Knock 2011

Posted on 02. Jun, 2011 by afd admin in Diocesan News, featured, News

The National Eucharistic Congress Knock June 25^th 2011

People from every diocese will gather together in Knock on June 25th and there will be a liturgical celebration in each diocese the following day, June 26th, the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. (In Ossory this will take place on the previous Sunday 19^th June in Kilkenny)

It is hoped that parishes or cluster of parishes here in Ossory will organise coaches for pilgrims to attend The National Eucharistic Congress in Knock this June. The National Coordinator would “be very grateful if you can advise me with the number of Coaches each Parish will have travelling to Knock for the NEC next month, this is solely for planning purposes.” So, if your parish or a parish organisation is taking a group to Knock for NEC this June please let me know by email at: martintobin@ossory.ie

Programme

On Saturday 25th June, pilgrims will travel from every corner of Ireland, some arriving in time for a celebration of Morning Prayer in Knock at 11am. This will be followed later in the morning by four workshops on themes related to Communion and Eucharist, which will be repeated on Saturday evening and again on Sunday morning.

Space will be limited and people will be invited to register on line in advance for these workshops, which will be presented by Fr. Kieron O’Mahony OSA, Prof. Robert Enright, Rosemary Swords and Fr. Tom Norris. Full details will be posted shortly on IEC website: www.iec.ie

National Eucharistic Congress, Knock (Schedule of Events)

Knock Youth Festival has a separate Schedule except where indicated

Manual for Parish Councils

Posted on 20. Jan, 2011 by ossory team in Diocesan News

Cardinal launches new formation manual for parish councils

“We live in a deeply individualistic time where everyone loves to be independent but we are all interdependent – whether we like to admit it or not”, the Primate of All Ireland, Cardinal Seán Brady, said  as he launched a new formation manual for parish pastoral councils in Ireland.

Described as a ‘how-to-do-it’ workbook, Parish Pastoral Councils: A Formation Manual is intended to be a support to parishes seeking to organise and motivate a parish pastoral council in its work of leadership in the ministry of the Church.

“This book is about the creation and sustainment of a parish pastoral council.  It outlines, in great detail, what needs to be done to form, enable and sustain a group of people who will work, with the clergy, to enhance the ministry of the parish”, Cardinal Brady said in All Hallows, where the book was launched.

He added, “I like the honesty that says that the formation of a parish pastoral council is but a step on the journey of renewal.  But it is the kind of step that can bring new life and love to the parish and its people.”

Paying tribute to the three authors, Debra Snoddy, Jim Campbell and Fr Andrew McNally, Cardinal Brady asked for prayers for Fr McNally who is seriously ill.  He said they all had considerable experience of life in parish communities and had done “outstanding work” in combining their familiarity with the Word of God with the particular needs of parishes today.

He added that the new manual was the latest of a trilogy of Church publications in recent times that gave him great hope.

The first of these was The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church; the second was the Directory of Catechesis in Ireland – Share the Good News.  He described the formation manual for parish pastoral councils as “the final beacon of hope.”

Underlining that biblical faith insists that the God of Hope is most powerfully present in a season of hopelessness, the Cardinal said, “A few years ago self-confidence reigned supreme – the sky was the limit and the world our oyster.  Although expectations were unrealistic, warnings went unheeded.  Then the sudden change.  What went wrong?  Where do we turn?”

Noting that Israel met God in the crisis of the desert, the Archbishop of Armagh said that in the New Testament “the desert is the time of testing and temptations and of failure but it is also a time of triumph when the Chosen People found favour with God.  Many would say that we are in the desert at this moment.  We meet God in times of crisis.  Crises abound right now.  People feel lost, confused and helpless at these times.”

While stating that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the Good News, the Cardinal acknowledged that “there are a lot of other Gospels out there proposing their own version of the Good News.”  These included “those who consider God as irrelevant and the presence of God as a violation of personal freedom.”  
 
But many of the things in which we were often tempted to put our trust had “proved ephemeral – passing.”

“The blunt truth is that it is useless to waste time on those things which have shown themselves incapable of fulfilling the deepest yearnings of the human heart.  So a new realism is called for,” Cardinal Brady said in his address in All Hallows.  He added that those who build their hope on the Word of God possess that realism.

