Bulletin 17 March 2024

 

La le Padraig

In ainm an Athar agus an Mhic agus an Spioraid Naoimh. Amen.

Sagart: Grásta ár dTiarna íosa Críost agus grá Dé agus cumann an Spioraid Naoimh libh go léir.

Pobal: Agus le do spriod féin.

The Beginning of the Confessions of St Patrick:

Ego Patricius peccator rusticissimus et minimus omnium fidelium My name is Patrick. I am a sinner, the most uncultured and least of all the faithful. I am looked down upon by many… I did not really know the true God when I was brought in slavery to Ireland, along with thousands of others. We deserved this, because we had gone away from God, and did not keep his commandments. We would not listen to our priests, who advised us about how we could be saved. The Lord brought his strong anger upon us, and scattered us among many nations even to the ends of the earth. It is here that I now find myself, small as I am, among strangers.

Cuireann Féile Pádraig ardú meanman ar mhuintir na hEireann. Tógann sé ár spiorad, ár gcroíthe, anseo ag baile agus i bhfad i gcéin. Is lá an-speisialta é go háirithe dár muintir atá thar sáile, i bhfad ó bhaile. Tugaimid chun cuimhne iad inár nAifreann.

Offertory Response

Moladh go deo le Dia (Blessed be God forever)

Sacrament of Penance (Confession): Three priests will be available for this sacrament after each of the three Masses next weekend, 23-24 March.

Chrism Mass:

Bishop Fintan invites parishioners to join in the celebration of the Mass of Chrism on Holy Thursday (March 28th) at 10am at the Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Anne, Cork. At this Mass with priests and parishioners from the Diocese the Oils of Baptism and the Sick are blessed. Bishop Fintan will also consecrate the Oil of Chrism which will be used in parishes during the year. Bishop Fintan and the Priests of the Diocese will renew their priestly promises during this Mass. Everyone is most welcome to attend.

Recent Deaths:

The deaths have occurred of Joan Lynch, Greenhills Estate; Norah Daly, Green Lawn; Shelly Aherne, Greenhills Court; Mary O’Shea, Palaceanne Lawn; Breeda Taylor, late of O’Connell Ave; Br Benildus (Ben) Fenton, Maiville. May they rest in peace. We offer our sympathies to their families and to the Presentation Community.

Bulletin 10 March 2024

Mothers’ Day / Laetare Sunday

Every blessing on mothers today. We remember especially mothers who are ill or in other difficulties. The pleas of the mother in Gaza earlier this week who lost her infant twins in a bombardment puts the war in perspective. We also remember mothers across the world who are victims of domestic abuse. Mothers’ Day had its origin in the US when people returned home to visit their mothers on Laetare Sunday, the fourth Sunday of Lent. The word Laetare means ‘rejoice’. This Sunday is 21 days before Easter and that is the reason why we rejoice today. It corresponds with Gaudete Sunday in Advent. Both words mean ‘rejoice’ but they have different connotations. Laetare is a visible external expression of joy whereas Gaudete is an internal sense that life has meaning and hope. It is not necessarily visible but is deeply felt in the soul. Pope Francis entitled his first publication as Pope, Evangelii Gaudium (2013), meaning ‘the joy of the gospel’. His document on marriage is entitled Amoris Laetitia (2016), ‘the joy of love’. May all our families today have reason to celebrate the joy of mothers. Our Lady is the mother of Jesus but is also our mother. We salute her in our prayer today.

Parish Assembly

Tomorrow Monday, 11th March, at 8.00 pm. Advance notice of one item on the agenda: We will need two representatives of the PA to attend a meeting of the Family of Parishes on Thursday next, 14th, at 7.30 pm in the parish centre in Frankfield. The purpose of this meeting is to plan the next Alpha course which will be held after Easter in Frankfield for the three parishes, Douglas/Rochestown, Frankfield/Grange and Turner’s Cross.

Second Collection

The second collection this weekend is for the Irish Bishops’ Commissions.

New Rotas available in the sacristy. Thanks to all the Ministers of Word and Eucharist for your service to the parish and, ultimately, to the Lord. A special word of thanks to Maeve Kennedy and Christine O’Neill who prepare the rotas.

