a booking deposit of € 5.00 is required, the total cost including meals will not exceed € 50.00. More detailed information will be issued shortly.

Indulgences: Pope Francis will grant a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions to those who take part in World Meeting of Families events in Dublin next August.  A partial indulgence will be available to those unable to be in Dublin for the meeting but who follow it on radio and television.

A special collection will be taken up at all Masses this weekend 26th – 27th May for the cost of hosting the World Meeting of Families in Ireland in August. The five-day event will culminate in the visit to Ireland by Pope Francis.

Prayer for Families
God, our Father,
We are brothers and sisters in Jesus your Son, one family, in the Spirit of your love.
Bless us with the joy of love.
Make us patient and kind, gentle and generous,
welcoming to those in need.
Help us to live your forgiveness and peace.
Protect all families with your loving care,
Especially those for whom we now pray:
[remember family members and others by name].
Increase our faith,
Strengthen our hope,
Keep us safe in your love,
Make us always grateful for the gift of life that we share.
This we ask, through Christ our Lord,
Amen

NEXT SUNDAY 3rd JUNE, CORPUS CHRISTI
 Exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament   As we prepare for The Feast of Corpus Christi there will be Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament next Saturday 2nd June from 2.30 pm until the 6.00 pm Vigil Mass. It is hoped to have people in the Church throughout the afternoon ~ TIME SHEETS are available at the church entrances.

Corpus Christi Procession: Our Annual Procession will take place in Cork city on next Sunday 3rd June, 2018, an hour later than usual because of the Cork City Marathon. We will gather at the Church here in Turners Cross at 3.45 pm and walk in procession to Daunt Square. Most Reverend Denis Brennan, Bishop of Ferns will preach. Come and join us.
 Our annual Corpus Christi procession brings Christ, and the love of Christ, into our streets; into all the suffering, isolation, loneliness, temptations and fears of our life; a blessing for our city and our parish.

 Deaths:  We remember in our prayers Sylvia Roche, Kilcolman Lawn, John King, Doyle Road, Jim Cripps, Loretto Park and Declan O’Callaghan, Capwell Road, who died recently. We extend our sympathy to their families.

 Our First Holy Communion Programme “Do This in Memory” concludes on Sunday week, 10th June at the 10am Mass.  After Mass there will be a short Eucharistic Procession in the Grounds of the Church with the First Holy Communion Children from Bunscoil Chríost Rí.

Ice Cream Sunday: Sunday 10th June is also Ice Cream Sunday in support of Down Syndrome Ireland. Ice Cream will be available outside the church after the ten and twelve o’clock Masses.

Poor Clare Vocations Afternoon, for young women considering a vocation, at the Poor Clare Monastery, College Road, on Saturday June 16th    2 – 4.30 pm. “Come and see.”
Email: vocationspoorclarescork@gmail.com, <http://www.poorclarescork.ie>

Our Students are remembered in our Shared Mass every Friday at 10am. Special Exam Cards are available in the Sacristy.

First Friday: We will visit as many of the sick and housebound as possible this week.

Anointing of the Sick on Saturday next 2nd June at the 10.00 am Mass.  Consider offering a lift to a housebound neighbour.

Our Parish Novena to the Sacred Heart starts on next Thursday 31st May and concludes to Friday 9th June, the Feast of the Sacred Heart.  Novena Prayers each morning at the 10am Mass or families may wish to pray the novena at home.   Novena Prayers – blue leaflet – are available at the back of the Church.
 O Sacred Heart of Jesus I place all my trust in you

Cork Autism Conference 2018. Re-Thinking Autism – A Positive and Integrative Approach, Sunday September 30th, Rochestown Park Hotel, Douglas Cork. Open to Parents, Families, Caregivers, Adults with ASD, Employers, Educators, Professionals, Agencies, Advocates and anyone with an interest in autism and Asperger’s syndrome. Call 089 239 8900. More information from www.bookwhen.com/autismcork <http://www.bookwhen.com/autismcork> .

Bring flowers of the rarest – our May hymn to Mary. We encourage you to pray the Rosary (even one decade), during May. The Rosary is prayed here before the 10.00 am weekday Mass.

