There are a wide range of activities taking place across the pastoral area of Kilquade and Greystones in addition to a number of resources for personal prayer and reflection.

The leaflet is available to download from here and is available in all of the churches in the pastoral area – please take one home.

Programme of Events Towards Easter.pdf (519kb)

‘Suffering, in essence is a signpost to God. It is a state we are all aware of, and most familiar with, where human effort, energy and ingenuity fall short. It is the point where we can be reduced to helplessness, and the burden can become too heavy  for us to do anything but try to switch off  the pain.

But how can all this point to God?  It points to God  because in suffering  we can define the limitations  of human life, but at the same time see the potential of what it is actually meant to encompass. In demonstrating  that all is not well with the human race, it illuminates the possibility of moving beyond suffering to be saved and set free from it.’

Oh, Lord remember not only the men and women of goodwill, but also those of ill-will. But do not remember all the suffering they inflicted on us: remember the fruits we have bought thanks to this suffering-our comradeship, our loyalty,our humility,our courage , our generosity, the greatness of heart which has grown out of all this, and when they come to the judgement let all the fruits we have borne be their forgiveness.

(Found on a piece of wrapping paper near the dead body of a child at Ravensbrook, a WW11 concentration camp)

Let nothing disturb us, nothing alarm us:
while all things fade away
God is unchanging.
Help us be patient
so that we gain everything:
for with God in our hearts
nothing is lacking,
God meets our every need
(St Teresa of Avila, 16th century)

the old things have passed away;

behold new things have come.

2 Cor 5:17

We must learn to live each day, each hour, yes, each minute as a new beginning, as a unique opportunity to make everything new. Imagine that we could live each moment as a moment pregnant with new life. …(taken from an Artist’s Life by Henri Neuwen-dutch born Catholic priest)

May God make your year a happy one!

Not by shielding you from all sorrows and pain,

But by strengthening you to bear it, as it comes;

Not by making your path easy,

But by making you sturdy to travel any path;

Not by taking hardships from you,

But by taking fear from your heart;

Not by granting you unbroken sunshine,

But by keeping your face bright, even in the shadows;

Not by making your life always pleasant,

But by showing you when people and their causes need you most,

and by making you anxious to be there to help.

God’s love, peace, hope and joy to you for the year ahead -Anonymous

The gates may be closed when a funeral, wedding or other liturgies occur.

Join us and pray for the success of the International Eucharistic Congress 2012.

Below is the Congress prayer.

Further down is the Congress Hymn – “Though We Are Many”.

That is what is playing as this page appears. The sheet music is available here ThoughWeAreMany1011081 (3MB .pdf)

Why not take some time to read the prayer and reflect as you listen to the words of the hymn?

Congress Prayer

Lord Jesus,
You were sent by the Father
to gather together those who are scattered.
You came among us, doing good and bringing healing,
announcing the Word of salvation
and giving the Bread which lasts forever.
Be our companion on life’s pilgrim way.

May your Holy Spirit inflame our hearts,
enliven our hope and open our minds,
so that together with our sisters and brothers in faith
we may recognise you in the Scriptures
and in the breaking of bread.
May your Holy Spirit transform us into one body
and lead us to walk humbly on the earth,
in justice and love,
as witnesses of your resurrection.

In communion with Mary,
whom you gave to us as our Mother
at the foot of the cross,
through you
may all praise, honour and blessing be to the Father
in the Holy Spirit and in the Church,
Now and forever.  Amen

Congress Hymn – Though We Are Many

by Bernard Sexton

Though we are many, we are one body,
we who come to share this living bread;
Cup of salvation, shared among all nations,
nourishing us now and evermore.

1. We gather in this place
round the table of the Lord.
Christ’s presence is revealed
in our communion and his Living Word.

2. Now our communion recalls
Christ’s death and resurrection.
This living sacrifice
is our salvation now and evermore.

3. And through this shared Eucharist
we are the living Church.
We witness to Christ’s love
His living body active in our world.

To download an MP3 of the Hymn please right click here and select save target as/download as.

A backing track of the Hymn is also available for download by clicking here.