Shrines

Two new candelabras have been installed at the shrines to St Anthony and St Joseph inside the main doors of the Church. These are real candles and should only be lit using the lighters provided, to avoid spilling candle grease on the candelabra. The new delivery was arranged by Sharon O’Sullivan on behalf of the PA and the parish. Mile buiochas leat. We hope that the availability of live candles will enhance devotion at the shrines in our Church. Lighting a candle is evocative of our baptism when a candle was lit from the paschal candle as a sign of Christ the Light of the World coming to the newly baptised. As a matter of interest these St Killian candelabras are used in hundreds of churches throughout Ireland. They are also to be found in Westminster Cathedral and New York Cathedral. Incidentally, St Killians have supplied 28 such candelabras to Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

Recent Deaths:

Joan Lynch, Greenhills Est; Margaret Mullins, Bishopstown; Norah Daly, Green Lawn. May they rest in peace. Our sympathies are with their families.

Bulletin 3 March 2024

Referendum is a recipe for chaos and uncertainty – Senator Michael McDowell (Barrister)

Ministers and some lazy-minded commentators keep using the wholly untrue and intentionally misleading claim that the Constitution states that “woman’s place is in the home”. It doesn’t. The chairperson of the Referendum Commission, Ms. Justice Marie Baker, has put that canard beyond dispute. On the contrary, Article 41.2 makes no such suggestion, and Article 45 acknowledges the right of all citizens “men and women equally” to freely earn their livelihoods and pursue occupations… The nub of the “family” amendment is to extend the constitutional meaning of family to what are termed “other durable relationships”. The Government insists that it will be for the courts to determine what “other durable relationships” means. But courts only decide issues where there are disputes between litigants. And so, we are being asked to redefine the family so as to allow its meaning to be decided in future cases where disputes between parties are brought before the courts… This is a recipe for chaos and uncertainty arising from the Government’s proposal to ascribe to the courts the function of defining what is meant by “other durable relationships”… The bottom line is that these referendums are not necessary to achieve any policy goal; they bring damaging and costly uncertainty into whole swathes of law, from pensions, family law, tax law, migration law, residence, law and succession law to name but a few. (Full text of Mr McDowall’s statement available on line)

New Rotas for Ministers of Word and Eucharist available in Sacristy

Coffee Morning

 This Tuesday in the Parish Centre after the 10 am Mass.

First Wednesday

Marian devotions led by the Legion of Mary at 10.00 am

Parish Assembly meets Monday 11th March

Second Collection next weekend for the Irish Bishops’ Commissions

Sacrament of Penance (Confession)

Three priest will be available for this sacrament after each of the three Masses on 23-24 March. However, I am available for the sacrament after Mass every Saturday night. Indeed, if anyone wants the sacrament on any other day, just make your wish known to me.

First Confession

Much thanks is due to the teachers of second class in Bun Scoil Chriost Ri for preparing the children for their First Penance on Thursday evening last. It was a beautiful ceremony, greatly enriched by the music and singing.

Recent Deaths:

The deaths have occurred of Nora Cotter, Congress House; Paddy O’Sullivan, Green Lawn. May they rest in peace. We offer our sympathy and prayers to the families

Bulletin 25 February 2024

Genesis 22 (our first reading today)

We come now to the Second Sunday of Lent, and we’re on both dangerous and very holy ground with the first reading from the twenty-second chapter of Genesis. The ancient Israelites referred to it as the “Akedah,” which means the “binding”: Abraham binds and is ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac at God’s command. It’s hard to imagine another text in the Old Testament that has stirred up more puzzlement and opposition. I am with Søren Kierkegaard: if you don’t experience “fear and trembling” having read this text, you have not been paying attention. And it’s naming something of absolute centrality in the spiritual life. Bishop Robert Barron

Sacrament of Penance (Confession)

Three priests will be available for this sacrament after each of the three Masses on 23-24 March. However, I am available for the sacrament after Mass every Saturday night. Indeed, if anyone wants the sacrament on any other day, just make your wish known to me.

Sacrament of Confirmation

The children preparing for Confirmation at Bun Scoil Chriost Ri spent Monday in La Scala (Blackrock) for a retreat. They were most impressed and appreciative of the experience. Confirmation will be administered here on 24th April by Mgr Gearoid Dullea. It will be preceded by a Ceremony of Light at the morning Mass on Tuesday, 19th March.

Recent Deaths:

The deaths have occurred of Harry Speight, late of Evergreen Rd, who died in England; Eleanor Clinton, Friars Rd. May they rest in peace. We offer our sympathy and prayers to the families.

Bulletin 18 February 2024

WHY LENT?

