Mass Times
Saturday 16th September 7.00pm
Luke O' Connor Jnr, Ballyveria
Sunday 17th Setpember 11.00am
Richard & Ellen Hennessy
Ballycroney
Patrick & Ellen Hennessy, The Rower & Ballycroney.
Monday 18th September 10.00am
Tuesday 19th September 10.00am
Wednesday 20th September 10.00am
Thursday 21st September 1000am
Friday 22nd September 10.00am
Saturday 23rd September NO MASS
Sunday 24th September 11.00am
Tom & Statia Power, Forristalstown
May Cashin, Aylwardstown
The Kingdom of God: Christ cameamong us to bring salvation and freedom to our world and to our
lives. He lived among us for thirty-three years. His public ministry
lasted only three of those years. He had a vision and a dream for
humanity. He summed up his vision in one short sentence, ‘what
I command you is that you love one another’. During his years of
public ministry, he endeavoured to see that his apostles, his
followers and the ordinary people bought into his vision. He
knew that his message of love and forgiveness would not
become a reality overnight. A vision of love is always a ‘slow
burner’. It’s a case of one step forward, two steps backward! He
once compared his kingdom to a mustard seed. It is the smallest
of all seeds. Yet if sown in good ground, the seed will grow into a
fine shrub.
We are Christ’s brothers and sisters, his followers. In our lifetime
it is up to us to sow the seeds of the kingdom hoping that future
generations will reap a harvest. We have to choose good seed
and prepared the ground properly so that the seed will take root
and grow. But how do we hand on the faith to the next
generation. Our young people are living in a world that is losing
the faith, not attending Church and going its own way. They see
materialism everywhere and they are influenced by what they
see around them. To them the Church appears old fashioned,
just keeping going, just holding the fort. They see the Church as
not addressing their needs or their concerns.
So, what can be done. We know that young people are in a
better place today than they have ever been in history. They are
well educated and with social media they have the ability to
communicate with each other as never before. They are
enthusiastic and idealistic as young people always are. To
connect with young people requires that we take a radical look at
what the church is offering to its followers today.
As yet, we don’t know the way forward. It is a work in progress
but we know that things will have to change. Many individuals
and many groups in the Church are sowing new seeds. However,
the seeds are slow to sprout. Nothing is going to change
overnight. We need to be open to what is new and not be afraid
of things being different. In our own time we keep looking
forward and planning. There is no going back. Like the Apostles,
in their time, we must launch out into the deep. At the same
time, we have to wait in patience and leave many things to the
providence of Almighty God.
