Writing
about his experience in Auschwitz, Elie Wiesel
said that the Germans tried to get the inmates
to forget relatives and friends, to think
only of themselves, and to tend only to their
own needs, or else they would perish. That
is what they kept telling them day and night.
But Wiesel says that what happened was the
opposite. Those who lived only for themselves,
had less change of surviving, while those
who lived for a parent, a brother, a friend,
and ideal, had a better chance of getting
out alive. It was through what they gave that
they survived.
Selfishness
keeps us shut in, it confines us. It erects
barriers, even walls between us and others.
What frees us from this captivity is very
deep, serious affection for others. Being
friends, being brothers and sisters, love
– that is what opens the prison. Love
frees us from the prison of selfishness.
Brian
Keenan spent four years as a hostage in Lebanon.
Later he wrote: It is only when we reach out
beyond ourselves to embrace, to understand,
and to finally overcome the suffering of another
that we become whole in ourselves. We are
enlarged and enriched as another’s suffering
reveals us to ourselves, and we reach out
to touch and embrace.
Love
always demands the best of us, and brings
out the best in us. Being loved gives one
a surprising courage and energy. So also does
loving. They say: love and the energy will
be given to you. Where there is great love
there are always miracles. ‘Love is
the flame that warms our soul, energises our
spirit and supplies passion to our lives.
It is our connection to God and to one another.’
(Elizabeth Kubler-Ross).
On
going into prison Oscar Wilde said, ‘At
all costs I must keep love in my heart. If
I go into prison without love what will become
of my soul?’.
Without
love what are people? Those who do not love
have a poor life. But those who love have
a more abundant and fruitful life. What’s
the purpose of life if not to love?’
(William Blake) Freedom from selfishness and
the ability to love others – that is
what life is about.
A
doctor, who has been privileged to share the
most profound moments of people’s lives,
says that people facing death don’t
think about what degrees they have earned,
or what positions they have held, or how much
wealth they have accumulated. At the end,
what really matters is who you loved and who
loved you.
Those
who opt for love open themselves to the possibilities
of a greater happiness than they have every
known. Love is well-being. It makes us fruitful.
To refuse to love is to begin to die. To begin
to love is to begin to live. While faith makes
all things possible, love makes all things
easy. Love heals everyone – both those
who receive it and those who give it.
PIONEER NEWS - The Annual
Presentation of awards to Jubilarians takes
place on Sun 30th May at the 10am Mass in
St. Mel's Cathedral Centre. Pioneers who have
been members for 25, 40, 50 or 60 years are
eligible to receive awards. If you are eligible
and would like to receive an award please
contact your local Centre as soon as possible.
Tel. Brendan 0433341277 or Cathal at 0433345818
or the Presbytery 0433346465 or email cmcw1@eircom.net.
Thank you, Cathal McWeeney, Hon.Sec.
LONGFORD PRAYER GROUP meet
this Monday at 8.00pm in St. Joseph’s
Hospital. All are welcome to come along as
we pray for all the people of our community.
MONTHLY HOLY HOUR –
will take place on Sat. 8th May at 8.30pm
in St. Mel’s College Chapel. Please
note change of date. This hour will be dedicated
to all families in our community and to remember
in a special way all our young people who
are preparing for exams at this time. Please
join us in prayer. This will be the last Holy
Hour until September. I would like to say
a very special word of thanks to each one
of you and all our young people who participated
in this Holy Hour, those involved in music,
candle procession, hospitality and welcome.
Thank you for your support and prayer - Fr.Brendan.
NOVENA
TO THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY will
take place during the month of May at 7.30pm
on Tuesdays in Clondra and 7.30pm on Fridays
in Killashee.
ST. JOSEPH’S YOUNG PRIESTS’ SOCIETY
– Monthly meeting will take
place on Wed. 5th May at 3.00pm in the Family
Centre, Longford. New members always welcome.
HOLY HOUR on Thursday 6th
May commencing at 3.00pm in St. Mel’s
College Chapel. Please come and join us in
prayer especially for vocations.
LOUGH DERG ONE DAY RETREAT –
Saturday 15th May 2010, bus leaving from Heatons,
Longford at 7.00am, Park House, Mostrim at
7.15am, Bay Horse, Granard at 7.30am. Total
cost of bus, boat, coffee and lunch on the
island €45. Booking strictly essential
Donnellys 043 86540/0863455649. Book early
to ensure your seat. Come along and spend
a day in this holy place.
