20 th May 2018 Vol 28 No 27 Pentecost Fr. Tom Little - 91-31559 Fr Tommy Dillon - 91-64882 Sr. Joan Pierse 91-42565 Emergency Priest on Duty 087 2588118 Askea Parish Community Centre Phone 91-42565 087 1269709 Collections last weekend Development: 1,840 Offertory 1,430 Mass Times: Askea 9.30am Mon-Fri; Sat 7pm; Sun 9am, 10.30am & 12 Noon. Bennekerry Sun 11.30am; Tinryland Tues 9.30am & Sunday 10am ************ Deadline for items for Newsletter is 5pm on Wednesday by phone to 9142565 or email to office@askeaparish.ie Website: www.askeaparish.ie PENTECOST SUNDAY The Church was made manifest to the world on the day of Pentecost by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The gift of the Spirit ushers in a new era in the dispensation of the mystery the age of the Church during which Christ manifests makes present and communicates His work of salvation through the liturgy of His Church until He comes.
St Mary s Parish, Bennekerry Sunday 20 th May 2018 Pentecost The Road Of Faith Shine your light, O Lord, So that I may see, Just where I am heading And what's in front of me. Your word is the light, The lamp unto my feet It may not light far ahead, Nor show me where it's steep. But it gives enough light For each step I take, Just enough to see ahead, Along this road of faith. For this is what it surely is As we walk with Jesus Christ, The road that we are travelling on Is by faith, not by sight. So shine your light, O Lord, So we may see our way, Though you only show in part, It's enough for each new day. M.S.Lowndes
St Mary s Parish, Bennekerry Fr Tom Little PP Ph 059 9131559. Fr Tommy Dillon PE 0599142565 Newsletter Items 059 9143881. Deadline for News items: - 9pm Wednesdays Emergency Number for the Priest on Duty 087 2588118. Parish Office 059 9142565 087 1269709. Website: www.askeaparish.ie; email: office@askeaparish.ie Anniversaries 20 th May 2018 Bill & Julia Nolan, Rutland Terrace Nora Lawler, Johnstown Jody Byrne, 35 Kernanstown Month s Mind Reggie Lennon, 15 Springfield Drive Collections last weekend: Development 176 Offertory 260 Palatine GAA Club Lotto Results Monday 14 th May 2018. Numbers Drawn 14, 18, 19 & 21. Four Lucky Dips 50 each. Winner Promoter Zac Nolan Mark Nolan Rose Hosey Alan Hosey Vinny & Seamus Yvonne Bermingham Breda Butler Jim Butler Seller s Prize 70 John Kelly, Bennekerry Next Draw Monday 21 st May 2018. Jackpot 5,400.
Kildare & Leighlin Weekly Lotto Results For Wed 16 th May 2018. Numbers drawn were 6, 12, 16 & 19. No Jackpot Winner. 26 Match 3s won 391 each. Askea/Bennekerry had 1 Match3. Next week s Jackpot 17,000. Winner Promoter Patricia O Regan Patricia O Regan Tickets 2 each available from Askea Parish Centre. Please note the draw takes place on Wed at 4.30pm in Portlaoise. Tickets must be returned by 5pm each Tuesday to Askea Parish Centre. Kildare & Leighlin Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2018 Led by the Bishop of Kildare & Leighlin Most Reverend Denis Nulty. 16 th to 21 st July 2018. Cost 739. Bookings can be made through Joe Walsh Tours Office 01 2410802 or Askea Parish Centre. Booking and regular payments can be made through the Askea Parish Centre. Please contact 059 91 42565 for further details. Kildare & Leighlin Diocesan Pilgrimage to Knock Shrine. Bishop Denis Nulty invites you to join with him and parishioners from across the diocese at the Shrine of Our Lady of Knock on Sunday 3rd June 2018 with the Diocesan Choir directed by Fr. Liam Lawton. Ceremonies begin at 2.30pm in the Basilica. Details of bus travelling to Knock will be available later in the week. Contact the Cathedral Parish Centre.
