TODAY - MAY 12th - THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD
Jesus ascended to heaven so that his influence and power might be felt not just in one place but in all the world. Today he is present everywhere through his Church, bringing all people to God. 

CHILDREN’S ROSARY 13th MAY 2013 7PM
Children, their families and friends are all invited to this special celebration of the Children’s Eucharistic Rosary. A chance to unite in prayer with Pope Francis on the occasion of the entrustment of his Pontificate to Our Lady of Fatima.

MONTH OF MAY
As we celebrate the month of May we place our lives and work in a special way under the protection of Mary, Mother of God.  The Rosary will be recited before the 10.30 a.m. daily Mass during the month of May. All are invited to attend from 10.15 a.m. for this traditional prayer in honour of the Mother of God.
YOUTH MASS – EXAMINATION PREPARATION
Each Sunday during May our evening Mass at 7pm will be offered for all students undertaking Second and Third Level Examinations. Students are encouraged to be present during this time of prayer for their wellbeing and success.

YEAR OF FAITH
PARISH VISITATION
To mark the Year of Faith and in preparation for the upcoming Festival of Faith our Parish Visitation is taking place at the moment. We ask our Parishioners to welcome those who have volunteered into their homes.

PARISH PILGRIMAGE TO INISMURRAY
The Parish is organising a pilgrimage to Inishmurray Island for the Year of Faith on Monday June 3rd. The boat will leave from Mullaghmore at 11am with the cost of the trip €35.
Mass will be celebrated on the Island and we will be returning at 5pm. To secure a place the full cost must be paid to the Parish Office by Thursday May 16^th. Places are limited. Please bring refreshments. For more details contact the Parish Office on 9162670.

FESTIVAL OF FAITH May 19-27^th
Theme: The Door is always open. Organised by Sligo Parishes Cluster and taking place in our Cathedral, St Anne’s, Carraroe, St Joseph’s, St Patrick’s Calry, Strandhill, Ransboro, Rosses Point & The Friary. Including celebration of the Eucharist, Vigils, Pilgrimages, liturgies of the Word, Eucharistic Adoration and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Speakers include: Fr Gareth Byrne.

Sunday May 19
7:30pm Strandhill Church             Festival Concert
Monday May 20
7:30pm Peace Park          The Door is always Open!
7:45pm The Cathedral                   Festival Opening Mass
Tuesday May 21
Learning Belonging - Baptism and the Gift of Community
3:30pm Carraroe Church
7:30pm St. Anne’s Church            Revisiting Baptism
Wednesday May 22
Forgotten Powers - Confirmation and the life of the Spirit within
3:30pm Calry Church                      7:30pm St. Joseph’s Church
Thursday May 23
Who do you think you are - The Eucharist and the gift of identity
3:30pm Rosses Point Church
7:30pm The Cathedral                   Celebration of the Eucharist
Friday May 24
Exploring the paths to Healing and Reconciliation
3:30pm Strandhill Church
7:30pm The Friary            (Confessions available)
Saturday May 25
The call to be family, the call to Christian service
3:30pm The Friary                            8:15pm Ransboro Church
Sunday May 26
Sligo Churches Together Camino
Monday May 27
Keeping the door open –who will if we don’t?
3:30pm Sligo Abbey
7:30pm St. Anne's Church            Celebration of the Eucharist:
Holding the door open for those coming after us!
Homilist: Archbishop Charles Brown, Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland

ANNUAL DIOCESAN JUBILEE CELEBRATION OF MARRIAGE
Will take place for those marking their 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, 30th, 40th, 50th or 60th anniversaries in our Cathedral on Sunday, June 30th at 3pm.  During the Celebration Mass Bishop Christopher Jones will bless the couples who will receive a commemorative candle and certificate.  Following the Mass the celebration will continue with a meal in the Southern Hotel. For further details contact St Michael’s Family Life Centre on 9170329 or email stmichaelsfamilylifecentre@eircom.net

VOCATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD
THE WORLD NEEDS CHRIST - CHRIST NEEDS YOU. Have you considered serving the Elphin Diocese as a Priest? If you feel you may have a vocation to Diocesan Priesthood, please contact Fr. Jim Murray, Carraroe, Sligo on 9162136, your local priest or email: vocations@elphindiocese.ie
PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS
God, you desire the happiness and salvation of all.
Stir up the grace of a holy vocation
in the hearts of many within our parish.
Grant them the willingness and generosity
to give of themselves, their time and talents to the service
of Jesus Christ, our Lord, and to His Church.  Amen.

