Notices

Easter Message from Fr. Tom – Happy Easter — Thank You

April 4th, 2012

Since my stepping down from holding the position of parish priest a number of weeks ago I have received many cards and letters wishing me well and offering support and encouragement.

This Easter weekend I want to thank you all for your prayers, good wishes and support. Individual Thank Yous would take a lot of time and so I hope you will accept this communal note of appreciation. On behalf of all of us I wish to thank Fr. John along with Fr. Paul, Fr. Bogdan and Fr. Declan and the other members of the parish team for their hard work and support.

Last Wednesday as I was going to bed I looked out my window and saw a group of volunteers from Naas Tidy Towns and other groups working in the church grounds. It was very encouraging to see this activity on such a cold evening. Many thanks to everyone involved.

May this Easter be a joyful and happy time for you and your families. With grateful thanks for your prayers and support.

Fr Tom (7th April 2012)

Posted in Homepage, Letters from our Parish Priest, Notices | Comments Off

Bridget Moloney, Monread Heights, Naas, Co. Kildare

April 4th, 2012

The death has occurred of Bridget Moloney, Monread Heights, Naas, Co. Kildare

Wednesday 4th April 2012

Funeral Arrangements: Reposing at her nephew Jim Nolan’s residence, Barrowmount, Goresbridge, Co. Kilkenny, from 12 noon Good Friday, April 6, arriving at 6.30pm at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Skeoughvosteen. Burial after Prayer Service on Saturday morning at 11am.

May she rest in peace

Posted in Death notices | Comments Off

Brenda Kavanagh, Ashgrove Drive, Naas, Co. Kildare

April 1st, 2012

The death has occurred of Brenda Kavanagh, Ashgrove Drive, Naas, Co. Kildare (And formerly Kavanagh’s, Main Street, Naas)

Sunday 1st April 2012. Peacefully at The Hermitage Medical Clinic.

Sadly missed by her loving nephews Ger, Peter, Joe, David, Paddy and Paul, sister-in-law Mary, nieces-in-law, her many great friends and neighbours and special aunt and friend to her grandnieces and nephews.

Funeral Arrangements: Reposing at her home from 4pm Monday. Prayers on Monday at 9.30pm. Removal on Tuesday morning at 9.30am to arrive at the church of Our Lady and St. David, Sallins Road, Naas, for 10.00am Requiem Mass. Burial afterwards in St. Corban’s Cemetery, Naas. Family flowers only, please. Donations, if desired, to Kildare Animal Foundation. Donation box in church.

May she Rest in Peace

Map / Directions

Posted in Death notices | Comments Off

Keeping Holy Week Holy

March 30th, 2012

Palm Sunday begins the journey of Holy Week. We invite you in whatever way possible to keep this week sacred. We are all busy in our own lives with so many things to do and so many places to be. Perhaps this week we can take some time to reflect on our faith and our lives? We invite you to make a special effort to attend the Holy Week Ceremonies, times of which are posted on the homepage notices.

The Holy Thursday mass is a reminder to us of the importance of the Eucharist, and the link between the Eucharist and service of others as symbolised in the washing of the feet.

Good Friday has for long been a sacred day. It is very easy to allow it to become an ordinary day, and so we really need to make a conscious effort to make it special and to try to attend one of the ceremonies of the day. If you cannot attend a ceremony, then perhaps take a few moments in your home to kiss or venerate a cross, perhaps leading your children or family into the tradition also. The cross is central to our faith, – Jesus offered his life on the cross so that you and I might have the fullness of life on this earth and the promise of eternal life. He has taken our sins upon himself and won for us forgiveness.

Holy Saturday night is a very special night for Christians. Again, worth the effort to try to attend. It is our celebration of the risen Lord. Jesus has broken the chains of death and has won for us a new life. He gives us hope. He is a light in darkness, a light that darkness cannot overcome. And in the midst of our economic struggles, our church and faith struggles, and our own personal and family struggles, we turn to our risen Lord who gives us hope and who promises to be with us always.

