Newsletter 29th July 2012

TODAY – 29^th JULY 2012

SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

We hunger for many things – for food, for truth, for love – very often with the desperate feeling that there isn’t enough to go around. Here today in our Eucharist – the breaking and sharing of the bread of Christ’s Body – we must learn that the Lord has given us more than enough in his Son.

TODAY – GARLAND SUNDAY AT THE HOLY WELL
6.00 am Dawn Mass – Following the Footsteps of our Ancestor
10.00 am Morning Mass – Honouring the Holy Well
12 noon Mass with Prayers for Healing & Anointing of the Sick.

FRIDAY NEXT – FIRST FRIDAY
Friday next, August 3 will be the First Friday of the month. Mass will be celebrated at 7.00 pm.  All are encouraged to attend this sacred monthly Mass.
CONFESSION TIMES – AUGUST 3^rd
Please note that Confessions will take place before the 8.00 am, 10.30 am and 7.00 pm Masses on August 5.  Thank you.

CATHEDRAL FLAG DAY
A flag day to raise funds for the Cathedral Refurbishment Fund will take place on August 2nd and 3rd.  We urgently need volunteers to assist with the collection. Please ring Helen on 9141773 or the Parish Office at 9162670 if you are willing to give of your time.  Thank you sincerely.

ELPHIN DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO KNOCK
Come and join with all the pilgrims from the Diocese to Knock Shrine on SUNDAY – August 19.   The Ceremonies begin at 2.30 pm with Anointing of the Sick followed by concelebrated Mass at 3.00 pm.  If a member of your family is in care or in a Nursing Home please try to bring them along as they may have fond memories of this particular Pilgrimage.  A bus will depart from St Mary’s at 10.50am. Please book your place with the Parish Office on 9162670.

KNOCK SHRINE – AUGUST 2012
THE NATIONAL NOVENA IN HONOUR OF OUR LADY OF KNOCK
14th to 22nd August (inclusive)

* 3.00 p.m. Concelebrated Mass in the Basilica, Novena Prayers, Eucharistic Blessing of the Sick, Procession of the Blessed Sacrament to Apparition Chapel.

* Evening 8.30 p.m. Concelebrated Mass in the Basilica, Novena Prayers, Candlelight Procession to Apparition Chapel.

* Those unable to attend the ceremonies at the Shrine may join in the Novena at home by reciting the Novena Prayers and the Rosary. Mass and Holy Communion in the local Church is also recommended.

* Novena Prayer

FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION, August 15^th
Masses: 6 a.m., 7 a.m., 8 a.m., 9 a.m., 10.30 a.m., 12 noon,  3 p.m., 7 p.m. and 8.30 p.m.
Anointing of the Sick: 2.30 p.m.
Confessions: All day from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Chapel of Reconciliation.

ELPHIN DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE, August 19

FEAST OF OUR LADY OF KNOCK, August 21
On this day, the Anniversary of the Apparition, thousands of pilgrims join in the Ceremonies during the day, and in the traditional Candlelight Procession and Ceremonies at night.

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK
Holy Spirit – Be my constant companion and soul guide today and everyday . Amen

FEAST DAYS THIS WEEK
Mon 30th St Peter chrysolagus, bishop and doctor of the Church;
Tues 31st St Ignatius of Loyola, bishop and doctor of the Church;
Weds 1st St Alphonsus Liguori, bishop & doctor of the Church;
Thurs 2nd St Eusebius of Vercelli, bishop; St Peter Julian Eymard, priest;
Sat 4th St John Vianney, priest.

READINGS FOR SUNDAY JULY 29^th
1^st Reading: Ex. 16: 2-4. 12-15.
2^nd Reading: Eph. 4: 17. 20-24.
Gospel: John 6: 24-35.
Please consider reading in preparation for next Sunday’s Mass.

BLESSED SACRAMENT CHAPEL
Adorers are asked to please make arrangements with their family members, relatives, friends and other adorers for substitution of their hour whenever they are on holidays. Thank you.

WEDDINGS
Congratulations and best wishes to DONNA MARIE O’BRIEN and MAZIN RAHAL who were married recently in the Cathedral.

ANNIVERSARIES & REMEMBRANCES

CATHEDRAL PARISH – 2200 FAMILIES
THANK YOU for your contribution:
SUNDAY JULY 22nd PARISH ENV: €1,932 PL/STAND.ORD €1,571
ST MARY’S PRESBYTERY Tel: 071 9162670 CATHEDRAL SACRISTY Tel: 071 9161261
We welcome your comments, email us at information@sligocathedral.ie.

VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD
“It is in this soil of self-offering and openness to the love of God, and as the fruit of that love, that all vocations are born and grow”

Pope Benedict XVI

If you are interested in vocations in the Diocese of Elphin please email vocations@elphindiocese.ie or contact Fr. Jim Murray, Carraroe on 071 9162136 or Fr John Coughlan, Roscommon at 090 6626189.

53rd INTERNATION YEATS SUMMER SCHOOL
Caitriona Yeats to open the 53rd Yeats International Summer School. The granddaughter of the poet and daughter of Michael and Gráinne Yeats, Caitriona Yeats has kindly agreed to open the 2012 Yeats International Summer School on 29th July. Caitriona Yeats is a world-renowned musician, and is currently solo harpist with the DR SymfoniOrkestret of Copenhagen.

