More photographs with President Michael D. Higgins after Mass last Sunday

Thanks to Assumpta Francis for some more photographs from when the newly elected President of Ireland met and greeted parishioners after he had attended the 12.15pm Mass last Sunday.

Two members of Folk Group with Mrs Sabina and President Michael D. Higgins

Margaret Jackson and President Michael D. Higgins

Carol Hurley and President Michael D. Higgins

St Michael's GAA Club Fundraising Race Night

Saint Michael’s GAA club will be running their “Race Night” in Kelehans Bushypark on Saturday night 3rd December. The white flag for the first race will be raised at 9pm. This should be a great night out for all, with excellent horse races, great prizes for winning owners, trainers and jockeys. There will also be an auction race, raffles and loads of spot prizes. The funds raised will be used to pay for the new club house in Westside and the running of the juvenile, ladies and men’s club in 2012, so please come along and support your local club.

Vincent Kelly

President Higgins at Mass in Sacred Heart Church for first time since Inauguration

The President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabina attended the 12.15pm Mass in Sacred Heart Church today, the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Universal King. Parishioners gave a warm welcome to the newly elected President. The Head of State briefly addressed the congregation at the end of Mass, thanking all for their good wishes and stressing how at home he feels here. He spoke of his great respect for Sacred Heart Parish Priest, Fr Malachy Hallinan.

President Michael D. Higgins with Fr Hugh Clifford, celebrant and Fr Martin Whelan, Diocesan Secretary, who acted as chaplain to the President for the Mass

Thanks to some members of the Parish Pastoral Council, who had been looking after the tea for the First Communion children and families of Scoil Bhride for the 11am Mass, and who kindly, at very short notice, provided tea and refreshments again after the 12.15pm Mass, giving parishioners a chance to meet and greet the President after the Mass.

Some members of the Parish Pastoral Council who organised refreshments after Mass:
Myra Byrnes, Eleanor Costello, Moria Byrne, Maureen Trill, Matt Hurley

President Michael D and Mrs Sabina Higgins met baby Allie Reidy Callaghan, who was about to be baptised.

President Higgins greets baby Allie Reidy Callaghan and her family just before her Baptism

Parish Sister, Sr Catherine O'Regan is a Daughter of Charity. Mrs Sabina Higgins' sister is a member of that order.

Sr Catherine with President Michael D. Higgins and his wife, Sabina Coyne

This visit was a pleasant surprise for all of us at Sacred Heart. President Higgins and Sabina had already sent a bouquet of flowers to the parish immediately after his election.

Marian Coleman, Sr Catherine, Eleanor Costello, President Michael D. Higgins, Moira Byrne,
Bernie Scally (parish secretary), Tess Donohue

The President stood for a photograph with those who organised the refreshments.

Matt Hurley (chairman, Parish Pastoral Council), Carmel Crawford, Marian Coleman, Sr Catherine, Eleanor Costello, President Michael D. Higgins, Moira Byrne, Maureen Trill, Bernie Scally, Sabina Coyne

Parish Announcements for Sunday, November 20th 2011

• The parish office is open every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10.30am to 1.00pm, for baptismal certificates and other certificates, booking of anniversary Masses, arranging dates for Baptisms and other occasions, and other queries.


• The rehearsals for the Children’s Choir for Christmas take place on Wednesday evenings at 7.00pm in the meeting room off the sacristy. Children over 6 years of age are welcome to take part.

• This Monday, November 21st is the Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We wish the Presentation Sisters in the parish a very happy feast day. Some of the classes of Scoil Bhríde, Shantalla will be attending the Monday morning Mass here in the Church to celebrate the feast.

• Our prayers and sympathy to Robert Gavin, Coogan Park, on the death of his sister Mary Moss, Hammersmith, England, during the week.
Also to Mick Grealish, Corrib Park, on the death of his sister Bridie Grealish, Water Lane recently.

NUIG Lecture on the Feast of St Columbanus

Click to enlarge

Mass intentions for the week ahead 20th November 2011

Saturday 19th November
Vigil Mass  6.30 pm  Willie Noone and Nancy Murphy
Sunday 20th November
9.30 am    Pat and Agens Burke and Jack Murphy
11am        Willie Creane and Patricia Murphy
12.15 pm  Daniel and May Carr and their son Danny and Sean Tedders
6.30 pm    Mary Hughes and Bernie and Kathleen Cooke and Timmie Mannion.