Easter Day – ‘And lo the winter is past, rains are over and gone, flowers appear on the earth, glad songs are heard’ – For Christ is risen today. Alleluia. May he live again in our hearts of faith, hope and love! Alleluia! He is truly risen.

May the journey of this Holy Week strengthen your faith, and bring you hope, comfort and peace.

Posted in Reflection - Today's Thought | No Comments »

Eucharistic congress – Special invitation to Young People

March 24th, 2012

Young people are particularly welcome to participate in the 50th International Eucharistic Congress Youth Space, which will host the Programme “Go! Be Church”, specially prepared for young adults between 17 and 25 years of age. Come and participate in this event with workshops, dramas, interactive catechesis, concerts, social activities, games, art, fun and much more!

Book for the Congress a) yvonne.rooney@kandle.ie or call 087 7788 007 or b) online www.iec2012.ie/registration or phone our Booking offices on 01 298 1122. Advance bookings are open until the 9th of May 2012. After that date all bookings are onsite at the RDS during the week of the Congress. Book now! 50th International Eucharistic Congress (IEC2012) There are three ways to book for the Congress: 1) By phone at 01 2981122. 2) Book Online: www.iec2012.ie/registration. 3) Download a Booking Form from website www.iec2012.ie/registration and send the completed form to CSSL, 3rd Floor, Paradigm House, Dundrum Office Park, Dundrum, Dublin 14. Advance bookings are open until May 9th 2012. After that date all bookings are onsite at the RDS. BOOK NOW!

Posted in Notices | Comments Off

Seeking Jesus

March 23rd, 2012

How can we meet Jesus in our lives and introduce him to others who are searching for him? John tells us today that some Greek travellers who came to Jerusalem for the Passover wanted to meet Jesus. They were not Jews, but were devout seekers of God. It was not unusual for Greeks to travel the then known world. Greeks loved to journey and discover new things. When these Greeks heard of Jesus, they wanted to meet him personally, but didn’t know how to approach him. So they did something a Greek would feel comfortable doing. They found a sympathetic looking insider named Philip, a disciple of Jesus whose name happened to be a Greek name, and asked him how they could meet with Jesus. Philip surprisingly didn’t know what to say. Andrew fortunately stepped in and personally introduced these foreigners to Jesus.

Perhaps we are all a little like the Greeks in the Gospel today, each one of us on the journey of life seeking to meet Jesus and discover his love for us. The question arises as to where we are searching for the Lord? Further to this where is he revealing himself to us at this point on our journey? The next couple of weeks are a particularly apt time to reflect upon these questions as we approach the very heart of our faith in celebrating the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

Posted in Reflection - Today's Thought | Comments Off

Suggestions for Lent: Naas, Sallins and Two Mile House Parishes

March 21st, 2012

In the season of Lent we are invited to step out of our usual patterns of life and become more aware of our relationship, with ourselves, with others and with God. Perhaps one of the following suggestions may be of help to you during Lent.

Trocaire Boxes are now available in the Church or Parish Office. Donating money to those in poverty and injustice is a great Christian practice. Also a good lesson for our children.

Garment of Pain: The season of Lent is upon us once more and for many people the year just passed will be remembered perhaps not with fondest memories. Some have been bereaved, others have been separated from someone they love and many have known their own share of pain. We invite the people of the Parish to join in the Garment of Pain by placing a small piece of cloth, no bigger than a postcard, which represents a sadness in their lives, into the baskets in the Churches. In the final days of Lent these pieces of cloth will be sewn together to form one Garment which will be used as the altar cloth at the Mass of the Last Supper on Holy Thursday and will be draped on the cross, as the act of solidarity with all those who suffer, on Good Friday. When we burn our Garment in the fire of the Easter Vigil we make a bold gesture of Hope in the Risen Christ who has conquered death.

