Dates for the Diary:
Monday 21st December @ 7.30pm: Cloughjordan No.1 N.S. Christmas Carol
Service in St. Kieran’s, Cloughjordan
Tuesday 22nd December @ 6pm: Christmas carol singing at Bushy Park Nursing Home
Tuesday 29th December: Charity Dance in St. Kieran’s Hall, Cloughjordan
Saturday 2nd January: Borrisokane Parish Social Club Bowling in Limerick – FunWorld, Ennis Rd
3-5pm.Travel will be by car and we will try to share lifts as much as possible.
Names to rector ASAP via phone/text 087-2328172 or email stephen.neill@gmail.com All ages welcome.
Monday 11th January @ 8pm: Mothers Union: Rector’s Surprise (Venue to
be confirmed)
A Christmas Though – From the Rector
It strikes me that we are entering this Christmas season in a good degree of turmoil. We await the GOOD NEWS of Jesus’ birth amid a period of very bad news. We have taken a severe battering economically and there is more to come – Our brothers and sisters in faith are enduring a very painful time and because we care about them it affects us too. The nation is at a low ebb and it is hard for many people to feel the joy that they expect with this season. And yet perhaps we are better equipped in this context to really experience what Christmas is about. Christmas is about Transformation. Through the Incarnation God has put new possibility and new potential in our lives. The message proclaimed by his coming to earth in the form of a baby is that God has made this world Holy and turned the standards and rules of the world upside down. It is not mighty armies and money that rule the world but Love made known to us in the fragile beauty of a newborn child. We are living proof of the power of that message – a message that proclaims that all things are possible with God and no matter how dark the day the Sun will rise again. Jesus the True Light has come into the World! Hallelujah!
Friday, December 18, 2009
The Salvation Army - Changing with the times!
Wow! Saw these girls outside Rockerfeller Center in New York last week - As you can imagine I had to make a generous donation after this :)
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Sermon for Advent 2 - The Sunday after..........
I dreaded this morning - I knew that the parish had been thrown into turmoil by my words on the Murphy Report. But I underestimated the generosity and love of my parishioners - I should have known better - I am blessed indeed to have so many great people in our church and in all the churches in this area. It has been a hellish week but at the end of it I feel that despite all the hurt and all the pain it was the right thing to do. Here is my sermon as delivered today:
Sermon – Advent 2 2009
Friends – This will not be a normal sermon – Indeed it is probably not a sermon at all but I owe it to you to explain myself for my statement on the Murphy report and all that followed last week.
I am painfully aware that I have upset and hurt some members of the RC community by my remarks on the report. I have written to Bishop Walsh and his clergy to apologize. That letter is to be carried in next weeks Guardian.
I also embarrassed and upset some of you. I have no idea how many and who, apart from those who have spoken to me, and among those who have come forward it has been a quite mixed response.
However those who are hurt and embarrassed are clearly deeply so and that is a source of huge regret to me. To you I apologize without reservation – It was never my intention but that may be cold comfort at this time. I do hope that with time the hurt will fade but that is something largely beyond my control. I actually seriously considered resigning in the last couple of days such was my distress at the results of my actions last week. I had some very kind calls and messages from a number of people from all sides of the community and only for them I would not be here today. Some were from Survivors of abuse, and they were I think what tipped the balance. And along with this some very hurtful things were said to me by people I consider friends, and I know that a lot of this is rooted in anger and hurt and the heat of the moment, but I like each one of you am human and not without feelings and sensitivity.
Yes I brought it on myself – no argument - Some here may think I deserve it and more? – None of you asked me to raise my head above the parapet and perhaps as some have suggested I would be better off keeping quiet.
Rightly or wrongly that’s not who I am – It never was and I don’t think it ever will be, even after all the horrible aftermath of the last week! It was keeping quiet that allowed children to be brutalized and so many lives destroyed.
Many have said it was not my place – Well whose place is it to speak up for children if it isn’t those of us who call ourselves Christian? Let me remind you what Jesus has to say:
“If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea” Mark 9:42
Biblical scholars are united in the belief that Jesus is here talking about either little children or young believers. Either way it is not in the least ambiguous. I am no fundamentalist but that is pretty straightforward. Children are children and abuse is abuse – it doesn’t matter what denomination they are. As Christians we are all responsible for ‘these little ones’
And the Murphy report is not just history – If it was I probably would have remained silent. When I read it, and I did read a large amount of it – I am still reading it – I saw a situation where there is ongoing non-cooperation with the State in child protection by certain individuals in a sister church at the highest level. I read of an explanation of how a lie is not a lie and how it is alright to cover up abusers for the sake of the church. I read of people still in office today who fundamentally failed the children in their care and who those children must still witness today in office without consequence for their failures And I asked serious questions about the whole area of compulsory celibacy because there has to be a reason why statistically there have been so many priest abusers in our sister church compared to other churches and may still be as yet undiscovered.