Kildare and Leighlin Diocesan Family Fun Day 16 th June 2018. Carlow College, St Patrick s from 2pm to 6pm. Free Event Sport Music Food Art All Welcome. Let us gather together as we prepare for the World Meeting of Families 2018. Legion of Mary Weekly Meetings in Askea Parish Community Centre on Tuesday at 7.45pm. All welcome. Cemetery Masses St Mary s Carlow Monday 9 th July, 2018 at 7.30pm. St Mary s Bennekerry Friday 6 th July, 2018 at 7.30pm. St Joseph s Tinryland Friday 29 th June, 2018 at 7.30pm. World Meeting of Families 2018 Bus to Diocesan Day of Pastoral Congress The World Meeting of Families takes place in Dublin from 21 st to 26 th August, 2018. The three day Pastoral Congress will be held in the RDS, Dublin. The Kildare & Leighlin Diocesan Day at the Congress is Wednesday 22 nd August and parish groups are encouraged to attend on this day. The parishes of Askea, Bennekerry and Tinryland will have a bus available for those wishing to travel to the Diocesan Day at the Congress. Anyone wishing to travel to the Diocesan Day is asked to contact the Parish Office immediately so that we can register as a group. Please contact the Parish Office at 059 91 42565 or 087 1269709. The Friends of the District Hospital, Carlow are meeting on Thursday, 24 th May at 8pm in the Carlow Parish Centre. New members are most welcome.
Vacancies for Community Employment scheme in Askea Parish Centre. A vacancy for the Community Employment Scheme in Askea Parish Community Centre is available. The scheme is administered by Assumption Services Ltd. If you are interested in being considered for this vacancy please check your eligibility for Community Employment with your local Intreo office and then contact Askea Parish Centre on 059 91 42565 / 087 1269709 for details.. Other vacancies on Local Community Employment Schemes are: Cleaner: Duties to include washing floors, sweeping, polishing, removal of rubbish, setting up for tea and coffee morning and serving tea and coffee, any other cleaning duties as required. 5 mornings per week. Admin Assistant/Cleaner: Duties to include filing, typing, answering telephones, serving the public, newsletter, cleaning and setting up of rooms, all other duties required for the smooth running of the centre. Rota basis. Maintenance: Setting up for bingo, cleaning hall, toilets etc after bingo, cutting grass, maintenance of flower beds and all other maintenance duties required for the smooth running of the centre. 5 mornings per week, with occasional evening duties. For further information on any of these positions please contact Jo in Catheddral Parish Centre on 085 8726367 Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. Follow Me Up To Carlow Concert Series In conjunction with COPD {Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder}, CARLOW. Special guests LOUISE MORRISSEY, NICKY KEALY and KEVIN MORRIN with local artists. Saturday June 2nd, in the WOODFORD DOLMEN HOTEL @ 8pm. Tickets 20 available at WOODFORD DOLMEN HOTEL or John Candy 087-2632324 Please support this worthy cause. Charity Bridge Night on Thursday 17 th May in Seven Oaks Hotel at 7.30pm. Proceeds to Carlow / Kilkenny Home Care and St Vincent de Paul. All welcome.
Carlow Regional Youth Services We are recruiting volunteer leaders for Camp: are you aged 16 +? Are you free between 3rd 6 th July 10am-3pm for Training & 9th - 13th July for the camps? Do you want to learn new skills? Do you want to make a difference in your community and help others? Carlow Camp provides volunteer leadership training to allow volunteers become a leader at our summer camps. Garda vetting applies for all volunteers. For volunteer application forms and camp registration forms or any queries please call into Montgomery House, call us on 059 9130476 or email reception1@carlowys.ie Carlow Regional Youth Services Summer Camps are open for registration by calling into the Head Office at Montgomery Street, Athy Road, Carlow Phone 059 91 30476. Please note there is no Registration Night this year and places are allocated on a first come first served basis. ÉIST Vhi Mini Marathon Coffee Morning - At Éist we provide practical help and emotional support to people diagnosed with cancer, their families and carers. Please join us for our coffee morning on Friday 25th May, from 10am to 1pm, to promote our Vhi Women s Mini Marathon Team and help us to raise vital funds in the process. Come and enjoy delicious cakes and coffee, all are welcome. The Eist Cancer Support Centre is open from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm Monday to Thursday and 10.00 am to 1.00 pm on Fridays. Please contact us at 0599139684. Visit our website at www.eistcarlowcancersupport.ie or join us on Facebook. Community Cafe Morning in the Stables of An Gairdín Beo, Old Dublin Rd., Carlow (next to St. Leos) will start on Tuesday 5th June from 10 a.m. 1 p.m. The Cafe will run every Tuesday during June, July and August. Come and enjoy our fresh homemade produce. We will also have our own garden vegetables for sale each Tuesday. All proceeds will go into the development and maintenance of Carlow s Community Garden An Gairdín Beo. All welcome. Think Globally. Act Locally.