“With the dimming of the light which comes from God, to quote a phrase of Pope Benedict – ‘humanity loses its bearings’.  That is a sad place to be.  But humanity can rediscover its bearings,” he said.

Published by Veritas, Parish Pastoral Councils: A Formation Manual presents guidance on how the parish pastoral council can be a transforming agent at the heart of the parish, as well as a catalyst to bring new life and energy to the parish community.

The three authors, Debra Snoddy, Jim Campbell and Andrew McNally have backgrounds in pastoral education and adult and community learning.

Debra Snoddy is a full-time lecturer in Biblical Studies and is Chair of the Continuing Education Committee for the School of Adult and Community Learning at All Hallows College, Dublin.

Jim Campbell has been a member of the staff of the Institute of Cultural Affairs since it began in 1972.  He currently teaches courses in Facilitation at All Hallows College.

Fr Andrew McNally is currently Administrator of St Patrick’s Parish, Dundalk.  He has served as a curate, diocesan adviser for religious education and as Director of pastoral renewal and family ministry in the Archdiocese of Armagh.

According to the authors, the parish is the grassroots and core of the Church.  They compare parish councils to the rudder that steers the parish in a particular direction, saying the council shares with the priest and is co-responsible for the shepherding of the community.

“A strong and active parish council can prove instrumental in developing community faith and unity,” the book states.

Parish Pastoral Councils: A Formation Manual costs €16.99/£14.50.

Vocations in Ossory

Posted on 06. Jan, 2011 by ossory team in Diocesan News

If you have an interest in finding out more about the path to priesthood or the permanent diaconate in this diocese, you are welcome to meet our Diocesan Vocations Director:

Rev. Willie Purcell, Ossory Vocations Director

St. Kieran’s College, Kilkenny.

Tel. 056-7770261  Mobile: 087-6286858  E-mail: ossoryvocdir@gmail.com

Vocations Office:  St. Kieran’s College Kilkenny.  Open Monday to Friday 9 am to 4 pm.  Tel: 056 – 7770261. Resources for vocations promotion are available from the Office.

Visit our Vocations section: Click on this link to see latest news www.ossory.ie/vocations

Eurovision for Lawton

Posted on 30. Dec, 2010 by ossory team in Diocesan News

One of Ireland’s most recognised singing priests has been selected to develop and mentor a Eurovision song in a renewed attempt to improve our standing in the long-running contest.

Carlow-based Fr Liam Lawton will be one of five music industry professionals to compete in ‘Eurosong 2011′, with the winner chosen from a combination of public votes and regional juries, following performances on The Late Late Show on February 11, 2011. (more…)

Praying Hands

Posted on 29. Dec, 2010 by ossory team in Diocesan News

A wonderfully touching story about Dürer’s Praying Hands.

Back in the fifteenth century, in a tiny village near Nuremberg, lived a family with eighteen children. Eighteen!

In order merely to keep food on the table for this big family, the father and head of the household, a goldsmith by profession, worked almost eighteen hours a day at his trade and any other paying chore he could find in the neighbourhood. (more…)

Fight back against drugs

Posted on 29. Dec, 2010 by ossory team in Diocesan News

A pioneering priest may have started the fight back against the scourge of drugs that has swept like a virus across Kilkenny. Fr Mark Condon took on the drug dealers responsible for the death, very recently, of one of his parishioners

The young man, from a good family, took his own life as he felt he had “no way out” because he was hooked on heroin in what is becoming a very common story. (more…)

Eucharistic Congress 2012

Posted on 29. Dec, 2010 by ossory team in Diocesan News

Watch a promotional video for the 2012 International Eucharistic Congress which will be held in Dublin with the theme – The Eucharist: Communion with Christ and with one another. (more…)

Saint Nicholas

Posted on 22. Dec, 2010 by ossory team in Diocesan News

Saint Nicholas’s Kilkenny connection

Recent research by historians has revealed that the remains of the saint who inspired Christmas are buried in County Kilkenny.