     The Coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost

Bishop Buckley’s Second Pastoral Letter on the Right to Life
Within days Ireland will be facing a Referendum to remove the right to life of the unborn from the Constitution.  I am asking you to reflect on a number of issues and misinformation that people have brought to my attention since the publication of my Pastoral Letter.
Some people fail to see the humanity of the unborn and consequently their right to life. The baby and the inhumanity of abortion are rarely mentioned in the political debates.  All of us arc alive because our mothers chose to accept the life in their wombs. We cannot deny, now in 2018, that the baby in the womb is alive, vulnerable and an innocent baby, whose safety is in our hands. Many fathers and mothers have seen the amazing ultrasound pictures of their children. The baby’s heart starts beating at 21 days after conception.  Our Irish language has a beautiful word for the unborn –       beo gan breith – which means alive but not born.
It is often said that those who support life are not compassionate.  Compassion is not one sided. Compassion for the mother is vital but we must also extend our compassion to the child in the womb. There is no semblance of compassion involved in ending the life of the innocent child. Compassion means that we look after the mother and the child. It is our responsibility as a society to promote every support for women in a crisis pregnancy. We must be there for each other, always, all the days of our life.  Pope Francis has very comforting words for those who may have had an abortion and for whom it was a very painful decision. “Do not be discouraged,” the Pope said. “Believe in the mercy and forgiveness of the Lord.
Under the provisions of the 8th Amendment, no treatment is ever denied to an expectant mother.  The Church teaching is quite clear. A woman in pregnancy must be given every life-saving treatment that she needs, even if the child she is carrying will not survive this life-saving treatment. Doctors have always had to deal with situations where their intervention to save the mother’s life has resulted in the unavoidable death of the baby in the womb.
The Church has always taught that abortion is gravely wrong “and is not compatible with our Catholic faith in any way” (Pope Francis). If you vote Yes, you are actually voting for abortion. Many of our brothers and sisters in other Christian churches, in other faiths, and of no faith hold a similar view.
The question before us is quite clear: do we want abortion on demand for any reason up to 12 weeks, which is when 90% of abortions take place?  The right to life in the Constitution will be replaced by the right to end the life of an innocent person. The unborn baby will be left with no protection whatsoever. It is remarkable that the State, which under the Wildlife Act has so many legal protections for non-human life, is trying to remove the most basic right of the child in the womb.
I commend the work of the many pro-life groups – many of whom, of all ages, I have met around the city – to protect the unborn child. They are the voice of the voiceless.
As voters, we are the unborn babies’ last line of defence. I am encouraging you again to speak to your families and friends about the issues I have outlined but do so with respect and courtesy. Continue to pray for mothers and the unborn at this critical time.                                                           In the light of what I have said in my Pastoral Letter it is essential to vote NO if we are to build a truly compassionate society that values all life.

PRAYER FOR LIFE
Heavenly Father, we are all your children, sons and daughters of            the same loving Father, and for this we praise you.
We thank you for the gift of life.
Help us to appreciate the great dignity of every human being.
Open our hearts to welcome every child as a wonderful gift.
May the life of a mother and her baby in the womb be equally                cherished and respected.
Help us to realise that every person is precious that every baby                  deserves love, that every baby deserves life.
Help those who make our laws to uphold the unique dignity                        of every human being from conception to natural death.
May Mary and St Joseph pray for us at this time.
We make all our prayers through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on Wednesday after 10.00 am Mass until 11.00 am to pray for life.

The Annual Ecumenical Service for Christian Unity: In St. Luke’s Church, Douglas, on Sunday May 20th (Pentecost Sunday) at 7.30 pm.  All welcome.  This service is organised annually by the Cork Ecumenical Standing Committee which comprises: Rev. Geraldine Gracie, Methodist Church; Rev. Daniel Nuzum, Church of Ireland; Ms Valerie Fletcher, Presbyterian Church and Fr.  Christy Fitzgerald, Roman Catholic Church. The sermon will be delivered by Fr. Christy Fitzgerald.

