The Collected Masses of Fintan P.O’Carroll
On Monday 2nd July, ‘The collected Masses of Fintan P.O’Carroll’ was launched in Mt. Sion Centre, Waterford. This is a book of Masses composed by the late Fintan P O’Carroll, and revised by his son Kevin in line with the new translation of the Roman Missal. A CD is also available.
This book and CD was also launched at the Church Music summer school in Maynooth on Thursday 5th July.
The Masses featured are:
- Mass of the Angels
- Mass in onoir Mhuire, Mathair De
- Missa Salve Regina
- Missal Salve Regina (SATB)
- Mass of the Immaculate Conception
- Mass of the Annunciation
This is a wonderful treasure for all those involved in Church music. Both book and CD are available from Veritas bookshops.
International Eucharistic Congress 2012
Message from Bishop William Lee.
My main experience of the 50th International Eucharistic Congress 2012 in the RDS andCrokePark inDublin was one of a sense of spiritual fulfilment and intense joy at a human level. 800 pilgrims from the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore attended the Congress on the Thursday – including 100 young people – and 730 pilgrims from the diocese attended the Final Mass inCrokePark on the Sunday. Feedback from our parishes indicates that it was a faith enriching experience for many of our pilgrims.
What a positive image of Church it presented! Walking through the RDS, through the exhibition stands, I witnessed the workshops whose capacity in some instances could not meet the demand of pilgrims who wished to attend. I also had the opportunity to participate in the moving liturgies in the main arena area of the RDS where I was struck again and again by the energy and goodwill which abounded all around. One had only to witness the number of women and men, young and old, who were smiling, who were truly happy to be together celebrating, discussing and sharing their faith in communion with Christ and with one another.
It was a truly universal gathering; pilgrims came from 120 countries of all ages who gave and received so much of their time together. I was particularly moved to see the joy and energy of the youth space where young people sang and danced with joy, but also expressed their faith prayerfully.
The many workshops which took place throughout the week also gave me much food for thought and sparked lots of conversations which will continue far beyond Congress week.
Of course, the Final Mass in Croke Park was an unforgettable experience.
A number of special moments stand out for me during Congress week: the meeting between Pope Benedict XVI’s special envoy, the Papal Legate Cardinal Marc Ouellet, with survivors of abuse at the sanctuary of Lough Derg as he said “I come here with the specific intention of seeking forgiveness, from God and from the victims” and that poignant image of Cardinal Ouellet along with the Papal Nuncio, as they both prayed at the penitential beds on the island of Lough Derg; and, of course, the special address by the Holy Father to the Catholics of Ireland which was broadcast to the tens of thousands of pilgrims who attended the final Mass in Croke Park on 17 June, when Pope Benedict reminded us of the strength of our Catholic heritage: “Your forebears in the Church in Ireland knew how to strive for holiness and constancy in their personal lives, how to preach the joy that comes from the Gospel, how to promote the importance of belonging to the universal Church in communion with the See of Peter, and how to pass on a love of the faith and Christian virtue to other generations”.
I have no doubt that everybody from the diocese that attended the 50th International Eucharistic Congress 2012 in the RDS and Croke Park in Dublin were enriched by their experiences and will hopefully bring this spiritual energy back to their parish communities as the legacy of the Congress begins to take shape.
I want to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to Fr. Paul Waldron, C.C. Dungarvan, who over the last number of years directed our diocesan preparation for the Congress and whose dedication and generous work contributed greatly towards ensuring that the diocese of Waterford and Lismore had such a strong attendance at the different events of the Congress.
Pictured below is Bishop William Lee with members of the youth group that travelled to Diocesan Day in the RDS on June 14th. Also, members of Diocesan Clergy that were present on the Statio Orbis in Croke Park on June 17th.
Tramore Parish – Change of Mass Times
HOLY CROSS TRAMORE & OUR LADY’S CARBALLY
New Mass Times
starting First weekend in June
2/3 June 2012
After extensive consultation with parishioners and taking into account the general needs of parishioners and the availability of priests, the Parish Pastoral Councils of Tramore and Carbally can now announce that the times of Masses will be changing from this coming weekend of 2/3 June 2012.
