th 16 March 2014 Vol 24 No 18 St Mary’s Parish, Bennekerry Second Sunday of Lent Second Sunday of Lent Fr. Tom Little “It is wonderful for us to be here.” 16th March 2014 059 91-34992 We can sympathise with Peter in today’s Gospel as he wants to remain on the mountain in this amazing, Fr Liam Morgan euphoric experience. We can recall those events in our Life 059 91-31212 own lives – we didn’t want them to end. But Jesus’ Sr. Joan Pierse way involves coming down from the mountain top. "Life is an opportunity, benefit from it. 059 91-42565 Often we can be content in assuming that our serving ASKEA PARISH God is sufficient at a Sunday Mass. We must awaken Life is beauty, admire it. COLLECTIONS that call within each of us to be active in our Gospel Life is a dream, realize it. Development €1,472 living; to listen to the cry of the poor and the Life is a challenge, meet it. oppressed and the challenges that they face in this Offertory €1,623 Life is a duty, complete it. *************** world. Emergency In a special way this Lent we think about water, we Life is a game, play it. think about Enestina from Malawi, who journeys with Priest on Duty Life is a promise, fulfil it. 15 litres of water every morning before school. What 087 2588118 do we have to say to that situation? What do we have Life is sorrow, overcome it. Askea Parish Community to say to our governments about Enestina? How far Life is a song, sing it. Centre Phone can you carry 15 litres of water? Or even 5 litres of Life is a struggle, accept it. & Fax 91-42565 water? Who has the power in these situations? Who Life is a tragedy, confront it. 087 1269709 controls the earth’s resources? What can we do about it? Wash clothes at 30 degrees; spend less time in the Life is an adventure, dare it. Mass Times: shower; fix those dripping taps; reduce the amount of Life is luck, make it. Askea 9.30am Mon-Fri bottled water we buy. How can such small Sat 7pm; Sun 9am, acts make a different? They raise consciousness, Life is life, fight for it." 10.30am & 12 Noon restore relationship and help us to live more fully Bennekerry Sun 11.30am in communion together. Through small acts we live in -- Mother Teresa Tinryland Wed 9.30am solidarity and we challenge those with power to work Sunday 10am for transformation. “Transformation... begins with the ************ people of God who start turning the things of death Deadline for items for into things of life. And the kings and presidents and Newsletter if 5pm on nations will follow”. Wednesday by phone or Shane Claiborne fax to 9142565 or email Trócaire Boxes are available in the Church. to [email protected] Website: You are invited to take home a box with you www.askeaparish.ie and help support the work of Trócaire in Malawi. St Mary’s Parish, Bennekerry Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament takes place every Fr Tom Little PP – Phone 059 9131559 /9134992 Wednesday following the 9.30am Mass in Holy Family Church, Askea and Fr Liam Morgan CC 059 9143260. Newsletter Items – 059 9143881. continues until 7pm.

Deadline for News items: - 9pm Wednesdays Emergency Number for the Priest on Duty 087 2588118. Kildare & Leighlin Weekly Lotto Results th Parish Office – 059 9142565 087 – 1269709. For Wed 12 March 2014. Numbers drawn were 2, 3, 13 & 27. Website: www.askeaparish.ie; email: [email protected] Match 3s shared €1,000 - €67 each No Jackpot Winner. 15

Anniversaries There was 1 Match3s from Askea / Bennekerry. New Jackpot €20,000. Winner Promoter Sunday 16th March 2014 at 11.30am Pauline King Michael Shannon Andrew O’Keeffe, Crew, England Tickets €2 each – available from Askea Parish Centre. Please note the draw takes Tom Hutton, Rutland Terrace place on Wed at 4.30pm in Portlaoise. Tickets must be returned by 5pm each Tuesday to Askea Parish Centre.

Bennekerry Offertory €182 Development €217 Askea Senior Citizens’ Holiday in May to Donegal Mount Eriigal Hotel, 5 days / 4 nights B/B/D & Tours. Cost €285. Discount for PALATINE G.F.C. Lotto Results: - 10/03/2014 members. From Monday 5th May until Friday 9th May. Non-members No Jackpot Winner. Numbers:-14, 20, 22 & 32 welcome. Bookings from now. Savings Club available. Contact Marian at 3 match 3 Winner €70 each 059 9143010. Deposits must be paid by March 2014.