First Holy Communion:  Congratulations, prayers and good wishes to the boys and girls of Bunscoil Chríost Rí who received First Holy Communion this weekend, to their families and teachers.

Thank you from the Pastoral Development Office – Fr Charlie Kiely wishes to acknowledge your generosity to the annual collection taken up last weekend and looks forward to meeting many of you over the coming year at our various events in the diocese.

The SMA National Novena in honour of Our Lady of Knock: Begins on Friday 18th May at African Missions Church, Blackrock Road and ends on Saturday 26th May which concludes with our Annual Pilgrimage to Knock.  The Novena will be celebrated at 7.30pm (except on Saturdays when it will be at 7.00pm).  For further information please contact SMA Blackrock Road at 021-4292871 or SMA Wilton at 021-4541069

Cork Alzheimers Café a safe place for people with Alzheimers and other dementias, their carers, family and friends along with social and health professionals to meet. Last Friday of each month 1.30–3.30 pm in St Finbarrs Hospital, Douglas Road. Light refreshments provided free of charge. All welcome. Next meeting Friday 25th May.

Our Students are remembered in our Shared Mass every Friday at 10am. Special Exam Cards are available in the Sacristy.

Bring flowers of the rarest – our May hymn to Mary. We encourage you to pray the Rosary (even one decade), during May. The Rosary is prayed here before the 10.00 am weekday Mass.

Papal Mass in Phoenix Park on August 26th.
Turners Cross Parish has taken one hundred and six tickets for the Croke Park Papal Mass with Pope Francis, and we have fifty-three coach spaces for travel to Dublin on Sunday 26th August.  If you wish to avail of one of the places please give your name as soon as possible to the sacristy or to one of the priests. The estimated cost including meals is € 50.00 and a booking deposit of € 5.00 is required. More detailed information will be issued as soon as it becomes available.

Extract from Bishop Buckley’s Pastoral Letter on the Right to Life
The Supreme Court has stated that the unborn baby enjoys only one constitutional right, the right to life. We will be asked in the Referendum to remove the only remaining effective law to protect the unborn. We can choose to retain the 8th Amendment, under which doctors and hospitals will protect the lives of both baby and mother to a standard of care that is considered the highest in the world or we can repeal the 8th Amendment and leave babies with no protection whatsoever.
We will never again have a more important vote. There is no cause more noble than to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves. Never before in history have we had so much scientific proof that the unborn baby is, in fact, a living, breathing human being. The 8th Amendment is often not understood. It is up to all of us to explain its implications to people in our families, our work life and our friends. Have your answer ready but do it with courtesy and respect.
May the Virgin Mary, who gave birth to Jesus, protect all mothers, all unborn babies, all medical and nursing staff and all who make our laws.
  PRAYER FOR LIFE                                                                                    Heavenly Father, we are all your children, sons and daughters of the        same loving Father, and for this we praise you.
We thank you for the gift of life.
Help us to appreciate the great dignity of every human being.
Open our hearts to welcome every child as a wonderful gift.
May the life of a mother and her baby in the womb be equally cherished and respected.
Help us to realise that every person is precious that every baby deserves love, that every baby deserves life.
Help those who make our laws to uphold the unique dignity of every human being from conception to natural death.
May Mary and St Joseph pray for us at this time.
We make all our prayers through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Annual collection for the Diocesan Pastoral Development Office will be taken up at all Masses this weekend.  Your generosity to this collection enables the office to continue to offer training and formation for pastoral groups and parish ministries, adult faith development opportunities, and the preparatory programme towards the World Meeting of Families.

Ministers of the Word: Copies of the new Rota are in the Sacristy for collection.

First Holy Communion:  The Girls and Boys from Bun Scoil Chriost Ri will receive their First Holy Communion next Saturday, 19th May at 10.30 am Mass.  We wish the young people and their families and teachers a very happy day. Note that there will be no Mass at 10.00 am on Saturday.                               