From this weekend times of Masses will be as follows :
Holy Cross Tramore:
Saturday (Vigil) 7.30pm
Sunday 8.30am; 10.30am; and 12 noon.
Our Lady’s Carbally
Sunday 11.30am.
THE PROM MASS
There was a great appreciation of the Prom Mass in the Summer Months from the recent consultation from parishioners. It certainly is a unique liturgy and loved by many.
For this summer, there will be 6 Masses said on the Prom (Weather Permitting) which will be for every Sunday in July and the First Sunday in August.
Mass will be on Sundays 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd & 29th July
and 5th August – all at 9.30am.
Looking forward, the Prom Mass will have to be reviewed each year once availability of priests is confirmed. Let’s hope the weather keeps fine this year!
While changes are often not the easiest of things to implement we hope all parishioners will understand the reason and need for these changes at this time and thank all parishioners for their assistance in adapting to these changes.
CHURCH OF IRELAND – TRAMORE
The Church of Ireland Sunday Service has also recently changed times. The Service will be held on Sunday’s at 10am in Christ Church, Church Road, Tramore.
Catechesis concerning Mass offerings
At the October 2010 General Meeting of the Irish Episcopal Conference, the Bishops issued the following message which summarises the Church’s position on Mass Offerings.
MESSAGE FOR PRIESTS AND FAITHFUL
Various misunderstandings about the tradition of Mass offerings and clear dangers of exploitation of the Mass can easily emerge. For this reason, the Irish Bishops wish to make clear the Church’s position on Mass Offerings. The following is a brief summary of the Church’s teaching and regulation regarding Mass Offerings.
1. The Eucharist, the ‘source and summit of the Christian life,’ is at the heart of our belief, for it preserves the great mystery of our redemption in Jesus Christ. Therefore anything that might weaken or undermine our respect for the Eucharist must be avoided.
2. The practice of giving an offering dates back to the early Church when the faithful brought bread and wine for the Mass and other gifts for the support of the priest and for the poor. Nowadays a Mass offering is a way for the donor to join him/herself to the sacrifice of the Mass; it unites the donor closely with the life and apostolic activity of the Church, the Body of Christ, as the offering becomes a form of material support for the Church’s ministers and pastoral life. The Mass must never be an occasion for ‘buying and selling’ or ‘making money’, nor should there be even the slightest appearance of making a profit from Mass offerings.
3. Normally a separate Mass is celebrated for each individual offering, however small. The donor specifies the individual intention and it is up to the donor to decide what amount to give. Because donors may sometimes ask how much it is appropriate to give, a current recommended diocesan offering is specified; (this amount is agreed by the Bishops at provincial level). A priest may accept less than the recommended offering – and many priests on occasion do.
4. The priest who receives the offering has an obligation to apply Mass for the specific intention of the person who has made the offering. He is to celebrate a Mass within a reasonable time. Irrespective of how many Masses he celebrates in a day, a priest may only keep an offering for one Mass per day. If a priest receives too many Mass intentions he must transfer any surplus Mass offerings, in total, to another priest; (normally these offerings will be sent to priests working in needy areas).
5. The Church does not encourage ‘collective’ or ‘multi-intentional’ Masses but sees these as an exception. In these exceptional cases, the following must apply:
a) It must be made explicitly clear to the donor beforehand that the offering is being combined into a single Mass offering and the donor must give free consent to this. b) The place, date and time for this Mass should be indicated publicly and such Masses may not be celebrated any more than two days weekly in any church. c) The priest who celebrates Mass for a collective intention must not keep any more than the specified diocesan offering, and must transfer any additional amount, in accordance with canon law, for the purposes prescribed by the Bishop/Provincial.
6. Having signed or stamped Mass Cards for sale to the public in shops and other commercial outlets is a practice that is not approved by the Irish Episcopal Conference, the Major Religious Superiors or the Superiors of Missionary Societies. It undermines a correct Eucharistic Theology and is unacceptable. We ask that this practice, wherever it exists, be discontinued.
7. We strongly encourage the donor, where possible, to participate in the Mass. We recommend that the intention for which the Mass is being especially offered is mentioned in the Prayer of the Faithful. Of course the Mass is not exclusively for this intention – every Mass is offered for all people, especially those in need.
