Finding God in all things

The poet Patrick Kavanaghs spoke of how 'beautiful, beautiful, beautiful God was breathing his love by a cutaway bog'. In the busy days and weeks of September; may our eyes be open to see Gods blessings in our lives.

Like Mary, whose birthday we celebrate this week; may our hearts be open to beautiful God - whose grace is enough & whose love is eternal.

Up coming events in the Pastoral Centre

 - Autumn Book Club. 'Unmasking God' by Daniel O'Leary. This is a great opportunity for all who want to read and learn about their faith in a gentle, positive group environment. Starting this Wed, 14th September. Book a place by calling 061 400133. Full details HERE

 - Training for Ministers of the Eucharist. Thurs., September 27th. For information and to book a place, see HERE

 - Diocesan Youth Ministry Project 2012. Open to parishes, schools and individuals. This years theme: 'Keeping the Faith' - a celebration of family faith traditions, celebrations and prayer.  This annual project is a great project for youth groups and has resulted in last years publication "Prayers of our People", as well as exhibitions, diocesan liturgies and other celebrations. Full details HERE . A poster and  information for teachers/parish leaders is HERE

 - Childrens Liturgy workshop. To support and encourage Children’s liturgy in parish and primary schools we are providing a workshop that will explore various resources and ideas that will be beneficial to priests, teachers and those who lead children’s liturgies. Please book ahead if you are interested.

Date: Thursday September 29th. 7.30pm.

Venue: Limerick Diocesan Pastoral Centre

Cost: €5 per person or €20 for school/parish group

- Information evening about the New Translation. A new translation of the English Roman Missal - that is, the text of our Mass in English - will be introduced all over the world on the first Sunday of Advent 2011. Sunday Mass misellettes already carry some of these changes.

This information workshop was offered to parish leaders in May, and is now open to all. It covers three points: Why change? What change? (the peoples parts), and, How will this change affect us?

There will be only 60 places available, so booking a seat in advance is absolutely necessary. (Call 061 400133 to book). A donation of 5 euros per participant will cover tea/coffee/ photocopying costs.

In the meantime:  if you would like to see the text of the new translation, to watch the powerpoint presentation of this workshop, to read related material or to find resources for your parish about this topic - please click HERE

Other relevant upcoming events

 - Limerick Volunteering fair 2011.

The 6th annual Limerick Volunteering Fair will take place in City Hall, Limerick city on Sunday 25th September 2011. 

Parishes, groups and communities are all welcome to take a stand or to visit this positive, integrated, practical fair.

If your parish has ever wondered about 'how to invite new people involved', 'how to invite new people into groups', 'how to take care of volunteers' ... then you should be at this fair!! The experience of hosting a stand (which is a small table and backdrop - nothing fancy required!), is universally very popular and a great way to make contact with people.

Please inform and invite parishioners to attend, and consider taking a parish stand - so that our parishes are recognised as the vibrant and relevant communities that they are in Limerick! If you want to find out more about volunteering or finding volunteers in Limerick - see HERE.

 - National R.E. Congress. "Come and be nourished: Share the Good News". Tralee, Co Kerry,. 7-9th October 2011.

Full details and booking forms are available HERE

 - For an on-going list of Limerick community events, see HERE

Pastoral Resources

 - Listening into SacredSpace102fm. This 'WLR' Sunday morning religious program has become a welcome addition and a valuable resource to local radio. As well as offering a one hour program, the team offer resources for the week ahead and information about relevant topics at their website HERE.  If you can't listen in live, they also podcast their programs HERE ... which means that you can download and listen to the programs in your own time at home. .. a good resource worth telling others about!

- Together in Faith 2011 - resources for Octobers Mission month, and for Mission Sunday 2011 have been sent to schools this week. The annual report of the Irish missionary union has also been sent to parishes. These resources offer valuable ideas for your planning this September. Click HERE for more information

 - Parish Liturgy groups. Liturgy preparation is a very important ministry in our parishes. Resources for your work are available HERE. Prayer for parish liturgy groups is available HERE  The website www.churchyear.net offers resources and insights for every season and major feast day.

 - New translation: Weekly bullet points for newsletters were created for the Limerick diocese. They are available HERE. This weeks point answers a question and offers one change:

WEEK TWO – SEPTEMBER 11th - Should we be focusing on text changes right now?
As Catholics we are united in Eucharist. The world-wide English-speaking Catholic church has diverse pastoral needs and experiences, yet we choose to have one English translation of all our public prayers. Similarly, we have one international launch of any change to this English text. Learning about Eucharist is never a waste of time – so perhaps people are asking why other issues are not being dealt with, with as pressing a timetable?! Yes, as Irish Catholics, we have other things to be about too. So let’s not make this text change the only thing we talk about in our parish this year! Let’s be about our Fathers work – in every aspect of our faith lives.

One change from the 2nd to the 3rd edition: The ‘Holy Holy’ or Sanctus
As we begin the Liturgy of the Eucharist, we turn to God in praise and thanksgiving. At this crucial juncture as we enter into the mystery at the heart of our faith, we don’t simply use our own words – we draw on scripture to give us holy words that resonate across the ages and through all of creation. The first line of the Sanctus (Holy holy) is based on Isaiah 6:3. The prophet has a vision of God enthroned with angels singing the praise of God. We enter into the praise of the angels as we speak/sing these words. In Hebrew and in Latin we sing Saboath, in English we have translated this as hosts. This does not refer to communion hosts, but to the
‘whole hosts of angels’, and to God as the ‘Lord God of hosts’. The new translation is: ‘Holy Lord God of Hosts – with the word ‘hosts’ replacing ‘power and might’.

WORD COUNT 283

A Good News Story - Youth Ministry

Youth Ministry in the Limerick diocese: A year in review.

It has been a busy year for youth ministry in Limerick. Any notion that the Eaglais óg (young church) was less than alive and kicking has been dispelled in the face of the hundreds of young people who have participated in and led the many programs and pilgrimages this year. A light hearted review of the years work is available HERE - and its well worth reading!

This report reminds us that young people in this diocese have been involved in training programs for leadership and ministry, that they have worked as co-op students in youth ministry and served our sick in Lourdes (90 young pilgrims!), that they have  created prayer resources and school retreat opportunities for other young people, and that they have represented us at World Youth Day 2011.

Perhaps it is a reminder to look around our own parish and recognise how our young people have been blessed and a blessing for the wider community this year

 - To say thanks again to volunteers on Do this in Memory programs, youth clubs, youth choirs etc. They are a blessing for our young people.

 - To recognise and thank youth who have served by volunteering with the elderly, sick or housebound at home or abroad this summer. They are a witness to Christian love.

 - To be grateful for all that is happening, and confident about all that we can create together with our young people, and with the help of God.