Parish of Lismore and Ballysaggart news
With the suffering caused by the invasion of Ukraine it is difficult to live the joy of Easter. We owe it to ourselves and to all who come to share our common home to be people of Christian hope arising from the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, the Christ. The Experience of the Easter Liturgy, enriching our lives, we can love ever more generously. Love that is real is sacrificial.
Many thanks to you who have responded with a high heart to the Trocaire Lenten Family Fast Box appeal. Many returned them at Holy Thursday Mass and many more are being returned. You heeded the call to meet the pain and poverty of our Christian families in the Holy Land. You are ever mindful of the many retired priests of your diocese as well as those working in your parishes. Many are so generous and many are considering their Christian duty and care of their priests.
Many thanks to the members of the 5th Pastoral Council under the chairmanship of Ms Helen Mangan. Helen led by example in the commitment to the sanitising of the Church during the Pandemic. The council led a very good role during those months. Their work extended to other areas of pastoral concern. They quietly introduced the ministry of welcome. It seems so obvious to have a person greet the Mass going people at the Church door. It changes the experience of Eucharist for the person coming into Mass. I am very keen to see this simple ministry continue. Thanks to the members of the council who will remain on for the next three years.
On Tuesday 26th the 6th Pastoral Council was formed with Ms Marie Doocey taking on the responsibility as Chairperson. Thanks to the new council. They will not be able to do everything but meeting existing needs and some new needs will be good. Parishioners, you are encouraged to get to know the members and how you might like to engage in the mission of the parish.
Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan, Bishop of Lismore and Waterford will celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation with the families of 6th Class. The children, catechesis by Mr Smith and Mr Prendergast but formed in the Faith by their parents will freely choose to be Confirmed. The children will need so much ongoing Faith support into their early twenties. Like us all, children, need witnesses to the truth of their Faith. Parents bear witness to all that they cherish and spend their time, money and energy on.
Every parent needs to be a professional jugular to hold all the demands and expectations of their children in play. Christian living is more than just good social respectability that could equate with state religion. We do hope all the families have memorable day on the day of Confirmation. Confirmation sponsors you have such a privileged access to your Confirmation child, a friendship you must earn and not with just money. Children know when their loyalty is being priced.
This is a complex world for all of us. So much subtle social conditioning happening. Media Studies ought to be a subject at both Primary, Secondary and at Third Level Education. The subject of SPHE is good but Media Studies is needed to equip our young to be critical thinkers and not mere consumers of ideas and attitude. The use of subliminal imagining, half truths, so called humour, voice tone is to name a few realities. The need to get behind social influencers and how they think is necessary. The role of Philosophy could be well included.