CONGRATULATIONS to Katie Keane who came 1st in the U 11 Solo Singing in the Comhaltas Sult na nOg competition in Tralee recently.
BEST WISHES to Sean Walsh in his new position of Referees Development Chairman in GAA Central Committee.
CLASSES: Keep fit classes with Maggie Large in Knockanure Community Classes every Thursday from 7.30pm to 8.30 pm. All levels welcome. New members especially welcome. For more information call Maggie on 0879866533
Depending on the numbers Zumba classes will start in Knockanure Community Centre. Anyone interested please call the office at 068/49799.
BLOOD DONOR CLINIC at the Community Centre, Ballybunion on Thursday March 19th from 6 – 9pm.
I.C.A. Healthy Eating Demonstration’ with Sid on Tuesday 10/3/15 at 7.30pm sharp at the Marian Hall. Admission is free.
FOOD: Local born Lizzie Lyons with help from NEKD operates a stall at Listowel farmers market, details can be found on facebook page Lizzie’s Little Kitchen.
AMY MURPHY DEMENTIA ADVISOR with The Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland, talk at Listowel Family Resource Centre on Tues. March 10th at 12.30pm.
RETREAT at Ardfert last week was well attended, talks were given, stations of the cross, prayers, confessions and mass by Fr Dan Ahern ended the evening.
TRAIL: Great Southern Trail Greenway decided to inaugurate new trail loops. The first is on Sunday, March 15th at Halla Inse Bán,Templeglantine.
SHRUBS and plants everywhere are showing signs of new life, Daffodills are in bloom and tiny flowers on wild plums are heralding spring.
DEAH took place on 1st March 2015 of Noirín (Dolly) O’ Hanlon of The Writings, Listowel and Skehard Road, Cork and formerly of Dooncaha House, Tarbert, daughter of the late Patrick and Mary O’Hanlon, pre-deceased by her brothers John and Fr. Tommy; deeply regretted by her brothers Fr. Jim, Paddy, Ned and Michael, her sisters Bríd (Brassill), Mary (Flynn) and Eileen (Hyland), sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, cousins, relatives, neighbours and friends. Requiem Mass for Noreen O Hanlon was celebrated by her brother Fr. Jim assisted by over a dozen fellow priests on Tuesday March 3rd at St. Mary’s Church, Tarbert. Her contributions to teaching and good works are a great monument to a very active and generous life.
ANNIVERSARIES: Sr. Majella Flaherty, Mikey Shanahan, Alice Barrett, Donna Stack, Eileen Egan, Mick Liston, Betty Goulding, Peg Hodsell, Margaret Mulvihill, Tom Flaherty, Bill Hudson, Mary O Keeffe, Ann O Sullivan, Pat Kennelly, Rose Galvin, Patrick Hughes, Tess Stack, Margaret Relihan, Jimmy Beaton, Mary Ann Collins. Mass on Tues. 10th at 7.30pm for Margaret & Michael Mulvihill. Mass on
Wed. 11th at 7.30pm for William J. O’Connor Dore. Mass on
Thurs. 12th at 7.30pm for Catherine O’Connor. Mass on Sat. 14th at 7.30pm for Maureen Kinnane. Mass on Sun. 15th at 10.00am for Bridie Flavin and 11.00am Mass is for James Beaton.
ST PATRICK’S Day; Mass on Mon. 16th at 7.30pm, Vigil for St. Patrick’s Day. Mass on Tues. 17th at 10.00am for Kitty & Mossie Flaherty and the 11.00am mass is for the People of the Parish.
STATIONS: Mass Fri. 13th at Knockanure 7.30pm, with Stations of the Cross afterwards. Stations of The Cross: Let us continue our Lenten Journey. Please join in The Way of the Cross on Thursday Evenings Moyvane at 7.30pm or after Mass.
CHURCH NEWS: Diocesan Collection for Emigrant Services on 14th & 15th March. Confessions every Saturday before the Vigil Mass at 7.10pm and on request. Adoration Sun. 4.00pm to 5.00pm, Wed. 10.00am to 7.00pm; Knockanure Tues. 10.00am to 6.00pm.
Readers: Vigil Elaine Hudson, 11am Philip Kiely & Maureen Walsh.
Knockanure 10am Patricia & Andrew Rogan.
MASS at Clounmacon Community Centre for Margaret Halpin on Friday march 20th at 7.30pm. Margaret was sister of Ciss Dore.