For the Christian believer, Lent is the time of preparation for Easter and it commemorates the forty days which, according to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus spent fasting in the desert before beginning His public ministry where He endured temptation. During Lent – through prayer, penance (including participating in the Sacrament of Reconciliation/Confession), acts of charity and self-denial – we are called to renewal of our Christian life in preparation for Easter. Prayer The Stations of the Cross, a devotional commemoration of Christ’s carrying the Cross and of His execution, are often observed. As well as giving something up it is becoming more common to take something up as well and this may include taking time to volunteer, or spending more time in prayer. Fasting and Penance Penance is an essential part of the lives of all Christ’s faithful. It arises from the Lord’s call to conversation and repentance. Christians undertake penance: in memory of the Passion and death of Jesus; as a sharing in

Christ’s suffering; as an expression of inner conversion; as a form of reparation for sin. Charity Traditionally during Lent many of the faithful commit to fasting or giving up certain types of luxuries as a form of penitence, the money saved from this can be donated to charity, for example, contributing to their Trócaire box.

The Meaning of ‘Lent’

The English word ‘Lent’ comes from the Anglo-Saxon word Lencten, meaning ‘Spring’. In other languages the word comes from the Latin, Quadragesima – a period of 40 days. In the Christian tradition the forty days is understood to refer to a time of intense prayer and preparation; we remember the biblical stories of Noah and the flood of 40 days (today’s first reading), the forty years the Israelites spent wandering in the wilderness and Christ’s forty day fast in the desert in preparation for his earthly ministry.

Shrines

The Parish Assembly (PA) has decided to replace the two damaged candelabras at the back of the church, ie the shrines of St Anthony and St Joseph. The new units will consist of live candles. The new candelabras will be given to us free of charge provided we buy the candles from the supplier. These candles are more expensive, so the recommended offering per candle will be 50 cent. A huge thanks is due to Sharon and Maeve from the PA for the extensive research they have done leading to this change.

Thanks to Rose and her colleagues for a great Shrove Tuesday get-together after Mass last Tuesday. The pancakes were delicious!

Recent Deaths

The deaths have occurred of Nora Madden, Curragh Rd and Br André Hunt, Presentation Community. May they rest in peace.

Bulletin 11 February 2024

Sacrament of the Sick will be offered at Mass on Monday, 12th

Our Lady of Lourdes is not celebrated this year because the 11th February falls on a Sunday.

Ash Wednesday 14th February.

Mass and distribution of ashes at 10.00 am.

The cornerstone of Lent is the call to conversion which commences on Ash Wednesday. Sometimes the impression is given that such conversion is change for change sake or, worse still, for the sake of control by those in authority. The core of conversion in the church is …on change in two dimensions, goodness and holiness, morally and spiritually. Lent is not the issuing of a list of do’s and don’ts but an invitation to look at our lives in the light of the Gospel which ‘instead involves looking at the mindset and listening to the heart that guides our lifestyle, to consider and choose what brings us blamelessness and blessedness or bitterness and banishment’. As Pope Francis’ proclaims, ‘the Church must be a place where everyone can feel encouraged to live the good life of the Gospel’. Conversion has a communal dimension and demand also, calling for committed participation in the Church…This may be the greatest challenge facing Catholics – participation – particularly in the Western world. In the wake of the Covid pandemic this will involve the recovery of the sacramental dimension of church life. Participation by people – the people of God – is critical if the two other legs of synodality – mission and communion – are to continue standing and serving the work with others for a better world amid witness to the values of the Gospel. Fr Kevin O’Gorman SMA.

Parish Assembly Monday, 12th February, at 8.00 pm.

Morning Coffee This Tuesday (13th) after the 10.00 am Mass. All welcome.

Second Collection this weekend for the diocesan Lourdes fund. Lourdes Pilgrimage Fund Annual Collection 2024 The annual collection for the Diocesan Sick/Assisted Lourdes Pilgrimage Fund will be taken up at all Masses on 10th/11th February 2024. The Cork and Ross Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes will take place from Friday 20th September to Wednesday 25th September this year. People are encouraged to join the pilgrimage as helpers, nurses and doctors to assist pilgrims in Lourdes. Further information is available from the Diocesan Website lourdes@corkandross.org or by telephoning 085-2525040 There has always been great support for the Diocesan Pilgrimage Fund and your support and generosity on 10th/11th February is very much appreciated.

