Corpus Christi Day June 11

Corpus Christi is a Western Catholic feast held every year on the second Thursday after Pentecost. The celebration is associated with the commemoration of Jesus's Last Supper with his Apostles before his crucifixion.

The traditional date for Corpus Christi is the Thursday after Trinity Sunday, itself the Sunday after Pentecost. Thursday was chosen because it was the day on which the Last Supper was celebrated.

Pilgrimage to Knock June 24

St. Joseph’s Young Priests Society annual pilgrimage to Knock takes place on June 24 this year.

S. Anne Collins has organised for a bus to leave our church car park at 9.0am on morning of June 24.   This is a lovely way for parishioners to pray and socialise together.  Please contact Sr. Anne at 086 3465220 if you can go.

We have an active branch of this Society in our parish who meet monthly in church and would welcome new members.

Novena to St Anthony June 5-13

NOVENA
In Honour of St Anthony
St John’s Cathedral
Monday 5th June - Tuesday 13th June 2023
Mass each day at 10.00am & 5.45pm
(Except Monday 5th (Bank Holiday) 10am only) (Saturday 10.00am & 6.00pm) (Sunday 10.30am only) With Novena Prayers, Homily and Blessing with Relic

Tuesday 13th Blessing of Lillie's 10am & 5.45pm

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Trinity Sunday 

LaudateSi' Week 21 - 28 May

This is Laudate Si’ week.  The theme this year is: hope for the Earth and for all Humanity.

This takes on more relevance with the warnings on dangers of misuse of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the probability that Ireland will miss its 2030  climate change targets.

Monday June 5 is World Environment Day.

Led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and held annually on 5 June since 1973, World Environment Day is the largest global platform for environmental public outreach and is celebrated by millions of people across the world.

The seven goals of Laudato Si are: the Cry of Earth, the Cry of the Poor, Ecological Economics, Simple Lifestyles, Ecological Education, Ecological Spirituality 

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Celebrating Ascension Day Sunday May 21

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Jesus died out of perfect love for us and because of His death we can have life in Him that brings life to others

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Fundraising for the World Youth Day

On 14th May our parish will be visited by a group of youth that are raising money for their trip to Portugal for the World Youth Day this summer in August.
They will be at all doors after the Sunday Masses for anyone who wishes to contribute towards the cost.

Month of May Devotion to Blessed Virgin Mary

Catholics offer Mary in May: pilgrimages, visits to churches dedicated to her, little sacrifices in her honor, periods of study and well-finished work offered up to her, and a more attentive recitation of the rosary.

Thou art clement, thou art chaste, Mary thou art fair; of all mothers sweetest, best; none with thee compare. O mother pitiful and mild, cease not to pray for me; for I do love thee as a child, and sigh for love of thee.

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Confirmation Day April 22

We congratulate the boys from Chriost RI B.N.S. and girls from Mary Queen of Ireland who will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation today.

We also welcome Bishop Brendan Leahy to our parish.  Bishop Brendan will officiate at the ceremony scheduled for 11.30am   

Confirmation is administered by the bishop who anoints the candidate on the forehead with the holy oil of Chrism, the laying on of hands and saying: ‘Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit'.

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Bishop Leahy's Chrism Mass homily

Chrism Mass was held in StJohn’s Cathedral on Wednesday April 5th

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Happy Easter to all our parishioners 

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Celebrating Feast of the Annunciation 25/03/2023.

Arrival of summer time when the clocks go forward one hour.  We look forward to the lovely long evenings as we travel towards summer.

Pope Francis 10th anniversary of his election

On Monday, it will be 10 years since Francis was elected pope. In that time, he has retained many of his personal hallmarks, and he has altered the Catholic Church in important and potentially enduring ways, including by making pillars out of issues such as migration and the environment.

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We pray to Saint Joseph asking for his intercession to keep our hearts, bodies and minds pure. He is the patron of the Universal Church, the dying, fathers, carpenters, and social justice.

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Wishing all our parishioners a very happy St Patrick's Day

 St. Patrick tells us that he arises “through the strength of heaven.” “God's might to uphold me, God's wisdom to guide me … God's word to speak for me … God's shield to protect me … afar and anear, alone or in a multitude.”

Prayer is as important as the air we breathe" – Bishop Leahy

Trocaire Lenten Campaign 2023

This year marks the 50th anniversary of set up of Trocaire.by

Trócaire is the overseas development agency of the Irish Catholic Church.They work in partnership with local development and humanitarian actors, to support people and communities to tackle the root causes of poverty, injustice and violence and to use their own power to create positive and lasting change.

