PRAYER TO ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL

(Recited at the end of the Rosary in the Church before Mass)

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in our hour of need; be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God restrain him, we humbly pray: and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God cast Satan down to hell, and all wicked spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.

ANNIVERSARIES

Peter Drought, Mass this Saturday.

Gary Kelly, Mass this Sunday at 11am.

Sheila Casey, Month's mind Mass next Sunday at 11am.

May they all rest in peace. Amen.

ALTAR SOCIETY

This Week: (2) Margaret Bates, Anna O'Regan & Diane O'Hara.

Next Week: (3) Anne O'Connor, Mamie Murphy & Peggy Colfer.

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS

This Week: (3) Peter Hanley, Diane O'Hara & Margaret Colfer.

Next Week: (1) Martin Kennedy, A.N. Other & Margaret Colfer.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

The 'Our Father' teaches us as much about prayer as we need to know. It is a simple prayer that begins by praising God with a wish that life in our community and in our world might reflect more of his presence and be lived with respectful reverence according to his values. We pray for our daily needs like nourishment for our bodies, healing for our relationships and forgiveness for our wrong doings. Part of the problem we have with prayer comes from focusing on our wants instead of our needs. In daily life we need so little but our consumer society encourages us to want so much. Asking the Lord in prayer is not a matter of drawing up a list of wants for our own personal gratification but it is an entrusting of our lives into his hands for safe keeping. More often than not, the Lord doesn't seem to be in a hurry to answer our request. That is why praying for someone whom we know is facing a crisis in their life is less a matter of asking for an immediate remedy for their insurmountable problem as the bringing of a fresh understanding to help them cope with their pain. When we pray the Lord's Prayer at this Eucharistic banquet we come here from different walks of life and assemble as a community of sinners painfully aware that before God we have all fallen short and are greatly in need of his mercy.

The Church is a refuge for sinners, not a sanctuary for saints.

STS. JOACHIM AND ANNE

(Feastday - Monday)

Sts. Joachim and Anne - their names are found in the Protoevangelium of St. James from the second century. St. Anne started to be honoured as the Mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary around the sixth century. Her feast day is now combined with the father of Mary, St Joachim. St. Joachim started to be honoured as the father of the Blessed Virgin Mary around the eighth century. Sts. Joachim and Anne, were the grandparents of Jesus.

POPE BENEDICT'S PRAYER FOR GRANDPARENTS

Lord Jesus, you were born of the Virgin Mary, the daughter of Saints Joachim and Anne. Look with love on grandparents the world over. Protect them! They are a source of enrichment for families, for the Church and for all of society. Support them! As they grow older, may they continue to be for their families' strong pillars of Gospel faith, guardian of noble domestic ideals, living treasuries of sound religious traditions. Make them teachers of wisdom and courage, that they may pass on to future generations the fruits of their mature human and spiritual experience. Lord Jesus, help families and society to value the presence and roles of grandparents. May they never be ignored or excluded, but always encounter respect and love. Help them to live serenely and to feel welcomed in all the years of life which you give them. Mary, Mother of all the living, keep grandparents constantly in your care, accompany them on their earthly pilgrimage, and by your prayers, grant that all families may one day be reunited in our heavenly homeland, where you await all humanity for the great embrace of life without end. Amen!

ST. MARTHA

(Feastday - Thursday)

St. Martha has been given the title 'disciple of the Lord'. She was the sister of Mary and Lazarus. When St. Martha received the Lord as a guest at Bethany, she looked after Him with great devotion. She it was that begged the Lord to raise her brother Lazarus from the dead. St. Martha is the Patron Saint of Cooks, Housewives, Servants, Waiters, and Waitresses.

ST. PETER CHRYSOLOGUS

(Feastday - Friday)

St. Peter was born at Imola in Emilia in 380 A.D. where he entered the priesthood. In 424 St. Peter was elected bishop of Ravenna. He died around 450.