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN BECOMING A DEACON?
WANT TO FIND OUT MORE?
Diocese of Elphin is now accepting enquiries from married and single men who may feel called to ministry as a permanent deacon. The four year part-time training programme will begin in Autumn 2013. For further information or a conversation around the topic contact: Director of the Permanent Diaconate, St Mary’s, Sligo, 071 9162670 or visit www.elphinsiocese.ie under “vocations” section.
share in a vocation weekend 26^th -28^th April. For more visit www.dominicannuns.ie or call 0419838524.

SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION 2013
St John’s & Carbury, Thursday 16thMay  - 4.00 pm.
Scoil Ursula, Pentecost Sunday, 19th MAY - 12 noon.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2013
We join with our parishioners in congratulating the children of Gaelscoil Chnoc na Ré who make their First Holy Communion today.

SLIGO ORPHEUS CHOIR IN OUR CATHEDRAL
Iin association with SLIGO CHAMBER ORCHESTRA present their Annual Spring Concert “AMADEUS”

Friday May 17th at 8.00 p.m. Sligo Orpheus Choir with Sligo Chamber Orchestra, Leader Niamh Crowley, Korean Soprano Eunjoo Goh & Austin McManus Conducting present “Amadeus,”in The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.
Tickets €15 from Liber Bookshop O'Connell St. Tel: 071-9142219 Hawkswell Theatre Booking Office 071-916 1518 or on the door.
All proceeds donated to the North West Hospice.

FEAST DAYS THIS WEEK
Tues 14th St Matthias, Apostle;
 Weds 15th St Carthage, bishop;
Thurs 16th St Brendan, abbot;
Sat 18th St John I, pope and martyr.
 
READINGS - SUNDAY APRIL 14th
1st Reading: Acts 2:1-11. 
2nd Reading: Rom. 8: 8-17
Gospel: John 14:15-16. 23-26.

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK
Lord, make me joyful in the Ascension of Your Son, Jesus Christ. May we follow Him into the new creation.  Amen.

MONASITC CONTEMPLATIVE LIFE
With Dominican Nuns in Monastery of St Catherine of Siena, The Twenties, Drogheda, Co. Louth. Single young women attracted to this way of life are invited to share in a vocation weekend 17-19 May. For more visit www.dominicannuns.ie or call 041 983 8524.

YOUNG ADULT DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO ROME
This pilgrimage, to mark the Year of Faith, will take place from July 7^th to 14^th to the ‘eternal city’ for young adults aged 18-35. Accommodation at Pontifical Irish College in the heart of Rome with a special programme ofspiritual cultural and social events. Cost €700. For further information contact Frank McGuinness,Director of Youth Ministry on 087 988 0690 or mail frank.mcguinness@elphindiocese.ie. Places are limited so early booking is advised.

BAPTISMS
We welcome into God’s family
DANIEL McLEAN;
CHLOE REILLY;
PAWEL SWIERCZEK and
DOMINIK DABER
recently baptised  in our Cathedral.

WEDDINGS
Congratulations and best wishes to
RORY HERON and THIEZA DUNBAR
who were married recently in our Cathedral.

ANNIVERSARIES & REMEMBERANCES
Monday 13^th May: 8am PAULINE KELLY;
Tuesday 14^th May: 10.30am DUNLEAVY FAMILY;
Wednesday 15^th May: 10.30am PACKIE KEEGAN;
Thursday 16^th May: 8am MARC CUSHMAN; 10.30am HENRY & MAE COLLINS;
Friday 17^th May: 8am MAI, JOHN & MICHAEL HOWLEY & Deceased Family Members; 10.30am 1^st Anniversary GARY GORMAN;
Saturday 18^th May: 8am TOM & ENDA MARIE STAUNTON.

REST IN PEACE
Your prayers are asked for the repose of the souls of:
BRIAN McDERMOTT, Pearse Road;
TESSIE LYNCH, St Joseph’s Terrace
MARIE (Mae) CONDON, Kevinsfort House and
MARION (Mari) SOMERS late of Jink’s Avenue.
May God Grant them eternal rest and comfort and console their bereaved families and friends.