Monday 21st November
10am  John and Ellen Delargy and deceased members of Delargy family.
Tuesday 22nd November
10am  For all the Sick
Wednesday 23rd November
10am  Mary Boyle
Thursday 24th November
10am  Maureen Qualter and deceased members of  Noone and Qualter families.
Friday 25th November
10am  Sarah Walsh

Saturday 26th November
Vigil Mass   6.30 pm  Timmie Mannion and Eileen Spelman

Sunday 27th November  1st Sunday of Advent
9.30 am    Mary Flood
11am        Maureen Devlin
12.15 pm  Teresa Kelly and Billy and Grace Joyce
6.30 pm    Edward Fitzgerald and deceased members of the Fitzgerald and Hosty families.

Pope Benedict to visit Benin

Pope Benedict's last visit to Africa was to Cameroon and Angola in March 2009

Pope Benedict XVI will make an Apostolic Journey to Benin in the west of Africa from tomorrow, Friday 18th November 2011 until Sunday. His visit marks the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the first Christian missionaries in Benin. A special assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops was held in October 2009 and the Pope is now ready to publish his Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation arising from that Synod. Therefore, he will sign and publish this significant document during this visit. He will also visit the grave of the late Cardinal Bernardin Gantin, who was Dean of the College of Cardinals and was much loved in Benin.

You can follow the Pope's homilies and speeches during the trip here.

First Communion children at 11am Mass this Sunday, 20th November 2011



The First Holy Communion class of Scoil Bhride, Shantalla and their families come together for Mass at 11am this coming Sunday, 20th November 2011. We pray with and for the children preparing to receive the gift of Christ's body in the Eucharist for the first time as they follow the 'Do this in memory' programme, with parish, home and school cooperating in helping the children along this journey of faith.

The children and their families are invited to stay on after Mass to meet each other and have a cup of tea and refreshments.

Preparing for the Eucharistic Congress

The International Eucharistic Congress will take place in Ireland in June 2012. To learn of the plans and progress so far, see the Congress website here.
To listen to or download the anthem for the Congress, click here.

Eucharistic Congress Bell in Sacred Heart Church, July 2011

Sacred Heart Parish has been involved in a special way in the preparations for the Congress, having been a port of call in July for the bell calling the people of Ireland to prayer.

Child Protection in Galway Diocese

Mr. Kevin Duffy has been appointed Child Protection Officer for the diocese, providing professional support to the diocese and to its parishes, in implementing best practice in Child Protection.

Notices Received

COPE FUNDRAISER

Monster Christmas Cookery Demonstration in the Kingsvalley Hotel, Dublin Rd. Thurs. 1^st Dec. 7.30-9.30pm. Free finger food and mulled wine. Tickets €10 available from the hotel and COPE Galway offices, Tuam Rd. Call Pamela on 778750 for more.

"The Gift" Christmas Gospel Concert 2011

Tickets now on sale

Dec 20th, 21st, 22nd & 23rd
€10 (Children 15 and under go free)
Contact the Jesuit Church Office @ 091523707 and Keara Sheeran 0879007003
Fundraising for Ability West and Galway Projects

Parish Announcements for Sunday, November 13th 2011

• Daily Mass in Sacred Heart Church is at 10.00am from Monday to Friday. The Mass every Tuesday is offered for the sick of the parish. You are welcome to put the names of sick parishioners and loved ones on the book of the sick in the sacristy so we can pray for them at the Tuesday Mass.


• Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament takes place in the side chapel every evening of the week from 8.00pm until 10.00pm. This is a chance to experience peace and prayer in the presence of our Eucharistic Lord.

• Sacrament of Confession is available on Saturday evenings from 6.00pm in the Confession Box or any time by request.

• Practice for the children’s choir for Christmas take place on Wednesday evenings at 7pm in the meeting room off the sacristy. Children from 6 years of age upwards are welcome to come along.

• Mass next Sunday, 20th November 2011 at 11am will be this month’s time for First Communion children of Scoil Bhríde, Shantalla, and their families to come together as part of the ‘Do this in memory’ programme. The children and families are invited to stay for refreshments then after Mass.