Winner Seller Enrolments: Dominic Mullins Willie Mullins Holy Family BNS & Holy Family GNS, Askea are currently taking Paddy Harrington John Kelly, enrolments for Junior Infants for school year 2014/2015. B'kerry Please contact school secretaries for further details: Geraldine Sheehy John Fitzpatrick Holy Family Girls’ National School: 059 9142343 Promoter's Prize Jimmy O’Shea Holy Family Boys’ National School: 059 9142772 Next Draw Tuesday 18th March Jackpot €20,000 Weekday Masses during Lent Best of Luck to Mount Leinster Rangers on St In addition to the weekday morning Mass at 9.30am in Askea Patrick's Day! Church an Evening Mass will be celebrated from Monday to Friday at 7pm.

Ministry Day 'Renewing the mind and heart and hands of Faith' Evening Vigil in St Joseph’s Church, Tinryland–Sunday 16th - 'He saved us through the washing of re-birth and renewal by the Holy March, 2014. Starting at 6pm including Stations of the Cross, Evening th Spirit.‘ Titus 3:5. Saturday, March 29 Mount St Anne’s, Killenard, Prayer, Rosary, and Mass at 7.30pm, Holy Hour, Prayers concluding at Portarlington. 10:00a.m.-4:00p.m. This day of reflection during the 10.40pm with night prayer and distribution of shamrock. The season of Lent is offered by Faith Development Services for all those Sacrament of Reconciliation will take place during the Vigil. involved in ministry in our diocese and will be led by Ned Prendergast. Booking is essential as numbers are limited to 100. You can book your Mass Times for St Patrick’s Day place by emailing [email protected] or phoning Christine at 059 9164084. Monday 17th March 2014 The cost of the day including a light lunch is €5. Take this opportunity Holy Family Church, Askea – 9am, 10.30am & 12 Noon. to come away and rest awhile and to renew your heart, mind and St Mary’s Church, Bennekerry – 11.30am hands this Lenten season. St Joseph’s Church, Tinryland – 10am Please note there is NO vigil Mass on Sunday evening for the Feast of Carlow Day Care Centre St Patrick.