Again over one hundred lecturers, poets, scholars and students converge on Sligo for the unique experience of studying the work of Yeats in the environment that he loved so much. Poetry obviously features widely with the work of William Butler Yeats being central and the highlight of the readings is the attendance of Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney in the Hawkswell on the evening of Wednesday 1st August. Award winning writer Belinda McKeon will read at the Methodist Hall on Tuesday 7th August at 1.00pm. One of the highlights of the Tread Softly and Summer school festival will be the traditional music estravaganaza, with Steve Wickham of the Waterboys, on Monday 6th August at 8.00pm in the Hawkswell Theatre.

These and all other events are open to the public. Further information can be found in the Tread Softly programme, on the Season of Yeats website (www.seasonofyeats.com ) or by contacting the Yeats Society at 071 9142693 / email info@yeats-sligo.com and on the Yeats Society website (www.yeats-sligo.com), Yeats Society of Sligo, Ireland facebook page, Yeat Society Sligo linked-in page and on twitter.

FOYER OF LIGHT CHARITY & LOVE
5 Day Silent Youth Retreat – 18-35 years. Theme “If you but knew the gift of God…” Preached by Fr Kilian Byrne. Aug 27 to Sept 2. Cost €190. Venue: Alexian Brothers Community, Knock. For details contact Helen on 086 1678027 or 091 383383.

HOLY HILL COMMUNITY
Holy Hill, Skreen, Co. Sligo, is a retreat centre where people of all faiths can immerse themselves in silence, solitude, and beauty along the west coast of Ireland. Visiting Sunday takes place on Sunday August 5th. Fr. John Udris will celebrate Mass at noon. All are invited to attend Eucharist and, if you like, to stay for visiting and tea, a tour, visits to the Blessed Sacrament chapel, and a quiet prayerful closing. All welcome!
 

LOUGH DERG
Lough Derg, ancient and modern, a place of peace, healing and reconciliation; in the words of the Papal Legate “a symbol of conversion, penance and spiritual renewal”. The Three Day Pilgrimage season goes on until 15th August. Pilgrims may arrive on any day from 10.30am to 3pm to commence the pilgrimage. Full details on website www.loughderg.org  or phone 071 9861652  8.00am to 9.00pm daily.

CLONMACNOIS YOUTH 200 SUMMER FESTIVAL
Youth 2000 Summer Festival, Clonmacnois, Co. Offaly from Thurs 9^th to Sun 12^th August 2012. For young people aged 16-35, an opportunity not to be missed to experience the Catholic faith and meet many new friends. This Festival has been nicknamed the “Holy Oxygen” with over 1000 young people from all corners of Ireland attending last year. The festival is donation only. Free buses available from around the country. For more information contact 01 6753690, email dublin@youth2000.ie or book online: www.youth2000.ie

CENACLE OF MARIAN MOVEMENT OF PRIESTS
Meetings every Thursday at 8.30am in the Cathedral, immediately after the 8.00am Mass. All welcome.

DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES – AUGUST 28 to SEPTEMBER 2, 2012
Please consider joining the Elphin Diocese on this  Sacred Pilgrimage this year!  For details and Booking Forms please contact the Parish Office Tel: 9162670 or Joe Walsh Tours Tel: 01 241 0800.  Thank you.

SCHOOL UNIFORMS – SLIGO SOCIAL SERVICES
 Children’s clothing and second hand school uniforms in good condition are needed. Please leave into Sligo Social Services, Charles Street. Thank you for your support.

DATES TO REMEMBER

THE ANNUAL CHURCH GATE COLLECTION FOR CONCERN will take place outside the Cathedral (all Masses) this weekend July 28 and 29. These collections provide a vital source of income to continue the fight against poverty. Thank you all sincerely for your support.

HSE RETIRED ASSOCIATION GROUP Monthly meeting takes place in St Michael’s Family Life Centre on Thurs 2nd Aug at 3pm. New members welcome.

SLIGO TRIP TO CROZON
This year Sligo is twinned 30 years with Crozon in Northern Brittany. Sligo Town Twinning are organising a trip to Crozon from 22 to 29 September. Travel is by 53 seater coach from Sligo to Cork, overnight Brittany Ferries (including cabin sharing) and accomodation is hosting (no charge) or hotel. The Fare is €215pp. The trip is open to all. Please contact Dymphna on 087 150 1444 or Michael on 087 649 5349 for further details.

NEW IRISH WHEELCHAIR ASSOCIATION RESOURCE CENTRE FOR NORTH COUNTY SLIGO
Since the early 1960’s The Irish Wheelchair Association have been playing a key role in bringing about changes to the lives of people with physical and sensory disabilities. At present they have 3 Resource Centres in County Sligo, Sligo Town, Ballymote and Enniscrone.The IWA are looking at the possibility in setting up a new Resource Centre in North County Sligo and to this end would ask anyone who would be interested in such a Centre or require further information to contact Cormac Monaghan, IWA Service Coordinator, Irish Wheelchair Association, Abbeyville, Sligo at 071 9155522 or email cormac.monaghan@iwa.ie

GP EXERCISE REFERRAL PROGRAMME
Being physically active is one of the most important steps people of all ages can take to improve their health. If you are currently inactive and would like support in becoming more active, then ask your GP to refer yuou to one of the five local GP exercise referral coordinators. For further information see www.gpexercisereferral.ie or contact Liz Martin, HSE Health Promotion Officer on 071 9135915.

IRISH CANCER SOCIETY – BALLINASLOE
Irish Cancer Society’s Relay for Life taking place in Ballinasloe on August 11th & 12th. Candles for Candle of Hope ceremony will be available from Pop Up Shop (former Vodaphone store), Main St., Ballinasloe from Tues. August 7th.