Parish of Lismore and Ballysaggart news
Sr Antoinettee Dillworth in her presentation on the Sacraments to the parents and priest last Wed truly put us in a good place. With lockdown we were truly gone flat. It was so good of so many parents to come along and engage with the presentation. This was shown by the ease of putting two committees together to prepare for our Sacramental preparation Masses. It will be a lovely encounter by young parents of the workings of their parish as a faith community. The age of the priest as a lone operator is surely dead and gone, never mind that so many priests have in fact gone that way. We are so grateful to the class teachers, Ms Prendergast and Mr Fitzgerald, Ms Smith and Mr Prendergast.
Wed, 2nd Feb, Feast of the Presentation of the Lord brings the Christmas season to a grand close. We pay attention to the welcome the old man Simeon gave to the infant Jesus on the day of his naming. Seeing Jesus he would say ‘now I can go in peace for my eyes have seen my Saviour’. Would that we could say that with our believing in Jesus we too are no longer held in terror by our death. In the meantime we have a great lot of living to be going on with. It is Springtime in nature and we say a wee prayer for those welcoming new life on the many farms and families.
We would need to be stone not to be moved by the suffering of so many families caught up in the HSE scandal in Kerry. The number of children involved must surely provoke real questions as to the causes for this suffering in the young people. I am so mindful that comments about infant rearing is a no go area for many. But maybe we need to reflect on the early environment infants find themselves in and not of their choosing. On similar matters research was carried out in the two countries we are asked to copy, namely Finland and Sweden. You might like to research their findings for yourself. In the meantime keep care for the young of all ages, they are our only future. They are the ones who will pay the pensions, care for the aged, preferrable at home but if necessary in residential settings. We can never forget the work of the staff and committed of St Carthage’s Rest Home. The residents have coped so well in these years but are eager for more freedoms that will come as Covid becomes less prevalent.
On Thursday we will have the blessing of throats in honour of St Blaise after the 10 am Mass. We will also include the blessing after the 9.30am Mass on Sun in Ballysaggart, when we will also bless the candles handed in for use on the altar in memory of loved ones or in appreciation of blessings received.