• The Indian Community Mass will take place here in the Church this coming Wednesday, 16th November 2011 at 6pm.

• See the posting below for information on the Séamus Quirke Road roadworks. Parishioners crossing the road to get to the Church at the moment, please be very careful.

City Council Message about the Roadworks

We have received the following message from Galway City Council Transportation Unit:

Further to previous correspondence in relation to improvement works at the junction between Newcastle Upper (N59) and the Quincentennial Bridge (N6) along the N6 Corridor and on the Seamus Quirke/Bishop O' Donnell Road Scheme, please note the following:


Seamus Quirke / Bishop O' Donnell Roads Scheme

Pedestrian Access: The traffic transfer to the Northern carriageway will require the Contractor to close up the existing pedestrian accesses from the Seamus Quirke Road into the West City Centre Retail Car Park and the Westside Business Centre. Pedestrian access will still be available via the main entrances off the Old Seamus Quirke Road. This will take effect over the period Friday November 11 to Monday November 14, 2011. (See attached map)
The first section of traffic transfer between Circular Road and the Browne Roundabout will commence after lunch today Friday November 11, 2011.

N6/ Newcastle Road Junction

Due to current unfavourable weather conditions, anti-skid work at the N6 / Newcastle Road junction will re-start on the morning of Saturday November 12, 2011 and will continue next week from Monday to Friday between 10am - 4pm.

Galway Transportation Unit wishes to apologise for the inconvenience caused to all road users in relation to these lane restrictions.
 Regards,
Galway Transportation Unit

click to enlarge

New road takes shape



The view from ourside Sacred Heart Church this morning



Construction of steps leading from the footpath into the Church grounds

Mass intentions for the week ahead 13th November 2011

Saturday 12th November
Vigil Mass   6.30 pm  Paddy Francis
3.00 pm - 5.00 pm  Indian Community Prayers
Sunday 13th November
9.30 am    Intention free
11am        Tim and Lena Codyre and deceased members of the Codyre and Duffy families.
12.15 pm  John, Johnnie and Ellen Brennan
6.30 pm    Joseph Kennedy
Monday 14th November
10am   Dolores Naughton
Tuesday 15th November
10am   For all the Sick
Wednesday 16th November
10am  Kathleen Ward
6.00 pm  -  8.00 pm  Indian Community Mass
Thursday 17th November
10am  Bridie Whelan
Friday 18th November
10am   Mary Ryan (1st Anniversary)
Saturday 19th November
Vigil Mass   6.30 pm  Willie Noone and Nancy Murphy
Sunday 20th November  Feast of Christ the King

9.30 am   Pat and Agnes Burke and Jack Murphy
11am       Willie Creane and Patricia Murphy
12.15 pm  Daniel and May Carr and son Danny and Sean Tedders
6.30 pm    Mary Hughes and Bernie and Kathleen Cooke and 2. Timmie Mannion.

Vocation Discernment for Young Women

The Missionaries of Divine Revelation are a relatively new religious order based in Rome.

They describe their charism as follows:

‘Our Mission that flows from our charism can be summarised in these three key words:

- To guard the Word of God with fervent love.

- To spread Divine Revelation in communion with the Magisterium of the Church and with constant reference to the “Three White Loves”: the Eucharist, the Immaculate One and the Holy Father.

- To serve our brothers and sisters through the catechetical apostolate in every sphere of life; in parishes, in popular missions, in families.
The Missionaries of Divine Revelation feel that they are the apostles of the mystery of the Church and so we desire:

'to think as the Church has always thought, to love as the Church has always loved, to want what the Church has always wanted.” (Rule).’

The Sisters run discernment retreats in Rome for young women between the ages of 18 and 35. While touring the great Catholic places of pilgrimage in Rome, the Sisters make a link with vocational discernment. Sr Emanuela Edwards (who is from Wigan in England) would be happy to discuss discernment with any young woman. See her details on the poster below.

