Twenty- Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
By our own strength, to live the full demands of Christ’s teaching is impossible. We are too weak. Like the disciples we have to recognise our weakness and helplessness. This is essential to our sanctification. St Thérèse of Lisieux whose feast we celebrated last week knew this, but with St Paul she could say ‘When I am weak then I am strong’ – when I see my weakness more and more I discover I need God more and more. This is a wonderful discovery. Why? Emptied of ourselves, God then fills us with Himself when we trust in Him, have faith in Him. ‘It is trust and only trust that will lead us to God’ St Thérèse famously said. She trusted so much in God that she asked for all the grace others did not or could not receive – ‘the waves of infinite tenderness’ trapped within Jesus’ Heart to overflow into her soul. That is quite a lot! Was that too bold a request? St Thérèse was not too bold – it is we who are not bold enough. While on earth, the saints were greedy for one thing – grace. The saints are sponges for grace, like dry weary lands without water, being emptied of themselves, they soak up every last drop of the dew that fell from heaven – that ‘dew’ which is the Holy Spirit, they were filled with God’s fullness. But we can only pray for this grace if we have faith ‘We must believe in order to pray’ says St Augustine – he continues ‘we must ask God that the faith enabling us to pray may not fail’ pluscardenabbey.org
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Anniversaries This Weekend 5th October 2025
Borris-in-Ossory Mass Sunday 11.00 am
Sr. Catherine Geoghegan
Killasmeestia Mass Sunday 9.30 am
Jack and Nora Moylan
Anniversaries Next Weekend 12th October 2025
Borris-in-Ossory Mass Sunday 11.00 am
Tommy Whelan,
Jude and Nan Cassidy,
Tommy Hogan Coolowley
Knockaroo Mass Sunday 9.30 am
Months Mind Mass Pauline Comerford
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October Offering Envelopes due back today.
One of the six collections for the financial upkeep of the Priest
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St Mary’s Cathedral Draw
SEPTEMBER DRAW RESULTS
1st Prize €2000 Gowran Community Housing, Gowran
2nd Prize €1000 Mary Bridget Dobbyn, Aghaboe
3rd Prize €500 Mary Holden, Gowran
4th Prize €300 Richard & Kay Cody, Tullaherin
5th Prize €300 Rita Byrne, St. Patrick’s
6th Prize €200 John & Peggy Kennedy, St. Mary’s
7th Prize €200 Breda Brosnan, Ballyhale
8th Prize €100 Joseph Dunne, Borris-in-Ossory
9th Prize €100 Paddy Walshe, Inistioge
10th Prize €100 Anne Doran, Tullaherin
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Eucharistic Ministers next weekend 12th October
Borris-in-Ossory Sunday 11.00 a.m.
Carol Giles,
Eileen Sweeney,
Gail Maher,
Kay Dowling
Knockaroo October Eucharistic Ministers
Liam Campion and Ann Coss
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Church Readers next weekend 12th October
Borris-in-Ossory Sunday 11.00 am.
Mary Kelly
Knockaroo Sunday 9.30 a.m.
Jacqui Kealy
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Reflections
Faith can move mountains… well it can certainly get us moving. Recall a time when you were full of self-doubt, skepticism about a project, or lacking trust in God. What was that like? Contrast this with times when you believed in yourself, or in the value of a project you had undertaken, or when your faith and trust in God was strong. What kind of faith have you found enriched your life? 2. Faith is like a mustard seed, small, and sometimes we may be tempted to wait till our faith grows. Part of the message in the gospel is to use the faith we have, even though it may be small. That is how we grow in belief in ourselves and in God’s presence in our lives. Does your experience back up this? 3. It is nice when what we do is recognised and acknowledged, but the desire for recognition leaves us vulnerable. It is not always forthcoming. It can be helpful if our main motivation in doing something is the value of the action itself. Have you experienced this? 4. This is particularly true when it comes to love. Love is a free gift. What is given lovingly is not given because of a claim. What is your experience of the freedom of love given and received?
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