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Trocaire celebrating its 50th birthday since its launch in 1973

Details of Limerick Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes June 22-27

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Lent commences with Ash Wednesday this week 

There will be 2 masses on Feb 22nd at usual time of 10.00am in morning & an extra one at 6.30pm in evening

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Day of Prayer for Survivors and Victims of Abuse – 24th Feb 2023

Synod Rome 2023

Limerick Diocese met on 28/01/23 to discuss submission from Ireland.  Our parish was represented.

European Catholics debated final outcome of synod on synodality assembly in Prague on 09/02/23

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We wish you a happy St Valentine's Day on Tuesday February 14

World Youth Day 2023

World Youth Day is being held in Lisbon this year from 1st to 6th August. There will be a representation from Diocese of Limerick this year.

Pilgrims typical age is 14 - 30 Please contact us if you are interested in attending. 

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Saturday February 11th is the Feast Day of our Lady of Lourdes

St Brigids Day events

• Canon Micheál De Liostún warmly invites you to celebrate St. Brigid (poster attached)  onWednesday, 1^st February 2023 at 6.00 pm in the Diocesan Centre. Copies of his book A New Deed will be available for purchase on the night. A donation of €10 for one book and €50 for six books all moneys will go directly to Trócaire. See the attached poster.

• You are invited to a screening of the film ‘The Letter’ in Mary Immaculate College, South Circular Road, Limerick in Lecture Theatre T117 on Wednesday, 1^st February at 6.00pm on to mark St Brigid’s Day and to launch Interfaith Harmony Week. This superb film is about the letter Pope Francis wrote to every human being about caring for the environment. This film is a must-see and will be followed by a short panel discussion.

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

“With sorrow I inform you that the Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, passed away today at 9:34 in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican."
This is the sad news from Pope Francis greeting the world this morning 31/12/2022

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI served as head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 19 April 2005 until his resignation on 28 February 2013. Benedict's election as pope occurred in the 2005 papal conclave that followed the death of Pope John Paul II.

He was the first Pope to resign in 600 years due to ill health

He was born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger in Germany in April 1927 

Pope Emeritus Benedict's body will lie in state in St Peter's Basilica from Monday January 2nd so that the faithful can bid farewell

Pope Francis will preside over Benedict's funeral Mass in St Peter's Square on Thursday - an unprecedented event in which a current pope will celebrate the life of his predecessor.

May his gentle soul Rest in Peace 

Mission Sunday October 23

The theme for World Mission Sunday this year, which the Church will celebrate around the world on 23 October next, is ‘You Shall Be My Witnesses’ (Acts 1:8).  World Mission Sunday is the Holy Father’s annual appeal for spiritual and financial support so that the life-giving work of overseas mission and missionaries can continue. 
 

At 11.00am on 23 October, RTÉ will televise the celebration of Mass from its Donnybrook studio, Dublin, for World Mission Sunday.

Synod of Bishops October 2021 -2023

 Pope Francis requests that the People of God are consulted before synod of bishops takes place in October 2023

Parishes in Diocese have now made their submissions and the Limerick Diocesan Report has been forwarded for inclusion in the National Report which will be completed by end of June & will be submitted to Rome when finalised.

St Francis of Assisi Feast Day Oct 4

Francis was born in Assisi, Italy in 1182. He grew up leading a privileged life as the son of a wealthy cloth merchant. Francis loved to learn and sing songs as a boy.

Francis is one of the most venerated religious figures in Roman Catholic history. He founded the Franciscan orders, including the Poor Clares and the lay Third Order. He and St. Catherine of Siena are the patron saints of Italy, and he is also the patron saint of ecology and of animals

Later in life, Francis reportedly received a vision that left him with the stigmata of Christ — marks resembling the wounds Jesus Christ suffered when he was crucified — making Francis the first person to receive such holy wounds. He was canonized as a saint on July 16, 1228

Prayer for Ukraine

We are now in the seventh month since the 24 February full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia. 
The President of European Council of Bishops’ Conferences has written requesting prayer throughout Europe for Ukraine 

With the threat of an escalation in coming weeks , it is important that we continue to pray for a peaceful conclusion.

Prayer is attached 

Feast of St Vincent de Paul

Saint Vincent de Paul was a Catholic priest who served the poor. He was born on April 24 1581 in the village of Pouy, in Guyenne and Gascony, France and died on September 27 1660 in Paris, France. We celebrate his feast day on September 27 every year in the Catholic Church.