Yes we have had abusers in our church and while at a lower level it happens and is none the less devastating – And incidentally we all of us have a duty of care if we have any concerns to raise them with the relevant state authorities. If there is anything that can be done to minimize this risk then it should be investigated not simply brushed under the carpet as a subject forbidden to discuss. That is not a luxury any church has – we are all answerable to the law.
That is why I raised the thorny subject of compulsory celibacy. Where children are at risk there is no room for polite tip-toeing around each other. I am sorry for the pain I caused to those who least deserve it but it is nothing to the pain of those who have been brutalized by those who were supposed to be their spiritual guides and protectors and who may be abused in the future. All the child protection legislation is no guarantee of absolute safety. This world is not a safe place but we have a duty as Christians and following the instruction of Jesus to do our very best for ‘these little ones’
I didn’t make my statement to build a platform for myself as somebody suggested to me – indeed my biggest regret in all of this is that I have become a distraction from the important issue of the Survivors – We cannot afford the indulgence of turning this incident into an inter-church war – That would only further diminish these little ones who are our primary responsibility. I am going to read a poem that was sent to me directly this week by a survivor of Artane in Dublin:
A Survivor Responds
Dedicated to every abused adult (where-ever) whose childhood was stolen & to pray there is never another child who becomes another token of this horrible crime.
“The Story of me and Many More, A Child after the before”
I am the sky- whose cloak will not blue
I am the sea- whose tide will not turn
I am the moon- whose silver will not hue
I am the sun- whose orange will not burn
I am the day- whose light will not bright
I am the night- whose darkness will not light
I am the tree- whose root is dead
I am the flower- without a head
I am the fish- whose fins will not breathe
I am the bird- who will not eat seed
I am the scab- that just will not heal
I am the neural- that just cannot feel
I am a smile - that remains frozen
I am a choice- that was never chosen
I am a year — without a season
I am a reason - without a reason
I am a whisper - that cannot vibrate
I am a scream - that cannot migrate
I am a prison - whose cell will not open
I am the cell - where space is so choking
I am a house - that has no foundation
I am a country - without a nation
I am the hell - that is in my centre
I am the heaven — that has no banter
I am Christmas - without its infant
I am a gift box - without its present
I am the present — that is now past
I am the past - that is now present
I am a heart - without a soul
I am the secret - never told
I was lost - and still not found
I was frightened - no solace around
I am a curse - no man can swear
I am the abused - no one was there
I done no crime -1 served a dictum
I done no wrong — I am a victim
I was the wrong - that was never right
I was defenceless -1 could not fight
I was that child - who was un-nurtured
I am the man- that still is tortured
(To the Lucky ones who escaped this ordeal)
I am a child abused- a man confused
Just one of many- that were used
To you all - who escaped this ordeal?
If you were I -that is how it would feel?
To be a CHILD ABUSED
I was a Child once like many more
Then someone came and closed that Door
Since then I just gave up hoping
That it would ever again open
You SEE I am a CHILD ABUSED.
With a Title I didn’t choose
And when I became that abused child
That was the last day of my “Life”…!!!
Oh yes, to others it seemed like I had life
But inside, I was never really ever, “Alive”!
Footprint
I somehow still believe there is a God
But ask over & over "Where the Hell he was"?
When I was a child being "Abused"!
Like so many others being "Abused"!
.........................................
Friends,
I am the parent of a child who will be forever vulnerable,
The parent of a child who will always be a child.
The parent of a child who will one day be alone in this world when Nicola and I are dead and gone
A child who may one day be in the care of those I will never meet
And if so, I hope there are people there who will speak and act without looking over their shoulder to protect him and others like him. I may not be able to help my son then but I make no apology for speaking for others who were and are the most treasured gift that any of us can ever receive – a child.
Sermon – Advent 2 2009
Friends – This will not be a normal sermon – Indeed it is probably not a sermon at all but I owe it to you to explain myself for my statement on the Murphy report and all that followed last week.
I am painfully aware that I have upset and hurt some members of the RC community by my remarks on the report. I have written to Bishop Walsh and his clergy to apologize. That letter is to be carried in next weeks Guardian.
I also embarrassed and upset some of you. I have no idea how many and who, apart from those who have spoken to me, and among those who have come forward it has been a quite mixed response.
However those who are hurt and embarrassed are clearly deeply so and that is a source of huge regret to me. To you I apologize without reservation – It was never my intention but that may be cold comfort at this time. I do hope that with time the hurt will fade but that is something largely beyond my control. I actually seriously considered resigning in the last couple of days such was my distress at the results of my actions last week. I had some very kind calls and messages from a number of people from all sides of the community and only for them I would not be here today. Some were from Survivors of abuse, and they were I think what tipped the balance. And along with this some very hurtful things were said to me by people I consider friends, and I know that a lot of this is rooted in anger and hurt and the heat of the moment, but I like each one of you am human and not without feelings and sensitivity.