ST. IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA

(Feastday - Saturday)

St. Ignatius was born in Loyola, Spain in 1491. He became a knight in the court of Ferdinand V and was wounded in the siege of Pamplona. St. Ignatius retired to Manresa to lead a life of prayer and contemplation. He authored "The Spiritual Exercises". He founded the Society of Jesus in 1540, approved by Pope Paul III. The motto of the Society of Jesus is Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (For the Greater Glory of God). St. Ignatius died in 1556 in Rome. He is the Patron Saint of Retreats and Soldiers.

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK

Heavenly Father, teach us to go on confidently asking, to go on joyfully seeking and go on hopefully knocking at the door, so that the good things you want to give us may be ours. We make our prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.

WEEKLY CONTRIBUTIONS

The contributions from parishioners (inc. weekly envelope, direct debit or cheque), which go towards the maintenance and upkeep of the Church, for last week amounted to €352. Thank you.

FIELD DAY

St. Iberius Church Annual Family Field Day will be held in Johnstown Castle Estate, Murrintown, Wexford, (by kind permission), on Monday 2^nd August, 2010 (Bank Holiday Monday), starting at 2pm. All funds raised will go towards St. Iberius Church, Wexford. All the usual stalls will be there and a great day out is assured for all.

RAMSGRANGE ACTIVE RETIREMENT

DANCING FOR PLEASURE

4 night package - Ennis, Co. Clare from 19^th thro' 22^nd September 2010. Members and non members welcome. Package includes: 4 nights' accommodation, 4 traditional cooked breakfasts, three evening meals. 'Bootleggers' Ball, Dance Coaching. Dancing and other activities from 10am to 11.30pm each day. Cost €269 pps. Book before 30^th July, for discount saving of €24. Please call Mary as soon as possible on 086 0566446.

LOCAL PATTERN

Cushinstown Parish

The Annual Pattern in Ballyanne Cemetery will be held tomorrow, Monday 26^th July at 7.30pm.

KNOW YOUR NEIGHBOUR

Miriam O'Callaghan, Current Affairs Broadcaster launched the 2010 Know Your Neighbour campaign on 16th June, at ESB head office in Dublin.

She facilitated a panel discussion which addressed the question 'Neighbours - who cares?' The general consensus was that Irish people do care about their neighbours but must turn this care into action. The Know Your Neighbour initiative should be seen as a launch pad to start being supportive neighbours and called on people to say hello to their neighbours, citing the slogan,

'Don't walk by, say Hi!.

 'Know Your Neighbour Weekend', runs for the fifth year on this weekend, 24^th - 25^th July, 2010. This is a nationwide initiative aimed at encouraging people to interact more with their neighbours by asking them to organise or attend a 'Know Your Neighbour' event in their community. Typically neighbours have organised picnics, barbeques, parties, fun days and a variety of other social get-togethers.

Macra's National President, Michael Gowing said 'The "Know Your Neighbour Weekend" is the perfect opportunity for us to turn our caring thoughts into actions.  The simple gesture of saying hello and being friendly to neighbours can, over time, result in much stronger and more supportive communities.

Therefore, this year our slogan is;

 'Don't walk by, say Hi!' 

Padraig McManus, ESB's CEO, representing the sponsors said:

"We at ESB are extremely proud of our association with Macra na Feirme and the 5^th Know Your Neighbour Weekend. As our country and our communities face unprecedented challenges, it is important now more than ever to get active about knowing our neighbours"

COCKLESHELL GALLERY

We still have places available on our Arts and Crafts workshops over the coming weeks. Tel 051 389990 for details or call to the Gallery. Our present range of exhibitions will continue to be on show 'til Wednesday 4^th August. These include works by Maeve Doherty, Paul Fallon, Anne McLeod and Liz Walsh, with local artists Eileen Cloney, Marie McGrath and Catherine Power.

SAND SCULPTING

The Duncannon Sand Sculpting Festival will be running Table Quizzes in The Strand Tavern every Friday at 9pm to raise funds for this year's festival.  The cost is a very affordable €20 per table of four. So, come along and bring a friend or three!!  This year's festival will run from Friday 13^th August to Sunday 15^th August and we hope to see you there.