BINGO - GILLOOLY HALL
Bingo TONIGHT, SUNDAY 12^th May at 9pm with a
JACKPOT of €1900 and EXTRA RAFFLE PRIZES. All welcome!!.

CATHEDRAL PARISH – 2200 FAMILIES
THANK YOU for your contribution: SUNDAY May 5^th
PARISH ENV: €1,695  PL/STAND.ORD €1,501
ST MARY’S PRESBYTERY Telephone 071 9162670 SACRISTY Telephone 071 9161261.
Email us at information@sligocathedral.ie  We welcome your comments. Thank you.

GALILEE COMMUNITY, TNTAGH, BOYLE - TAIZE PRAYER
Mary – Mother of Jesus, Mother of the Church: a model of living Faith is the title of a series of three evenings to be offered in Galilee Community  on Tuesday, May 14^th, 21^st and 28^th from 8pm – 9:30pm. The topic on May 14^th is - In Solidarity with Mary-Woman of Faith- we too can go forward with our lives, “Is Feidir Linn.”

IRISH CANCER SOCIETY’S CARE TO DRIVE SERVICE
The Irish Cancer Society’s ‘Care to Drive’ transport service is available for patients undergoing chemotherapy in Sligo General Hospital, Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe & Midlands Regional Hospital, Tullamore. This service is completely free to the patient – a driver will pick you up at the door of your home and bring you to the hospital & then, after treatment, bring you home. So if you are having trouble getting to and from the hospital for your treatment, please speak to your oncology team in Sligo General or call Gail on 01 2310 566.

The service is free to both the hospital and the patient with the Irish Cancer Society incurring all costs. The service has been running since 2008 and we are currently partnered with the following hospitals; St. Vincent’s; St. James’s; Letterkenny General; The Mater; Mid-Western Regional, Limerick; Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe; Tallaght Hospital; Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown; Midlands Regional Hospital, Tullamore.

LOUGH DERG
Lough Derg One Day Retreats - a great way to keep your connection with the Island May:6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26 & 27.  Times: 9.15am until 4.30pm Price: €40 includes boat fare, refreshments, services & lunch.  Places are limited, please book in advance.  Tell: 071 9861518 email:  info@loughderg.org or visit: www.loughderg.org

Langfield to Lough Derg Walk on 1st June 2013
This 20 mile walk is being organised by Drumquin GAA Club in conjunction with The Gathering.   Walkers will use the old pilgrim route proceeding along the Smugglers Pad from Sloughan Glen to the Donegal  border at Scraghey and then via Lettercran to St Patrick’s Purgatory, Lough Derg.   Walkers will receive a blessing on the shore of the lake.  By kind invitation of the Prior those wishing to celebrate Mass will be ferried to the Island.  Return to Drumquin will be by bus. To register (or for information) contact John O’Kane  Tel: (0044) 07743 760140 www.langfieldtoloughderg.com

PILGRIMAGE TO FATIMA 2013
Taking place from 13-20 June (ex Dublin). 7 nights Recinto Hotel with Spiritual Director Fr Jim Murray. Cost €669 incl.  For details call Martin Scanlon @ 9145491.

DATES TO REMEMBER

ST. JOSEPH’S YOUNG PRIESTS SOCIETY Next meeting will take place tomorrow - Monday, May 13th immediately after the 10.30am Mass in the Upper Room of the Cathedral Sacristy. New members always welcome.

ST BERNADETTE’s CHAPEL - MONDAY MAY 13th  Rockwood Parade (due to Bank Holiday Monday). Mass will be held at 5.15 p.m.  All welcome.

SLIGO ACTIVE RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION Monthly meeting at 2.30pm in the Dominican Friary Hall on Tuesday 14th May. New members welcome.

FR. FLANAGAN PRAYER GROUP - Next Meeting - Tuesday, 14th May at 8.00 p.m. in St. Mary’s Presbytery.  All are most welcome.

MUSICAL CONCERT in aid of Irish Guide Dogs in the Clarion Hotel on Saturday May 18th at 8pm. 20 local artists will perform on the night.  Music to suit all tastes. Please support.

HANDBAGS IN AID OF PARKINSONS Huge thanks to all who supported this event on May 3rd. An incredible €3,000 was raised on the night.