Yes I brought it on myself – no argument - Some here may think I deserve it and more? – None of you asked me to raise my head above the parapet and perhaps as some have suggested I would be better off keeping quiet.
Rightly or wrongly that’s not who I am – It never was and I don’t think it ever will be, even after all the horrible aftermath of the last week! It was keeping quiet that allowed children to be brutalized and so many lives destroyed.
Many have said it was not my place – Well whose place is it to speak up for children if it isn’t those of us who call ourselves Christian? Let me remind you what Jesus has to say:
“If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea” Mark 9:42
Biblical scholars are united in the belief that Jesus is here talking about either little children or young believers. Either way it is not in the least ambiguous. I am no fundamentalist but that is pretty straightforward. Children are children and abuse is abuse – it doesn’t matter what denomination they are. As Christians we are all responsible for ‘these little ones’
And the Murphy report is not just history – If it was I probably would have remained silent. When I read it, and I did read a large amount of it – I am still reading it – I saw a situation where there is ongoing non-cooperation with the State in child protection by certain individuals in a sister church at the highest level. I read of an explanation of how a lie is not a lie and how it is alright to cover up abusers for the sake of the church. I read of people still in office today who fundamentally failed the children in their care and who those children must still witness today in office without consequence for their failures And I asked serious questions about the whole area of compulsory celibacy because there has to be a reason why statistically there have been so many priest abusers in our sister church compared to other churches and may still be as yet undiscovered.
Yes we have had abusers in our church and while at a lower level it happens and is none the less devastating – And incidentally we all of us have a duty of care if we have any concerns to raise them with the relevant state authorities. If there is anything that can be done to minimize this risk then it should be investigated not simply brushed under the carpet as a subject forbidden to discuss. That is not a luxury any church has – we are all answerable to the law.
That is why I raised the thorny subject of compulsory celibacy. Where children are at risk there is no room for polite tip-toeing around each other. I am sorry for the pain I caused to those who least deserve it but it is nothing to the pain of those who have been brutalized by those who were supposed to be their spiritual guides and protectors and who may be abused in the future. All the child protection legislation is no guarantee of absolute safety. This world is not a safe place but we have a duty as Christians and following the instruction of Jesus to do our very best for ‘these little ones’
I didn’t make my statement to build a platform for myself as somebody suggested to me – indeed my biggest regret in all of this is that I have become a distraction from the important issue of the Survivors – We cannot afford the indulgence of turning this incident into an inter-church war – That would only further diminish these little ones who are our primary responsibility. I am going to read a poem that was sent to me directly this week by a survivor of Artane in Dublin:
A Survivor Responds
Dedicated to every abused adult (where-ever) whose childhood was stolen & to pray there is never another child who becomes another token of this horrible crime.
“The Story of me and Many More, A Child after the before”
I am the sky- whose cloak will not blue
I am the sea- whose tide will not turn
I am the moon- whose silver will not hue
I am the sun- whose orange will not burn
I am the day- whose light will not bright
I am the night- whose darkness will not light
I am the tree- whose root is dead
I am the flower- without a head
I am the fish- whose fins will not breathe
I am the bird- who will not eat seed
I am the scab- that just will not heal
I am the neural- that just cannot feel
I am a smile - that remains frozen
I am a choice- that was never chosen
I am a year — without a season
I am a reason - without a reason
I am a whisper - that cannot vibrate
I am a scream - that cannot migrate
I am a prison - whose cell will not open
I am the cell - where space is so choking
I am a house - that has no foundation
I am a country - without a nation
I am the hell - that is in my centre
I am the heaven — that has no banter
I am Christmas - without its infant
I am a gift box - without its present
I am the present — that is now past
I am the past - that is now present
I am a heart - without a soul
I am the secret - never told
I was lost - and still not found
I was frightened - no solace around
I am a curse - no man can swear
I am the abused - no one was there
I done no crime -1 served a dictum
I done no wrong — I am a victim
I was the wrong - that was never right
I was defenceless -1 could not fight
I was that child - who was un-nurtured
I am the man- that still is tortured
(To the Lucky ones who escaped this ordeal)
I am a child abused- a man confused
Just one of many- that were used
To you all - who escaped this ordeal?
If you were I -that is how it would feel?
To be a CHILD ABUSED
I was a Child once like many more
Then someone came and closed that Door
Since then I just gave up hoping
That it would ever again open
You SEE I am a CHILD ABUSED.
With a Title I didn’t choose
And when I became that abused child
That was the last day of my “Life”…!!!