St Patrick’s Day Badges & Hairbands are for sale in Askea Parish Centre for €2 each. Proceeds to Carlow Day Care In Memoriam Centre. We ask the Lord to grant eternal rest to: Crafts Bernadette (Bernie) Motley, Handmade by the clients in the Carlow Day Care Centre are 24 John Sweeney Park available in Askea Parish Centre. Knitted chickens with eggs; Hot water bottle covers; Draught excluders; Scarves; Knitted toys and Peter Noonan, Tuam, Co Galway and Wales lots more. All proceeds to Carlow Day Care Centre. and we offer our sympathy and the support of our prayers to all who have suffered the loss of a loved one at this time. Sponsored Carlow & District Vintage Tractor, Car and Bike rd Run on Sunday 23 March at 1.30pm sharp. Registration at the The international food shortage above Centre – no registration charge. For Sponsor Cards and further Recently, a worldwide survey was conducted and the only question asked information contact Michael 086 1789211 or 059 9135977 or Liam 087 was: "Would you please give your honest opinion about the solution to the 6240640. Refreshments and Raffle at the Centre following run. Prizes food shortage in the rest of the world?" galore including Seller’s Prize €50 / Driver’s Prize €50. The survey was, not surprisingly, a huge failure. Because: In Africa they didn't know what "food" meant. Bennekerry National School Public Art Commission: In Eastern Europe they didn't know what "honest" meant. Bennekerry NS wishes to commission a work or works of art for our new In Western Europe they didn't know what "shortage" meant. school. This commission is to be funded by the Per Cent for Art scheme. In China they didn't know what "opinion" meant. For further information or for the Artist’s Brief to be forwarded onto you by In the Middle East they didn't know what "solution" meant. email please contact the school secretary at (059) 9134939 or at In South America they didn't know what "please" meant. [email protected]. Closing date for receipt of submissions is And, in the USA they didn't know what "the rest of the world" meant. Wednesday April 2nd, 2014. Roger Darlington THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK - Life Mistakes “It is wonderful for us to be here.” It is part of the human nature always to judge others very severely and when the wind turns against us, always to find an excuse for We can sympathise with Peter in today’s Gospel as he wants to remain our own misdeeds, or to blame someone else for our mistakes.” on the mountain in this amazing, euphoric experience. We can recall Paulo Coelho, Like the Flowing River those events in our own lives – we didn’t want them to end. But Jesus’ way involves coming down from the mountain top. Often we can be CALENDAR content in assuming that our serving God is sufficient at a Sunday Monday :- 17th:-St Patrick, bishop, Principal Patron of Ireland ― St Mass. We must awaken that call within each of us to be active in our Patrick was born very probably in the early years of the 5th century in Gospel living; to listen to the cry of the poor and the oppressed and Britain. He was taken captive at the age of 16 and brought to Ireland the challenges that they face in this world. where he worked as a slave. His captivity had a very positive effect on In a special way this Lent we think about water, we think about his spiritual life. He escaped back home at the age of 22. It was Enestina from Malawi, who journeys with 15 litres of water every obvious to him that God was calling him to return to convert the Irish. morning before school. What do we have to say to that situation? He studied probably in France, returned to Ireland c. 457-61 and made a tremendous number of converts. He died in 491. What do we have to say to our governments about Enestina? How far Tuesday: 18th:- St Cyril of Jerusalem, 315-386, bishop of Jerusalem. can you carry 15 litres of water? Or even 5 litres of water? Who has He excelled as a catechist and administrator, and suffered exile in his the power in these situations? Who controls the earth’s resources? fight against Arianism. What can we do about it? Wash clothes at 30 degrees; spend less time Wednesday 19th:-St Joseph, Husband of The Blessed Virgin Mary in the ‘The virtues of St Joseph have been the object of ecclesial reflection shower; fix those dripping taps; reduce the amount of bottled water down through the centuries, especially the more recent centuries. we buy. How can such small Among those virtues the following stand out: faith, with which he fully acts make a different? They raise consciousness, restore relationship accepted God’s salvation plan; prompt and silent obedience to the Will and help us to live more fully of God; love for and fulfilment of the true piety, fortitude in times of in communion together. Through small acts we live in solidarity and trial; chaste love for the Blessed Virgin Mary, a dutiful exercise of his we challenge those with power to work for transformation. paternal authority, and fruitful reticence. st “Transformation... begins with the people of God who start turning the Friday 21 :-St Enda is considered to be one of the late vocations things of death into things of life. And the kings and presidents and (athlaech) of Ireland. His sister, Faenche, a nun, set his thoughts on a nations will follow”. religious vocation. He made a small foundation in Cell Aine, Co. Louth Shane Claiborne and after studies in Scotland under Minian, made several foundations in the Boyne Valley. On Faenche’s urging he went to Aran. He died Trócaire Boxes are available in the Church. probably in 520 and is considered as one of the early models of ascetic You are invited to take home a box with you and help monasticism in Ireland. support the work of Trócaire in Malawi. Community Games – St Mary’s Area Area 11 Bennekerry/Tinryland Community Games Talent Contest will take place on Friday 28th March at 7pm in Basketball Bishop Foley School. Any child interested in taking part should The Bennekerry/Tinryland Boys and Girls U/13 and U11 Mixed contact Olivia at 087 9914215. Basketballl teams took part in Carlow Community Games. The U/13 Girls played a great game but where beaten by St Lazerian’s. Parish Lourdes Invalid Fund Next weekend 22nd / 23rd March the collection envelope will be The Boys U/13 won their first round by beating Askea. They then went for the Parish Lourdes Invalid Fund. Your support would be on to play Ballon/Rathoe in the Semifinal but were beaten by Ballon/Rathoe in the end. appreciated.