St Willibrord Hopping Procession The people of Echternach will be hopping in honour of St Willibrord this Tuesday May 22 nd, last year a group from the diocese travelled for the first time to Echternach and Bishop Denis received a reliquary of St Willibrord which now resides in the Cathedral. Bishop Denis will celebrate 10am Mass in the Cathedral on Tuesday morning May 22 nd which will coincide with the Hopping Procession taking place in Echternach. All are welcome. Retired Priests Collection takes place in all parishes on 26 th and 27 th May, please support this important collection to help support our retired priests. Found A pair of prescription sunglasses in the Kilmeaney area of Bennekerry on Tuesday 15th May. Please contact Askea Parish Centre for details. 059 91 42565. Carlow Flower Club May Meeting will feature a mini demonstration by AOIFA Demonstrator Betty Holden and the club Annual General Meeting will follow. Tuesday 29th May at 8.00pm in the Woodford Dolmen Hotel. The Club Annual Outing will take place on Saturday June 16th visiting Gash Gardens, Castletown Co. Laois and Belvedere House and Gardens in Mullingar. All members and friends invited to come along. Cost 30 ( 10 deposit payable at May meeting to reserve a place) Please contact Margot on 086 8376241 if you cannot attend May meeting and wish to travel on the outing. Oakley Park Residents Association A meeting of the residents will be held on Tuesday 22 nd May in Askea Parish Centre at 8.30pm. All are welcome to attend.
In Memoriam We ask the Lord to grant eternal rest to: Philip McIntyre, Laurel Park, Pollerton and Meath and we offer our sympathy and the support of our prayers to all who have suffered the loss of a loved one at this time. Fundraiser in aid of Carlow Kilkenny Homecare Team Two Day Rummage Sale of interest to all ages - Thursday May 24th & Friday May 25th, 2018 from10am-5pm. Designer Clothes - New & Nearly New: Clothes/Handbags / Jewellery/Shoes, Bric-a-Brac, Books, Toys, Etc. at Unit beside Paul White s Pharmacy, Tullow Street, Carlow. Donations can be left into premises on Wednesday May 23rd from 2-5pm Details from Kathleen at 085 7210235. Bennekerry Community Text Alert collection of 10 per mobile Number & sign New Data Protection form giving permission to use your phone no. We will be in the Function Room at Palatine Clubhouse Wednesday 23rd & Thursday 24th of May 2018. Kilkenny Junior Strings Orchestra and The Staves Orchestra Concert Series Kilkenny and Carlow on Saturday 19 th May in St Patrick s Church, College Road, Kilkenny at 3.30pm and Sunday 20 th May in St Clare s Church, Graiguecullen, Carlow at 3.30pm. Tickets 5. The Carlow Older Persons Forum is having two coffee mornings on 24th & 25th May 10am -1pm - Old School House (SIPTU BUILDING), Barrack Street, Carlow. All welcome.
Let me see the world. It s a miracle, a sweet mystery How an act of love has created me Let me leave this haven with dignity So that I can see the world. Let me hear the skylark greet the morn Let me walk through fields of golden corn Say yes to life and let me be born I just want to see the world. By Garry McMahon Keep me here inside you, safe and warm Don t heed those others who d do me harm So that someday soon I ll be in your arms And then I can see the world Will I build cathedrals tall and grand? Be a surgeon skilled, with healing hands? Or marry a farmer, and love the land? Who knows if I see the world. Will I see my mother s smiling face? As she cradles me in a fond embrace Don t let me vanish, without a trace I just want to seet he world. I have ten small fingers, ten small toes I have two bule eyes, and a button nose. And how far I ll go, God only knows If I just can see the world. Oh, please let me see the world.
