Events This Week
- CHURCH UNITY: The Inter Church Service to mark the closure of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity will be held St. Francis' Church, The Abbey, this Sunday evening, January 25th at 7.00pm. All are encouraged to attend.
- THE GALWAY BAROQUE SINGERS, with the RTE Concert Orchestra, will perform Handel's "Israel in Egypt" on Friday next, January 30th at 8.00pm in the Leisureland.
- CANDLEMAS DAY: Monday week next, February 2nd is Candlemas Day, the feast of the Presentation of the Lord. Traditionally, parishioners send in candles to the church to be blessed on that day. We usually bless them at the 11.00 Mass on the Feastday. Unless you intend to be present at the Mass yourself, it will be necessary to bring the candles in to the Priory Office before the coming weekend.
- CHILDREN'S SUNDAY LITURGY: The children's participation in the Advent Sunday liturgy (Jesse Tree and so on) was seen by many to be satisfactory and very worthwhile. (Some offered the opinion that there has been an increase in the numbers of children attending the 11.00 over the last year.) Many expressed the wish that something along similar lines should be attempted throughout the year. The Liturgy of the Word, as we celebrate it in the church every Sunday, is necessarily directed at adults. The children are ignored. As a result, of course, they are seriously bored.
Nine people gathered on Thursday night last to discuss this matter. A few obvious issues immediately emerged: (1) The 'children' in question range from toddlers to teenagers! In effect, a whole range of 'groups' are being addressed! (2) Is it a good idea to 'segregate' one section of the congregation at all? We would dearly welcome your ideas and suggestions on this matter. The group will meet briefly in the front parlour after Mass today.
AS I WAS SAYING...
It was a good week for the media, and for the print media in particular. The self-congratulatory crowing was irritating, but understandable in the circumstances. A journalist had taken on the Press, and the Press won by a knock-out in the first round! Admittedly, from the very first bell, it was an unequal contest. One of the contestants was severely hampered by self-inflicted wounds. And the wounds were inflicted in a very public manner. In fact one was left wondering why he climbed into the ring at all? Clear evidence perhaps that masochism is still very much alive and happily wounded!
But the respective roles of two powerful institutions were brought into sharp focus by the case. What did the entire proceedings tell us (if anything) about the power of the media and the dispensation of justice? Will the outcome of this particular case deter the honest broker who feels that his or her rights need vindication?
The Press will argue, with not a little justification, that the real deterrent is not the Press itself, but a prohibitively expensive judicial system. Apparently the case in question will cost in the region of €600,000.00. Justice is a rather expensive commodity and beyond the reach of most people. Fortunately, very few feel the need for such radical redress. Just as well!
The judge stressed more than once that this was not a murder trial. Nonetheless, rightly or wrongly, the Press was perceived in this instance as an effective agent of true justice. The Press took up the baton, dropped by a negligent State. In the popular mind, the Press emerged smelling of roses, and of course, vindicated! That doesn't happen every day.
The Press in this country is tightly constrained by very strict laws of libel. The penalty for getting the story wrong is heavy indeed. In fact this is the first 'heavy' libel case that they have not lost (have won?) in over 20 years. The journalists argue that the balance is hopelessly weighted against them and in favour of the litigant. Consequently, prudence forces them to settle the vast majority of cases before they ever come to court. As a result, true justice is poorly served, they will argue. Justice may well be done, but it is not seen to be done. While the argument is understandably self-serving, it does contain some truth.
Like all institutions today, the Press will tend (in its own best interests) to minimise its own power and influence. It is an enormously powerful player on the public stage today. Sociologists note that most Western countries have moved from an agricultural society through an industrial society, into a third phase, namely, an information society. Information is an essential social and cultural resource for all people, not just a commodity with commercial value.
Whoever controls information in a society largely determines that society's structures: economic, political, moral and religious. There is an essential link between communications and authority, therefore. And the type of authority will vary as the type of society varies. For example, in a agricultural society, the dominant model of authority will be hierarchical. Participatory democracy seems to be the dominant model of the information age.
