Sunday Newsletter

Masses Today

6.30: (Vigil): Paddy & Una Glynn, (Anniv).
11.00: Sean, Coleman and Bina Cooke, (Anniv).
6.30: Martin & Bridget Murray, (Anniv).

As I Was Saying...

For anyone who cares about our democracy, this was an utterly depressing week. On the one hand, the financial probity of our public representatives was subjected to public scrutiny and found wanting. On the other, there was an ugly explosion of fury from the general public. 'How could they DO it', they screamed!

All that Ceann Comhairle stuff, the FAS scandals, the Ryan Report, the 'Bad Banks' fiasco, have all contributed to the infuriation of the general public. (The parallels with Britain are amazing. There too the Speaker fell through a journalist's use of the Freedom of Information Act). No institution remains untouched. Suspicion and mistrust attaches itself to everything. Cynicism is, understandably, widespread.

So the public has judged our Bankers, our Bishops, our Public Servants and TDs and found them devious, greedy, shameless, and self-serving. That's the view in the supermarket and the bus queue. There is a general desire for retribution. But that desire seems to be arbitrary, collective and indiscriminate. As happened in the case of clerical sex abuse, there is a danger of tarring all politicians with the one brush. 'Off with their heads!' screams the crowd, and the anger demands to be appeased. The 'Liveline Mob' are on the scent and their tails are up. Joe, of course, is egging them on!

We are finding that "going to the very limit of what the rules permit" isn't good enough. But anger isn't good enough either. Anger, once numbered among the Seven Deadly Sins, is enjoying a new lease of life as the fifth Cardinal virtue! Anger is regarded in many quarters as a barometer of moral integrity. The intensity of one's anger reflects the superiority of one's integrity. But, as the 'Board Snip Nua' chairman reminded one suitably irate listener this week, "Anger is not a policy." We need an internal moral compass as well. To be precise, we need a conscience. We need it in order to apply to our lives the four cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance.

The Freedom of Information (1997) Act, in its present shape, dates from 2003. Journalists have used it most effectively to hold politicians and public bodies to account. To the sure, this Act is a principle that nurtures mature democratic processes.

However, mere information requires interpretation. Knowledge without wisdom is useless. Striving to use what we know for the common good requires patience, wisdom and a commitment to peace. In the Scriptures, the figure of Wisdom is a woman who stands at the crossroads and calls for justice. She's the one who holds all things together; she delights in human beings and makes them friends with God.

The gathering and exposure of information without the exercise of wisdom is a risky enterprise. It unleashes the anger of the mob or the extremist that lurks within each one of us, however reasonable we may judge ourselves to be. The balance between proper public scrutiny and a respect for individual complexity is hard to achieve, but a society that prizes wisdom will demand that we continue to try.

-Dick Lyng

An Early Christmas Treat

The Choir will be recording the Christmas music for their forthcoming CD during the 11 o'clock Mass today, Sunday, October 11th, and also afterwards from 12.00 to 2.00 pm approximately, in the church. They would like to invite you and your friends to attend, particularly from 12.00 to 2.00 pm, to enjoy their singing and enhance the atmosphere for the recording. Light refreshments will be provided afterwards.

Croi Nua Autumn Programme

Three separate Courses will be conducted this Autumn in the Crio Nua Retreat Centre, Rosary Lane, Taylor's Hill (Phone 520960):

Open House Galway

Open House Galway is a free event, allowing citizens to explore the architecture of their city. Throughout next weekend, from October 16 to 18, nominated buildings will be open for a time for special tours given by hundreds of professionals and enthusiasts, who generously volunteer their time.

The Augustinian Church is the only ecclesiastical building featuring on the Architectural Tour. (Tour time: Saturday, October 17, 12.00-4.00.) The architect is commended for the achievement of 'a sensitive balance between conservation and renewed patterns of worship.'

Rev. Gary Hastings

I had an informal meeting with the new Church of Ireland Rector, The Reverend Gary Hastings, this week. Gary, a native of east Belfast, had been Rector in Westport for 14 years before coming to Galway. It is obvious from his conversations that he loved the place, and no doubt contributed handsomely to the very warm relationship that exists between the two Churches there.

He is very anxious that the close relationship between St. Nick's and the Augustinian here should continue to flourish. We reviewed the various ceremonies and functions that we shared during Patrick's reign. He is keen that these should continue with more of the same.

Our first common function will be a Commemoration of the Faithful Departed at St. Nicholas' on All Souls Night, Monday, November 2nd.

Flu Reminder

The repetition of recommendations for 'Best Practice in Times of Flu Pandemic' becomes almost as tedious as the flu itself! However, given that our Sunday congregations vary so much, and that visitors are such a common feature here, a little repetition will not go astray. (The foregoing should be taken in conjunction with the HSE general instructions, not as a replacement for them!) The virus is typically spread through coughing, sneezing or touching contaminated surfaces and then touching the nose or mouth. Certain liturgical practices present their own obvious dangers. Our common practice of blessing ourselves from a common stagnant Holy Water font comes immediately to mind.

So, until such time as this emergency passes, Holy Water has been removed from all fonts. Holy water is available in the sacristy for use in your homes. We have also introduced the use of hand sanitizers for eucharistic ministers before (and after) they distribute Holy Communion. (These contain the same sterilising liquid that you find outside hospital wards). The sanitizers are kept on the Credence Table with the gifts. For the time being also, we will cease the practice of exchanging the Sign of Peace. In addition, we offer you the following guidelines regarding the reception of Holy Communion

  1. We recommend that communion be taken in the hand only. Given the manner in which the virus is primarily passed on (through saliva, over-enthusiastic sneezing, and so on!), reception of Holy Communion on the tongue is discouraged in the Augustinian for the present.
  2. We recommend that you do not drink from the chalice, with the exception of people whose special health conditions require it, such as coeliacs.
  3. If you do decide to receive from the chalice, we recommend that you do it by 'intinction', that is, you receive the host on your hand from the priest or the minister, you then proceed to the chalice on the altar and you dip the host into the chalice before receiving it in your mouth. We anticipate your kind coo-operation.

Top

Valid HTML 4.01 Strict