Yes indeed the schools are back and the neighbourhood is filled each
morning with the sounds of children chatting in the playground, the school
bells ringing and parents sharing the latest local news at the school
gates. We are blessed to have 2 great schools in our parish. The children,
teachers and staff have been prayed for at Masses over the last week.
The adult choir is also back and enhanced the 11.30 Mass with some
beautiful hymns (…and they were being listened to in several places in the
USA). BEG (Balally Environmental Group ) highlighted the SEASON OF CREATION
(seasonofcreation.org) through the Prayer of the Faithful, at the
moment of the offertory and with a beautiful September reflection.
There is a fever of activity around the Parish organizing the upcoming “Do
This In Memory Programme” and several formal and informal meetings have
taken place to prepare the World Meeting of Families (21 st to 26 th August
2018) . This will be the biggest event in our Church since the coming of
John Paul II and the Parish is preparing a comprehensive programme of
preparation.
On Sunday we had several people visiting us from remote parts of the world.
Galway and Waterford supporters on their way to the game as well as people
from India, Spain, the USA and other countries. Thank you to all who make
the stranger welcome and who invited them to a cup of tea in the Parish
centre. *“I was a stranger and you welcomed me”*
