DUNDALK GROUP NOW ON BEBO

We are now on Bebo, if you would like to visit our new profile please click on the link below:

http://www.bebo.com/JohnPaulPrayerGroup

If you are a member please add us as a friend & leave a comment!

Steve

PILGRIMAGE TO POLAND

3 members of our Group travelled to Poland (22nd - 26th Oct '07) to visit the birthplace of our beloved John Paul II. Here are just a few of the pictures from our Pilgrimage...
TOP: Divine Mercy Sanctuary; Group at JP2 Statue, Karwaria; Home of JP2, Wadowice.

Below: Room of St Faustina; 'Papal Window', Archbishop's Palace Krakow; St Mary's Cathedral, Krakow.

CARDINAL-ELECT CALLS FOR CHANGE OF CULTURE

Cardinal-Elect Sean Brady has told victims of abuse that he cannot adequately apologise to them.
Preaching at a Mass of Remembrance in Cork for former residents of industrial schools, he said that the most important thing for the Church is to change its culture and listen more humbly to others.
He said the Church is earnestly trying to do everything in its power to cherish and safeguard children.
Archbishop Brady also challenged the former Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald's claim that the celibacy of bishops contributed to their cover-up of clerical sexual abuse.
The Catholic Primate told the sixth Commemoration of former residents that he was pleased that one of his first duties as Cardinal-Elect was to celebrate the mass organised by the Right of Place organisation at St Josephs Church in the suburb of Wilton.

A SPECIAL HONOUR FOR THE CHURCH IN ARMAGH

The Pope's elevation of the head of the Catholic Church in Ireland to cardinal was an expression of the Pontiff's desire to see the peace process continue to succeed and become a model for the rest of the world, Archbishop Sean Brady said today. The Archbishop of Armagh said he was delighted and humbled to be among 24 new cardinals announced by Pope Benedict XVI at the end of his weekly audience in St Peter's Square, Rome. Speaking in Armagh, the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland, Archbishop Brady said: "I hope that those who have worked so hard to establish peace in recent years will see in this honour a further expression of Pope Benedict's confidence in what has been achieved in Northern Ireland." Recently, the Holy Father expressed his hope that the peace which is already bringing renewed hope in Northern Ireland will inspire others across the world to recognise that only forgiveness, reconciliation and mutual respect can bring lasting peace." He said he knew that the continued success of the political institutions in the North and the effort to move to the deeper dimensions of reconciliation were matters close to the heart of the Pope." I believe this announcement is in part an expression of his desire to see that process continue to succeed and become a model for the rest of the world," said Archbishop Brady. He revealed he had had expressions of support and messages of goodwill from across Ireland - including from the office of First Minster, Ian Paisley, and Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, in Belfast. Messages had also poured in from President Mary McAleese, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and both the Irish and British governments." I feel humbled in the face of such compelling good wishes and support on behalf of our political community," said the archbishop."I assure all those with political and civic responsibility of my continued commitment to working with them for the common good of the whole of this island."
When he travels to Rome to be created cardinal on November 24, it will mean that, for the first time in history, Ireland will have three cardinals.Archbishop Brady's predecessor Cardinal Cathal Daly and Cardinal Desmond Connell were among the first to offer him their congratulations.

As the other two cardinals are aged more than 80, Archbishop Brady, 68, will be the only voice from Ireland with a vote in the college of cardinals. His elevation comes at a time of falling numbers attending church in Ireland and he touched on that during a press conference in Armagh.He said: "My hope is that this appointment will in some sense help people to appreciate again the value of the heritage of their Christian faith. I hope it will bring a renewed sense of the unity we share in baptism, especially among the young." News of the archbishop's appointment filtered out during the day and there was wild applause and standing ovations when he dropped into St Patrick's Cathedral to attend a special mass for hundreds of girls attending St Catherine's College, Armagh. Addressing the students, he told them: "This is an honour, not for me, but for the church in Ireland and a special honour for the church in Armagh." In an address to the pupils, school principal Deidre McDonald said she was delighted to be amongst the first group to congratulate the archbishop on his daunting and important new role. She said: "It is a happy coincidence that this great news should come on a day when we are having a whole school mass in St Patrick's Cathedral.

