Sunday Newsletter

Masses Today

6.30 (Vigil) Sean & Annie Kelly (Anniv).
11.00: Ellen & Paddy Wade (Anniv).
6.30: Jack Melvin, Merchant's Road (Anniv).

Masses Sunday next, June 1st: 6.30 (Vigil): Jackie & Annie Nee; (Anniv); 11.00: Patrick & Nora Cunningham (Anniv); 6.30: Doreen Lydon, (Anniv).
TTHE DEAD: Remember in your prayers David Wilkinson who died this week. May he rest in peace.
ANNIVERSARIES: Remember also Bonnie Jones whose anniversary occurs.
COLLECTION: Last Sunday's 'take' was €1,375.00.
BAPTISM: We welcome into the Church this morning little Mary Hardiman, daughter of Gabriel and Lynda from Doughiska. We know Mary will bring you much happiness.
FIRST FRIDAY: Since I will be away from Galway on the First Friday in June, I will make the 'First Friday' calls on Friday next, May 30th instead. I will call at the usual times.
KNOCK SUNDAY: The Galway Diocesan Pilgrimage to Knock takes place today, May 25th. Ceremonies will begin with the Anointing of the Sick at 2.30.
YOUTH MASS: The Mass for the Senior Cycle students will be held this Sunday, May 25th at 6.30. With exams fast approaching, this will be the final Mass of this school year. The Mass will reflect in a particular way the needs of young students at this stressful time (for all of us!)
CORRIB CANOE SUMMER: Enrolling for children, young adults, and adult courses are beginning immediately. If you wish to join us for a Summer of fun, phone 087-7435644 or www.corribcanoe.com.
CHILD PROTECTION: The meeting on ChildProtection issues will be held on Thursday next, May 29th in the Priory at 8.00. Our Child Protection Policy will be explained there. It is vital that all who are involved in the Augustinian in any way should come along to this meeting. Letters to this effect have gone out to you. This same exercise is being conducted in every parish in the country.

As I Was Saying...

The world moved a step closer to 'the Designer Baby' this week with the passing into law of the the Fertilisation and Embryology Bill through the British parliament. There are four elements in this bizarre piece of legislation that will send shivers down the sensitive spines of a great many people.

First, abortion was discussed in tandem with this bill. Some MPs sought to have the limit for termination reduced to 20 weeks, from 24. The case centres on the viability of the foetus, bearing in mind that babies born at 24 weeks are increasingly likely to survive. Attempts to reduce the time limit failed. There were over 200,000 abortions in Britain last year, a 4% increase on the previous year, with abortions among teenagers the fastest rising group. This trend will continue, with renewed political approval.

The second disconcerting factor is that the creation of 'hybrid embryos' is now permitted. A hybrid embryo is a mixture of animal and human tissue. These are created by transferring DNA from human cells, such as skin cells, into animal eggs that have had virtually all their genetic information removed. The resulting embryos are more than 99% human, with a small animal component of around 0.1%. They are then grown in the lab for a few days before being harvested for stem cells, immature cells that can become many types of tissue. This is the most critical question here: is a 'hybrid' embryo the only way to increase life-chances? Many scientists say 'No'.

The third disturbing aspect of this bill is the 'Saviour Sibling'. 'Saviour Siblings' are babies born because they are a tissue match for a sick older brother or sister with a genetic condition. Cells from the baby's bone marrow are used to treat the older child. Supporters of this measure argued that it would only be considered where conventional treatment has been ruled out. Could a child be created as 'a quarry' of spare parts? Or could it feel that way?

The fourth questionable element in the bill concerns fatherhood. Previous legislation required IVF clinics to consider the "welfare" of any child created. Up to this week, that meant 'considering the need for a father'. This is no longer the case. In response to feminist lobbying, the wording in the Bill replaced the word 'father' with 'supportive parenting'. Providing loopholes by which fatherhood is obliterated is surely regressive.

Of course same sex parenting is not unknown. But legislation which institutionalises the absence of fatherhood is surely a cultural time bomb. Fatherhood is neither a biological accident or cultural misogyny. Whatever science might achieve, surely the ideal family unit consists of father, mother and offspring. As Alvin Toffler wrote, the family is the crucible of society. God knows, responsible fatherhood is already in short supply.

There is, of course, no shame in belonging to a fatherless home. Some of the most balanced people I know came from such homes. And, obviously, not all fathers are good fathers. But good laws should never rob us of the ideal. Frankenstein had a good day at the office this week. Despite the best of intentions of those involved, we may yet reap the whirlwind on this one!