The Church’s norms and regulations about Mass offerings are clearly set out in the 1983 Code of Canon Law and in the 1991 Decree MosIugiter.
Please also visit the link
http://www.catholicbishops.ie/2010/11/30/summary-of-teaching-regarding-mass-offerings/
Legion of Mary Retreat
The Annual Legion of Mary Retreat will take place on Sunday May 13th in the Edmund Rice Centre Barrack street Waterford beginning with registration at 11.30am.
Subscription €12. Bring a packed lunch, tea/coffee served. Holy Hour, Sacrament of Reconciliation, Mass, quiet time. Conclusion 4.30pm approx. Silence is requested.
All are welcome. More details 086 3100581.
Edmund Rice Week 2012
On May 5th, the Feast of Blessed Edmund Rice will be celebrated. Please see below schedule of events taking place in Edmund Rice Chapel, Mount Sion, Waterford, to make this very special feast.
Monday April 30th – Theme ‘Presence’ – 7.30pm Eucharist with presider Fr. Pat Fitzgerald
Tuesday May 1st – Evening of Prayer and Reflection ‘The Charism of Edmund’ @ 7.30pm.
Guest speaker Eileen O’Brien
Wednesday May 2nd – Theme ‘Compassion’ – Eucharist @ 7.30pm with presider Fr. Sean Melody.
Thursday May 3rd – Taize prayer around the Cross @ 7.30pm with Edmund Music Ministry – Waterford Peace Choir.
Friday May 4th – Quiet prayer and adoration with Jesus and Edmund @ 7.30pm.
Saturday May 5th – Feast of Blessed Edmund Rice – - Theme ‘Liberation’ – Eucharist with Presider Fr. Michael Mullins @ 1.00pm
Refreshments will be served after each gathering.
Holy Thursday Celebration
Young People Organize Holy Thursday Liturgy
The concelebrants, our Parish Priest Fr. Edmund Cullinan and Mout Melleray priest Fr. Hahessy, were accompanied to the bare altar by fourteen young people (ages eighteen to twenty something), twelve of them dressed in white albs.
Fr. Cullinan answered the question from a child in the congregation – why is this such a very special night for us? – and then presented the holy oils to the people of the parish. The Gloria was recited, accompanied by a peal of bells.
The second reading and gospel were read in ‘dialogue’ form by the celebrant and young people.
The altar was dressed and the twelve ‘apostles’, arranged in a semicircle behind the altar, had their feet washed as a very moving reflection, God in an Apron, was read from the ambo.
As each Prayer of the Faithful was recited a lighted candle was placed on the altar.
The returned Trocaire boxes were presented and then the bread (large Glencairn hosts) and wine (a large jug as there was to be communion under both kinds) accompanied by a sheaf of wheat and a bowl of grapes.
Having received the handshake of peace from the celebrant the ‘apostles’ moved through the congregation extending the hand of peace to all.
The parish Eucharistic ministers made the annual renewal of their promise of service.
After communion the altar was cleared and the procession to the altar of repose was sent on its way with a reading from Chapter 14 of St. John’s Gospel – Do not let your hearts be troubled…
Come now, let us go. – into the darkness of the church, with torches and lanterns and the singing of the Pange Lingua.
Summary of findings of Apostolic Visitation
Summary of the Findings of the Apostolic Visitation in Ireland
Please see below Press Release of the Irish Bishops Conference.
Bishops welcome Summary of the Findings of the Apostolic Visitation in Ireland
Background
On 19 March 2010, following a meeting in the Vatican with the bishops of Ireland, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI issued a Pastoral Letter to the Catholics in Ireland. The Pastoral Letter expressed his deep sorrow and regret regarding abuse perpetrated by priests and religious on victims “You have suffered grievously and I am truly sorry” and addressed how such cases had been responded to in the past. The Pastoral Letter also announced a number of “concrete initiatives” including an Apostolic Visitation of certain dioceses in Ireland, as well as seminaries and religious congregations. The Apostolic Visitation was “intended to assist the local Church in her path of renewal.”