Table Quiz The U/13 Girls team were: Kayleigh Kelly, Katie Hickey, Robyn th Kennedy, Holly McGrath, Kayla Holohan and Ciara Moore In the Talbot Hotel, Portlaoise Road on Thursday 20 March at 8pm sharp. Proceeds going toward the continuation of treatment The U/13 Boys team were: Paddy Regan, Jack Murphy, Paul for Jordan Egan. Great Raffle Prizes. Dermondy, Lee Dowling, Brian McMahon, Brian McGrath, Darragh Brennan and Evan McGuire. Family 5K Fun Run In aid of Amber O’Rourke & Jordan Egan on Sunday 30th March The U/11 Mixed played Askea in the semi-final where they progressed 2014 at 10.30am from Clareville, Montessori, Tullow Road, to the Final by beating Askea. The then went on to play Graiguecullen Carlow. (Parking available at Lidl). Enquiries to 087 9876960. in the final but Graiguecullen where the overall winners Sharing from the Table of the Lord The team were: Ruairi Scully, Jill Farrell, Matthew Farrell, Cillian Training for Eucharistic MinistersA training course to train new Moore, Ria Mullins, Eva Doyle, Aoife Hickson, Jack Dunne Emer Ministers of Holy Communion will take place in Carlow Day Glesson, Kian McGuire. Care Centre on Tuesdays 18th & 25th March and Tuesday 1st April

at 7.30pm. If you are interested in this training course please Well done to the kids who represented Bennekerry/Tinryland and contact the Parish Centre 087 1269709 / 059 9142565. to there trainers Greg Doyle, Eddie Corcoran, Conor O'Brien and

Peter Scully. Annual Flag Day for Mountain Rescue The annual collection for the South Eastern Mountain Rescue Association SEMRA takes place next Saturday 22nd March in Carlow town. All SEMRA members provide a voluntary service for mountain search and rescue in the South East 24/7/365. All donations collected goes to the training cost of members and the purchasing of equipment. Your support would be greatly appreciated. Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help ÉIRE ÓG LOTTO WINNING NO’s Mon Mar 3rd…4 18 21 32… No Jackpot St Andrew’s Church, Bagenalstown each Tuesday commencing at winner…3 x Match 3…received €50each…Jim Dowling c/o Don Walker, Stacia 7.30pm includes Mass and Benediction. Rosary will be recited at 7.10pm. O’Neill c/o Tony Noctor, Ann Marie Clair c/o Gianty...Our Jackpot now stands th 18 March Trisha Gallagher at €2,750...Next week’s Match 3 win or share…€150 WINNING NO’s Mon – National Youth Committee Pioneers Mar 10th…3 4 20 27… No Jackpot winner…2 x Match 3…received €75 25th March Nicky Brennan each…Oonagh & Beibhin c/o Jimmy Dooley, Tom Geoghegan...Our Jackpot – All Ireland Medal Winner & Former GAA President now stands at €2,900...Next week’s Match 3 win or share…€150 Tickets 1st April Emmet Dooley – Pure in Heart Ireland may be purchased from the Club, Flower Shop Fairgreen, and Riverside 8th April Bishop Denis Nulty – Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin Stores in Hanover. NEXT WEEK’S JACKPOT € 2,900 Draw takes place every 15th April Maire Printer – Catholic Grandparents Association Monday night in Teach Asca at 9.00pm 22nd April Michael Hopkins – Friends of Calcutta BINGO every Thursday night starting at 8.30pm ... Live Band Music every 29th April Breda O’Brien – Journalist & TV Commentator Sat night in the lounge with no cover charge. WE WISH MOUNT LEINSTER RANGERS THE VERY BEST IN THE ST. PATRICK’S DAY CLUB FINAL FROM ALL IN ÉIRE ÓG.. Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Portlaoise Parish Commencing at 7.30pm in Portlaoise Parish Church. Mass, Pre-Marriage Courses Benediction, Guest Speaker, Novena Prayers. There are places available on our last two courses before the summer th th 19th March – Ann Doyle – Life after the Newsroom. May 9th & 10 ; June 6th & 7 . There will be no courses in July & August, so 26th March – Micky Harte – Sport, Life and Tragedy couples getting married this summer or early autumn, need to book one of nd the above courses. Booking can be made on line at www.accord.ie 2 April – Sr Consilio – “We are all in recovery” For further information contact Mary at 059 9138738. th 9 April – Finbarr and Elma Walsh – parents of Donal Walsh. Keeping his Inspiration Alive. Carlow Active Retirement, Spring holiday to Northern Donegal and th 16th April – Sr Briege McKenna – “Miracles do happen.” Derry 4days 3DBB,for €200 Contact Sean at 087 6522374 by Thursday 27 March.

