Sunday Newsletter

Masses Today

6.30 (Vigil) Annie Conneely, (Anniv).
11.00: John Crean, late Long Walk, (Anniv).
6.30: Maura and John Joe Gilvarry, (Anniv).

As I Was Saying...

The Sunday newspapers this weekend will devote an inordinate amount of space to Ryanair's move on Aer Lingus. Mr O'Leary, the foulmouthed 45-year-old who has piloted Ryanair since 1994, is probably the iconic face of the Celtic Tiger. He once dressed up as a cardinal to announce the launch of a route from Dublin to Rome, declaring: "Habemus lowest fares". He has also on occasions appeared as St Patrick, a French chambermaid and a Roman centurion.

Of course, ultimately it is the reaction of the Stock Market that will decide whether O'Leary's gamble is successful or not. Initially, the Stock Market was said to be 'sceptical' or 'nervous', but now it is said to be 'pleased' or 'more buoyant' - as though it's a sort of living, breathing being.

This is the kind of language people once used about that other invisible force called God. In Old Testament times, the people feared God's reaction to what they'd done. These days, it's the Market's verdict that is awaited with anxiety. The real war today is not between Islam and Christianity, but between all religions and the 'God of the Market', who has many of the attributes of a traditional deity. It is all-powerful. It even outlasted Communists and now flourishes in the ruins of their regimes.

The Market God is everywhere, turning the whole of creation into a commodity. You can't escape from it. When the first man sets foot on Mars, there's every chance that he'll find a sign advertising Coca Cola!

It now dominates every area of life. For instance traditional religions always regarded human beings as sacred; but the market has now reduced them to a list of spare parts to be sold a piece at a time - blood, sperm, fertilisable eggs, soon to be added no doubt, human genes. And, if you are still unhappy, then the Market will sell you peace of mind through the expensive ministrations of lifestyle consultant!

What's beyond the reach of this God? Secrets? Leaking is a growth industry; (ask Bertie Ahern!) Reputations? For a price someone will spill the beans; Loyalty? If you happen to have personal letters from a dead celebrity, the Market isn't fussy; it'll buy them. And it's not just celebrity that's saleable; so is notoriety. Just like the Christian God, but for quite different reasons, the Market God loves sinners. You can commit criminal acts on an epic scale and when they let you out of jail, some one will be waiting at the gates with a cheque book.

The Market God is insatiable. Its motto is: "There is never enough". And this is where the clash of Gods comes in. All the great religions teach us that the secret of living in harmony with creation is in knowing just how much is enough. How much do we need for the good life? If religion can't get that message across, then future generations will to inherit a bleak world, presided over by unscrupulous profiteers like Michael O'Leary.

-Dick Lyng

Events of Some Interest

"On Politics and Government..."

A Very Timely Tale

(Needless to say, this story was told by a prominent member of the Progressive Democrats in recent days.)

A man from Drumcondra died and went to heaven. As he stood in front of St. Peter at the Pearly Gates, he saw a huge wall of clocks behind him.

He asked, "What are all those clocks?"

St. Peter answered, "Those are Lie-Clocks. Everyone on Earth has a Lie- Clock. Every time you lie, the hands on your clock will move."

"Oh," said the man, "whose clock is that?"

"That's Mother Teresa's. The hands have never once moved, indicating that she never told a lie. "

"Incredible," said the man. "And whose clock is that one?"

St. Peter responded, "That's Abraham Lincoln's clock. The hands have moved twice, telling us that Abe told only two lies in his entire life."

"Where's Bertie Ahern's clock?" asked the man.

"Oh that clock is in God the Father's office. He's using it as a fan."

General Parish Meeting

Don't forget the General Parish Meeting tomorrow night, Monday, October 9th at 8.00pm in the Dining Room. Please note that this is NOT the formal Annual General Meeting, where we will elect new officers and committee members, but a kind of preliminary meeting, a review of the past and a preview of the future.

It will be an opportunity for everyone present to take a look at how far we have come since the Parish Meeting five years ago where suggestions for renovation of the church and new initiatives in the parish were first mooted. So many people were involved in the Project! The huge efforts of all the committee members, but also many who were not members of any committee, but yet gave so freely of their time, effort, expertise and finances should be clearly recognised.

This is a time for getting feedback, suggestions, and for exploring this new phase in the development of the Augustinian 'Project'; we should remind ourselves that the 'Project' encompasses much more than the renovation of the church.

The church renovation was essential to the development of community around the Augustinian. But, it was only the beginning. The next phase of development is now upon us; how do we best use the 'sacred space' created by this Project in the 'heart of Galway'? There may be new people out there who would like to be involved, people who were unwilling or unable to get involved in the renovation part of the Project. It is now vital that these people are afforded an opportunity to give feedback, make suggestions, offer new ideas. They must be encouraged to get involved in this new phase.

At our next Steering Committee meeting on 16th October, we can prepare for a formal AGM and handover. We believe this to be the most effective way to facilitate smooth handover to those who will be 'steering' the next phase of the Augustinian Project.

Religion in Society

A series of 3 Public Lectures will be held in UCG:

Wed. Oct. 11th: 'Fallout from Regensburg' (Pope Benedict's Islam speech). Professor John Millbank, (Nottingham University).

Wed. Oct 18th: 'The Irish in 17th century Rome.' Professor Clare Carroll, (City University of New York).

Wed. Oct. 25th: 'Religion and Prejudice in Historical Perspective'. Doctor Roisin Healy. (NUIG).

All lectures begin at 8.00pm.

Life Ireland

'Life Pregnancy Care' has provided a counselling service to help women with crisis pregnancies since 1981. They will hold an Information Meeting on Monday next October 9th in Menlo Park Hotel at 8.00pm. Phone 091-566939.

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