Archbishop Brady was born in 1939 at Drumcalpin, near Laragh, in Co Cavan, and after an early education in the local school, he went to St Patrick's College, Cavan, and on to the church's St Patrick's College, Maynooth, before attending the Irish College in Rome.He was ordained in February 1964 and, after postgraduate studies in canon law at the Lateran University in Rome, he returned to teach at St Patrick's, Cavan, in 1967.In 1980, he was appointed vice rector of the Irish College in Rome - becoming rector in 1987. He remained there until 1993, when he was appointed parish priest of Castletara, Ballyhaise, Co Cavan.In February 1995, he was ordained Coadjutor Archbishop of Armagh and, a year and a half later on the retirement of Cardinal Daly, he became Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland in October 1996.

Source: Evening Echo

PRESIDENT WELCOMES POPES ANNOUNCEMENT

News that Archbishop Sean Brady, head of the Catholic Church in Ireland, is to be made a Cardinal has been welcomed by the President and Taoiseach.
President Mary McAleese said: "Archbishop Brady is a man of great personal integrity, kindness and goodness, a man who leads by personal example. It is most fitting that this announcement comes in 2007, a year of great progress in regard to the peace process in North Ireland to which Sean Brady has made a huge contribution."

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern congratulated the Archbishop, saying: "Archbishop Brady is a committed ecumenist and has worked energetically with the leaders of the other Christian denominations in challenging sectarianism and promoting community harmony. In honouring Archbishop Brady, Pope Benedict has acknowledged the transformation which has occurred and is continuing in Northern Ireland."

Source: Tyrone Times

RED LETTER DAY FOR ARMAGH

The head of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Archbishop Dr Seán Brady, has been elevated to Cardinal by the Vatican.
Dr Brady becomes one of only three senior Irish clergy to hold one of the top positions in Rome. The other serving Irish cardinals are Cardinal Desmond Connell and Cardinal Cathal Daly.
Dr Brady is Archbishop of Armagh, Primate of All Ireland and President of the Irish Bishops' Conference.
In a statement released by the Catholic press office in Dublin, he said he was "deeply honoured and humbled" by the news.
"Today's news is a mark of the affection and esteem of the Holy Father for the whole Church in Ireland.
"It is a daunting privilege to join Cardinal Cahal Daly and Cardinal Desmond Connell in the College of Cardinals. This small country is to have three Cardinals for the first time in its history.
"I ask people for their prayers as I undertake my new responsibilities within the universal Church."

President Mary McAleese congratulated Dr Brady saying he was "a man of great personal integrity, kindness and goodness, a man who leads by personal example.
"It is most fitting that this announcement comes in 2007, a year of great progress in regard to the peace process in North Ireland to which Sean Brady has made a huge contribution.
"This is wonderful news for the Archdiocese of Armagh and, indeed, Ireland, underlining the high esteem in which Sean Brady is held across the world."
Pope Benedict made the announcement this morning that he would create 24 new cardinals, including Dr Brady.

Source: ireland.com

NEW CHURCH OPENS AT FATIMA

Hundreds of thousands of Roman Catholic pilgrims are to gather this weekend at the holy shrine of Fatima to witness the inauguration of one of the world's largest churches.
The new Church of the Holy Trinity can seat 9,000 worshippers
Authorities expect at least 250,000 pilgrims to visit the shrine in northern Portugal to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the last of a series of reported apparitions of the Virgin Mary to three local children.
The occasion will see the opening of the new Church of the Holy Trinity, which cost an estimated £50 million and has the capacity to seat 9,000 worshippers.
The church contains five chapels, 16 confessionals and a café where the faithful can "rest and reflect".
The low-slung oval building, which has taken three and half years to construct, has been created with no internal columns to allow television to sweep unobstructed over the congregation during the live broadcast of services.