No wonder our Church leaders are uneasy in the presence of the media. Bishops and priests are comfortable only in an hierarchical context. That is the world they know. When they move outside that 'comfort zone' they behave like dazzled rabbits. This is so obvious at press conferences. Fear and suspicion dominates there. The one outstanding exception seems to be the Pope himself. He literally basks in the limelight! But others have caught a glimpse of the Information Age and turned back to Egypt. What a pity! Because, as we saw, the Press too can serve justice and truth.
-Dick Lyng.
CLAMPERS EASE THE RULES FOR SUNDAY MASS-GOERS
Parishioners attending a city centre church can relax somewhat while at Sunday Mass, with the knowledge that clampers are to be lenient with cars parked "in the vicinity" of their place of worship during Mass times.
Facing the possibility of being clamped has forced many car owners to abandon plans to attend church services in the city centre. However, notices erected just inside the Franciscan Abbey have informed parishioners that they need no longer be hindered from attending Sunday Mass in the church. The notice in the Abbey reads:"Some of our Sunday worshippers feel deterred by the possibility of being clamped in the area around the Abbey while attending Mass. On making enquiries from the relevant authorities we have been informed that, built into their agreement between the clamping company and the city council, there is the understanding that leniency in this matter is in force during the hours of Sunday worship. For this Abbey, this means between 8am and 1.30pm on Sundays. Obviously, vehicles should not obstruct footpaths, bus bays or street entrances."The issue of clamping affecting churchgoers in the city centre received national attention when, Augustinian priest, Fr. Dick Lyng described clampers as "miserable, mean-spirited mini Hitlers."The broadside, which originally featured in the parish newsletter, came after several elderly Mass-goers had their cars clamped while attending Mass during a spell of stormy weather.
A spokesperson for Galway City Council confirmed yesterday that their clamping policy does make provisions for vehicles parked "in the vicinity of places of worship during times of religious services", but that there are exceptions:
"Vehicles which are parked in a manner which results in a restriction on the free flow of traffic or emergency services, obstructs access to property, obstructs footpaths, illegally parked in disabled bays, loading bays, bus bays, or taxi stands, are liable to be clamped during the time of the above mentioned religious services."Fr. Lyng of the Augustinian Church on Middle Street told the City Tribune that "the vicinity" of the place of worship is a loose term and should be defined further, that one of his parishioners was clamped two streets away while attending Mass in the church last month.
{The article above appeared in this week's City Tribune. We made enquiries of the City Hall on Friday, requesting the clarification of some important issues. For example, what streets are considered to be 'in the vicinity' of the Augustinian? Does this 'understanding' extend to Saturday evening? To Sunday evening? "The clampers have been told to go easy on Mass goers. Issues such as that could only be clarified by the City Manager", said an anonymous spokesperson there unhelpfully. I would suggest that this reply would not normally qualify as 'a clarification.'! - D.L.}
HUNGER AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
"Fight Hunger by Changing your Lifestyle".
"God does not demand much of you. He asks back what he gave you. From him you take what is enough for you. When your possess surplus, you possess what belongs to others."
-St. Augustine.We had intended hold a meeting for this group on Thursday of last week, but flu and infirmity intervened! With the activities of the Baroque Singers, a meeting this week will not be possible. So we will gather in the Priory on Thursday week next, February 5th at 8.00pm. Apologies for the confusion.
AGE ACTION WEST
Age Action West is hosting an intergenerational programme next Thursday at St. Patrick's Band Hall, Fairgreen to celebrate St. Bridget's Day. The aim is to bring young and old people together to learn about the saint and the customs and traditions associated with the feastday, like the making of the St. Bridget's Crosses.
10-15 young people will take part. The organisers would dearly love to have as many senior people as possible at this event (3.30-5.00pm) So, any takers?
PENDING COURSES IN ESKER RETREAT HOUSE
1. Self Esteem & Self Worth: February 2nd-Day Course.
2. Overcoming Anger: March 13th-Day Course.
3. Cana for Married Couples: March 19th-21st.
For further information, contact the secretary at 091-844549.
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