Oh yes, to others it seemed like I had life
But inside, I was never really ever, “Alive”!
Footprint
I somehow still believe there is a God
But ask over & over "Where the Hell he was"?
When I was a child being "Abused"!
Like so many others being "Abused"!
.........................................
Friends,
I am the parent of a child who will be forever vulnerable,
The parent of a child who will always be a child.
The parent of a child who will one day be alone in this world when Nicola and I are dead and gone
A child who may one day be in the care of those I will never meet
And if so, I hope there are people there who will speak and act without looking over their shoulder to protect him and others like him. I may not be able to help my son then but I make no apology for speaking for others who were and are the most treasured gift that any of us can ever receive – a child.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Notices November 2009
Dates for the Diary:
Wednesday 2nd December – Ladies Night – JUST FOR YOU – In aid of Nenagh Mental Health Association
Abbey Court 8pm – Flowers Fashions Diamonds Beauty €10 – Contact Elaine Harding at 087-6680070
Friday 11th December @ 8.15pm: Borrisokane Christmas Whist Drive
PRIZES WANTED
Sunday 13th December at 6.30pm Ballingarry ICA Ecumenical Carol
Service @ The Pike Roman Catholic Church
Monday 14th December @ 8.15: Ballingarry Christmas Whist Drive
Wednesday 16th December 1pm: Senior Citizens Ecumenical Christmas
Service & Dinner @ GAA Complex, Cloughjordan
Monday 21st December @ 7.30pm: Cloughjordan No.1 N.S. Christmas Carol
Service in St. Kieran’s, Cloughjordan
Tuesday 22nd December @ 6pm: Christmas carol singing at Bushy Park Nursing Home
Thursday 24th December @ 8.30pm Christmas Eve Eucharist in Ballingarry
Christmas Day Services: Borrisnafarney 9am, Borrisokane 10.15,
Cloughjordan 11.30 (All Eucharists)
Tuesday 29th December: Charity Dance in St. Kieran’s Hall, Cloughjordan
Saturday 2nd January: Borrisokane Social Club Bowling in Limerick
3-5pm (To be confirmed)
Monday 11th January @ 8pm: Mothers Union: Rector’s Surprise (Venue to
be confirmed)
Wednesday 2nd December – Ladies Night – JUST FOR YOU – In aid of Nenagh Mental Health Association
Abbey Court 8pm – Flowers Fashions Diamonds Beauty €10 – Contact Elaine Harding at 087-6680070
Friday 11th December @ 8.15pm: Borrisokane Christmas Whist Drive
PRIZES WANTED
Sunday 13th December at 6.30pm Ballingarry ICA Ecumenical Carol
Service @ The Pike Roman Catholic Church
Monday 14th December @ 8.15: Ballingarry Christmas Whist Drive
Wednesday 16th December 1pm: Senior Citizens Ecumenical Christmas
Service & Dinner @ GAA Complex, Cloughjordan
Monday 21st December @ 7.30pm: Cloughjordan No.1 N.S. Christmas Carol
Service in St. Kieran’s, Cloughjordan
Tuesday 22nd December @ 6pm: Christmas carol singing at Bushy Park Nursing Home
Thursday 24th December @ 8.30pm Christmas Eve Eucharist in Ballingarry
Christmas Day Services: Borrisnafarney 9am, Borrisokane 10.15,
Cloughjordan 11.30 (All Eucharists)
Tuesday 29th December: Charity Dance in St. Kieran’s Hall, Cloughjordan
Saturday 2nd January: Borrisokane Social Club Bowling in Limerick
3-5pm (To be confirmed)
Monday 11th January @ 8pm: Mothers Union: Rector’s Surprise (Venue to
be confirmed)
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Recent Notices - October 09
Baptism: On Sunday 27th September we welcomed Abigail Sarah Kenny,
daughter of Graham and Sandie and sister of Scott of Ballingarry into
the fellowship of the Church. We wish her every blessing in the
future.
Congratulations: to Rev’d Vicki Lynch on her Ordination to the
Diaconate in St. Columba’s Church, Ennis on Saturday 17th October. The
service was a very creative combination of old and new with
multimedia/live band music provided by ‘Theophany Cacophony’ a band
largely made up of Lynch family members. It was a particular pleasure
to see Rev’d Rachel Lewis (now in Wales) returning as preacher. A
great night and thanks are due to Canon Bob Hanna and his parishioners
for the warmth of hospitality extended to all of us who attended from
near and far.
Harvests: Thanks to all who worked so hard to beautify our churches,
provide refreshment at our various harvest services and took part in
the services this year. We entered the season almost in foreboding
following the dismal Summer but thankfully all was well in the end and
the sense of relief made for a very genuine sense of thanksgiving. So
often in life it is only when we nearly loose something that we
appreciate its value.
daughter of Graham and Sandie and sister of Scott of Ballingarry into
the fellowship of the Church. We wish her every blessing in the
future.