A 500 sq metre gilded tiled mural of New Jerusalem, created by Portugal’s best-known architect, Siza Vieira, adorns an atrium and the walls bear passages from the Bible in 23 languages.
The project is part of a face-lift for Portugal’s most popular pilgrimage site, which attracts up to five million visitors a year, the most devoted among them making the final approach crawling on their hands and knees.
The cult of Fatima began after three children claimed that the Virgin Mary appeared before them on May 13, 1917.
In a series of visions over the following six months, the Virgin of Fatima allegedly revealed to them the "Three Secrets of Fatima". The first two "secrets", which were disclosed by the Vatican, referred to the start of the Second World War and the reconversion of communist Russia to Christianity.
The third remained a closely guarded secret until May 2000 when the late Pope John Paul II revealed that it had prophesised the 1981 assassination attempt against him.
He attributed his narrow escape from death to the intervention of the Virgin Mary, and donated the bullet extracted from his abdomen to the Fatima shrine.
In 2000 he beatified two of the young shepherds, Francisco Marto and his sister Jacinta, who died in childhood. Their cousin Lucia, who became a nun at Coimbra, died two years ago at the age of 97.
The service will be presided over by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican’s secretary of state, and will include a live televised message from Pope Benedict.

Source: Telegraph.co.uk

AND GO TELL EVERYONE!

Bishop Macram Gassis of the Diocese of El Obeid in Sudan, which includes the territory of Darfur, will visit Ireland from October 19 to 26. Bishop Gassis has been invited to Ireland by the Irish Missionary Union (IMU) to heighten our awareness of the great suffering endured for so many years by the people of Sudan and especially today, by those living in Darfur. Bishop Gassis appeals to the various Irish missionary organizations to send more personnel to help with the reconstruction of Sudan.
"His visit will remind all Irish people of the suffering in Darfur and the great service rendered by missionaries in so many troubled spots of the world." said Sr. Miriam Duggan, President of the Irish Missionary Union. A Franciscan Missionary for Africa and a medical doctor herself, Sr. Miriam spent over 30 years working in neighbouring Uganda. She added "October will be a time for all to pray for our suffering brothers and sisters throughout the world. The presence of Bishop Gassis, is a concrete reminder to all of us of how fortunate we are here in Ireland and of our responsibility to respond to the situation in Sudan".
During the month of October and especially on Mission Sunday, October 21, the Irish Church proudly celebrates its long missionary tradition of Gospel witness. The 2,183 Irish born missionaries still serving in 84 different countries across the world, represent Ireland's largest emigrant grouping abroad, people who are bringing hope, aid and assistance to so many marginalized people in our world.
For more information see: http://www.imu.ie/



Source: Independent Catholic News

PRAY THE ROSARY FOR PEACE

Pope Benedict XVI urged Catholics to pray the rosary for peace in the world. Speaking to pilgrims Oct. 7, the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, the pope recalled that Marian apparitions at Fatima, Portugal, 90 years ago underlined the need to pray for the end of World War I. "We too want to welcome the maternal request of the Virgin, committing ourselves to reciting the rosary with faith for peace in families, among nations and throughout the world," he told several thousand people in St. Peter's Square. The pope, noting that October was dedicated in a special way to evangelization, said the rosary can stimulate missionary action by leading Christians to meditate on the life of Jesus. Every Christian is called to announce the Gospel through words and example, he said. "Announcing the Gospel remains the first service the church owes to humanity, in order to offer the salvation of Christ to the people of our time, who are humiliated and oppressed in so many ways," he said.

ROSARY FOR WORLD PEACE,
Saint Nicholas' Church, Dundalk
Every Sunday at 7.00pm
Everyone Welcome!

DUNDALK 'FESTIVAL OF FAITH' BEGINS TODAY

The Annual Solemn Novena to St Gerard Majella begins today. There are 10 sessions of the Novena daily in St Joseph Redemptorist Church. The Novena is also held in the Redeemer Church (times listed in 'events' below)



In past years the Novena has attracted 100,000 people, such is the love of the people of Dundalk and surrounding counties for the Italian Redemptorist Brother.