The Catholic Church has designated him as the Patton of all charitable associations

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVP) was founded in Ireland in 1844 and is the largest voluntary charitable organisation in Ireland.  We have a local conference in the parish designated SVP Conference of Christ the King 

Memorial bench unveiled at Barrington's Pier

A public bench and sculpture in memory of two Limerick-born brothers and priests Aengus and Jack Finucane was unveiled at Barrington's Pier last week.

Church at a crossroads: Bishops, priests, and lay Catholics speak out

Attached is an interesting article from Conor Caplis of Irish Examiner that highlights the challenges facing the church to be discussed at the 2023 Synod in Rome

St Mel's Cathedral Longford

This week we will take a look at this beautiful cathedral.

Some of our parishioners visited the Cathedral with Fr. Coffey after restoration works were completed in Christmas 2014.  It had been destroyed by fire on Christmas Day 2009

Lough Derg Pilgrimage

For summer we will write some articles on Holy Places to visit in Ireland.  This week we look at Lough Derg Pettigo

Lough Derg or Loch Derg is a lake in County Donegal, Republic of Ireland. It is near the border with Northern Ireland and lies about 7 kilometres north of the border village of Pettigo. It is best known for St Patrick's Purgatory, a site of pilgrimage on Station Island in the lake.  

Lough Derg three day pilgrimage runs until August 15th.  The last day to commence pilgrimage for 2022 is Saturday August 13th

Link to website https://www.loughderg.org/

Admission is €80 but there are concessions for students, seniors and groups.  Booking info is available at www.loughderg.org.  Telephone No 071 9861518.

Pope Francis reflects on his personal life in a podcast

Synthesis Report on Universal Synod

Limerick Diocesan Synthesis Report was submitted to the Bishops Conference as part of the journey towards the 2023 universal Synod to be held in Rome. 
The Parish was represented at a meeting in Rathkeale House Hotel at end of May to discuss final draft of the report.

The Bishops Conference held a meeting in Athlone to discuss the Diocesan Repirts and a National submission was prepared for Rome 

Reek Sunday July 31

For those of us fit enough to take on the challenge, the annual climb of Croagh Patrick on last Sunday of July takes place next Sunday July 31

The Climb received a lot of publicity in April this year as Charlie Bird & his supporters undertook the challenge for 2 charities, Irish Motor Neurons Disease Association & Pieta House, raising a staggering €3m

More information on walk & its history can be found https://nationaltoday.com/reek-sunday/

June examinations

June is a month when many students sit examinations.

The Junior & Leaving Certificate exams are associated with June and commence on Wednesday 8th

Very best of luck to all sitting exams
St Joseph of cupertino prayer for exam students is attached.

Visit of Rescue 115 helicopter to Caherdavin

There was great excitement last Thursday when Rescue 115 paid a visit & landed in the parish field.  The boys and girls of our primary schools were there to greet the helicopter crew Cathal Oakes, Sean Murphy, Philip Wren and Ciara Mc Hugh when it landed.

They were joined by members of Killaloe Coastguard on arrival.

A big thank you to the organisers of this special occasion.

RESCUE115 is the Irish Coast Guard S92 all weather search & rescue Helicopter based in Shannon International Airport,  It assisted Kerry Mountain Rescue in a very tricky mission on Carrauntohill Mountain on Sunday June 12 where a seriously injured casualty had to be rescued.  Thankfully there was a good outcome and the casualty is now being looked after in Tralee University Hospital.  Well done to all involved.

Feast of St Anthony of Padua June 13

Today is the feast day of St Anthony of Padua.  He is a very popular Saint particularly when we are trying to locate something lost.  He has come to the rescue many times for people who pray to him!

The concluding mass of a 9 day novena in St Johns Cathedral takes place at 5.45pm this evening.  The white lily flower is associated with St.Anthony and these will be blessed in the cathedral this evening so take a bunch with you if you can attend.

May Month of Mary

May devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary refer to special Marian devotions held in the Catholic Church during the month of May honoring Mary, mother of God as "the Queen of May". 

May 31 is the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary commemorating Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth.  The meeting of these two women was. Very joyful & unique event. 

How to pray Divine Mercy Chaplet

Instructions on how to recite the chaplet attached.

According to Roman Catholic tradition, the chaplet may be said at any time, but it is said especially on Divine Mercy Sunday and Fridays at 3:00 PM.

Easter - the Resurrection of Jesus

Some information on the Resurrection in link below 

Pentecost Sunday June 5th

The Christian holiday of Pentecost is celebrated on the 50th day from Easter Sunday. It commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ while they were in Jerusalem celebrating the Feast of Weeks, as described in the Acts of the Apostles