Cork event for young people – Next Sunday: CONNECT 4, a diocesan event for young people (18-35 years) is taking place in UCC on Sunday 18 February. The dynamic Catholic American presenter, Monsignor James Shea, will be the keynote speaker. There will be Mass, Adoration and the opportunity for confession. Lunch is part of the day. Fee €10. More information at corkandross.org Register on eventbrite.ie

Bulletin 4 February 2024

Reflection on the readings

It rarely happens that all three Sunday Readings touch on the same theme. Today, they come together in the experience of stress in the lives of Job, Paul and Jesus. It’s a different stress in each story. Poor Job has seen his world collapse around him. Time offers nothing more than drudgery. “Lying on my bed I wonder when will it be day. Risen, I think how slowly evening falls. Restlessly I fret till evening falls.” Can you relate to that sort of stress and fretting? The Second Reading is about a totally different stress in the life of Saint Paul. His stress is the pressure on the compulsive activist. He cannot find time to do all he feels he has a duty to do in preaching the word worldwide. We know from the Acts of the Apostles that some of his co-workers, Barnabas and Mark, had to withdraw from accompanying him. The stress on Jesus (Mark 1:29-39) is different to the other two. The word has gone around that Jesus has healed people. It is not surprising that the whole town came crowding around the door. Fr Silvester OFM. Cap

Ash Wednesday 14th February

Youth 2000 St. Valentine’s Ball

Our annual fundraising ball takes place in Cork on Saturday 10th February 2024. The event is open to anyone over 18. Tickets cost €68 and can be purchased on eventbrite. The evening will commence with the celebration of Holy Mass by the Bishop of Cork and Ross, Fintan Gavin at 4.00pm at St Patrick’s Church, Rochestown followed by the ball nearby in the Rochestown Park Hotel. See www.youth2000.ie for more information.

Cork event for young people – Faith, Friendship, Fun

CONNECT 4, a diocesan event for young people (18-35 years) is taking place in UCC on Sunday 18 February. The dynamic Catholic American presenter, Monsignor James Shea, will be the keynote speaker. There will be Mass, Adoration and the opportunity for confession. Lunch is part of the day. Fee €10. More information at corkandross.org Register on eventbrite.ie

Sycamore Series:

Course for young adults In response to a call from young adults to be better formed in their Catholic Faith, UCC Chaplaincy, the Presentation Brothers, and the Diocese of Cork and Ross have come together to host a Sycamore Series. Everyone is welcome. Start date Wednesday January 31st 2024, 6:00pm to 8:00pm at Presentation Brothers’ Mardyke House, Cork T12 W8RP. The course runs for 10 consecutive weeks with a break for Easter. The course is free, but places are limited. Please email chaplaincy@ucc.ie or ring 021 490 2459 or fill out this form to let us know you are interested. First Wednesday Marian devotions led by the parish Legion of Mary at 10.00 next Wednesday.

 

Second Collection next weekend for the diocesan Lourdes fund.

Bulletin 28 January 2024

La le Bride / St Brigid’s Day

 

Thursday next, 1st February is the feast of St Brigid, Secondary Patron of Ireland (after St Patrick). She was renowned for her hospitality, almsgiving, and care for the sick. Born c. 454. Her father wished to make a suitable marriage for her but, instead, she consecrated herself to the Lord. She founded a double monastery in Kildare. She died in 524, and her cult is widespread, not only throughout Ireland, but in several European countries. This year commemorates the 1500 anniversary of her death.

 

Feast of the Presentation

On Friday we celebrate the feast of the Presentation of the Lord. This feast is a remembrance of the occasion when Mary and Joseph presented their new baby in the Temple. There they met Simeon and Anna, both of whom represented the traditional religion into which Jesus was born. Simeon indicated the greatness of the child being presented: ‘a light to enlighten the Gentiles’. See Luke 2:22-40. The candle is the symbol of this feast and candles are blessed at Mass.

This feast also marks World Day for Consecrated Life.

 

Day for Consecrated Life

To mark the Day for Consecrated Life, Bishop Fintan is inviting members of Religious Communities throughout the Diocese of Cork and Ross to join him in praying Evening Prayer on Thursday, February 1 st at 5pm in the Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Anne. All are welcome to this special Diocesan celebration. Please let the Office for Mission and Ministry know if you wish to attend at 021-7355517

 

St Blaise

Saturday next is the memorial of St Blaise, the traditional day when we have our throats blessed. We will offer this blessing after the 6.00 pm Mass on Saturday evening. St Blaise was a bishop in Armenia. Tradition states that he was a physician before becoming a bishop. He died a martyr’s death in 315. Since the eight century he has been venerated as patron of those who suffer from disease of the throat.