Click to enlarge

For more information on the Missionaries of Divine Revelation, see their website http://www.divinarivelazione.org/en/

The Sisters also give 'catechesis with art' tours of some of the important landmarks of Rome. For a taste of this work, see their video on Saint Peter's Basilica:

Parish Announcements for Sunday, 6th October 2011

• The special collection takes place at all Sunday Masses this week for the diocesan family services that operate at the Diocesan Pastoral Centre, Árus de Brún.

• Sr Cáit O’Leary of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre is happy to provide counselling, including bereavement counselling here at Sacred Heart Church, in the counselling room off the sacristy. Please contact one of the priests if you would like details.

• The Novena of Masses for those whose names have been put on the parish November lists of the dead will continue each day up to and including Thursday at the 10am Mass.

• There will be Mass in Forthill Cemetery this Sunday, 6th November at 12.30pm.

• Rehearsals for the Children’s Choir for Christmas take place on Wednesday evenings at 7.00pm in the meeting room off the sacristy. Children are warmly welcome to join in this joyful way of celebrating Christmas.

• We pray for those who died during the week:

- Joe Canavan, late of Inishannagh Park

- Maureen Donohue, Glencorrib, sister-in-law of Tess Donohue, parish housekeeper.

Statement by Cardinal Séan Brady in response to the decision to close Ireland’s embassy to the Holy See

Pope Benedict XVI greets Ambassadors to the Holy See from all over the world

'An Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Eamon Gilmore TD, phoned me this afternoon [Thursday 3rd November 2011] to inform me that the Irish Government has decided not to appoint a residential ambassador to the Holy See. The Tánaiste expressed the view that this was a regrettable but necessary decision in the light of the current economic situation and it is not related to recent exchanges between the Government and the Holy See.
I wish to express my profound disappointment at this decision which means that Ireland will be without a resident ambassador to the Holy See for the first time since diplomatic relations were established and envoys were exchanged between the two States in 1929. I know that many others will share this disappointment.
This decision seems to show little regard for the important role played by the Holy See in international relations and of the historic ties between the Irish people and the Holy See over many centuries.
It is worth recalling that for the new Irish State the opening of diplomatic relations with the Holy See in 1929 was a very significant moment. It was very important in asserting the identity and presence of the Irish Free State internationally in view of the fact that Irish diplomatic representation abroad was then confined to the Legation in Washington, the Office of the High Commissioner in London, the Permanent Delegate to the League of Nations, and the Embassy to the Holy See.
I hope that despite this regrettable step, the close and mutually beneficial co-operation between Ireland and the Holy See in the world of diplomacy can continue – based on shared commitment to justice, peace, international development and concern for the common good.
I look forward to a time when the Government will again appoint a resident ambassador to the Holy See. I hope that today’s decision will be revisited as soon as possible and that it can be addressed at the next meeting of the Church-State structured dialogue.'

Mass for parishioners who died in the past year

Mount Saint Joseph (Rahoon) Cemetery

As a special part of the November month of prayer for the dead, Mass this evening, Saturday 5th November, at 6.30pm will be offered for parishioners, those who worshipped here, and those whose funerals took place here, who died during the year.

This Sunday's second reading has these words of hope:

We want you to be quite certain, brothers, about those who have died, to make sure that you do not grieve about them, like the other people who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and that it will be the same for those who have died in Jesus: God will bring them with him.                                     First Letter of St Paul to the Thessalonians 4:13-14

Mass intentions for the week ahead 6th November 2011

Saturday 5th November
Vigil Mass 6.30 pm Novena Mass for all those who died in Our Parish in the past year.
Sunday 6th November
9.30 am   Novena
11am       Novena
12.15 pm Ted and Bridget Conneely and Esther Francis
                2.  Terry Colohan
6.30 pm   Shirley Maher
Monday 7th November
10am   Novena
Tuesday 8th November
10am  Novena and for All the Sick
Wednesday 9th November
10am  Novena
Thursday 10th November
10am  Novena
Friday 11th November
10am  Mickey Sullivan and Mary Murray
Saturday 12th November
Vigil Mass   6.30 pm  Paddy Francis
3.00 pm  -  5.00 pm  Indian Community Prayer
Sunday 13th November
9.30 am     Intention free
11am        Tim and Lena Codyre and deceased members of the Codyre and Duffy families.
12.15 pm  John, Johnnie and Ellen Brennan
6.30 pm    Joseph Kennedy..