Post Primary Weekly Connect, 21st November, 2022

Post Primary Weekly Connect, 21st November, 2022.

Weekly Connect From: Dermot Cowhey dermot.cowhey@limerickdiocese.org

21st November, 2022:

Dear Chaplains,

Hope this finds you well on this November morning. Just a reminder of our meeting on Thursday at 2.00 in the diocesan centre. Looking forward to meeting you.

‘Of Limerick Saints and Seekers’ book launch, Tuesday 22nd November (Tomorrow night), 7:30pm in Limerick Diocesan Centre.

Of Limerick Saints and Seekers was edited by our own David Bracken.  The collection, featuring stories of the great and good people of Limerick from St Ita to the present day, celebrates the contribution of people of faith, from this place, in every generation.  It is a great opportunity to have a sense of the great tradition of which we are a part of in Limerick.  Our hope is that this might help carry us forward with renewed hope and vigour.  The book will be launched by Dr Liam Chambers of MIC on Tuesday 22nd of November at 7:30pm in the Limerick Diocesan Centre adjacent to St Munchin’s College.  Please register to attend the launch by the 15th of November by emailing David Bracken at  david.bracken@limerickdiocese.org.  An invitation is attached, Attachment 1.

Date for the diary 26th January, 2023 – Limerick Diocesan Annual In-Service. Details to follow.

The Pope's Monthly Intentions for November, 2022:

For children who are suffer …

We pray for children who are suffering, especially those who are homeless, orphans and victims of war; may they be guaranteed access to education and the opportunity to experience family affection.

https://www.popesprayer.va/popes-prayer-intentions

To watch the Pope Video - https://youtu.be/aJpxgGQywX8

Thought for the Day:

‘People need – not a brilliant mind that speaks but a special heart that listens.’

  https://www.facebook.com/dioceseoflimerick

Liturgical Calendar for November:

21st November: Presentation of Mary

22nd November: St. Cecelia, patroness of music and musicians

25th November: International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

27th November: First Sunday of Advent

28th November: First week of Advent

Colette O’Doherty, Director of Religious Education & Youth Ministry, Diocese of Ferns, has attached for your information the Liturgical Calendar for November which also includes some other Social Justice key dates, etc. There is excellent material therein as it is packed with lesson plans, videos, liturgical resources, etc. and it is hoped that it is a source of support to you during the year.  You will be able to access PDFs, PowerPoints and Videos directly from the attached which should make life a little more convenient.  Just a reminder not to post on a website but emailing to teachers is perfect. As the attachment is too large to send with this newsletter, please email dermot.cowhey@limerickdiocese.org  if you wish to receive it.

Bereavement Supports: Many thanks to Brenda Cribbin, Castletroy College for sharing the following:

This is Bereaved Children's Awareness Week. Take one minute watch the video below and learn how you can help to build a compassionate community

https://twitter.com/ICBNIrl/status/1592163442315579393?t=OoO0On-hS4zt42WFvt7H4Q&s=08

Milford Care Centre Bereavement support (Support for adults, children  & telephone support)

The Children's Grief Centre Limerick

Please find supports also for bereavement  - Bereavement and Loss Hub

Bereavement Support Line 1800 80 70 77

and Children's grief in very specially presented information and short videos in the following link -

The Irish Childhood Bereavement Network  (Bereaved children's awareness week Nov 14th -18th)

Bereavement support leaflets

Advent: ‘Waiting’ with a Difference Reflection Day, Saturday 26th November, 10:30am to 4pm, Glenstal Abbey. 

The Irish Institute for Pastoral Studies (MIC) is offering an Advent day of recollection, facilitated by Sr Therese Fitzgerald, in the beautiful surrounds of Glenstal Abbey.  The day will help us slow down and awaken ourselves to God’s treasures in unexpected places, deepening our awareness of God’s presence with us, by being more choiceful in how we wait.  A contribution of €40 is requested for the day which will include lunch.  You can register your place at this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AdventWaiting  A poster with all the details is attached Attachment 2.

Guided Day-Retreat for Religious Education: The Council for Catechetics of the Irish Episcopal Conference, would like to invite you to a Guided Day-Retreat for Religious Education Teachers. This day will be led by the well-known Dominican retreat director Fr Stephen Cummins, OP and Mrs. Hilda Campbell, a member of the Council and Diocesan Advisor for the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin.

The initiative to organise this retreat arose from discussions at the Council for Catechetics to find ways we can support Religious Education Teachers. The retreat is subsidised but we do ask for a part-contribution to defray costs for the day.

For further details please see Attachment 3

Tarsus Scripture School is pleased to announce their new programme for Advent and Christmas 2022: Tarsus Scripture School is evolving and we are now more connected to St Patrick’s Pontifical University Maynooth and Aspal. As we transition, our usual website is being rebuilt. It will be easier to register directly through Eventbrite (just click). The charge er household/community is €20.

Advent Link:

http://jesuitinstitute.org/Pages/Liturgy/Advent.htm

Corda: Please see attached from Sister Mara Rose regarding some information about a group that the sisters run for secondary age girls? It's called Corda. Basically, it's an opportunity for young women to have fun and fellowship while growing in their faith together. Sister Mara Rose has attached a little flyer (Attachment 4) All welcome and please feel free to pass on to any you may consider interested.

Mary’s Meals Monthly On-Line Quiz:

Mary’s Meals – Calling all Quizzers!

Mary’s Meals Monthly Online Quiz – Held the last Friday of every month at 8pm. €5 to enter – which provides 55 school meals. To take part, go to bit.ly/QuizforMM or contact Martin Colfer at 087 2596159. Thank you.

Senior Cycle RSE course available in Limerick Education Centre

Courses available in relation to RSE which may be of interest. Health and Well Being for Post Primary teachers on 8th December. Please see

https://pdst.ie/onlinebooking?combine=&subject=Health+%26+Wellbeing&ec_name=Limerick+EC&sector=All

Thanks to Claire Coakley, Chaplain, Kilmallock for alerting us to these.

Advent and Christmas 2022: Kieran O’Mahony OSA has published his very first volume of the Hearers of the Word series which is devoted to the readings for Advent and Christmas in Year A. The book is available online from Messenger Publications. Click on this link.  It is also available for Kindle.

Attachments –

  1. ‘Saints and Seekers’ Invitation
  2. Advent: ‘Waiting’ with a Difference Reflection Day, Saturday 26th November
  3. Guided One Day Retreat for RE Teachers
  4. Corda Information Poster
  5. Attachment containing the usual links and resources. If you can add to this list, please forward all information to me. 

If you are accessing this from the diocese website and would like to have these resources, please email dermot.cowhey@limerickdiocese.org.  

To conclude … As we enter the Advent season at the beginning of the liturgical year, take a few moments to reflect … 

He will come like last leaf's fall.
One night when the November wind
has flayed the trees to bone, and earth
wakes choking on the mould,
the soft shroud's folding.

He will come like frost.
One morning when the shrinking earth
opens on mist, to find itself
arrested in the net
of alien, sword-set beauty.

He will come like dark.
One evening when the bursting red
December sun draws up the sheet
and penny-masks its eye to yield
the star-snowed fields of sky.

He will come, will come,

will come like crying in the night,

Like bllo, like breaking,

as earth writhes to toss him free. He will come like child.                  (‘Advent Calendar’ by Rowan Williams)

Fós le Buíochas agus Dóchas

Dermot

Dermot Cowhey

Diocesan Advisor (Post Primary)

dermot.cowhey@limerickdiocese.org

085 8623904