Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

This weekend's readings speak of people being chosen by God. The people of Israel are led by Moses to the foot of Mount Sinai where they are reminded of God's goodness and God's plan for them.

Jesus chooses twelve apostles and send them out to remind the "scattered children of Israel" of their relationship with God.

Mass on RTÉ will be focus on the Year of Vocations which was launched a few months ago. information here from the Catholic Communications Office about the Mass from the RTÉ studios.

Please visit the vocations page on this site also.

Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

This weekend (7th June) the Meath Diocesan Group preparing for the July World Youth Day in Sydney, gathered in the Cathedral for Mass as they begin the count down for their encounter with Pope Benedict and hundreds of thousands of young people from all across the world.

While in Australia they will participate in the Days in the Diocese programme information here being hosted by the Cathedral Parish of Bathurst Diocese, 200k west of Sydney.

A display in St. Therese’s side chapel tells more about this enormous Church event. With less than a month to go before the Meath Diocesan Group leave for Sydney we ask for your support and prayers that their pilgrimage with Bishop Smith goes well.

Application forms for the Youth Section of the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes (12-17 September) are now available online. Please follow the link below.

Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

“Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and hurled themselves against that house, and it did not fall: it was founded on rock.”

The Lord is drawing our attention to the very foundations upon which we base and build our lives.  Do we build our future on shallow sand – on things that cannot satisfy and cannot last – or do we build on rock, on values that are true to who we are? Sometimes we look at this question of our values in personal terms - what guides me in my own life?  But these questions are relevant to the wider society in which we live. What values should necessary not just for me personally but also for the common good?
 
It was with these questions in mind that the Irish Bishops issued a reflection on the current debate on the Lisbon Treaty.  The reflection is called ‘Fostering a community of values’. available for download as a pdf here How do we build a Europe that will last, not on sand but on a solid foundation of Christian principles and values?
 
The Bishops are eager to point out that Europe is not just an economic project.  We share together in this continent a common history and a set of values, largely based on our heritage as Christian people. Several years ago, Pope John Paul II pointed out that Europe has succeeded in tearing down the walls which have divided us.

This new Europe is what Pope Benedict calls ‘our European home’. The Church appreciates the good work which Europe has done to promote our Christian values while also calling upon our elected representatives to work hard to make sure that these values continue to guide the policies of our leaders and law makers.
 
Let us pray today for all who serve our community at a national and European level that their good work may bear fruit and that their decisions may be guided by what it true.

Cardinal Kitbunchu from Thailand
visits the Diocese of Meath
(photoalbum now available here)

details available by clicking image above

Feast of the Most Holy Trinity

detail from The Holy Trinity by El Greco, Museo del Prado, Madrid

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Aid to Burma
details available by clicking image below

42nd World Day of Communications

Please click above to read Pope Benedict's message
for next Sunday's World Day of Communications.

Sixth Sunday of Easter 2008

We continue our journey through the Season of Easter
as we wait in joyful hope to celebrate the outpouring
of God's Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

Fifth Sunday of Easter 2008

Click above to read Pope John Paul's reflections on
"Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life" during the 4th World Youth Day Celebrations at Santiago de Compostella in 1989.

Good Shepherd Sunday 2008
Day of Prayer for Vocations

Click above to visit vocations page