Sunday Newsletter
Masses Today
6.30: Desmond Donovan, (Anniv).
11.00: Laurence Spelman, (Anniv).
6.30: Una & Michael Beatty, (Anniv).
- Masses for next Sunday, April 25th: 6.30: John Melvin; 11.00: Lou & Billy Buchan; 6.30: Doreen Lydon, (Anniv).
- RECENT DEATH (1): Remember in your prayers the late Eileen Foley, Dun na Mara Drive, Renmore, who died tragically and accidentally on Monday last, two days short of her 65th birthday. Eileen was a regular visitor to the Augustinian up to relatively recent times. She is survived by her husband Bill and their five children, Garvan, Michele, Aengus, Paula and Dara. Her funeral Mass was celebrated in Renmore on Thursday last. May she rest in peace.
- RECENT DEATH (2): Pray too for the late Peggy Francis, Woodquay, who was buried from the Abbey Church on Wednesday. Peggy, who was in her 90th year, is survived by her husband Jimmy and four daughters. RIP.
- COLLECTION: The collection last Sunday was €1,524.
As I Was Saying...
Five years ago tomorrow, on April 19th, 2005, Joseph Ratzinger (78) was elected pope after a surprisingly short two-day deliberation. Whatever they may think of Benedict today, the Cardinals can never say that they didn't know what they were getting, or who they were electing. As head of the Congregation for Doctrine and the Faith, Ratzinger enhanced his reputation as a doctrinaire disciplinarian.
At a pre-conclave Mass attended by the cardinals, Ratzinger delivered what amounted to a 'programme for retrenchment.' He left his esteemed congregation in no doubt whatsoever as to where he stood on matters of faith and morals: "A dictatorship of relativism is established that recognizes nothing definite and leaves only one's own ego and one's own desires as the final measure. An adult faith does not follow the waves of fashion and the latest novelty."
Ratzinger was once regarded as a liberal, even a radical. As theological adviser at the Second Vatican Council, he played a key role in awakening his church from centuries of reactionary slumber. He embraced the council's support for ecumenism, its adoption of a liturgy in which worshippers could participate more actively, and its endorsement of greater internal democracy. In 1966, he wrote a book that was translated into English as "Theological Highlights of Vatican II", an absolutely brilliant exposition of 'the spirit of the Council'. "This is a man on fire," wrote one enthusiastic English reviewer!
By 1972, however, the flames kindling Ratzinger's intellect were different ones. In between, Europe had been shaken by an eruption of student protest that began on the streets of Paris and raced across the continent, soon reaching the tranquil university town of Tübingen. Its revolutionary implications profoundly alarmed Professor Ratzinger. The following year he fled Tübingen for the more traditionalist Regensburg.
Ever since, mistrust of the 'spirit of the age' has been one of Benedict's main intellectual characteristics. He has never forgotten that he was born into a society that inflicted untold suffering on the world precisely because it fell into unthinking conformity. Among his favourite passages from the scriptures is Romans 12:2: "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."
Despite this (or because of it?), he is a difficult man to pigeon-hole. His position on several issues is more left than right. He condemned the invasion of Iraq. He has been a stern critic of the unregulated free market. Not surprisingly, just like all his predecessors before him, he is hostile to abortion and contraception. He deplores the death penalty, he is antipathetic to homosexuality and dismissive of the idea of women priests. He is convinced that Europe, in opting for secular liberalism, has abandoned its heritage and civilisation.
I wonder how Benedict will be viewed in a hundred years' time? Will it be as a reactionary, or a prophet? He may be behind his time, or ahead of his time, but one thing is certain: he is not of his time! Happy anniversary!
-Dick Lyng
Items of Great Interest
- GOOD COUNSEL TRIDUUM: Begins on Friday next, April 23. All sessions will consist of Rosary, Sermon & Benediction each evening at 7.30. The Triduum Director and Preacher this year will be Bishop Martin Drennan. Mass of the Feast will be celebrated on Monday April 26th. Novena Prayers will begin from Saturday April 17th at 11.00 Mass each day. Petition and Offering envelopes now available in the vicinity of Our Lady's shrine.
- STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING: We will meet on Tuesday next, April 20th, at 7.30. (This meeting was scheduled for Tuesday last, but we deferred it to facilitate the 'Easter Review'). Among other things, we will revisit the ideas on the 'Augustinian Project' that Joe McKenna presented to us at our last meeting. Our full team is: Gerry Ferguson (Chair), Patricia Lally (Secretary), Brigid Headon (Treasurer) Peter Cunnane, Cathal Cunninghan, Pádraig O Gormaile, Micheál Hayes, Edward Jones, Pauline Staunton, Des Foley, and Dick Lyng.
- POLISH MASS: Mass will be offered in St. Patrick's Church, Forster Street, this Sunday evening at 5.00pm for President Lech Kaczynski and all who lost their lives in the plane crash at Smolensk earlier this week.
- EASTER LITURGICAL REVIEW: Thanks to all who came along to our meeting on Tuesday last to review the Holy Week and Easter ceremonies. Twenty-two people attended, an excellent turn-out. We went through each of the ceremonies individually. There was no shortage of sensible criticisms and helpful suggestions for the future. All comments were recorded and they will actively inform our preparations for Holy Week and Easter next year, if we are all still alive then. We demonstrated our unquestioning allegiance to Rome by concluding the evening with generous helpings of Italian pasta, washed down by copious draughts of fine Montepulciano D'Abruzzo wine. Thanks to everyone for coming along and contributing to the review.
- EASTER DUES: The present score with the Easter Dues is €8,320.00. That is a most generous response in times of recession. Thank you very, very much.
- YOUTH RETREAT: Are you 16-35? "Youth 2000 Connaught" would like to invite you to a youth retreat in St. Jarlath's College, Tuam, Galway on Friday 21 to Sunday 23 May 2010. We are expecting 40-80 young adults to attend over the weekend. Why not consider joining other young people in exploring the important things in life! THIS IS A FREE EVENT! We just ask you to give what you can afford. Food and accommodation are provided. Just bring your sleeping bag! See www.youth2000.ie for more information.
- MAINTENANCE MEETING: Our Maintenance group will meet at 7.00 on Tuesday night, immediately before the Steering Committee meeting. There are a few items of a material nature which must be addressed.
- LOURDES PILGRIMAGE (A): The Galway Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes, led by Bishop Martin Drennan, will take place this year from the 1st to the 6th July. Fare will be €725. (Special arrangements & accommodation provided for the sick: €585). All bookings through Fahy Travel, Bridge St. (594747)
- LOURDES PILGRIMAGE (B): Lourdes & the Shrines of France: 1-9th July. €899 per person (fully inclusive). From Shannon to Lourdes, Avignon, Valance, Ars, Nevers, Paris, Lisieux, returning via Paris to Shannon. For information on this, contact Seán O'Flaherty, the Cathedral (563577).
- LOURDES PILGRIMAGE (C): Remember, the parish here will once again sponsor one person to travel on the above pilgrimage. The person will be advanced in years and someone who can't afford it. Can you think of anyone? If you can, contact me.
A Loving Church
If our Church is to be a Christ centred Church then it must also be a loving Church. 'By this shall all people know that you are my disciples if you love one another.'
It seems to me that Christ's commandment of love at the very least demands that I respect the dignity of every other person no matter what differences may arise between us.
At a very basic level our Church often presents as less than loving to those whose lives are in some way in conflict with official teaching. I have in mind people in second/irregular unions, people of homosexual orientation, people who feel alienated by teaching on family planning.
This raises the issue of preaching ideals and yet respecting those who for any of a variety of reasons may be unable at this time to live by those ideals. For example the couple in an irregular union may well subscribe to the Church teaching that marriage is a lifelong commitment but may be unable to live out that ideal because one of them married at a very young age and found themselves in an intolerable relationship which they had to leave.
Can we reconcile the ideal of marriage as a life long commitment and yet treat with respect and with tangible love the couple who are unable to live that ideal in their lives right now? Is it consistent with a Church which is forgiving, loving, compassionate to permanently exclude them from full participation in the Sacraments of Penance and Eucharist?
Precisely the same dilemma arises for many couples in relation to family planning.
-Dr Willie Walsh, Killaloe.
"Quotable quotes..."
- "Arithmetic is being able to count up to twenty without taking off your shoes." -Mickey Mouse.
- "According to the latest official figures, 43% of all statistics are totally worthless." -Ashleigh Brilliant
- "Acceptance without proof is the fundamental characteristic of Western religion; rejection without proof is the fundamental characteristic of Western science." -Gary Zukav