Take Five minutes, an odd day or every day, to talk to God. Bring your thanks and your needs to him and ask his guidance.

A Prayer with your Children: Do you ever say a pray with your young children? In our busy world it’s no harm to remind them that God is important to you and important in their lives. Why not say one simple prayer before they go to bed or as you kiss them goodnight. Any prayer you like. They learn this one in school.
‘God our Father we come to say thank you for your love today, thank you for my family and all the friends you gave to me, guard me in the dark of night and in the morning send your light’. Amen.

Ballycane Church: A special reflection on the Stations of the Cross will take place on Friday evening, 9th March at 8pm in Ballycane Church (following the 7.30pm mass). All are welcome to come along.

Ballycane Church: Perhaps you might like like to take a little time out for reflection. Join us at 8pm on Friday 23rd and Friday 30th March after evening mass in Ballycane for some gentle music and contemplation led by the parish youth group, Tús Nua.

Two mile House: On Friday evenings during Lent, following the 7pm Mass, the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed and the rosary will be recited. All are welcome to come along.

Sallins: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction on Fridays at 7.30pm.

Scripture Preparation Group: On Tuesdays at 10.30 am Sr Peggy leads a group of people interested in discussing the readings of the following Sunday and trying to apply it to their lives. Click here to read more.

Posted in Notices | Comments Off

If I Had My Life To Live Over

March 18th, 2012

The following was written by the late Erma Bombeck after she found out she had a fatal disease.

If I had my life to live over, I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained
and the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the ‘good’ living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television
- and more while watching life.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for the day.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn’t show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I’d have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, “Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.”

There would have been more “I love you’s”.. More “I’m sorrys” …

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute… look at it and really see it … live it…and never give it back.

Erma Bombeck

Posted in Family / Children, Prayers and Reflections, Reflection - Today's Thought | Comments Off

Come Holy Spirit, build up the Kingdom

March 17th, 2012

Have you ever wondered what happened to the grace of your own Confirmation? I am sure we each have it still. It is simply waiting to be used by us. So, what is this grace? It’s an energy, an enthusiasm for the “things of God”. It calls on us to make a commitment: to make our lives resemble the life of Christ. This commitment has to turn up and be visible in our daily lives. The same Spirit led Jesus to build up the Kingdom of God, His family, what we call His Church. He did this by showing love in action; by gathering people in; by forgiving; by including and not excluding; by touching the unclean and the sick in a bond of solidarity; by accepting unfairness, even death; by challenging the comfortable; by dreaming new dreams.

Can you see yourself doing any of these things? Well, that’s exactly what God wants of you. But don’t turn to God and say “I can’t. I’m not able”, because that is not true. He has given you the energy, the power, through His Spirit. Over the years we have added to the number of people empowered, enabled, filled with God’s Spirit. The world needs you to wake up! Our Church needs you to act now! The Church in Ireland is at a point, where each contribution will make a real difference. Here, in Sallins, the Church will only grow if we make it happen. Are you going to make Jesus’ vision, His dream become visible today and in the future? This call is for you, who have received the Spirit, and for those children, who will receive Him in Confirmation.

Fr. Declan Thompson

Posted in Christian Living, Church - People of God | Comments Off

Group from St. Mary’s College, Naas receive John Paul II Award

March 15th, 2012

Pictured are Grainne Pyke, Maria Bergin, Sally Byrne, Fionnuala Egan, Muiread Murphy and Eleanor Owens with Fr. Paul. They are the first group from St. Mary’s College, Naas to receive the John Paul II Award.

They were presented with the medals and certificates on Friday, 2nd March by Mary Kennedy of RTE. They did various sorts of service in parish and community to earn the award, including parish involvement in choirs, SVP, Special Olympics, Nursing home visits, reading at mass, flower arranging in their local church, sporting events, etc.. Well done and congratulations to the girls, and to all who use their time and talents for the benefit of our parishes and the wider community.

