Some web browsing..........

This weeks round up of articles and pieces from the web that caught our attention:

• What love means -  a group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds
• A weakening of faith in God, a rise in selfishness and a drop in the number of people going to Mass can be traced to liturgical abuse or Masses that are not reverent, two Vatican cardinals and a consultant have said - Catholic Herald.
• David Quinn notes that it is ironic that representatives of an officially atheistic regime should be saying "Christianity is the reason for the West's success"
• Pope Benedict XVI is about to publish his second book in his series of Jesus of Nazareth and in the new volume due March 9th he reminds us of the Church's teaching that the Jewish people must never again be blamed for crucifixtion. Further information from Rocco Palmer here. Pope Benedict XVI is reinterating the teaching which was published at the second Vatican Council in Nostra Aetate - Declaration on the relation of the Church to non-Christian religions. 
• An interesting blog we came across during the week called The Poached Egg which is the Christian apologetics journal where theology, science, philosophy, history, and pop culture collide. It is our goal to help guide believers, seekers, and skeptics alike to the Ultimate Source of Truth and a better understanding of the Christian worldview. An interesting piece this week - "Can you prove the existence of God?"
• Blogger Kathy Schiffer offers us a timely reminder about not forgetting to pray for those in purgatory with a very personal take on it

"some of you may know that my mother died recently; and over a period of days, I talked with many people—many of whom assured me that she was most certainly already in heaven.  They said it in different ways:  “She suffered her Purgatory here on earth, during her time in the nursing home.”  “She’s finally at rest.”  “God has taken her to be with Him.”  “She’s happy with your dad now, at last.” To which I say (excuse my bluntness), “How the hell would you know that?” The effect of Purgation, as I understand it, is that the person becomes Shiny Like God.  Only when all sin is eliminated, when the soul shines with a purity and grace unknown on this earth, will he or she be ready to enter into eternal happiness in heaven. That could happen in an instant, or over a long period of time.  In our casual culture, it’s common to act as though the deceased person has already passed through any unfortunate suffering which might be imposed, and is already in the arms of the Father.  But why would we presume that?"

• Given so many bishops in Ireland have retired, resigned or are ill and will have to be replaced, Do we need so many of them?
• Bono gives us his thoughts on grace, Jesus and the power of the Cross.
• On dating nice Catholic Girls, Max Lindenman realises that with no hook-ups but no long-term ego-busts; nice Catholic girls teach tenderness and the valuable security of the everyday.
• What can the Irish Catholic Church learn from Fianna Fail?
• Ever get tired of all the chatter in church which makes you almost want to shout "For the love of God - Shut up!"
• This week we had more reminders of the struggles of our fellow Christians to be able to practise their faith with the murder of a Christian minister in Pakistan - Further articles here, here and here.

• An interesting video which was posted on Irish Dominican Vocations this week where David Quinn of the Iona Institute gave a talk on the 'Dictatorship of Relativism' - a term used by Pope Benedict with greater frequency. This is an excellent presentation which raises many questions:

Limerick Diocesan Pastoral Centre Resource Emails - 2nd March 2011

Each week Noirin Lynch from Limerick Diocesan Pastoral Centre sends around an pastoral resource email for use of parishes within Limerick diocese. Below we have some of the items from this weeks email but if you would like to be included on Noirin's distribution list drop her a line to NLynch@ldpc.ie

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In this weeks email:

(i)     Up coming Events in the Pastoral Centre – Rainbows, Pancakes and more!

• Training for Rainbows Co-ordinators - Thursday, 3^rd March. A one night training is offered to Rainbows facilitators who are to who wish to become site coordinators. Topics covered include: Site establishment, child protection policy, publicity, support for facilitators, fundraising, etc. Places must be booked, please call Noirin on 061400133 or email NLynch@ldpc.ie
• Muinteareas Iosa – Pancake Party - The now annual Pancake Party is planned for the afternoon of March 8^th – See the Muinteareas facebook page for more details!

(ii)   Other events of interest

• Glenstal Lenten Series 2011 - Presentation 4.30pm followed by Vespers at 6.00pm. Contribution at your discretion. The inspiration for the Glenstal Lenten Series 2011 comes from W.B. Yeats’ poem To Ireland in the Coming Times. Yeats is concerned with Ireland and her future. Because life is short, he encourages us to make room for meditating on God, time and love. We invite you for the Sundays of Lent to the following presentations:

1. March 13^th First Sunday of Lent - Prof. Margaret Harper, Glucksman Chair in Contemporary Writing in English, University of Limerick.
2. March 20^th Second Sunday of Lent - Abbot Patrick Hederman OSB, Abbot of Glenstal.
3. March 27^th Third Sunday of Lent - Hibernia, artistic director, Óscar Mascareñas. An ensemble formed by the students at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance (Concert of Chant and Poetry in the Abbey Church).
4. April 3^rd Fourth Sunday of Lent  - Prof. Liam Tracey OSM, Professor of Liturgy, St Patrick’s College Maynooth
5. April 10^th Fifth Sunday of Lent - Br. Martin Browne OSB, Headmaster Glenstal Abbey School.

