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

11^th October, 2021:

Dear Chaplains/RE Teachers,

The Pope's Monthly Intentions for October, 2021:

Missionary Disciples

We pray that every baptized person may be engaged in evangelization, available to the mission, by being witnesses of a life that has the flavor of the Gospel.

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

Thought for the Day: We publish a ‘thought for the day’ every morning at 7am on the Diocesan Facebook page.

‘I would like the angels of Heaven to be among us. I would like an abundance of peace.’ (St. Brigid)

https://www.facebook.com/dioceseoflimerick

Liturgical Calendar

11^th October – Saint John XXIII (Pope)

15^th October - Feast Day of St. Teresa of Avila / Féile Naomh Treasa as Avila

16^th October – World Food Day (More information available at: http://www.fao.org/world-food-day/theme/en/)

17^th October - International Day for the Eradication of Poverty / Lá Idirnáisiúnta atá Tiomanta do Dhíothú Bochtaineachta

18^th October - European Day against Human Trafficking / Lá Eorpach i gCoinne Mangaireachta Dhaonna

18^th October - Feast of St. Luke, Evangelist / Féile Naomh Lúcás, Soiscéalaí

24^th October - Mission Sunday / Domhnach na Misean

25^th October – Mid Term Break begins

For more information on special days please see Attachment 2.

https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2020-09-15

https://www.franciscanmedia.org/our-lady-of-sorrows/

School Chaplain Association Annual Conference: The SCA upcoming online conference is this weekend, agenda attached (see Attachment 1) Due to costs involved in running an online conference for the second year in a row the conference fee is €35. Payments can be made directly to the SCA bank account (details in link below).The yearly SCA membership fee is due each October (€65 - full & €40 - student/retired). Membership—School Chaplains' Association of Ireland (schoolchaplaincy.ie)

Sr. Clare Crockett: Check out this resource which ties in to the section on The Search for Meaning (Junior and Senior Cycle Religion.). This contains a You Tube film and Discussion/ Questions - Exploration of the film,  generously shared by Hilda Campell (D.A. Kildare and Leighlin). See Attachment 2

November Liturgy 2020: Prepared by the National Centre for Liturgy, Pontifical University, St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, Co. Kildare (See Attachment 3)

Attachments –

1. SCA Conference.
2. Sr. Clare Crockett resource.
3. 2020 November Liturgy
4. Attachment containing the usual links and resources. If you can add to this list, please forward all information to me.
5. Attachment containing links and resources in relation to the Liturgical calendar.

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

To conclude …

A Prayer for Autumn

“While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease” (Genesis 8:22).

Gracious and loving Lord,

Thank you for the seasons we can count on, find routine in, and that will never cease while the earth remains. As we enter into autumn, when the cooler winds drift in and the days grow shorter, draw us closer to you. Let us feel your warm and loving presence. May we imagine ourselves in your arms, close to your heart, surrounded by your light, and find comfort in your consistency when the world around us seems to be constantly changing. Thank you for your lovingkindness that engulfs us and your light that drives the darkness away. We praise you for being a God who loves us and takes care of us. We are grateful you are with us in all circumstances and seasons.

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

13^th September, 2021:

Dear Chaplains/RE Teachers,

As we begin the new academic year, we pray for our teachers, leaders and all involved in the service of the young people in our care. Bishop Brendan, in his welcome video to all schools (see https://www.limerickdiocese.org/), focused on the solidarity of schools which was resilient in the darkest days of the recent past stating ‘The school is you, the community’.

He concluded ‘Love one another – may that be the motto for the year ahead.’ In that light we begin with a prayer:

Prayer: For my friends:

Dear God, 

I bring before you my dear ones, my friends

and the particular person whom I love above all others.

Protect them from all evil 

and guide them safely on their journey.

Help us to know what unites us 

and what divides us;

what sustains our friendship 

and what oppresses us.  

and who we can, or cannot, be for one another.  

Enlighten our sight,

strengthen our hearts,

bless our friendship

guide our steps,

and let us remain in  your love.  Amen. 

(Georg Lengerke) 

The Pope's Monthly Intentions for September, 2021:

Let us pray that we all will make courageous choices, the choices necessary for a simple and environmentally sustainable lifestyle, taking inspiration from our young people who are resolutely committed to this,”

Thought for the Day: We publish a ‘thought for the day’ every morning at 7am on the Diocesan Facebook page.