PARISH WEBSITE - WWW.LONGFORDPARISH.COM
There
is copy on our website of the presentation
on the fire and emergency works at the Cathedral
since Christmas given by Danny Donohoe (OSG
Chartered Loss Adjustors) on 10 April to pastoral
council representatives. There are also links
to national TV and Radio programmes which
have featured St. Mel’s Cathedral and
the Cathedral Centre, such as the well-received
item on the RTE Nationwide programme from
last March.
LONGFORD FAMILY LEARNING - VEC LONGFORD
- are running a number of programmes i.e.
Cooking on a Budget, Child Care, Creative
Writing, English home work with your child,
Maths and a Parenting Programme starting soon.
Courses are basic education and are free.
For further information ‘phone or text:
Grainne 089-4315996.
LONGFORD CAMERA CLUB –
next meeting at 8.00pm on Tues 4th May upstairs
in Market Bar. A good attendance is expected
as it is hoped to finalise decisions on a
schedule for forthcoming fieldtrips. Possible
locations: Lough Key Forest Park, Newcastle
House, Fore, Strokestown House & Gardens,
Belvedere, Derrycassin Woods, Kings House,
Boyle and the Bird and Animal Centre, Ballymote.
New members welcome. Annual Fee €20.
Meetings held every second Tuesday at 8.00pm
in the Market Bar.
LONGFORD TOWN F.C. CAR BOOT SALE
- Longford Town Supporters' Club will be holding
a Car Boot Sale this Bank Holiday Monday May
3rd at Flancare Park, 10.00am -3.00pm. The
first three charities registered are free.
Your support would be very much appreciated
as all funds raised go to the running of the
local Longford Town FC.
INFORMATION NIGHT - An information
night on the Cathedral fire and report on
progress so far will take place at the Assembly
Hall in St. Mel’s College on Monday
May 10th @ 8.30 p.m. All are welcome to attend.
LONGFORD PARISH FAMILY DAY
Longford
Town FC have a long and close association
with Longford parish having been founded in
the Temperance Hall and wearing an image of
the St. Mel’s Cathedral on their club
crest. In the aftermath of the fire at the
Cathedral the club have kindly offered to
host a Parish Family Day at Flancare Park
on Sun 9th May to celebrate the life of the
parish and to support the refurbishment of
the Cathedral. We are very grateful to all
at the club for taking this initiative. Details
of the day are as follows:
Celebration
of Mass – 1.00 p.m.
with Longford St. Mel’s Cathedral Folk
Choir
followed by Country Music Legends
Big Tom, Declan Nerney, Mick Flavin, Larry
Cunningham, Dermot Hegarty
Frankie Flaherty, Paschal & Sean, Liz
& David, Padraig Farrell, Pat Gavigan,
T.J. Walsh, Paul Gurney, Tommy Flaherty, Denis
Hughes & Many More
FREE
ADMISSION - Donations to St. Mel’s Cathedral
Restoration ‘Reserve Fund’ welcome.
See local press for more details. Please note
that 1.00 p.m. Mass at Flancare Park will
replace 1.00 p.m. Mass at the Cathedral Centre.
THE THRIFT SHOP (SVP) is
appealing for good quality ladies, gent’s
and children’s clothes, domestic goods,
shoes, unwanted gifts, small pieces of furniture,
books, bric-a-brac etc. The Thrift Shop is
run by volunteers at a minimum cost and depends
on donations for all stock and is worthy of
your support. Everything will be gratefully
accepted. Location: 18 Dublin Street, Longford.
Open: Mon – Fri 10.30am – 5.30pm
and Sat. 10.30am – 3.30pm.
ARDAGH & CLONMACNOIS PILGRIMAGE
TO LOURDES 2010 27 May – 1
June, 5 nights, fully inclusive price €715.
Places available, please contact Joe Walsh
Tours, 143 Lr. Baggot Street, Dublin 2. Tel:
01 2410812 / 2410811. Pilgrimage Director:
Msgr. Bernard Noonan P.P. Moate, Co. Westmeath.
Tel: 090 6481180. Director Invalid Section:
Fr. Michael Scanlon P.P., Cloghan, Co. Offaly:
Tel: 090 6457122.
ARDAGH & CLONMACNOIS YOUTH MINISTRY
– Join us on our visit to Taize,
France from 15th to 23rd August 2010. Rediscover
an inner peace, a meaning to life. Cost approx.
€350, minimum age 17 years. Limited to
20 places. Contact 086 8255178 or email info@aym.ie
LONGFORD BEALTAINE FESTIVAL
1 – 31st May 2010 Celebrating creativity
in older age – The theme of the National
Festival this year is “Have Dreams and
Speak Them Without Fear”. Please book
your place/group by contacting Fiona, Longford
Library 043 3341124 or Margaret, Longford
Community Resources Ltd., 043 3345555 or drop
into your local library.