The John Paul II Awards continue in Kildare and Leighlin Diocese, more Information on thepopejohnpauliiaward.com

Posted in Notices, Schools Notices, Youth Page | Comments Off

The Feast of St. Patrick

March 14th, 2012

On Saturday coming we celebrate St. Patrick. Many celebrations will take place to mark our “Irishness.” It is good to reflect upon what is unique to us as Irish people, however we must never forget that there is more to this feast day. Essentially we celebrate a man of solid faith. A man who heard the call of Christ deep within his heart and responded to that call in a most generous manner. There is very clear evidence of this in the prayer known as St. Patrick’s Breastplate. In it we see that Patrick was a man deeply rooted in Christ. The following is a short extract that is familiar to us, but it is offered here as a reflective resource as we continue the journey of Lent, a time that invites us to become more rooted in Christ ourselves;

Christ with me, Christ before me,

Christ behind me, Christ within me,

Christ beneath me, Christ above me,

Christ at my right, Christ at my left,

Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me,

Christ in every eye that sees me,

Christ in every ear that hears me.

Posted in Reflection - Today's Thought | Comments Off

International Eucharistic Congress, Final Mass 17th June

March 12th, 2012

The tickets for the final Mass of the International Eucharistic Congress, taking place in Croke Park on Sunday, 17th June, have been made available to our parishes. With such demand on the event, only a small allocation of tickets (just over 100) have been allotted to our parishes of Naas, Sallins and Two Mile House. The Application Forms (for the three parishes) are available in the Parish Office, Sallins Rd., Naas. Many of the tickets are now booked but there are still some available. If you wish to attend the Croke Park event please call to the Parish Office, Sallins Rd., and fill out the Application Form which must be accompanied by €10 (to go towards the costs of the event). Bookings must be forwarded to our diocesan office this week!

50th International Eucharistic Congress (IEC2012) There are three ways to book for the Congress: 1) By phone at 01 2981122. 2) Book Online: www.iec2012.ie/registration. 3) Download a Booking Form from website www.iec2012.ie/registration and send the completed form to CSSL, 3rd Floor, Paradigm House, Dundrum Office Park, Dundrum, Dublin 14. Advance bookings are open until May 9th 2012. After that date all bookings are onsite at the RDS. BOOK NOW!

Posted in Notices | Comments Off

Martin Friesinger, Sundern, Germany and Naas

March 11th, 2012

The death has occurred of Martin Friesinger, Germany and Naas, Co. Kildare.

Sunday 11th March 2012

Sadly missed by his loving wife Susan (Cronin), sons Conor and Sven, Mother-in-law Anne, extended family and friends.

Funeral Arrangements: Removal on Friday morning to arrive at the Church of The Irish Martyrs, Ballycane, Naas for Funeral Mass at 11.00 a.m., followed by burial in St. Corban’s Cemetery, Naas.

May he rest in peace.

Map / Directions

Posted in Death notices | Comments Off

Paddy Keegan, Kilcullen, late of Two Mile House

March 11th, 2012

The death has occurred of Paddy Keegan, Kilcullen and late of Two Mile House, Naas, Co. Kildare

Sunday 11th March 2012.

Funeral arrangements: Removal on Monday evening to arrive at St. Peter’s Parish Church, Two Mile House at 6.00pm. Funeral Mass on Tuesday morning at 11.00am. Burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.

May he rest in peace.

Map / Directions

Posted in Death notices | Comments Off

Kim Barron, Hazelmere, Naas, Co. Kildare

March 9th, 2012

The death has occurred of Kim Barron, Hazelmere, Naas, Co. Kildare

Friday 9th March 2012

Funeral Arrangements: Removal on Sunday afternoon at 1.30 p.m., to arrive at the Church of The Irish Martyrs, Ballycane, Naas for Funeral Mass at 2.00 p.m., followed by burial in St. Corban’s Cemetery, Naas.

May she rest in peace.

Map / Directions

Posted in Death notices | Comments Off