The Annual Ecumenical Service for Christian Unity: In St. Luke’s Church, Douglas, on Sunday May 20th (Pentecost Sunday) at 7.30 pm.  All welcome.  This service is organised annually by the Cork Ecumenical Standing Committee which comprises: Rev. Geraldine Gracie, Methodist Church; Rev. Daniel Nuzum, Church of Ireland; Ms Valerie Fletcher, Presbyterian Church and Fr.  Christy Fitzgerald, Roman Catholic Church. The sermon will be delivered by Fr. Christy Fitzgerald.

The SMA National Novena in honour of Our Lady of Knock: Begins on Friday 18th May at African Missions Church, Blackrock Road and ends on Saturday 26th May which concludes with our Annual Pilgrimage to Knock.  The Novena will be celebrated at 7.30pm (except on Saturdays when it will be at 7.00pm).  For further information please contact SMA Blackrock Road at 021-4292871 or SMA Wilton at 021-4541069

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on Wednesdays after 10.00 am Mass until 11.00 am to pray for life until the Referendum.

Colaiste Stiofain Naofa (CSN) Annual Plant Sale on Tuesday 15th and Wednesday 16th of May. Opening times 9am to 5pm. All welcome.

  2018 National Famine Commemoration There will be a Famine Commemoration ceremony on in St. Joseph’s Cemetery on Sunday 13th May (at 12 noon) hosted by Lord Mayor Cllr. Tony Fitzgerald.  All welcome.
Our Students are remembered in our Shared Mass every Friday at 10am. Special Exam Cards are available in the Sacristy.

Traffic Disruption during Cork City Marathon, Sunday 3rd June, 2018.  Access to the Church from South Douglas Road/ Skabeg and Curragh Road will be affected. Signage will be in place to direct traffic from the South Douglas Road onto the Cross Douglas Road, travelling via Douglas Road to the church gates on Capwell Road. On leaving the carpark, the signs will direct traffic to return the way they came, there will be limited access from the southern end of Capwell Road left only onto the South Douglas Road.  Curragh Road will be closed to traffic.  The Church and church car park will be accessible from Evergreen Road.

Pilgrimage to San Giovanni Rotondo, on the fiftieth anniversary of the death of Padre Pio (St Pio), 29 September to 5 October 2018. Group leader:  Mrs Eleanor Lynch, Spiritual Director: Fr Ben Hodnett. Details and itinerary from Marian Pilgrimages 01-8788159 or www.marian.ie <http://www.marian.ie>  or Mrs Eleanor Lynch 0872190410
 
Bring flowers of the rarest – our May hymn to Mary. We encourage you to pray the Rosary (even one decade), during May. The Rosary is prayed here before the 10.00 am weekday Mass.

Christ-like Love
Peter in the house of Cornelius comes to realise that God does not recognise human distinction between Jew and Gentile, between Christian believer and unbeliever.  God does not have favourites.  All who seek what is good and true with sincerity of heart are acceptable to him.  The Jewish Christians who accompanied Peter on his visit to the pagan house of Cornelius were astonished when the Holy Spirit came upon the unbelievers, on the outsiders.  We, like those disciples, need to be open to others, to have respect for otherness.  God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son for all of us, not just for some.  God’s love is a unifying, life giving love, is the source of all authentic human love. That love of God for us is revealed by Jesus and indeed is revealed in the sending of Jesus by the Father.

Jesus calls us friends. Friends gaze together and see things in the same way, they have a shared viewpoint and confide in each other. Being called into friendship with Jesus means being called into his attitude of love towards those we love, and those we don’t love that much, or at all. He gives us a new commandment, “love one another as I have loved you.” Love one another in the same way that he loves us, a love of tenderness, forgiveness, love without conditions. St John in today’s first reading points out that if we fail to love, then we have failed to really know God at all.

Confirmation
Our thanks to Bishop John who presided at our Confirmation Ceremony on Thursday. Congratulations, prayers and good wishes to the forty-eight Bunscoil Chríost Rí pupils who were confirmed, to their families and teachers.

Parish Assembly:  Meeting this Thursday 9th March in Parish Centre at 8.00 pm.

Deaths:  We remember in our prayers Dan Harris, Palaceanne Lawn who died recently, and extend our sympathy to his family.