A press conference was held in the Columba Centre, Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, to mark the publication of the Summary of the Findings of the Apostolic Visitation in Ireland. In attendance at the press conference were Cardinal Seán Brady, Primate of All Ireland and President of the Irish Bishops’ Conference; Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, Primate of Ireland and Vice-President of the Irish Bishops’ Conference; the Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland, His Excellency Archbishop Charles Brown; and, the Director General of the Conference of Religious of Ireland, Sister Marianne O’Connor. Please see below Cardinal Brady’s opening statement at the press conference:
Comments by Cardinal Brady:
On behalf of the Catholic community in Ireland I welcome the publication of the findings of the recent Apostolic Visitation. This visitation arose from the concrete initiatives proposed by His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI in his Pastoral Letter to the Catholics of Ireland of March 2010. We thank Pope Benedict, and those who collaborated in carrying out the Visitation of the four archdioceses, the religious congregations and seminaries. We acknowledge with gratitude all those who contributed to this important and historic initiative by meeting the visitors and making submissions to them. Special priority was given to meetings with survivors of abuse who were assured of the particular closeness of the Holy Father to them in this process. The Visitators also met with a broad representation of the Catholic faithful.
Through this Visitation the Holy See offers assistance to bishops, clergy, religious and lay faithful as we seek to respond adequately to the situation caused by the tragic cases of child abuse perpetrated by some priests and religious. This report is also offered as a contribution to the on-going spiritual and moral renewal of the Church in Ireland. It is important to point out, however, that the purpose of the Visitation was, in the words of today’s report primarily “pastoral in nature; the Holy Father’s intention was that it should ‘assist the local Church on her path of renewal’.”
Importantly, however, the Visitation was not intended to replace or supersede the on-going work of the Church in Ireland, the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland, or the various state agencies in the efforts they have made, and continue to make, to deal effectively with child abuse. Crucially therefore today’s report is different in nature and focus to the ongoing reviews which are being undertaken by the National Board into Ireland’s dioceses and congregations or the various state investigations.
Today’s report provides us with a helpful snapshot of a key moment on the ongoing journey of renewal, and a signpost to future priorities and directions.
As bishops we wish to associate ourselves with the “great sense of pain and shame” expressed in the Visitation findings that, within the Christian community, “innocent young people were abused by clerics and religious to whose care they had been entrusted, while those who should have exercised vigilance often failed to do so effectively.” In expressing true sorrow and regret, we make our own the heartfelt plea for forgiveness from the victims, and from God, for these terrible crimes and sins.
Pastoral context of social and cultural transformation
The Visitation report published today arrives at a point in our history marked by a “rapid social and cultural transformation.” In this context a number of the recommendations made in the report deserve particular emphasis:
- The first is the call to a deeper communion among all the parts of the Church in Ireland: “Communion among the bishops themselves and with the Successor of Saint Peter; communion between bishops and their clergy; communion between pastors and lay persons; and communion between dioceses and institutes of religious life.” The report highlights that this communion is not attained primarily through “human agreements or strategies, but above all by listening humbly to God’s Word and to what the Holy Spirit gives and asks of the Church in our day. Only a united Church can be an effective witness to Christ in the world.” As bishops we pledge ourselves to continue to work to build up this communion among all of us in the Church, encouraged and inspired by the providential theme of this year’s Eucharistic Congress: The Eucharist: Communion with Christ and with one another.
- The second is the emphasis placed on certain vital dimensions of formation in the faith. We particularly welcome today the call in the report for “a new focus on the role of the laity, who are called to be engaged both within the Church and in bearing witness [to their Christian faith] before society.” We take this opportunity to echo the call of the Visitation to the Catholic community in Ireland to “make its voice heard in the media and to establish a proper relationship with those active in this field, for the sake of making known the truth of the Gospel and the Church’s life”.
To respond adequately to the challenges of contemporary culture in Ireland, the findings of the Visitation make it clear that it should be a pastoral priority for the Church in Ireland to provide formation in the content of the faith for young people and adults and by ensuring “a broad and well planned ongoing theological and spiritual formation for clergy, religious and lay faithful.” This is already a priority in many dioceses and parishes as the Church in Ireland continues its implementation of Share the Good News – the National Directory for Catechesis in Ireland, approved by the Holy See.
We welcome also the report’s recognition that there are dedicated formation staff in Irish seminaries, that “studies are taken seriously and attention is given to human and spiritual formation”, and that “each seminary has clear child protection norms in place and … [is] committed to educating future priests with a broad understanding of all that is involved in the protection of minors within the Church.”
