An
American professor tells the story:
“I
am a biologist. Every day I study the wonders
of nature, from simple plant forms to the
animals and the human race. I am always astonished
over the secrets of creation.
I have
a friend who is an astronomer. He spends many
a night behind his telescope studying the
millions of stars and the planets.
One
night he took me with him stargazing. He pointed
out a little bright fleck in the sky and then
invited me to look at it through the giant
telescope. It was a breathtaking picture.
The bright fleck revealed itself as an unbelievable
wealth of big and little stars in the shape
of a gigantic spiral. The astronomer explained:
‘That is a galaxy with about a thousand
million stars’.
Then
I felt very small, overwhelmed by the greatness
of creation.
‘Who made all these star?’ I had
to ask my friend.
His
opinion was: ‘No one. They came about
by themselves.’ My friend is in fact
an atheist. He does not believe in God.
Shortly
afterwards I invited him to supper. In my
living-room hangs a mobile: the sun and all
its planets.
My
friend was in an ecstasy of admiration. ‘That
is something,’ he said. ‘Each
planet is going on its right path round the
sun. That is really well done. Who made it?’
I smiled at him and answered: ‘No one,
It came of itself.’”
CHILDREN’S
MASS – The parish will again
host the Children’s Mass at the 10.00am
next Sunday 30th May in St. Mel’s Cathedral
Centre. Previous Childrens’ Masses were
well attended and the children enjoyed the
activities. The Mass is led by two teams of
lay people, many of whom have crèche
and teaching experience. Parents are invited
to bring their children to a room within the
same building where they engage in religious
activities suitable for their age. The children
will go out at the start of the Readings and
come back in at the Our Father. The children
must already be in primary school - in Junior
Infants, Senior Infants, 1st class or 2nd
class. So please just come along to the 10am
Mass at the Cathedral Centre next Sunday if
you would like your children to take part.
LONGFORD
PRAYER GROUP meeting this Monday
at 8.00pm in St. Joseph’s Hospital.
All are welcome to come along as we pray for
family, friends and all the people of our
community.
NOVENA TO THE
IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY will take
place during the month of May at 7.30pm Mass
each Tuesday in Clondra and on Fridays in
Killashee at the same time.
CORPUS CHRISTI
PROCESSION 2010 - The Feast of Corpus
Christi takes place on Sunday 6th June. The
procession will begin at 5.00 pm at the Cathedral
Car Park. The route for this year’s
procession is: St. Patrick’s Tce., Deanscurragh,
Butterfield, St. Mary’s Tce., New St.,
Ballymahon St., Dublin St. with Benediction
at the Cathedral Car Park.
TAX RELIEF
SCHEME - THANK YOU to the many people
who have returned Tax Relief Forms over recent
weeks. Under this scheme ‘PAYE only’
Taxpayers who have contributed over €250
to the Parish in 2009 can make the tax they
have paid on earning that money, available
to the parish. We would be delighted to receive
any outstanding forms so as to submit our
claim to the Revenue Commissioners.
PARISH WEBSITE
- WWW.LONGFORDPARISH.COM
Project Managers have recently been appointed
to co-ordinate all groups involved in the
restoration of the cathedral over the next
few years. They are Interactive Project Managers
led by architect Joan O’Connor and they
have previously worked on public building
projects such as Cork Courthouse and the Assay
Office in the heart of Dublin Castle. More
details on this and photos from the Parish
Day in Flancare are on our website - longfordparish.com
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.
PILGRIMAGE
TO FATIMA 23rd – 30th September,
7 nights full board at Cinquentenario Hotel.
Spiritual Director: Fr. Eamonn O’Connor,
€779 fully inclusive. Please contact
Fr. Eamonn O’Connor at 043 3326020.
PILGRIMAGE
TO MEDJUGORJE 14th – 21st August.
Spiritual Director: Fr. Vincent Connaughton.
To book a place please contact Fr. Vincent
087 9563668 or Carmel 087 6593484. The all
inclusive cost is €670.
SVP PILGRIMAGE
TO KNOCK – The annual SVP pilgrimage
to Knock takes place from 14th – 18th
June. Cost including transport is €225
per person, The trip is subsidised by St.
Vincent de Paul so pilgrims are only expected
to pay €115 per person. To book a place
contact any member of the society or leave
your name and ‘phone number on our help
line 3342084. It is essential to book soon.
SHINE
-Support and training for people supporting
someone with mental health difficulties for
7 weeks in Longford town. Free, professional
and confidential. Contact Catherine Rountree,
Regional Development Officer at 086 8525281
for details or SHINE, 10 Patrick St., Tullamore
or www.shineonline.ie, www.recover.ie, email:
crountree@shireonline.ie. Information Helpline
1890 621 631. Tel: 0579323111
REVAMP FURNITURE
- We are appealing for good quality
furniture suitable for re-use. Restored and
second-hand furniture for sale at our Showroom
open at Mastertech Business Park, Mon. to
Sat. Free collection and delivery. The project
is doing vital work reducing, re-using and
recycling. Tel: 3348876; Web: www.revamp3rstore.com
BEALTAINE FESTIVAL
2010 – As part of the National
Bealtaine Festival, which celebrates the contribution
of people to the development of community,
Tuar Ard Arts Centre, Moate, will screen ‘Dean
Spanley’ a charming and dramatic comedy
film on Tues. 18th May at 7.30pm. All Welcome.
Admission Free. Light refreshments will be
served from 6.30pm onwards in advance of the
screening.
PIONEER NEWS
- The Annual Presentation of awards to Jubilarians
takes place on Sun. 30th May at the 10.00am
Mass in St. Mel's Cathedral Centre. Pioneers
who have been members for 25, 40, 50 or 60
years are eligible. If you are eligible and
would like to receive an award please contact
your local Centre as soon as possible
ARTISAN FOOD
SEMINAR - Wed. 26th May in Viewmount
House, Dublin Rd., Longford from 9.45am to
1.00pm promoting business opportunities in
artisan and farm diversification sectors.
Spearkers: Eddie O’Neill, Teagasc, Bernadine
Mulhall, Coolanowle Country House & Nicholas
Dunne, Killowen yogurts. Info on this free
event: LCRL 043 3345555.
O Lord you search
me and you know me,
you know my resting and my rising,
you discern my purpose from afar.
You mark when I walk or lie down,
all my ways lie open to you.
Before ever a word is on my tongue
you know it, O Lord through and through.
Behind and before your besiege me,
your hand ever laid upon me.
Too wonderful for me, this knowledge,
too high, beyond my reach.
If I take the wings of the dawn
and dwell at the sea’s furthest end,
even there your hand would lead me,
your right hand would hold me fast.
ST. PADRE PIO’S ANNUAL PILGRIMAGE
to Holy Cross Abbey, Thurles, Co.
Tipperary on Sun. 30th May. Free bus leaving
as follows: Granard: 8.00am, Edgeworthstown:
8.20am, Ballinalee (via Clonbroney): 8.45am,
Killoe Park (Emmet Og): 9.00am, Cathedral
Car Park: 9.15am, Ballymahon (St. Matthew’s
Church) via Kenagh: 9.45am. Contacts: 086
8132029, 043 6675049, 043 3324003. Voluntary
donations can be given to a St. Padre Pio
Charity.