Congratulations: to Rev’d Vicki Lynch on her Ordination to the
Diaconate in St. Columba’s Church, Ennis on Saturday 17th October. The
service was a very creative combination of old and new with
multimedia/live band music provided by ‘Theophany Cacophony’ a band
largely made up of Lynch family members. It was a particular pleasure
to see Rev’d Rachel Lewis (now in Wales) returning as preacher. A
great night and thanks are due to Canon Bob Hanna and his parishioners
for the warmth of hospitality extended to all of us who attended from
near and far.
Harvests: Thanks to all who worked so hard to beautify our churches,
provide refreshment at our various harvest services and took part in
the services this year. We entered the season almost in foreboding
following the dismal Summer but thankfully all was well in the end and
the sense of relief made for a very genuine sense of thanksgiving. So
often in life it is only when we nearly loose something that we
appreciate its value.
Celebrate Together 15th November
CELEBRATE TOGETHER (MISSION SUNDAY EVENT)
in St. Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick & also the Gael Scoil & Limerick Civic Offices
A joint initiative of the MU & UDYC
10.30 - 4.30pm
Featuring: Worship, fun, fellowship, Creche, Workshops, Christmas Crafts, Diocesan Saints, Fundraising, National Schools programme, Teenage Programme, Face painting, Rodeo Bull, Gladiator, Bungee Run, Disco, Cafeteria etc etc.
Programme for Day:
10.30 Arrivals – Tea & Coffee in Cathedral
11.15 Morning Worship – Eucharist Part 1(up to Peace)
12.30 Lunch (City Hall)
1.15: Fun together (See above)
3.30 Final Worship (Eucharist Part 2)
MISSION SUNDAY COLLECTION from 1st November will be presented at the service
4.30 Tea/Coffee and Depart
Tasks
1 Collection on 1st November
2 We are asked to Create a Parish Collage representing the ‘Life of our parish’ on A2 sized card with
name of Group/Union to be presented during opening procession
3 Choose a Symbol to represent how our parish participates in Mission
4 Choose a parishioner to be interviewed live during service
(30 seconds talking about why parish chose the symbol)
5 Procession: One person from each church for procession & the Mission Symbol Carrer & Parish clergy
TO REMEMBER:
Bring a packed lunch – drinks will be available
Bring a voluntary Offering (any amount) to cover the costs of the day
Bring one item of non perishable food for distribution to those in need
Sign Sheet in church indicating transport preference (we may hire a bus if sufficient numbers)
in St. Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick & also the Gael Scoil & Limerick Civic Offices
A joint initiative of the MU & UDYC
10.30 - 4.30pm
Featuring: Worship, fun, fellowship, Creche, Workshops, Christmas Crafts, Diocesan Saints, Fundraising, National Schools programme, Teenage Programme, Face painting, Rodeo Bull, Gladiator, Bungee Run, Disco, Cafeteria etc etc.
Programme for Day:
10.30 Arrivals – Tea & Coffee in Cathedral
11.15 Morning Worship – Eucharist Part 1(up to Peace)
12.30 Lunch (City Hall)
1.15: Fun together (See above)
3.30 Final Worship (Eucharist Part 2)
MISSION SUNDAY COLLECTION from 1st November will be presented at the service
4.30 Tea/Coffee and Depart
Tasks
1 Collection on 1st November
2 We are asked to Create a Parish Collage representing the ‘Life of our parish’ on A2 sized card with
name of Group/Union to be presented during opening procession
3 Choose a Symbol to represent how our parish participates in Mission
4 Choose a parishioner to be interviewed live during service
(30 seconds talking about why parish chose the symbol)
5 Procession: One person from each church for procession & the Mission Symbol Carrer & Parish clergy
TO REMEMBER:
Bring a packed lunch – drinks will be available
Bring a voluntary Offering (any amount) to cover the costs of the day
Bring one item of non perishable food for distribution to those in need
Sign Sheet in church indicating transport preference (we may hire a bus if sufficient numbers)
Sermon for All Saints 2009
Sermon for All Saints 2009
I want to start today with what may sound like an extraordinary statement:
I don’t like Saints!
Does that sound odd on this day of all days - All Saints Day? It may sound heretical to suggest that there is a problem with Saints, but I think Saints rather than inspiring us in our lives of faith can actually be a hindrance to our walk with God.
