The combined Welsh choirs delivered a lovely evening last Saturday in
the Parish and also helped to raise funds for the roof restoration fund. There
was a lot of activity around the Parish centre as many of the teams prepared
for the Parish Party. Heavy work was being done on the gardens at the back
of the Church, a space that hopefully can be used more often after its
upgrade. Again it is has to be recognised that many volunteers quietly and
generously give of their talents and their time to maintain the Parish.
While the beginning of exam season was made obvious by the good
weather and by the increase in candles been lit in the Church it was also
recognised in special prayers at the Sunday Masses. It is always interesting to
hear on Sundays how the needs of the Parish and of the nation are
interwoven into the prayers of the faithful thanks to the dedication of the
liturgy team.
Several parishioners went to the Pro Cathedral on Saturday to be
present at the ordination to the diaconate of 7 candidates. They will be now
serving in different parishes around Dublin. This Permanent Diaconate,
besides helping to answer the growing shortage of priests in the diocese, also
reminds us of how the Church can find solutions to its challenges with a little
bit of imagination, a dash of courage and a helping of history. The Permanent
Diaconate was a feature of the Church during the first five centuries of its
history but after having been lost for almost 1500 years its restoration began
in the Nazi concentration camps and was officially reintroduced by the
Second Vatican Council.
Funny … not so funny:
“I failed in some subjects in exam, but my friend passed in all. Now he is an
engineer in Microsoft and I am the owner of Microsoft.” Bill Gates
“No man needs a vacation so much as the man who has just had one.”
Hubbard
Did you ever hear the like?
“Vacations are always happy if you bring your biggest smile, your best self and your
own sunshine”
– Saint Alguien
Here is a website that tells a brief history of the Permanent Diaconate … you might
be thinking of someone who may be interested in serving the church in this way
http://www.rcsouthwark.co.uk/permdiac_b.htm
We will also include again the websites where you can inform yourself about Mass
times in all the countries of the world. Very helpful for those who will travel this
summer… looking for a bit of rain somewhere foreign.
As you would never like to miss your Sunday Mass and would love to participate in
a local catholic community wherever you are travelling this is the website for you:
http://www.thecatholicdirectory.com/index.cfm?worldmap=true
As you can see, Masses in the most distant and remote places … and even in exotic
places like Kilkenny and Katmandu.