Newsletter April 30th 2023 (Good Shepherd Sunday, Vocations Sunday)

“Good Shepherd Sunday”

is a good occasion for us to think and pray about how the catholic church will fare for priests in the future.

In Ireland right now it appears that the average age of ordained priests is about sixty five, a statistic that demands significant change in how to recruit priests for the future, and what is to be expected of them.

Padraig McCarthy made this point thus, “there is no such thing as a priestless parish. There may not be an ordained priest there, but the parish is a priestly people.

How will this priesthood of the baptised take flesh in the coming decades?

What factors which had value in the past are now hindering the mission of the church? What new model of ministerial priesthood is needed?”

Here are three questions worth pondering by us all,

1. Who will be the true shepherds in the coming years?

2. How will those shepherds carry out the mission to those outside the fold?

3. What needs to change so that each community can celebrate the Eucharistic every Sunday?

We are delighted to announce that The New Avengers will play a concert to support the running costs of Ss. Peter and Paul’s Church, Athlone on Sunday June 4th 2023 in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel. Tickets available from Mulligans on the Roscommon Road and from the Liturgical Centre, Castle Street at €10 each.

Raffle tickets will shortly go on sale with great prizes including a “Hot Air Balloon Ride” for two adults.

Thank you to the lads in The New Avengers for offering to play this concert and to Paddy and Alan for the venue.

Looking forward to a great night.

Fr. John

Six Ways to Discern My Vocation

1. PRAYER. Prayer is a conversation with God—not just saying prayers, but speaking to the Lord from your heart. Ask him to reveal his plan for you:“Jesus, I want to want what you want. Here I am Lord; I come to do your will.” Trust that God has a plan for you. 

2. SACRAMENTS. The soul is the window through which we can see God and hear his voice.  If the window is dirty because of sin, it must be cleaned through Confession so we can be in union with God. When you receive Communion, ask Jesus to show you your vocation.

3. GOOD INFORMATION. It is impossible to discover your vocation without good information.  What does it mean to have a holy Christian marriage? What do priests do? What is it like to be a religious sister or brother? Search for good information online, then take what you have learned back to prayer.

4. GO ON RETREAT. Miracles happen on retreats! One of the surest ways to discover God’s plan for you is to enter into silence and prayer over an extended period. Ask the Vocation Director to help you find a good retreat.

5. GET ADVICE. Don’t try to discern your vocation alone, without the help of the Church. Talk to a priest, deacon, religious or committed christian.

6. THE BLESSED MOTHER. Mary is the ultimate example of openness to the will of God. Are you open to God’s will for you? Pray three Hail Marys every day, specifically to discover your vocation and have the courage to follow it.