You might well ask what is the problem with the Saints – Surely people who led godly lives and did heroic deeds of self sacrifice for the sake of their faith should be celebrated and revered as the Church has traditionally done. What about St. Peter and St Paul, or more recent saints such as Mother Teresa or indeed our own St. Brigid or indeed St. Kieran who has a particular association with this group of parishes? Should they not be revered and celebrated. Actually No, I don’t think so or at least not in the way we tend to celebrate the Saints and have done through the ages. We have made of the Saints impossible role models who in the way their lives have been portrayed make us feel inadequate and guilty for our failings. We have attached to them a perfection that Christ himself never demanded of any of his followers. We have turned them from icons to idols always an easy line to cross and one which the Church has continually done through the ages.
There is an almost direct equivalent in today’s celebrity culture though at least in the celebrity culture we are aware of the warts as well as the achievements of our cultural idols. When it comes to Saints things are very different – they are painted in terms of their virtues with little or no account of their vices and yet like all human beings they had their vices….and were all the more human for them.
It is very hard for you and me, mere mortals, to identify with an image of almost sterile perfection.
It is neither realistic or attractive – It may fascinate us but we cannot ultimately relate to it. We really do the Saints a disservice when we portray them in this way. We actually devalue their witness because we dehumanise it and make it impossible for us to aspire to. I am named after St Stephen, traditionally the first Christian Martyr (I don’t aspire to that for one moment) I would love to think I had that courage but I doubt it - but I would love to know more about him – Apart from his Martrydom all that is concrete is that he was one of the first deacons of the Church – There was probably a lot more to St. Stephen, plenty of weaknesses and failings, plenty of idiosyncrasies, but all we tend to think of is a heroic martyrdom.
So one thing is clear, the lives of the Saints as presented and celebrated are heavily edited – all we get are the highlights and like watching the highlights of a great sporting occasion they are no substitute for the real thing. We miss those little seemingly insignificant moments which might actually have allowed us to identify with them.
The other problem with the Saints is that it is all about them! What do I mean by that? Well it is all about their achievements and their witness when it really should be about something or someone else entirely. The stories of the Saints are not about heroic human beings but rather about God’s extraordinary Grace working in them. It is not about them – It is about God! The Saints are not saintly because of any innate virtues but rather because they were open to God and so more perfectly fulfilled their God given potential, a potential in which we all share! How often are we told that we were created in the Divine image? What does that mean? It means surely that we ALL can be Saints of God and it certainly means that we are ALL called to be Saints of God. We all have the potential to mirror something of the Divine in our lives, not the totality but something and that is surely the most extraordinary privelage.
And sometimes it is in our imperfection that God is revealed. One of my favourite and I think most profound lyrics from contemporary music comes from Leonard Cohen and it is this – ‘There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in’.
The wonderful story of our faith is that we are acceptable with all our flaws and imperfections. By becoming incarnate god has sanctified the whole of Creation and revealed in Christ the incredible potential, not just of humanity but of the whole created order. It is not about the Saints but it is about God, a generous God who calls us all to participate in helping this beautiful world achieve its true potential to mirror the glory of God.
Amen.
I want to start today with what may sound like an extraordinary statement:
I don’t like Saints!
Does that sound odd on this day of all days - All Saints Day? It may sound heretical to suggest that there is a problem with Saints, but I think Saints rather than inspiring us in our lives of faith can actually be a hindrance to our walk with God.
You might well ask what is the problem with the Saints – Surely people who led godly lives and did heroic deeds of self sacrifice for the sake of their faith should be celebrated and revered as the Church has traditionally done. What about St. Peter and St Paul, or more recent saints such as Mother Teresa or indeed our own St. Brigid or indeed St. Kieran who has a particular association with this group of parishes? Should they not be revered and celebrated. Actually No, I don’t think so or at least not in the way we tend to celebrate the Saints and have done through the ages. We have made of the Saints impossible role models who in the way their lives have been portrayed make us feel inadequate and guilty for our failings. We have attached to them a perfection that Christ himself never demanded of any of his followers. We have turned them from icons to idols always an easy line to cross and one which the Church has continually done through the ages.
There is an almost direct equivalent in today’s celebrity culture though at least in the celebrity culture we are aware of the warts as well as the achievements of our cultural idols. When it comes to Saints things are very different – they are painted in terms of their virtues with little or no account of their vices and yet like all human beings they had their vices….and were all the more human for them.
It is very hard for you and me, mere mortals, to identify with an image of almost sterile perfection.
It is neither realistic or attractive – It may fascinate us but we cannot ultimately relate to it. We really do the Saints a disservice when we portray them in this way. We actually devalue their witness because we dehumanise it and make it impossible for us to aspire to. I am named after St Stephen, traditionally the first Christian Martyr (I don’t aspire to that for one moment) I would love to think I had that courage but I doubt it - but I would love to know more about him – Apart from his Martrydom all that is concrete is that he was one of the first deacons of the Church – There was probably a lot more to St. Stephen, plenty of weaknesses and failings, plenty of idiosyncrasies, but all we tend to think of is a heroic martyrdom.
