Sunday Newsletter

Masses Today

6.30: Joseph & Josephine Kelly, (Anniv).
11.00: Jackie & Annie Nee, (Anniv).
6.30: Jack Melvin, Merchants' Road (2nd Anniv).

AS I WAS SAYING.....

Two British couples, Alan and Melissa Millar, and Kenneth and Julia McFarlane, were very much in the news this week. The House of Lords dismissed the appeal of Melissa Miller's former husband, Alan, who was contesting her award of £5,000,000 after less than three years of marriage.

In a second case, the Lords also upheld the settlement of the wife of Kenneth McFarlane. Mr McFarlane was trying to reduce an order to give his wife a home worth £1,5000,000 and £250,000 a year for five years. It means Julia McFarlane is entitled to £250,000 a year from her husband Kenneth for life rather than just for five years as decided by the Court of Appeal.

Can all our relationships be weighed up in money? This week's decision could mean that divorced women may now be able to claim not just maintenance but also compensation for contributing to the accumulation of their husbands' wealth. This also takes into consideration any lucrative or potential career a wife might have given up during her marriage. Admittedly, these landmark cases involve very rich people; but the question remains whether we talk in millions or hundreds. When two people get married what kind of commitment are they really staking on each other? When they separate, what settlement is a fair reflection of the value of their life as a couple and as parents?

European society has come a long way in creating opportunities for women to work. In the case of women especially, work is now regarded as a badge of social affirmation, and an exercise in individual rights. But despite all attempts to create economic fair-play between the sexes, in the end each has to make their own choices about balancing losses and gains as partners and parents. Most women who work have to work and many parents face the daily responsibilities of childcare together.

Increasingly, the distinctions between the money earner and the homemaker are blurring. Thus, if a woman chooses to give up employment to raise her children or to support her husband, surely this shouldn't be held against her; neither should it become the trump card in her bargaining power when things go wrong. For after all, you'd expect that she too gained in different ways and that this wasn't so much a personal sacrifice but more a personal choice.

While this ruling may not be making it easier to divorce, it's certainly making it seem more attractive. Marriages fail for all sorts of reasons but in the end most faiths and societies continue to uphold marriage as a very desirable moral and social ideal. Bunreacht na hÉireann, the Irish Constitution, recognises this. Marriage is still the fundamental building block of society, a context for love, companionship and emotional well being. But, if we talk less of emotional commitment within it, and more of financial gain at the end, then this can't be good news for marriage anywhere.

-Dick Lyng

Items of Interest

Posture in Church

We will make another attempt to introduce the new regulations on 'Posture in Church' this week. So have a scan down through altered elements again. Once again, the new proposals are as follows:

Obviously, we will have to make exception (in the case of kneeling) with those people in our two front rows. As you see, great ephasis is placed on standing as the normal posture throughout the greater part of the Mass. Standing expresses the readiness for action of an Easter people lifted up to greet its risen Lord. We will begin this weekend. The 'common' practice will also apply on weekdays.

The Bible in 50 Words

God made, Adam bit, Noah arked, Abraham split, Joseph ruled, Jacob fooled, bush talked, Moses balked, Pharaoh plagued, people walked, sea divided, tablets guided, promise landed, Saul freaked, David peeked, prophets warned, Jesus born, God walked, love talked, anger crucified, hope died. Love rose, Spirit flamed, Word spread, God remained.

First Friday

Friday next is the First Friday. We bring Holy Communion and the Sacrament of the Sick to the housebound on that day. Traditionally on First Fridays we had Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the Church. However, during our homelessness last year, we got out of the habit of practicing this devotion. We will attempt to revive that practice on Friday next, June 2nd. We will expose the Blessed Sacrament after the 11.00 Mass and conclude with Devotions at 6.00 in the evening.

If possible we will draw up a rota for Adoration. I have placed a copybook on a table at the end of the church. If you think you may be available at any time on that Friday, just put your name down for that particular slot.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is a form of Eucharistic devotion which is particularly widespread in the Church and earnestly recommended to her Pastors and faithful. Its initial form derives from Holy Thursday and the altar of repose, following the celebration of the Mass of the Lord's Supper.

This adoration is a most apt way of expressing the connection between the celebration of the memorial of the Lord's Sacrifice and his continued presence in the Sacrament of the Altar. The reservation of the Sacred Species, so as to be able to administer Viaticum to the sick at any time, encouraged the practice among the faithful of recollection before the tabernacle and to worship Christ present in the Sacrament.

-From The Holy See's 'Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy'.

"Sayings, wise and unwise......"

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