-Dick Lyng

ALL TIME FAVOURITES

(Four years ago the English Catholic journal, The Tablet, asked its readers to nominate their 20 favourite hymns. The results are given below. To my intense disappointment, a choir member from the Church had never heard of ten of the hymns below. What would Dustin say? Standards slipping? I should hope not!)

How great thou art, Carl Boberg (1850-1940) K. Hine.
Dear Lord and Father of mankind, John Whittier (1807-92)
My song is love unknown, Samuel Crossman (1624-83)
Praise to the Holiest in the heights, John Newman (1801-90)
Amazing grace, John Newton (1725-1807)
Be still, for the presence of the Lord, David Evans (b. 1957)
Be thou my vision, Irish (8th century) translated by Mary Byrne, (1880-1931)
Abide with me, John Henry Newman (1801-90)
Christ be our light, Bernadette Farrell (b. 1957)
He who would valiant be, Percy Dearmer (1867-1936)
When I survey the wondrous cross, Isaac Watts (1674-1748)
Guide me, O Thou great Redeemer, W. Williams (1717-91).
Hail, Queen of Heav'n, John Lingard (1771-1851) ,
I, the Lord of sea and sky, Daniel L. Schutte SJ (b. 1947)
Immortal, invisible, W. Chalmers Smith (1825-1908)
Let all mortal flesh keep silence, G. Moultrie (1829-85)
Soul of my Saviour, (anon)
Shine Jesus shine, Graham Kendrick (b. 1950)
Now the green blade riseth, J.M.C. Crum (1872-1958)
Thine be the glory, Edmond Budry (1854-1932).

SUMMER FESTIVAL

We will celebrate our Mid Summer Festival on the last weekend of June (28-29). We will celebrate the Mid- Summer Liturgy on Saturday evening at the 6.30 Mass. The Church of Ireland community will join us for all phases of the celebrations. Unfortunately, the Rector will be absent on a Protestant 'freebee' in his true spiritual home, the Bible Belt. (By the way, he is still recovering from his bout of over-exposure to religion at the recent Church of Ireland Synod!)

BARBEQUE: As usual, a barbecue will follow in the Priory Car Park afterwards. As is our custom, the barbecue will be the focal point of our social celebrations. Peter O'Neill will again be in charge of the victuals and their incineration. We are delighted that Peter is available once again for this gig. We would need to check now that all our props are still serviceable: gazebos, patio heaters (for the pessimists), gas cylinders, speakers, and so on. The Steering Committee will meet on Tuesday June 3rd to examine arrangements closely.
CHILDREN'S ART: Don't forget the Children's Art Competition. We have three categories: (1) for children from 4-8 years; (2) for those from 9-13 years, and those from 14-17 years. I have already passed on this information to Rev'd Patrick Towers, and St. Nicholas' Church of Ireland National School will be competing for the very attractive prizes on offer. (First prize in the 4-8 category will be a bottle of 2005 Chateauneuf-du-Pape). It is imperative that some Catholic children get in there with paintbrushes to ensure that the Papal flag is kept flying over the studios of artistic endeavour. The adjudicators for the occasion will be a panel of once-renowned but now retired artists. They are advised at all stages of the process by a practicing theologian of some stature. The decision of the judges (which is final) will be announced at the party after the Liturgy on Saturday night. Please have your entries in the priory on or before Thursday, June 26th. Intimidation of the Judges (such as deflating their car tyres, insulting their partners, calling into question their artistic credentials, and so on) will incur automatic disqualification from this competition and a two-year ban from all future art competitions.
CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT: We usually provide some form of entertainment for the children at the festival. In the past, we engaged Face-Painters, Magicians, Mad Scientists, Puppeteers, Acrobats, Greyhound Trainers, Wolf Whistlers, Money Changers, Water Diviners, Rat Catchers, Animal Psychologists, Lion Tamers, all to very little effect. Any ideas for this year? We really should be moving on this one now.

Quotable Quotes...

"Morals are an acquirement - like music, like a foreign language, like piety, like poker, paralysis, - no one is born with morals." - Mark Twain.
"Parents are the bones on which children sharpen their teeth." - Peter Ustinov.
"God is really only another artist. He invented the giraffe, the elephant, the cat. He has no real style. He just goes on trying other things." - Pablo Picasso.
"No absolute is going to make the lion lie down with the lamb, unless the lamb is inside!" - D.H. Lawrence.
"I have come to regard the law courts not as a cathedral but as a casino." - Richard Ingrams.
"The art of preaching, like acting, consist of keeping people form coughing." - Ralph Richardson.

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