Ten years on..................

The following post is taken directly from Rocco over at Whispers in the Loggia:

O God of love, compassion, and healing,
look on us, people of many different faiths
and traditions,
who gather today at this site,
the scene of incredible violence and pain.

We ask you in your goodness
to give eternal light and peace
to all who died here —
the heroic first-responders:
our fire fighters, police officers,
emergency service workers, and
Port Authority personnel,
along with all the innocent men and women
who were victims of this tragedy
simply because their work or service
brought them here on September 11, 2001.

We ask you, in your compassion
to bring healing to those
who, because of their presence here that day,
suffer from injuries and illness.
Heal, too, the pain of still-grieving families
and all who lost loved ones in this tragedy.
Give them strength to continue their lives
with courage and hope.

We are mindful as well
of those who suffered death, injury, and loss
on the same day at the Pentagon and in
Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Our hearts are one with theirs
as our prayer embraces their pain and suffering.

God of peace, bring your peace to our violent world:
peace in the hearts of all men and women
and peace among the nations of the earth.
Turn to your way of love
those whose hearts and minds
are consumed with hatred.

God of understanding,
overwhelmed by the magnitude of this tragedy,
we seek your light and guidance
as we confront such terrible events.
Grant that those whose lives were spared
may live so that the lives lost here
may not have been lost in vain.

Comfort and console us,
strengthen us in hope,
and give us the wisdom and courage
to work tirelessly for a world
where true peace and love reign
among nations and in the hearts of all.

--Pope Benedict XVI
Prayer at Ground Zero
New York
20 April 2008

Ten years from that horrific morning, much as we can never forget, may the powerful call of this Sunday's readings -- namely, to always forgive -- live much with us on the road ahead.

May the dead know peace, their loved ones feel continued strength and comfort, and all of us receive the grace to be ever-better peacemakers and bridge-builders in a fractured, violent world.

September 11th 2011 - Twenty- forth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year A

On this weeks programme Stephanie O'Donnell takes us through what Youth 2000 Ireland got up to during the summer, Fr Frank Duhig takes us through this weeks gospel as well as our regular Saints of the week as well as some local notices.
This weeks progromme is also available on podcast.

 

Youth 2000 Ireland

 

Following on from the update we had a few weeks back from Limerick Diocesan Youth Mnistry, Stephanie O'Donnell brings us an update on the activites of Youth 2000 Ireland this week and the busy summer of events that Y2K had including the Clonmacnoise Summer Festival and Y2K participation in World Youth 2000.

 

Clonmacnoise 2011 - Summer festival was held this year with over a 1,000 young people present from all over Ireland. The talks this year included "Faith in trying times", relationship issues, pro-life talks and talks from various religious about their faith journey's. The festival culminated at the Healing and Reconciliation Service held on the Saturday evening.

• Youth2000 website
• Limerick group meet in the Domincan Church on Glentworth St on Wednesday nights at 7.30pm. Contact is Donal at 0868144783
• Lisnaux group meet weekly andthe contact is Ann Crowly at 0864082389.

Gospel Reflection - Matthew 18:21-35

 

This weeks passage is focused on forgiveness and this weeks discourse from Jesus is prompted by a question from Peter. Peter had thought by allowing forgiveness seven times he was being very generous but Jesus knocks us back and reminds us of the infinite mercy of God which we are called to imitate which is limitless.The parable is a deliberate exageration concerning the amounts of money to bring across to us the contrast between our generosity in forgiving others and the infinite generosity of God.

 

It is also a reminder of the impact of the Our Father which we pray so often where "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us". Do we really mean and implement that prayer which is so familar to us, perhaps too familiar?

 

The process of forgiving one another, where we really seek to do so, takes time, it is not going to happen straight away. It also requires the aid of God to help us to forgive through prayer and reflection, so that we can reach out in forgiveness to the person who has done us harm.

Other reflections on this weeks gospel:

• Word on Fire
• English Domincans
• Deacon Greg Kandra

 

Saints of the Week

 

September 12 - St Alibhe, Patron of Diocese of Cashel & Emly
September 13th - St John Chrysostom
September 14th - The Exaltation of the Holy Cross
September 15th - Our Lady of Sorrows
September 16th - Pope St Cornelius and St Cyprian
September 17th - St Robet Bellamire SJ

Youth Ministry in Limerick Diocese

A couple of weeks back we had Fr Chris O'Donnell on Sacred Space 102fm with some of the pilgrims who went to WYD 2011 in Madrid and he mentioned in passing the many things that were organised in Limerick as part of the diocesan support to the young church. Limerick diocese has for many, many years had an active youth ministry which was known under the banner of the activities of Muintearas Iosa, but this years annual activity report will give you a broader sweep of the activities of an Eaglais Óige ranging from Lourdes to WYD, pancake parties, youth leadership training programmes and a lot of craic, cairdeas, ceoil agus creideamh in between.

Well done to all concerned and check out the upcoming activities with Muintearas Iosa on Facebook or keep an eye on the Limerick Diocese website!