ST. MATTHEW’S Ballyfermot

PARISH NEWSLETTER 18 Aug (20th Sunday in Ordinary Time)

Will There Not Be a Trace Left Behind?

‘Are you going away with no word of farewell

‘Will there not be a trace left behind?

Well I could have loved you better, didn’t mean to be unkind,

You know it was the last thing on my mind’

In any experience of closure, of goodbye, of an ending, we are left with the inevitable question, is that it? What remains? Is there anything left, and if so what? When this applied to a person we may speak of legacy, of last will and testimony. How will we be remembered? Or, indeed, will we be remembered

For many of course their memory will be carried by their children, indeed some go as far as to say they will live on through their children. A few years ago I read somewhere of the psychological benefits of fathering a child, writing a book and planting a tree. It seems that there is a deep need in us to leave something behind. To be remembered. Is it the idea that we cannot bear the thought of being forgotten? Is it the notion of all trace of us being obliterated is too awful? The opening lines here in the rumblings come from a popular, if rather sad, love song,

Last Thing on My Mind,

which was covered by a few artists, and arises out of the context of love lost, or at least the impending tragedy of love lost.

I think it’s interesting to explore this in the context of life as a religious or perhaps more more pertinently here, at the moment, in the context of priesthood. Sometimes in the past Sr. Elizabeth was remembered for the trojan work she did in the hospital. Bro. Gillespie will never be forgotten. This type of talk can at times be applied to the life of a priest. However, this is less so today. It is less so today for a couple of reasons. First of all there are fewer priests. As well as this, the days of a priest being in a parish for twenty plus years is more or less a thing of the past. On top of this is the sad but sobering thought that there is quite a change in the way priests are viewed. Of course this is a generalisation but there is a broad truth that in many quarters priesthood is not held in the high regard that it once was. Admittedly some of this is of our own making: whilst some of it is beyond our control. Regardless of how we argue it whilst I acknowledge the terrible stuff we are familiar with I still argue the beauty of priesthood and stand in its defense.

I think in these rumblings, of which there are only two left, as I reflect on my time here in St. Matthew’s, I ask myself what of the relationship between priest and people. I think there may be something unique between pastor and people. I think this uniqueness is made up of the moments when we met in the sacred spaces. Some of these sacred spaces are obvious. The space in the preaching of the Word and the breaking of the Bread. Or the times we met in heartbreak at your beloved’s funeral. Or the fun and the joy of the family wedding. A lot of us met at Baptisms celebrating the great gift of life. Sometimes we met in a short quiet exchange around something that mattered. Of all this what will remain?

Well let’s try and nail it! If its all about me then I have truly failed. If its all about me its borderline cult. If I believe ‘there’s no show like a Joe show’ then I am in trouble. I need extra prayer. There are people in the cemetery who thought they were indispensable. Not long from now people will say ‘Joe who?’ and so what. That’s not a big deal. What I do hope is that there will be a trace left behind. A whiff, a whisper, a rumble and that, somewhere in that, there will be a little hint of Jesus. If that happens, it will have been all worthwhile.

J. McDonald 12.08.19

St. Matthew’s Newsletter—18 Aug 2019—20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

MASS TIMES

GOSPEL READINGS FOR THE WEEK

BOOK OF THE WEEK

Don't forget to visit our website www.stmatthewsballyfermot.com

And our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/st.matthews.ballyfermot/

MASS INTENTIONS

Concert in Aid of: The Hospice Harold’s Cross

and a Donation to St. Matthew’s In St. Matthew’s Church Friday 22nd November @ 8.00pm: Tickets €15

For more information contact Ken @ 0862365288

Parish Centre or Sacristy: Phone: 626 56 95 Monday to Friday

10.00am to 1.00pm

Vincentian Family Pilgrimage Knock Shrine

Saturday September 14 2019 Bus Leaving St. Matthew’s @ 8.00am

€20 per person (Bus Only) One Stop for Meal/Refreshments each way

Book in Parish Centre after Weekday Masses or Phone 6265695 (10.00am to 1.00pm weekdays)

Mon 19/08 Mt. 19:16-22 ‘If you wish to be perfect, go and sell what you own.’

Tue 20/08 Mt. 19:23-30 ST. BERNARD, ABBOT AND DOCTOR ‘Who can be saved then?’

Wed 21/08 Mt. 20: 1-16 ST. PIUS X, POPE ‘Why be envious because I am generous.’

Thu 22/08 Mt. 22: 1-14 OUR LADY, MOTHER AND QUEEN ‘Come to the wedding!’

Fri 23/08 Mt. 22: 34-40 ST. ROSE OF LIMA, VIRGIN ‘On thes two commandments

hang the whole Law, and the Prophets also.

Sat 24/08 Jn 1: 45-51 ST. BARTHOLOMEW, APOSTLE ‘You will see Heaven laid open.’

THE HISTORICAL JESUS A GUIDE FOR THE PERPLEXED

HELEN K. BOND T & T. Clark London 2012 Pp 200

If you are looking for a primer, by which I mean an excellent introduction to the topic of the historical Jesus, then I urge you not to pass this book by.

The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Blessed Trinity, is the living presence of God in our lives promised by Jesus. The Holy Spirit strengthens our Christian witness so we may become the living reflections of Christ in the world.

And so the Church prays,

‘Come Holy Spirit, Creator blest, and in our souls take up thy rest.

Come with thy grace and heavenly aid, to fill the hearts that thou hast made.’

FAITH MOMENT

Fr Joe will say goodbye at all the Masses

this weekend, August 17th/18th

There will be a special Mass on Thursday 29th August

at 7.30 pm here in St. Matthew’s:

as we bid farewell to our Parish Priest Fr. Joe McDonald. As you know Fr. Joe has been appointed Parish Priest in the Parish of St. Patrick & St. Brigid, Celbridge & Straffan. Our farewell Mass, which has the theme of Thanksgiving and Mission, will begin at 7.30pm, followed by a light supper.

All Welcome

Weekends Weekdays: Saturday: Vigil Mass 6.30 Mon, Thur, Fri: 10.00 Sunday: 09.00,10.30,12.00

RONCALLI RONCALLI, (named after Pope John XXIII, formerly

Angelo Roncalli) is the name of the new venture founded by Fr. Joe last autumn. It is dedicated to reform and renewal in the Irish Church. For anyone interested, the next meeting is:

Friday October 11 In the Parish of St. Patrick & St. Brigid

Celbridge & Straffan Details to follow

Annie Bradley Richard Costello Anne Jordan Danielle Kerins Garreth Morrissey Lily Sweeney

Recent Funeral Patrick McCann

Best wishes to Fr. Joe From all at St. Matthew’s