LENTEN TROCAIRE BOXES: are available at the back of the Church. Please take one. Trad for Trócaire will take place during St. Patrick’s week, to help us raise money and fund projects.
THANKS: Sincere thanks to all who have given Spring Offerings.
YOUTH Pastoral Ministry Course 2015 – 2016. More information at Ardfert Retreat Centre, on Monday 9th March at 8pm. Details from Bernie McCaffrey on 087 6484367.
LISTOWEL FOLK GROUP TO SING ‘AIFREANN NA RIOCHTA’ A mass by Listowel native – the late Garry McMahon will be sung at the Vigil Mass on Saturday night (March 14th ) at 7.00 p.m. All are welcome.
BIRTHDAYS: Daniel Leahy of Kilmorna celebrated his 40th birthday, Nicholas Mulvihill of Moyvane celebrated his 50th Birthday and his son Dylan had his 18th birthday recently.
NEW: Ard Churam will open in Listowel in June, it will cater for over 100 elderly people.
CONCERT: Traditional fund raising concert on Saturday March 14th in Fr Casey’s GAA club Abbeyfeale at 8pm Music, Singing, Dancing and Storytelling. with numerous All Ireland winners performing.
WALK: Athea N.S. will be holding their annual sponsored walk on Friday, March 20th.
RTE Radio Short Story Competition closing date 1st May 2015.
GLORACH NOTES: Sam Cree play, performances will take place on March 12, 14, 15, 21 and 22. Curtains up at 8pm each night at the Glórach Theatre.
24 HOURS FOR THE LORD: In union with Pope Francis, Tralee Pastoral Area will celebrate 24 Hours For The Lord in St. John’s Church on Friday evening next March 13th from 6.45pm until Saturday evening vigil Mass at 6.10. St. John’s Church will be open for Eucharistic Adoration and Confession throughout these 24 hours.
TEMPORARY LIFEGUARDS – GLIN & KILTEERY PIERS Job Description: Candidates must hold a minimum of current Irish Water Safety Beach Lifeguard or an equivalent qualification, and shall not be less than 17 years of age on 20th May 2015.
FUNDRAISING: Glin Comhaltas: We are having another fundraising event. It’s on in O’Shaughnessy’s pub on Sunday 15th of March at 5 in the afternoon. It’s a mix of Music Song and Dance!
A.G.M. OF ST. PATRICK’S HALL: is taking place on Tuesday, March 10th in the Hall at 6.30 p.m.
MEDJUGORJE MONTHLY PRAYER MEETING will meet in the Adoration Chapel room, Listowel on Monday 9th March at 7.30pm.
LISTOWEL BRANCH OF THE IRISH CANCER SOCIETY, DAFFODIL DAY MARCH 27TH 2015 Once again we ask for your support in our collection which takes place On Friday 27th March. We would appreciate continued support from all of those that helped out last year. Please Contact Noreen Queally, Chairperson, 087 1946936.
LISTOWEL FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE a new six-week course entitled ‘Parenting when Separated’ to run at the Centre on Thursday Mornings from March 5-April 9 inclusive at 10.30am weekly. The course is aimed at parents who co-parent and will cover a number of specific areas including; communication between parents, providing the required support for the benefit of your children, how to communicate with your child about the separation, being a resident/non residential parent and how best to cope with stress Further details from Denis on (086) 088 4853. Driving Theory & Safety Course on Thurs 12th March at the Centre, Contact Alan @ 087-7671555 or Email [email protected] Vegetable Crop Production class (Fetac Level 3 ) in association with the Kerry Education and Training Board at the Centre every Monday evening from 7-9.30pm. Social dancing classes take place at the Centre every Monday evening from 7.30pm. Contact the centre on (068) 23584.
GOSPEL: March 25 will mark the 20th anniversary of the publication of one of the important documents for the Church and the pro-life movement: Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life).
Pope St. John Paul II wrote the encyclical in 1995 to stir the world “to activate a great campaign in support of life ” (EV #95) and to end the “war of the powerful against the weak” (EV #12).
DIOCESE OF KERRY COURSE IN PASTORAL MINISTRY 2015- 2016 It is hoped to run this successful Pastoral Ministry Course next Autumn right here in Listowel for anybody actively involved in our Parish. It is in Listowel to facilitate anybody from the North Kerry Parish who have not as yet the chance to do. Already 10 – 15 people who are actively involved in our Parish have done the course and have been certified in either Killarney or Ardfert. An Information Night facilitated by the Diocesan Pastoral Team will take place on Thursday 19th March at 8pm. at St. Patrick’s Hall, All who have done the course already and indeed those who think that they may be interested are invited to come along. The Parish will support you with the cost of the course..