The Novena runs until 16th October, lets hope we will top the 100,000 figure this year!



Saint Gerard Majella - Pray For Us!

Gerard Majella

Born: April 23, 1725
Died: October 16, 1755
Canonised: December 11, 1904
Feast Day: October 16
Patron Saint of: childbirth, expectant mothers, pregnant women

COME JOIN IN THIS FESTIVAL OF FAITH!

SACRED HEART RETURNS TO DUBLIN

A beloved statue of the Sacred Heart has finally returned to Dublin City Centre following a long campaign by The Irish Catholic Newspaper.

The statue was removed to allow major redevelopment of the O'Connell Street area.

Former Lord Mayor, Vincent Jackson gave committment more than a year ago that the statue woud be returned.

It is not entirely clear when the statue first emerged, but it is thought to have emerged from the rubble of the Easter Rising in 1916. A number of Dublin taxi drivers rescued the statue and erected it just outside the Gresham Hotel. The statue remained there until refurbishment works began a few years ago. Down the years the statue had become a city centre landmark with many people taking time out of their frantic shopping to say a prayer before the statue.

Now, after many months of careful planning the statue has been returned to its rightful place overlooking the city centre with a finely appointed new stand for the statue.

Source: The Irish Catholic

TO BE CATHOLIC IS TO BE PRO LIFE

The Catholic Church is a pro-life church and that understanding is not optional but “at the heart of what we believe,” said the Irish bishops.


In a pastoral letter released for the Oct. 7 Day for Life observance in all Irish parishes, the Irish Bishops’ Conference stressed that the church has a “consistent and clear message” on the sacredness of human life and must continue to foster a consistent life ethic in individual consciences, families and society.
“The church has a great deal of experience in all areas of promoting and defending human life and has given the world a lead in the intellectual, political and social battle to save and protect life from conception to natural death,” the bishops said in the pastoral written in a question-and-answer format.
The Day for Life exists as a response to the call by Pope John Paul II in his 1995 encyclical letter, Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life), that “a day for life be celebrated each year in every country.”
The Irish bishops have issued an annual pastoral letter for the day since 2001. This year marks the third in succession that the Irish bishops have jointly published the Day for Life pastoral letter with the episcopal conferences of Scotland and England and Wales. The Day for Life was celebrated in Scotland on May 31 and in England and Wales on July 1.
The theme for the day this year is “Blessed is the fruit of your womb.” Last year, the bishops of the three episcopal conferences chose “Celebrating the life and presence of people with disabilities in the church and in society” as the day’s theme.
The bishops said that the church teaches that “every life has been created by God in his own image and likeness and that all life is sacred from the moment of conception to the point of natural death.”
The Catholic Church opposition to abortion is based on the act being the “taking of an innocent human life.”
Yet beyond abortion, the church also opposing other “direct attacks against innocent human life,” including embryonic stem-cell research, genetic engineering and euthanasia because “every life has purpose, meaning and inherent value.”
“To be pro-life means to promote human dignity and development in every sphere of life; to say ‘yes’ to life,” the bishops said.
“The Catholic Church is a pro-life church,” the bishops said. “This is not an optional extra. It is at the heart of what we believe.”
The pastoral noted that the Catholic Church “has for many years been at the forefront of offering practical, emotional and spiritual care to women and babies in need” and to women and men suffering through “grief, pain and loss following an abortion experience” through CURA in Ireland, The Cardinal Winning Pro-Life Initiative in Scotland and the Life Care and Housing Trust in England and Wales.
“The church, local and universal, has been at the forefront of challenging people to think more deeply about life issues. There is a consistent vision at the heart of her life issue,” the bishops stressed.
“The church has answers worth hearing and questions and challenges to share aimed at helping people to come to that deeper understanding demanded by the seriousness of the current situation,” they added. The bishops urged prayers of the faithful for “all those affected by abortion,” those experiencing crisis pregnancies and those babies at risk, for politicians “that they will always keep in mind the sacredness of life in every decision that they take.”
“We are all victims,” the bishops said, “when we live in a society which allows abortion.”

Source: catholic.org