‘You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference and you have to decide what kind of a difference you want to make.) (Jane Goodall)

https://www.facebook.com/dioceseoflimerick

Liturgical Calendar

14^th September Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

15^th September Our Lady of the Sorrows*

21^st September – Feast of St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist

17^th September – St. Robert Bellarmine, bishop and doctor

16^th September – Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)

21^st September - International Day of Peace / Lá Idirnáisiúnta Tiomanta don Síocháin

21^st September – World Alzheimers Day

23^rd September - St. Padre Pio / Naomh Padre Pio

24^th September – World Maritime Day

25^th September - St. Finbarr        

27^th September - Feast Day of St. Vincent de Paul / Féile Naomh Uinseann de Pól

29^th September – Ss Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels

* The Seven Sorrows of Mary:

1. The prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:25-35)
2. The flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15)
3. Loss of the Child Jesus for three days (Luke 2:41-50)
4. Mary meets Jesus on his way to Calvary (Luke 23:27-31; John 19:17)
5. Crucifixion and Death of Jesus (John 19:25-30)
6. The body of Jesus being taken from the Cross (Psalm 130; Luke 23:50-54; John 19:31-37)
7. The burial of Jesus (Isaiah 53:8; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42; Mark 15:40-47)

https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2020-09-15

https://www.franciscanmedia.org/our-lady-of-sorrows/

Programmes on Offer:

This year I am hoping to introduce you to three programmes. The ‘Look Up!’ programme is for Transition years and details are included below. Alpha Ireland Youth Programme is a free programme which could be used for classes from third year upwards. Training etc. is provided for teachers and I would recommend it. Finally, The Backpack programme, which focuses on human development through spirituality, will be introduced over the next few months. You may have plenty material to work with but these programmes may also offer you an alternative. More details to follow.

The Season of Creation

The Season of Creation began on the 1^st of September and will run through to the 4^th of October.  The theme this year is “Restoring our common home”.

This a great opportunity to raise awareness in our schools of the importance of caring for our common home and acting at the local level.   The scale of the challenges we are facing are immense and sometimes overwhelming, it is good to remind ourselves that every step we take at the local level will have a ripple effect.  No step we take is too small, Vincent Van Gogh said “Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.”

Plant a Tree initiative

Bishop Brendan is inviting parishes and schools to engage their new Sixth Class/First Year pupils in a tree planting initiative as part of the Season of Creation, linking it in with Confirmation.

The proposal is to invite parishes/schools to involve their Sixth Class/First Years in planting a tree on the 4^th of October, the feast of St Francis.  A letter of invitation from Bishop Brendan is attached and includes details of supports available. See Attachment 1.

Season of Creation Resources

The Laudato Si’ group of the Bishop’s Conference have put together a series of resources for the Season of Creation. 

The resources include the following:

• Sunday Liturgy Notes for the Season of Creation
• A weekday Prayer Service
• Practical Actions for Parishes/Schools
• Tree Planting Resource

The resources can be accessed here:

https://www.catholicbishops.ie/2021/07/21/season-of-creation-2021/

Bishop Brendan In Conversation with John Lannon who is the CEO of Doras Luimneach, a Limerick-based human rights and migrant support non-governmental organization. https://www.limerickdiocese.org/

Look Up: Programme for Transition Year: Veritas is delighted to launch this exciting new Religious Education programme for Transition Year students.

Key features of Look Up!

·         The key content for students is presented on PowerPoint slides, to be shown on the class whiteboard.

·         The information on the slides is supplemented by artwork that spans a variety of media and traditions.

·         The accompanying Teacher Notes, which may be viewed in the ‘Presenter Notes’ viewing panel on the teacher’s own screen, include commentary and discussion questions on each slide, as well as additional activities and exercises to supplement and support the information on the slides. These notes also contain resources for the guided prayer reflections that are offered at the close of each lesson.

·         Videos, music and interactive content can be accessed directly from the slides.

·         The content covered is inclusive of all the major world religions.

·         The teacher resources are provided on a USB stick.

·         The accompanying student journal is designed to accommodate students’ personal reflections on content studied. It also contains worksheets and a Glossary of key terms.

Attachments –

1. Plant a Tree Invitation
2. Online Course on Islam
3. 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 …

Praise the Lord!  Across the heavens, from the heights, all you angels, heavenly beings, sing praise, sing praise!

Sun and moon, glittering stars, sing praise!  Highest heavens, rain clouds, sing praise, sing praise. 

Let there be praise; from the depths of the earth, from creatures of the deep.

Fire and hail, snow and midst, storms, winds, mountains, hills, fruit trees and cedars, wild beasts and tame, snakes and birds.

Praise God’s splendour above the earth, above the heavens, as it gives strength to all nations and to all peoples.

Scripture (Psalm 148:1-4, 7-10, 13-14)

We ask God to help us become more aware of the world around us, to help us to see the beauty of his creation, to care for our common home, to watch over our planet, to protect it and to share the beauty of creation with all around us.

Loving God, may the beauty of your creation be a source of refreshment and renewal as we make our journey to you.