KERRY DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO FATIMA 11th – 18th May, 2015 7 nights Fatima or option of 4 nights Fatima/3 nights Lisbon Coast Contact: Maureen Harty – Tel. 066-7131328
KERRY DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES Led by Bishop Ray Browne. September 2nd to 5th 2015. Contact Janice O Sullivan on 064-7758219. (See poster at the back of church).
CONCERT: Nationwide on RTE television, on March 16th – when snippets of Seinn will be appearing. The Seinn2015 Concert takes place on Thursday 19 March in the University Concert Hall, Limerick, featuring almost 500 secondary school students
FREE: Limerick will host a free Festival of Kindness, from March 13-17,
ENERGY Show 2015 March 25th and 26th at Main Hall, RDS.
LOUGH DERG: New Season Guide for 2015. You can read it on the season guide link on our webpage http://www.loughderg.org.
HOMILY by Sr. Elizabeth Behan at the Requiem Mass for Sr. Berchmans Murphy R.I.P. on the 20th February, 2015, at Christ King Church, Turners Cross, Cork.
“Think of the Love the Father has lavished on us by letting us be called God’s children; and that is what we are.” These beautiful opening lines in today’s second Reading of the Mass express a language of hope for all of us. The hope for our future is rooted in the here and now. It is now that God has lavished great love on us : his children. We are reminded that we need not wait for life beyond death to live as children of God and certainly Sr Berchmans Murphy whose Requiem Mass we are celebrating today, did not wait for life beyond death to live as a child of God.
Sr Berchmans, Bridget Murphy, was born on the 23rd of September, 1916, in Abbeyfeale, Co Limerick. Her arrival was heralded by sunshine, I believe, and all through life she managed to radiate some of that sunshine, light and hope. Her Mother, Helen and Father, Cornelius had nine children and Bridie was number five. She had six brothers Pat, Tim, Tommy, Nelius, Dan and Sean, and two sisters Peigi and Mary. Tim, Dan and Sean became priests. All Sr Berchmans’ siblings have pre-deceased her. Her parents ran a business in the town. Sr Berchmans attended the local Mercy Convent Primary School and her talents and creativity began to emerge even at that early stage. In second class when asked the meaning of the word “shiver” she said she couldn’t explain it but that she would do it and she duly set about giving her display of ‘shivering’ ! She continued her education on to seventh, eighth and ninth class in what was known then as the Secondary Top of the school. To complete her secondary education she was sent as a boarder in 1933 to St Michael’s, Loreto Convent, Navan. With guidance from her cousin, Sr Ita who was a Presentation Sister in Kerry, Bridie decided to enter in South Presentation Convent, Cork in 1935. She was professed in 1938, and the following year she was sent to UCC to begin her BA studies. English and Irish were her degree subjects and some of her lecturers’ names like Daniel Corkery, Bob Walsh and Seamus O Caomhanach were familiar to all of us several years later as she recounted some interesting episodes during those heady College years! Berchmans began her teaching career in South Presentation Secondary School in 1943. With her ever active brain she had lots of side industries on the go as well as teaching, embroidery and painting being some of them.
Almost twenty years later, the Rev Mother of the day thought Sr Berchmans could do with another academic challenge and having consulted her, the wheels were set in motion for her to start an MA in English, in 1962. She chose the work of Henry James for her Research Thesis – no small challenge considering she was Principal of South Presentation Secondary School at the time. But Berchmans was undaunted and she had a whole infrastructure in place including some loyal friends and taxis taking her to and from UCC. Berchmans had Professor B. G. McCarthy guiding her during her MA studies and even though I never met this lady I feel I know her personally from Berchmans regaling us about her over the years!