St. Joseph’s Young Priests Society meet on Tuesday 8th May 7.30 pm.

Ministers of the Word: A new Rota begins this weekend, copies in the Sacristy for collection.

The SMA National Novena in honour of Our Lady of Knock: Begins on Friday 18th May at African Missions Church, Blackrock Road and ends on Saturday 26th May which concludes with our Annual Pilgrimage to Knock.  The Novena will be celebrated at 7.30pm (except on Saturdays when it will be at 7.00pm).  For further information please contact SMA Blackrock Road at 021-4292871 or SMA Wilton at 021-4541069.

Pre-School: Little Turners Community Pre-school at 25, Capwell Road, Turner’s Cross, are now enrolling for September 2018 – Free Child Care places available. Phone 021 4915934.

National Day of Prayer and Reparation for the protection of the Unborn & in Reparation for the ways Ireland has turned away from God on Sunday May 13th in St. Joseph’s Church, Wilton, at 1.30pm.  Please come along, urgent prayer is needed. Contact: Human Life International (Ireland), Knock. Tel: 094-9375993.

Annual collection for the Diocesan Pastoral Development Office will be taken up at all Masses next weekend – Saturday/Sunday 12th/13th May.  Your generosity to this collection enables the office to continue to offer training and formation for pastoral groups and parish ministries, adult faith development opportunities, and the preparatory programme towards the World Meeting of Families.

Colaiste Stiofain Naofa (CSN) will hold its Annual Plant Sale on Tuesday15th and Wednesday 16th of May. This plant sale showcases the work of the Horticulture students at CSN. Plants available include annuals, perennials, herbs, vegetables, trees, and shrubs. Opening times 9am to5pm. All welcome.

Data Protection Officer
The Dioceses of Cashel & Emly, Cork & Ross, Limerick, Cloyne, Kerry, Waterford & Lismore, and Killaloe invite applications for the position of Data Protection Officer – DPO.  This is a 2-year Fixed Term Contract.  The purpose of this role is to assist the Dioceses in Munster and their parishes and agencies in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Good pastoral care and respect for the dignity of every person requires that personal data should be sourced, stored, processed and eventually disposed of in an appropriate manner. A detailed job description and is available on www.cashel-emly.ie <http://www.cashel-emly.ie> .   Applications by post or email must be received at or before 5.00 pm on Monday, May 14th 2018 by the Archdiocese of Cashel & Emly, Archbishop’s House, Thurles, Co Tipperary. Email: office@cashel-emly.ie <mailto:office@cashel-emly.ie> ,  Phone: (0504) 21512

South Central Community Safety Forum
Tuesday 8th May at 7.30 pm in the Ashe Room, Nano Nagle Place (Entrance via Evergreen Street). This is an opportunity to raise community safety issues of concern to you in your area.

PRAYER FOR LIFE
 Heavenly Father, we are all your children,
sons and daughters of the same loving Father,
and for this we praise you.
We thank you for the gift of life.
Help us to appreciate the great dignity of every human being.
Open our hearts to welcome every child as a wonderful gift.
May the life of a mother and her baby in the womb be equally cherished and respected.
Help us to realise that every person is precious that every baby deserves love, that every baby deserves life.
Help those who make our laws to uphold the unique dignity of every human being from conception to natural death.
May Mary and St Joseph pray for us at this time.
We make all our prayers through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

              Bring flowers of the rarest – our May hymn to Mary. We encourage you to pray the Rosary (even one decade), during May. The Rosary is prayed here before the 10.00 am weekday Mass.

Bring flowers of the rarest,
bring blossoms the fairest,
from garden and woodland
and hillside and dale;
Our full hearts are swelling,
our glad voices telling
the praise of the loveliest flower of the vale.

O Mary, we crown thee with blossoms today,
Queen of the Angels and Queen of the May,
O Mary, we crown thee with blossoms today,
Queen of the Angels and Queen of the May.

Their lady they name thee,
Their mistress proclaim thee,
Oh, grant that thy children
on earth be as true.
As long as the bowers
are radiant with flowers,
as long as the azure shall keep its bright hue.