Supporting a Culture of Life - Pastoral Message by Bishop Denis Nulty 15th April 2018 On 25th May, a referendum will be held on the question of removing the right to life of the unborn child from the Constitution of Ireland. I want to explain in these short words why I will be voting No. Let me state the obvious at the outset. There is no easy way to talk about abortion. I am very conscious of those who are affected by their choice to have an abortion at some point in the past. I believe that there is real grieving in the wake of an abortion and that compassion and care should be our first response. I pray for all who seek healing. My concern here is not to dwell on the past but to safeguard the future. Nothing is as important for the future of our shared humanity as the right to life. Therefore, I wish to speak boldly and clearly. I don t believe that life begins at birth. I believe that life begins before birth. Think of the simple scene we have all witnessed countless times of family and friends craning
their heads to look into a buggy to marvel at a new born child. I even watched this very scene unfold on the platform of a train station recently, strangers admiring a baby in its mother s arms, wondering if it was a boy or a girl, the age and the name. This wonder does not start at birth. The time a child first kicks in the womb and the time a child takes its first faltering steps are but different moments on the same journey. You might take a moment to bring your hand close to your face and consider your fingerprints. I have invited every congregation at Confirmations this year to do this simple action. It is a powerful sight. Fingerprints are unique to you. When did they first form? Much earlier than we might imagine. Likewise, our own heartbeat, when did it begin? All of this is determined in the womb, long before birth. Indeed, it is written into our genetic code. There is nothing to be gained by denying the truth that our lives begin at conception. What we have learned about our development in the womb will only be added to in the years ahead, but we already know enough. However, regrettably, the abortion debate is not really
about biology. Everyone knows that a life has begun. The question is whether it is right to deliberately stop that life being born. Some people argue strongly that a pregnant woman should have an absolute right to choose the fate of her pregnancy. I cannot agree. I believe that none of us, women or men, have an absolute right over the life of another. It does not serve the truth to minimise abortion, for what it is, and how prevalent it can become. We cannot pretend that abortion can be reduced to taking a pill in the first weeks. This is not the reality. The hard truth is evident to everyone in the statistics from the UK and elsewhere. Once we deny the right to life of the unborn, we can no longer defend ourselves from what flows from an abortion culture. For instance, we are in deep denial if we cannot recognise that an abortion culture fundamentally alters our attitude towards disability. The statistics in this regard from other jurisdictions do not lie. This leads us on to profound issues about the future of our shared humanity. I believe that a culture that permits abortion cannot be separated from a culture that seeks full control
over the gift of life. In recent years, I have the sense that we are walking with our eyes closed into an era of eugenics, unwilling to look where we are going but still continuing on. I know I am not alone in thinking this. Some claim that we have been behind the times in Ireland in regard to abortion. I would argue the very opposite; that upholding the right to life of the unborn is timely and farseeing. We risk compromising our humanity if we do not continue to be supportive of life, even when this poses great difficulties. Therefore, for all of the above reasons, on 25th May I will be voting no to affirm human life and thereby the common good. I ask you to join me in voting to retain the Constitutional right to life of the unborn child. Of course, voting no is not enough. The real challenge for us is to work even harder to strengthen a culture that values all life. Being prolife must mean that we advocate for all who are in need of protection in our society. Let us rededicate ourselves to this essential and blessed task.
CALENDAR Monday 21 s:-t Ss Christopher Magallánes and Companions. These 25 priests and laymen were executed in 1927 in Mexico. Tuesday 22 nd :-St Rita of Cascia:-1386-1457, was married for 18 years. Her husband an ill-tempered and abusive man, was murdered. Later Rita entered the Augustian convent in Cascia and spent 40 years in prayer and charity, working for peace in the region. Friday 25 th :-St Bede, 673-735, monk of Jarrow, historian and bibical commentator. Patron of scholars. St Gregory V11, 1028-1085, Hildebrand of Tuscany was a Cluniac monk in Rome who on becoming Pope worked for reform and died in exile at Salenrao. St Mary Magdalene de Pazzi, 1566-1607, a Carmelite in Florence, offered her life for the spiritual renewal of the Church. Saturday 26 th :-St Philip Neri, 1515-1595, was born in Florence but spent most of his life in Rome where he founded the Congregation of the Oratory to foster good preaching and to promote holiness of priestly life. THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK A Child s definition of house and home:- When you are outside, it looks like a house but when you are inside, it looks like a home. Anonymous