Sr Berchmans was transferred to Christ King Convent, Turners Cross in 1966, the year after Christ King Secondary School opened in Sunview House in the South Douglas Road. Berchmans became part of the teaching staff there. In 1967 she was ready for another academic challenge, this time in the Italian Language and she completed her BA in Italian in 1970. We’re all aware of the wonderful contribution she made in teaching and promoting the Italian language and culture. This did not go un-noticed by the Dante Society in Cork and soon afterwards the high honour of Stella Della Solidarieta was bestowed on her by the Italian Government. Teaching Italian opened up even still more unexplored areas of her life. As is always necessary when studying and teaching a foreign language visits to the mother country is a must. This was manna from Heaven for Sr. Berchmans because she loved art, culture and everything about Italy. Her mode of transport during all these trips abroad was wide and varied ranging from over-night trains to articulated trucks taking her and her friend Sr. Teresa through the continent. It is certainly testament to the negotiating skills of Liam Tarrant’s driver of the day that he managed the intricacies of the customs while having two nuns on board the truck!
As principal of Christ King Secondary School in the 1970s her wonderful capacity for friendship and conversation was always evident. She even managed to break down the business-like composure of the Civil Servants and Inspectors in the Department of Education. Her trips to Marlborough Street in Dublin to negotiate funding for the school extension, nearly always proved successful and she would never board the train home without first rewarding her travelling companion and herself with a nice meal in the Capital. She had many friends in Dublin including Charles Mitchell, the News Reader and she even had the unique opportunity of visiting him in the News Room.
What attracted people to Sr. Berchmans? I think when people encountered Berchmans they were somehow encountering her God. In today’s Gospel we see that the purpose of Jesus’ mission and revelation is that the Father’s love for Christ the Son may dwell in the disciples. Berchmans had that love in abundance. In her life she also portrayed great forgiveness, compassion and hope. The will of God was very important for her. When she retired in Christ King Secondary School in 1983 Pakistan beckoned with a letter from the Provincial inviting her to teach English in their school. Berchmans unhesitatingly set off even though it was a difficult mission. Unfortunately, the conditions there took their toll on her health and she had to come home having spent just two years there. But even in that short time she made an impact and still received letters from friends there. On her return home in 1985, even though retired, she went back to Christ King Secondary School and taught Italian there right up to a few years ago. She was a great presence in the school during those years and every June during the State Examinations she would go around to all the Exam Centres in the school to pray with the students for the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Berchmans embodied her spirituality and always expressed it in a practical way. In later years I had a sense of Sr. Berchmans becoming more reflective and spending long sessions in the Convent Chapel gallery. Of course the Mass was always central in her life. She was a wonderful role model for all of us who had the privilege of living with her. She knew how to love herself and love others. And of course in that precious space in her loving heart was her great love for family and extended family, no matter what part of the world they were in. She rejoiced with and enjoyed every family celebration. In her conversations whether in the staff room in school or around the dining room table in the convent, the words Abbeyfeale, Tournafulla and Lime Tree, Limerick were never far from her lips. As well as her great gift of love, Berchmans knew how to forgive herself and forgive others. She had the ability to embrace life with a great sense of bigness, compassion and generosity. This manifested itself in a myriad of ways. She communicated easy empathy to young and old. She always had the welfare of pupils at heart and as gentle as Sr. Berchmans was, she was nonetheless, no pushover when it came to advising them about study and good manners. She was very confidential, a trait she learned, no doubt, from a young age in the security of her own family. She would tell the story that as a youngster in the kitchen at home in Abbeyfeale when her mother would be discussing business with her father, that her mother would say to her: “Anything you hear in this kitchen, Bridie, is not to go outside that door.” Berchmans certainly lived by that principle.
Sr. Berchmans, you had a great trust in the power of God’s spirit at work in you. You were deeply aware of the beautiful time of harvesting that old age made possible for you and you thanked God daily for it. As one of the Sisters said to me a few days ago, ‘death for Berchmans was part of the process of living.’
To all of you, her nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, in-laws and cousins, you were blessed to have Sr Berchmans as your mentor, companion and friend. To all the rest of us, her Presentation family, carers and all the staff at Christ King Convent, her former teaching colleagues and students and her many friends, you were a gift from God to us, Berchmans and we are grateful for that gift.
From all of us we say:
May your gentle soul rest in peace forever.
IRISH: The government have launched a policy aimed at the Irish abroad this week aptly named “Global Irish: Ireland’s Diaspora Policy”. To coincide with this, they have also launched a website Global Irish which provides links to support services and Irish embassies and consulates worldwide.
BY THOMAS MERTON.
The beginning of love is the will to let those we love be perfectly themselves. The resolution not to twist them to fit our own image. If in loving them we do not love what they are, but only their potential likeness to ourselves, then we do not love them. We only love the reflection of ourselves that we find in them.
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