Through the intercession of St Blaise, bishop and martyr, may the Lord deliver you from all ailments of the throat and from every other evil. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

 

Slan agus Beannacht

We wish Fr Michael Carroll every good wish and blessing as he returns to his diocese in the United States this week. He is greatly loved in this parish and we look forward to his visits home in the future.

 

Recent Death: The death has occurred of Phyllis Spillane, Slieve Mish Park. We pray for her and sympathise with her family.

Bulletin 21 January, 2024

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is a response to Christ’s prayer “that they all may be one” (John 17:21). It is an eight-day period of prayer in which all Christians are invited to participate. The week is celebrated each year from January 18-25, concluding on the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul. This year’s theme: You shall love the Lord your God… and your neighbour as yourself. Luke 10:27 Much progress has been made in the last 100 years to bring all Christians together. One good example is the fact that the Baptism celebrated by all Christian denominations is mutually recognized. This means that if a Methodist wants to become a Catholic (or vice versa) the Baptism they received in their ‘mother’ church is accepted by the ‘adoptive’ church.

The Unity Prayer 

My Jesus,

May our feet journey together. May our hands gather in unity. May our hearts beat in unison. May our souls be in harmony. May our thoughts be as one. May our ears listen to the silence together. May our glances profoundly penetrate each other. May our lips pray together to gain mercy from the Eternal Father.

Alpha Training Days

Two Alpha Training Days – 27 Jan and 3 Feb 2024: – The Office for Mission and Ministry are hosting two Alpha training days for Parishes/Families of Parishes: 1. Cork City (Blackrock Parish Centre) on Saturday 27 January 2024 2. West Cork (Clonakilty Parish Centre) on Saturday 3 February 2024 Both Training Days begin at 10:00am and finish at 3:30pm. Please contact the Office,for Mission and Ministry as soon as possible through the Diocesan website: https://corkandross.org/alpha-training-day

Recent Deaths:

The deaths have occurred of Jimmy O’Brien, High St; Sally Walker, South Douglas Road; Jude Madden, Curragh Road. We pray for them and we sympathise with their families and friends

Bulletin 14 January 2024

Reflection on today’s readings:

May I suggest two simple exercises that I find helpful. Start each day by thanking God for refreshing sleep and the gift of a new day. May it be a good day, a day of helping others. Take a few deep breaths and invite the Holy Spirit to fill your lungs with God’s love. You may be under pressure of time but this morning prayer will only take a minute or so. Then, at the end of the day, it’s a grand form of prayer to sit quietly and reflect on the day. Don’t concentrate too much on your faults or what wrong you did. Rather, recall the good things, the blessings of the day. The fact that you are alive, a nice meal, something beautiful that you saw or heard, a helpful shop assistant, a funny moment, good example. The list is endless but we are not sufficiently aware of these blessings. End the day on a note of thankfulness. Perhaps, make a note of one blessing in your diary.

We can learn from Samuel in today’s First Reading. “Speak Lord, your servant is listening.” And as he grew up, he let no word of God fall to the ground. Fr Silvester OFM Cap Prayer Lord Jesus, grant us the grace to be at home with you in prayerfulness. May we experience prayer as a time when you are looking at us as we are looking at you. May we be friends, enjoying your presence, happy to spend time with you. We pray for those who do not know you. Break through the clouds that darken their lives. May your face shed its smile upon them and draw them to follow you.

Diocesan Needs Quarterly Collection

The Diocesan Needs Quarterly Collection will be taken up this weekend. This quarterly collection contributes to the day-to-day running costs of the Diocese including the cost of personnel, utilities (light, heat, phone, postage & stationery, repairs, maintenance, insurance), professional fees, primary and secondary school religious advisory costs, safeguarding, data protection, mission and ministry and levies paid by the Diocese for national hierarchy costs. People have been very generous to these quarterly collections over the years and your support would be greatly appreciated in the upcoming collection. The last Diocesan Needs Quarterly Collection in October 2023 amounted to €45,607 throughout the Diocese, which is much appreciated.

Parish Assembly meets Monday 15th January

Recent Death The death has occurred of Ita Jerreries, South Douglas Road. We pray for her and we sympathise with her family.