Carlow Historical & Archaeological Society. Asca Juvenile Football Training continues every Thursday at 7pm in Illustrated lecture by Author Fergus Mulligan;"William Dargan: An Presentation College Hall. Boys and Girls of all ages welcome. Phone 087 Honourable Life". Ireland's greatest railway engineer. 6182061 for more detail. Seven Oaks hotel ,8pm Wednesday 19th March. Admission Free. William Dargan: An Honourable Life". - William Dargan: the greatest Carlow Library. A very Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all. The Quiet Man is on Carlowman of them all who changed the face of Ireland. loan at the moment but we have lots more DVDs, CDs and books for you to - A great businessman and a great humanitarian. check out. - Trustworthy, decent and honourable, said those who worked with him. We owe the National Gallery to him. A Century of Motoring: - Yet genuinely modest: when Queen Victoria came for tea at Mount Anville The Tale of Two Irishmen - ‘A Company and a Car’ Official Opening on he quietly declined her offer to make him a baronet. Thursday 20th March at 7.45 p.m. in Athy Heritage Centre Museum, Emily - A thoroughly likeable character. Square, Athy, Co. Kildare and running until the 17th April 2014.

Bennekerry Community Text Alert Meeting for Committee and Reps in Palatine Clubhouse on Thursday 20th March at 9pm sharp. Garda Superintendent Redmond & Sergeant Foley invited to attend also Brendan Cunningham from Pin Point and Margaret Quinn from Muintir na Tire and Jennifer Murnane will be there. The purpose of this meeting will be to discuss the new set up which is available. Further details from Ann Dunne, Secretary 087 9018753.

LÁ FHÉILE PÁDRAIG: St. Patrick’s Day is a great opportunity to celebrate all things Irish. Enjoy the Carlow Town Parade on Sunday at 3.30pm as well as Mount Leinster Rangers in action on Monday at 2pm

A Céilí Mór of set dancing with the Johnny Reidy Céilí Band in Carlow Town Hurling Club commencing at 9.00pm will round off the festivities on St. Patrick's Night. Admission €10 and all welcome.

BIG MAGGIE ‘AS GAEILGE’: Carlow’s Irish language drama group Aisteoirí an Lóchrainn will stage "Maggie Mhór" in the G.B. Shaw Theatre on Saturday, 22 March at 8pm. This translation of the John B. Keane classic Big Maggie is produced by Con Ó Cróinín and features a cast of ten. Aisteoirí an Lóchrainn has staged many award winning plays in recent years. All support will be greatly appreciated. Enquiries to Glór Cheatharlach 087 2857048

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul " Vincent's " shop at 46 Tullow Street Carlow urgently needs donations of good quality clothes, small furniture items ,bric-a-brac and household goods. Donations will be gratefully received in the shop Monday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm. The Society would like to thank everyone for supporting the shop during the past year.

Dochas Nasamu Orphanage - in Nairobi, Kenya, which is an Irish run and Irish built Aids orphanage, are holding a used clothing appeal of ladies, gents and children’s - clothes, shoes, household linens i.e. towels, sheets, blankets, soft toys, handbags etc.(whatever condition - even in need of - recycling - so long as the items are clean). This appeal will take place on Wednesday 19th March, until 12 Noon, at Askea Church Grounds, near Parish Office. For further information, please contact Marie on 087 6890995.