Parish of Lismore and Ballysaggart news update

Saturday, 25th September will be a day of great joy and blessing for the children who will celebrate First Eucharist. Thanks to Ms Prendergast and Mr Fitzgerald for going over the preparations with the children. No doubt the parents of each child are also eagerly going over the meaning of the Mass with their own child.

Parents do not need to make theologians out of the children. The Mass is an adult expression of Faith and is beyond the comprehension not only of children, but of teenagers and even many adults. Faith must not be equated with knowledge. Faith is a relationship. We can have very good relationships with persons while knowing just a little about them.

In my visiting the classes as the children are spread over three classes in third and forth, I have tried to tell the children where we meet Jesus.

In the back of my mind I am thinking of the scene from St Matthew’s Gospel 25;16-30 where Jesus speaks in parable about the separation of the sheep and the goats. Jesus praised those on his right for when he was hungry they gave him food, when thirsty, gave him to drink, when naked they clothed him, when a stranger they welcomed him, when sick went to visit them and in prison went to visit them. I tell the children that we meet Christ in all those people. When we ignore these we ignore the Christ.

Then we talk about Mass and how to receive Jesus in Holy Communion. How they hold their hands show how much they understand.

With food for the body we hold hands near our tummy, when we receive Jesus in Holy Communion we hold our hands at our heart. Jesus comes as food for the soul, for the spirit, for the person. It will take more than a lifetime to fully grasp the gift Jesus gives us in the Mass.

While we need to restrict numbers for the First Eucharist there is no restriction on numbers to all subsequent family Masses. It would be wise and helpful iffamilies did secure for themselves missals containing all the prayers of the Mass. St Pauls’ publications in Maynooth offer a very low priced Sunday missal.

If you would be willing to be trained as a parish catechist, you might give your name to pastoral council members. There is a selection process and a three year preparation course.

Rather than pursue more parish deacons, Pope Francis has instituted the ministry of parish catechist. From my limited mission field experience I always felt that this was the right way. Through this way we are moving away from this over Clerical based Church, though we need priests. They are essential in our understanding of Church

I hope you get a chance to see the documentary coming out this week on the repeal of the 8th Amendment. It will give objective analysis of the pre-campaign. Anyone with a conscience must pray for the many pre-born infants denied the right to life as we also feel for the born children without a roof over their heads.

With the gradual reopening of both churches you can safely begin to return to Sunday Mass as family. autumn collection for support of the Bishop and priests of the diocese is this weekend. Thanks for your appreciation and generous sacrifice.