Parish Newsletter

Masses Today

6.30 Maura Heaney & Peter O'Neill, (Anniv).
12.00 Patrick Skelton, (Anniv).
6.30 Kathleen, Sylvester, Mgt. & Nellie O' Sullivan, (Anniv).

AS I WAS SAYING.....

The dream of a united Europe owes its (partial) realisation to one remarkable man, the late Jean Monnet. Germany and France, locked in combat for so long with such devastating results, must now be locked into a common destiny, Monnet argued. Adversaries must be transformed into partners, the lion must be enticed lie down with the lamb. Monnet's dream or vision concentrated on western Europe, particularly on those western nations who had been protagonists in two world wars.

A highly skilful political figure, the late John Paul II, advocated the broadening of that vision to include the nations of eastern Europe. He proposed the graphic image of a Europe at present bereft of 'its second lung'. A healthy Europe required both lungs; the east is as essential as the west. The collapse of communism gave that papal dream a new impetus.

Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom had joined in 1973 followed by Greece in 1981, Spain and Portugal in 1986 and Austria, Finland and Sweden in 1995. The European Union welcomed ten new countries in 2004: Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. Bulgaria and Romania expect to follow in 2007; Croatia and Turkey began negotiations this year. To ensure that the enlarged EU can continue functioning efficiently, new rules governing the size of the EU institutions and the way they work were laid down in the Treaty of Nice. It came into force on 1 February 2003. The plan was that this treaty would be replaced next year by the new EU Constitution.

But all member countries must approve. And here lies our present problem, of course. Britain has always had problems with Europe. The logic of that antagonism has not always been clear. British politicians suspected a threat to their (national) identity. It was Charles De Gaulle who said that "The French will only be united under the threat of danger. Nobody can bring together a country that has 265 kinds of cheese". Yet the French political establishment has always supported the European dream enthusiastically, which may well explain consistent British opposition.

Protectionism, racism and religious prejudice against Turkey and Islam have all contributed to the present negativity. One of the guiding principles of the founding fathers of the European Union, which they plucked directly from Catholic social teaching, is subsidiary. It is a principle based upon a profound belief in the sacredness of the individual person. It proclaims that social bodies exist for the sake of the person and therefore any form of central authority, civil or ecclesial, should recognise, uphold and enable the right of the individuals or communities to develop in accordance with their own beliefs and customs. This means that people should be allowed to get on with what they can do for themselves. The larger society should only intervene when they are unable, through lack of resources or know how, to meet the challenges that face them.

In practice the principle of subsidiarity allows people to engage and to co-operate closely with one another without the fear or risk of losing their individual or group identity. If European Union remains true to this fundamental principle we will be able discover the true human richness that lies in diversity and not conformity.

-Dick Lyng.

The late Anne Ryan

The untimely death of our neighbour Anne Ryan came as a great shock to the parishioners and patrons of St. Augustine's. She was a native of Ballygar, but spend all her adult life in Galway city. She began her working life in the Bank of Ireland, Eyre Square and she met Anthony through their mutual interest in, and joint work with, the Junior Chamber of Commerce in the 1980s.

An energetic, dynamic and good humoured woman, she immersed herself deeply in the business life of the city, and in its many charitable organisations. She was instrumental in the foundation of the Business and Professional Women's group almost 20 years ago and served as its President in 1997. In addition, she lent her considerably business acumen to the various Ryan ventures and was very much Anthony's co-worker in everything. Recently she had been heavily involved in setting up the new Ryan family outlet on Market Street.

She involved herself too in a wide range of local charitable organisations, most recently in a highly successful fund-raising drive for Tsunami Relief. But the National Breast Cancer Research Institute, and St Joseph's Special School in particular, benefited from her tremendous organisational skills.

She fell suddenly ill while boating on Lough Corrib with Anthony and the family on Saturday last, and died on Tuesday. We extend our sincere sympathies to Anthony (our Finance Committee chairman), to her two sons, Anthony and Joseph, to Breda Ryan and to her three Sweeney sisters.

May she rest in peace, and may her family find consolation in the knowledge that she was well loved, and that her work was much appreciated.

MID-SUMMER FESTIVAL THIS WEEK

THURSDAY, JUNE 23 AT 8.00: Medley of Music and Song in St. Nicholas.
SATURDAY, JUNE 25 AT 6.30: Summer Liturgy with St. Bernard's High School Choir providing the music.
SATURDAY, JUNE 25 AT 7.45: Party and Summer Barbecue in 'The Bish' School yard.
Children's Entertainment provided.
FLORAL DISPLAY in St. Nicholas' throughout.

Events This Week...