So one thing is clear, the lives of the Saints as presented and celebrated are heavily edited – all we get are the highlights and like watching the highlights of a great sporting occasion they are no substitute for the real thing. We miss those little seemingly insignificant moments which might actually have allowed us to identify with them.
The other problem with the Saints is that it is all about them! What do I mean by that? Well it is all about their achievements and their witness when it really should be about something or someone else entirely. The stories of the Saints are not about heroic human beings but rather about God’s extraordinary Grace working in them. It is not about them – It is about God! The Saints are not saintly because of any innate virtues but rather because they were open to God and so more perfectly fulfilled their God given potential, a potential in which we all share! How often are we told that we were created in the Divine image? What does that mean? It means surely that we ALL can be Saints of God and it certainly means that we are ALL called to be Saints of God. We all have the potential to mirror something of the Divine in our lives, not the totality but something and that is surely the most extraordinary privelage.
And sometimes it is in our imperfection that God is revealed. One of my favourite and I think most profound lyrics from contemporary music comes from Leonard Cohen and it is this – ‘There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in’.
The wonderful story of our faith is that we are acceptable with all our flaws and imperfections. By becoming incarnate god has sanctified the whole of Creation and revealed in Christ the incredible potential, not just of humanity but of the whole created order. It is not about the Saints but it is about God, a generous God who calls us all to participate in helping this beautiful world achieve its true potential to mirror the glory of God.
Amen.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Sermon for Sunday 19th July 2009
Sermon for Sunday 19th July 2009
Gospel: Mark 6: 30-34,53-56
Sometimes there are events in life that bring home to us just what a small planet we live on. Last Wednesday night, I watched the Space Shuttle take off from
To me that is almost like getting an insight into how God sees us – we consider ourselves so different and distinct so isolated and in some cases so alone but God sees us all in one sweep of his vision – we are all part of the one picture, all part of the one story. For all our factions and divisions, all our wars and atrocities we are all simultaneously visible and simultaneously loved by God. That I believe is a truth that we cannot stress enough. It may be an obvious truth but we live in a world that displays very little recognition of that truth.
We live in a selfish world – a world where there is enough food and water for everyone and yet people still die of hunger and thirst! A world where there is enough shelter and housing for everyone but people still live in cardboard boxes and sewers. A world where there are enough resources for everyone but the greedy pile them up and store them away for their own security. We live in a world where religious faith of whatever type has lost its outward focus and become self-serving and destructive of others. And of course we live in a world where greed for money has plunged our economies into a state of catastrophe and heightened tensions and divisions in an already stressed society. We are, to borrow a phrase from today’s Gospel: “Like sheep without a shepherd” . We are scared and confused. People are loosing their jobs – there are already signs of antagonism and resentment towards foreign workers – industrial action is on the rise – economic partnership is falling apart and trust is in short supply. Everyone is looking out for themselves and very few people are able to see beyond the troubles that loom large in their own lives.
Simultaneous to all this has been the collapse of trust in Institutional Church, especially in this country in the light of recent scandals and most notably the Ryan report – That and the rise of militant secularism which seeks to purge God from the public sphere of life has left a lot of people without any point of reference in their lives. It is not so much that we live in an immoral society but increasingly an amoral society. We are like sheep without a shepherd.
And the Government response (and let us remember that the Government are not all that different from us – and we put them there), the response has been to commission a soulless report (An Bord Snip) which treats the most vulnerable people in our society as mere statistics and has only served to cause huge anxiety, not all of which may be warranted. Yes it is a financial report but our problems go far deeper than finance and demand a response that at least shows a hint of compassion. When Jesus saw the crowd in today’s Gospel, he must have felt besieged as does many a government minister today but did he give off – did he go and hide – No, we are told “he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.” And not only did he feel compassion but he demonstrated it in his actions in healing the sick who came to him looking for help.
There is a huge contrast between that response and our own minister for health who cynically released the Leas Cross Nursing Home report (containing the most sickening revelations of elder abuse and neglect) on the same day as the An Bord Snip report, obviously hoping it would get buried along with the victims of that shameful chapter in the life of the HSE! That to me is a completely amoral act! It is incomprehensible that anyone could do such a thing and the Minister doesn’t even seem to get it – That is a sign of a very sick society! A society which has lost a point of reference – a society of sheep without a shepherd.