• Dominican Biblical institute – Lenten talks series 2011 - Dominican Biblical Institute, Upper Cecil Street, Limerick. Tuesdays at 7.30 pm Lenten Talks Series (Admission Free, Donations invited.)

1. From Crisis to Hope: Nicola Rooney - Tuesday 15 March - Nicola is Research Coordinator of the Council for Justice and Peace of the Irish Episcopal Conference,  which has just published a reflection on the current political, social and economic crisis.
2. The Hope that is in You – There are no hopeless situations, only hopeless people: Donagh O’Shea - Tuesday 22 March – Donagh is a Dominican, writer and Director of the Dominican Retreat Centre in Tallaght.
3. Working Together to Help Prevent Suicide - Minding Yourself and Others : Bernie Carroll - Tuesday 29 March - Bernie is Resource Officer for Suicide Prevention, HSE West (Limerick, Clare, North Tipperary).
4. The Story of the Universe – What scientists have discovered in the past 100 years: Mark Anthony O’Donnell - Tuesday 5 April - Mark Anthony is a Christian Brother who taught science and more recently studied Cosmology at the California Institute of Integral Studies.
5. All that's lacking is the will – Surviving and enabling others to survice in a time of crisis: John O’Shea - Tues 12 April - John is the founder and director of the aid-agency GOAL which works in 12 countries.

• Pancakes  - Next Tuesday the 8^th of March is pancake Tuesday and we are having all the pancakes that you can eat free just leave a donation for Trocaire and Milford Hospice but no more than two pancakes to take-away in St. Munchins Community Centre Kileely Court Kileely from 9am to 1pm.

(iii)  Pastoral Resources  for Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday

Last week we had information about the Bishops Pastoral, the Liturgical calendar, and Lenten prayer resources; as well as resources for St Patricks day. The previous week saw resources for Temprance Sunday (this Sunday), Ash Wednesday and the begining of Lent. This week, we offer some resources for Pancake (Shrove) Tuesday and Ash Wednesday. If you would like these resources, drop Noirin an email at the email address given above.

(iv)  Good News stories from Limerick Diocese

Liturgy course

In Raheen over 20 people gathered again on Tuesday evening to prepare to form parish liturgy groups. This week we explored the liturgical year and the variety of opportunities that Catholics have for prayer: from devotions like novenas, confraternaties and the Rosary, to pilgrimages and holy wells. From Communion services to the Liturgy of the hours. From Easter to Christmas, From Sunday to Sunday! This 4 week program is promoting a lot of discussion and new resources for these groups. And the program is available to any Pastoral Area who wishes to offer it to its parishes.

Trocaire workshop

A small group gathered last Wednesday for an excellent workshop by Janet Twomey from Trocaire.  Janets personal committment and awareness of the family involved in this years Trocaire stories meant that we all went away full of enthuasism and ideas! (and most also got extra resources and props from kind hearted Janet!). This annual workshop is really invaluable for parish liturgy groups, and we are so grateful to Janet for her enthuasism, committment and joyful encouragement of each person.

Rainbows

Rainbows sites across the county are finishing their January – March programs, or mid way through February – Easter courses. Hundreds of children across the county have been blessed by the generousity of those who offer Rainbows in local schools. This week alone, Noirin has been to see the lovely children of Corpus Christi as they start their Rainbows club, the facilitators of Newcastle west and Abbeyfeale as they plan their ‘Celebrate Me’ Day, trained 11 new facilitators in a county Clare school, and spoke to 2 other schools considering the program.  

Why don't people go to church?

An intersting take on a frequent question with H/T to Deacon Greg

One priest got tired of listening to exuses why people skip the Church, and has written this:

18 reasons why I do not wash myself:

1. Because they made me wash myself when I was a kid.
2. Because they didn’t teach me to wash myself when I was a kid.
3. Those who wash themselves are hypocrites – they think they are cleaner than others.
4. Can not decide which soap is better.
5. I used to wash myself before, but then I got bored.
6. I wash myself only on the great feasts – on Nativity and on Easter.
7. None of my friends washes himself.
8. Will start to wash myself when I become old and dirty.
9. I have no time for washing myself.
10. Water is too cold in winter, and too hot in summer.
11. I do not want soap producers to make money on me.
12. I wash myself in soul. (In Russian words shower and soul sound almost the same. Some people ground their skipping the Church that God must be in soul not in the Church.)
13. All soaps are the same. Different soaps were invented by swindlers.
14. All wars in the world are because of the soap.
15. Every soap has it’s flaws. I wash myself with 3 different soaps at once. Only this combination of soaps is correct.
16. Science has proved it already since the 19th century, no soap, even the ideal, can wash down all molecules and atoms of dirt. That is why washing yourself is a hoax and “opium for homeless”.
17. Every soap contains top hazardous chemical ingredients affecting your skin.
18. You shouldn’t teach your kid to wash himself. When he will grow up he will understand whether he shall wash himself or not, and which soap to use.