The remains of the 4th century Saint Nicholas of Myra are said to be buried at Newtown, Jerpoint in County Kilkenny.  It is well documented that during his life Saint Nicholas left anonymous gifts for the poor and his well-known philanthropy and generosity of spirit lead him to being made a saint shortly after his death in 346AD, which inspired the legend of Santa Claus and Christmas. (more…)

New Religious Education Website for Teenagers

Posted on 19. Nov, 2010 by ossory team in Diocesan News

FaithConnect is an exciting new project that aims to involve teens in the process of religious education using an online medium. It is a joint initiative between Veritas and the Mater Dei Institute of Education. The content for this project is a Religious Education module entitled ‘The Search for Meaning’.  Faith Connect is intended to be a resource for students and teachers and is full of interactive material.

Brenda Drumm spoke to Eilish Travers about a new online resource called Faith Connect, a Religious Education website for teenagers.

Faith Connect [ 5:15 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Kieran’s Win Junior Final

Posted on 10. Nov, 2010 by ossory team in Diocesan News

This year St. Kieran’s college, a diocesan school, were hoping to retain the Fr. Cosgrave cup, the Leinster Junior A schools title. Trials quickly began and numbers were whittled down to a final squad of 35 players by our trainers Mr. O’ Keeffe and Mr. McCormack. Our season began mid September at home to Good Counsel, New Ross. It was a tough battle but Kieran’s came out on top with a fine inspirational performance from Diarmuid Cody.

Next was the match against Castlecomer, another tough encounter away in Comer’s backyard. Kieran’s came away with a less than convincing win. However man of the match on the day was Patrick Mullen with six wonderful points from play. We were through to the knockout stages which left us with only two weeks to prepare for the semi-final, enough time for challenge matches to be organised.

First challenge match was against Thurles C.B.S, who travelled to the college and this game showed up some problems that needed to be ironed out. We were lucky to come away with a win. The 2^nd challenge was away to Blackwater Community School. We suffered a defeat at the hands of the Waterford men, mainly due to the fact that we had 19 wides on the day. Although having lost down in Lismore, most would agree that on that day it was clear that we were just beginning to play as a unit, beginning to play as a team.

Our semi-final was held in Palmerstown on the 14^th of October 2010, against worthy opposition in the form of C.B.S Kilkenny. From the throw in they hit us hard, Robbie Fitzpatrick scored some great points for C.B.S in the early stages. Gradually we grafted our way back into the game. We suffered a set back as unfortunately our captain Diarmuid cody had to be substituted due to a shoulder injury. It took extra time at the end of a riveting normal time to separate the sides.

Final day arrived on the 18^th of October 2010 in Dr. Cullen Park Carlow. Our opposition St. Peter’s of Wexford went in as favourites. They had beaten Kilkenny C.B.S in the group stages. It would come down to who wanted it more on the day. Three bus loads of our supporters began to arrive just as we were coming out onto the pitch. They were a great help as they gave us that little boost when we needed it. Both sides were evenly matched. Andrew Kennedy stood out for St. Peter’s, at centre back. In the 38^th minute Gearoid Kennedy scored the games first goal for Kieran’s. St. Peters responded with a point, only for Kieran’s to score a goal and two points in quick succession. St. Peter’s fought back with three points of their own but it was too little too late and we held out to win on a scoreline of 2:10 to 0:11. The strongest line on the pitch was the St. Kieran’s half back line made up of Harry Wallace, Ricci Drennan and the man of the match Eoin Gough.

James Tyrrell & James Deasy (Students)

The Kieran’s Team

Back Row: Simon Rafter, Jack Cotter, William Dooley, Vincent Teehan, Thomas Talbot, Brendan Neary, Gearoid Cleere.

3rd Row: Ciaran Breen, Cillian Cantwell, Patrick Mullen, James Maher, Sean O’ Callaghan, Chris Bolger, Mark Butler, Josh Haines.

2nd Row: James Deasy, Kevin Mullen, Ricci Drennan, Stephen Farrell, Michael O’ Neill, Harry Wallace, Shane O’ Brien,

Front Row: Mr John O’Keeffe (Trainer), James Tyrell, Bill Carrigan, Graham English, Eoin Gough (Vice Captain), Diarmuid Cody (Captain), Patrick Hickey, Shane Parsons, Cormac Connolly, Mr David McCormack (Trainer)

Absent from the team photo: Dylan O’ Shea, Shane O’Brien