- Thirdly, today’s report offers us all great encouragement by acknowledging that “in this time of trial” for the Church in Ireland there are also many clear signs of hope. For example, the report notes the “continuing vitality of the Irish people’s faith … the human and spiritual bonds among the faithful at a time of crisis … the exemplary way in which many priests and religious live out their vocation and … [the] remarkable level of lay involvement in the structures of child protection” within the Church. In this regard it is also important to note that the visitation’s acknowledgement that the work of the National Board for Safeguarding Children has been “thorough and far reaching. The Visitators were struck by the efforts made throughout the country, by bishops, priests, religious and lay persons to implement the Guidelines [Safeguarding Children: Standards and Guidance Document for the Catholic Church in Ireland] and to create safe environments. In the four Archdioceses, the results of these efforts were judged to be excellent. In addition to the large number of volunteers, they noted the presence of men and women within the various safeguarding structures who bring the highest level of professionalism to the service of the Christian community.” It is vital that we continue to build on these welcome signs of hope.
As the work of renewal in the Church in Ireland continues, certain elements of today’s findings will be progressed through engagement with the relevant offices of the Holy See. Today’s report notes, for example, that the important question of “the present configuration of dioceses in Ireland, and their ability to respond adequately to the challenges of the New Evangelisation” is part of a process of joint reflection between the bishops of Ireland and the Holy See, in which the communities concerned are to be involved.
In conclusion, it is important that we, together, as the Catholic community in Ireland, take responsibility for the continuing renewal which has received such encouragement and further direction from this Apostolic Visitation. We express our heartfelt gratitude to all who worked so generously to ensure a fruitful outcome from the Visitation. As a Christian community we are strengthened and encouraged by the care and commitment shown to us by the Holy Father in so many ways throughout this crisis.
We move forward with renewed faith and hope as we prepare to host the 50th International Eucharistic Congress and to draw further strength and renewal from the approaching ‘Year of Faith’ which has been announced by Pope Benedict to commence this October.
Significantly, today marks the second anniversary of the publication in Ireland of the Pastoral Letter of Pope Benedict to the Catholics of Ireland. It is therefore appropriate that I should conclude by recalling some of the words of the Prayer for the Church in Ireland from that Letter penned by his own hand:
May our sorrow and our tears,
Our sincere effort to redress past wrongs,
And our firm purpose of amendment
Bear an abundant harvest of grace
For the deepening of the faith
In our families, parishes, schools and communities,
For the spiritual progress of Irish society,
And the growth of charity, justice, joy and peace
Within the whole human family.
Mass of Chrism
On Thursday 5th April, the Chrism Mass will be celebrated in the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, Barronstrand Street, Waterford @ 10.30am.
During this celebration, the Holy Oils will be blessed and taken back to each Parish in the Diocese. The priests present will also renew their Priestly promises, their renewal of commitment to the Priesthood and to the service of the people in their care.
All are welcome to attend this special Diocesan celebration.
Youth celebrate their Faith
The Parish of St. Nicholas, Carrick-on-Suir, organized a series of Celebrations of Faith on each of the Wednesday evenings of Lent.
The Parish Pastoral Council set aside one of these Wednesdays for young people and asked the Youth Conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society to organize the liturgy. This they did on Wednesday 21st March, providing a half hour reflection on their faith on the theme of ‘On the Road to Emmaus’, underlining the fact that, like the two disciples, they often find it difficult to recognise Jesus because of the distractions or disinterest in their lives.
They sang, they read, they prayed, presented an insight into their faith journey through drama, were blessed with water and extended the hand of peace to all in the congregation.
As this liturgy took place in the week after the coach deaths in Switzerland and the shootings in France, part of the liturgy was dedicated to the memory of those who died, twenty eight red and four blue candles being presented, by two students in uniform from each of the three secondary schools, during the Prayers of the Faithful, which were read in Swahili, Polish and English. Music was provided by the girls from Greenhill secondary school.
One disappointment! Some years ago during the diocesan listening process in the Carraig Hotel the first question at almost every table was: how do we get young people back into the church? Well, on the week-end before the liturgy all the congregations were addressed by a young person with the simple message: here we are come join us. Very few did.