This is a situation that demands a response from people of faith – and we as Christians have a message and a model in the life of Jesus which can transform the helpless situation in which people find themselves. This is a huge responsibility and something which we are called to do if we are truly followers of Jesus and not simply passive members of the church. But to be the people that God calls us to be means preparing ourselves – and the Gospel is very explicit – “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest awhile” Jesus tells the apostles. As the story relates that rest proves elusive but essential nonetheless. Jesus frequently retreats before a period of ministry – we need to do likewise, to be people who reflect as well as people who do. Otherwise our witness is ineffective and lacking in depth – We need to be able to give a good account of the faith that is in us and the God who we believe has created us and desires the best for us and who contrary to popular opinion is not an irrelevance!
But if that is to be the case Christianity needs better headlines than The Holy Stump in Rathkeale, the widely discredited Blasphemy legislation and the latest I heard this week where the newly formed ‘Atheist Ireland’ are calling people to read their Bibles so that they can then discredit and mock its contents.
There is another Story – It’s the Story as God sees it – It is One story and we are all a part of the story - the story of his people, created in Love – we may behave as sheep without a shepherd, we may think we are sheep without a shepherd but like the parable of the Lost Sheep the Shepherd wants only to find us and to bring us home. Just because we think we don’t need the shepherd, just because others tell us there is no shepherd doesn’t make him go away. He is far more more patient and far more forgiving than we can comprehend. It is in him that we find our place in that great story of Love and Forgiveness. It is in him that our lives find meaning and make sense. It is in him that we have Hope that will allow us to see beyond the length of our nose to our neighbour and recognise in that neighbour another creation of God made in God’s image and worthy of our Love and respect. When we can recognise that then we have recovered our true nature. We exist for God and for one another, not for ourselves.
Amen.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Notices 12th July 2009
Confirmation:
What a delight it was to welcome Bishop Trevor for our
Parish Confirmation Service in Borrisokane on Sunday 21st June. The
Sun shone and the church was packed to the rafters for this joyous
occasion. Those confirmed included: Amy Austin, Conor Austin, Emily
Austin, Mark Culbert, Adam Donaldson, Andrew Foulger, Niall Glynn,
Adrian Hayes, Dean Kelly, Katie Kennedy, Melissa Mooney & Jonathan
Powell. Aaron Neill was confirmed the previous day in a ceremony at
St. Kieran’s Church, Cloughjordan by kind permission of Bishop Trevor
who graciously allowed Aaron’s grandfather to officiate.
NUPTIALS
Congratulations to Sarah Harding & Jamie Donnelly who were married in
Borrisokane on 26th June. We wish them both every happiness in their marriage
Best wishes to George Hayes of Borrisokane & Amanda Love of Donegal
who by the time this newsletter appears will have been married in
Donegal on July 11th.May they be blessed in their married life together.
DEDICATION
Last Sunday (5th July) Keely Hope Tucker, youngest child of Shane &
Christy Tucker was presented before the congregation of St. Kieran’s
Church in Cloughjordan and dedicated to God. After the service the
whole church enjoyed a lovely feast of homemade banana bread and juice
courtesy of the Tucker family. We thank Shane and Christy for this
lovely gesture.
BEREAVEMENTS
Deepest sympathy to the family of the late Alfie Hayes of Ballinakill
who died on Sunday 14th June after a short illness. We think
especially of his wife Iris and their children, Belinda, Alison,
Wanda, Cheryl & Gary and all the wider family in their time of loss.
Alfie was buried in Templeharry Churchyard following funeral service
in Templeharry. A particularly poignant moment was reached when
his coffin passed through the door into the churchyard, a door Alfie
had himself made less than a year previously.
Barely 3 weeks after Alfie died, his brother George (Mossie) Hayes
also passed away and was buried following a funeral again in
Templeharry Church.
George’s popularity in Moneygall was evident in the large attendance
and the guard of honour which lined the whole length of the village.
Our sympathy is extended to George and Alfie’s siblings Benny, John
Percy and Vera and their families in their loss.
Cloughjordan / Ballingarry Family Fun Day
Another fantastically successful event which despite the weather
managed to attract a large crowd of young and old alike. There was as
promised something for all the family . At the time of writing the
total raised is well in excess of €5000 which in the current financial
climate is an excellent result. Heartfelt thanks to all who worked on
the stalls and various events and attractions. One person deserves
special mention and that is Margaret Mooney who chaired the Sale
Committee and kept everyone focused on the task. Every project needs a
leader and Margaret once again did a superb job.
Moneygall Sale:
Thursday 16th July 7pm in Moneygall Hall. Usual
Stalls, Cakes, jams, Books, Plants, Bric a Brac, games for the kids.
All Welcome!
Monday, May 25, 2009
Rector talks to Joe Duffy about Credit Crunch
Last week I had the pleasure of taking part in a RTE TV Panel discussion with Joe Duffy. The other panelists were Brenda Power and Fr Gerry O'Hanlon SJ. The issue which seems so marginal in the light of last weeks disclosures was whether a financial crisis was good for faith or vice versa. Click here and go to episode of 24th May.
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