Sunday Newsletter

Masses Today

6.30: Mary & David Moloney, (Anniv).
11.00: Bernard & Elizabeth Coyne, (Anniv).
6.30: Bridie & Patrick Harlowe, (Anniv).

As I Was Saying...

Liverpool football attracted much attention this week. On Tuesday night, Chelsea and themselves provided us with a rare pleasure. While the result was not what I desired, I got far more pleasure than I was entitled to expect from the match. As Brian Coady might say, 'football did more for me than I ever did for football!'

The following day, Wednesday, Liverpool football was once more the centre of attention, but for entirely different reasons. That day marked the 20th Anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster. Thousands poured into Anfield stadium. At six minutes past three in the afternoon, the vast crowd fell silent. There was a definite Good Friday 'feel' in the air. This was the precise minute 20 years ago when the referee blew the whistle to stop the FA Cup Semi-Final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forrest at the Hillsborough Stadium. Although over eleven hundred Police Officers were on duty and 44 ambulances were in attendance, they were of no avail as thousands of Liverpool fans were fed into already overcrowded stands. By the time the dust had settled, 96 people had been crushed to death.

That afternoon changed football forever. Stadiums throughout the country were restructured so effectively that a recurrence of Hillsborough would not be possible today. However, this is small consolation to the many bereaved families who have carried their sorrow with extraordinary dignity. They did not hide their wounds, but neither did they parade them for sympathy. The scars are simply part of who they now are. They are there too in the body of the wider sporting community. For, it's the crosses we bear as much as the joys of life's triumphs that give a person and a community their character.

It was fortuitous, but appropriate, that the anniversary should fall this year during Easter Week. A thought provoking aspects of the Resurrection of Jesus is the way he presents himself to his followers, scars and all. There's no attempt on his part to hide his wounds. There's certainly no supernatural surgery that erases the mutilation of his crucifixion. His damaged, tortured, humiliated body is there for all to see after his death. I heard an interview with a mother who had lost her two teenagers at Hillsborough. I say "lost" but, in fact, her testimony was that they were still with her. I know this may sound fanciful to some; but it will ring true to many who are tragically bereaved.

You might think that the terrifying circumstances of their cruel deaths would drive the bereaved to banish forever all thought of their suffering from mind and heart. Not so. As with the wounds of Christ, the scars, now sacred, endear the beloved to the bereaved, and make them ache to remember.

As surely they do in Derry or Dunblane, in Limerick or in L'Aquila. Before the names of those who died in Hillsborough were read aloud on Wednesday last, the stands echoed to the singing of "Abide with me", the anthem of the club. It has been sung on many great occasions but seldom has the last verse been sung with such poignancy:

"Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes;
shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies;
Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me."

-Dick Lyng

HAPPENINGS

Good Counsel Triduum

The Triduum begins on Friday night next, April 24th at 7.30. It will continue until Monday April 27th, the Feast Day itself. (Since the normal date for the feast falls this year on Sunday, 26th of April, the celebration of the feast is deferred until the following day, Monday 27th April.) There will be Devotions each evening at 7.30.

Each session will consist of Rosary, brief reflection on the mysteries, homily and Benediction. There will be Mass with homily at 11.00 on the Feast day itself, Monday April 27th. The celebration closes that evening, Monday April 27th with Devotions at 7.30.

The Triduum will be given by a man known to most of you, Father Ned Crosby. Fr Crosby has served as a priest in Hillside, Ballybane, Clare Island off Co Mayo, and in Lima, Perú, where he worked with street children and as a prison chaplain, where he ministered to members of the notorious Shining Path terrorist group. His experiences as a cleric at home and abroad have given him a unique insight into matters social, political, cultural, and spiritual.

He is also of course a published poet and an accomplished public speaker. He launched his latest volume of poetry, "Windows", in Charlie Byrne's bookshop last December. We look forward to hearing him.

WELCOME

We extend a very warm welcome to the new Rector of St. Nicholas' Church, Archdeacon Gary Hastings, currectly based in Westport. He will be officially installed as Rector in July. Gary is no stranger to Galway. In fact he was ordained while here almost 20 years ago. He is an unusual specimen in that he is a Belfast Protestant, and, at the same time an accomplished traditional musician while fluent in the Irish language. We hope you will be very happy in Galway, Gary, and we look forward to working with you.

QUOTABLE QUOTES...

"If people behaved in the way nations do, they would all be put into straightjackets." -Tennessee Williams.

"We have to believe in free will. We've got no choice." -Isaac Singer.

"Most women set out to try to change a man, and when they have changed him they do not like him." -Anon.

"What, when drunk, one sees in other women, one sees in Garbo sober." -Kenneth Tynan.

"Governments need to have both shepherds and butchers." -Voltaire.

"If you go to heaven without being naturally qualified for it, you can hardly expect to enjoy yourself there." - George Bernard Shaw.

ON TARGET

So intolerable had Hitler's persecution of the Jews become that two Jews decided to assassinate him. They mounted guard, their guns at the ready, at a spot by which they knew the Fuehrer was to pass. He was long time in coming and a horrible thought occurred to Samuel.

"Joshua," he said, "say a prayer that nothing's happened to the man!"

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