St Brigid, Abbess,
Secondary Patron of Ireland
Each of the beatitudes describes an aspect of Jesus. Jesus is poor in spirit. He was born in a stable to poor, humble parents (cf. Luke 2). Jesus mourns when his friend Lazarus dies (cf. John 11:35). Jesus is ‘meek and humble of heart’ (Matthew 11:29). Jesus hungers and thirsts for righteousness when he cleanses the temple (Matthew 21:12). Jesus is mercy itself: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice’ (Matthew 9:13). Jesus is clean of heart, conceived immaculately, and born of an immaculate mother (cf. Luke 1:26-36). He undoes Adam’s sin with his own sinlessness (cf. Romans 5:12-21). Jesus is peace itself, and he offers us his peace, which the world cannot give us (cf. John 14:27). Jesus was and is still persecuted, and many evil and false accusations were made against him at his trial (cf. Mark 14:56). He was persecuted until death, ‘even death on a cross’ (Philippians 2:8). We who are his disciples are called to imitate the beatitudes in imitation of him, the example par excellence of all virtues. Jesus is the source of all virtues. When we practice imitating Christ and pray to the Holy Spirit to bless us with his gifts, we will joyfully bear fruit and glorify God (cf. John 15:8). The things that will make us happy are the things that will bring us closer to God. What Jesus is teaching us is that holiness will lead to our happiness.
Carey Boyzuck
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Anniversaries Next Weekend 8th February 2026
Borris-in-Ossory Mass Sunday 11.00 a.m.
Dan Bergin, Garron,
Tom Ryan
Knockaroo Mass Sunday 9.30 a.m.
James (Jimmy) Fitzpatrick
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St Brigid’s Day Service
The Annual St. Brigid’s Day Service will take place in St. Canice’s Catholic Church, Dean Street, Kilkenny this Sunday evening at 7.30 p.m.
Blessed red flannel, prayer cards, and water from St Brigid’s Well in Kildare will be available on the night.
St Brigid’s Crosses will also be on sale. A collection will be taken in support of the Kilkenny Gospel Choir Outreach Program.
All are welcome to attend.
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The Feast of St Blaise
Tuesday 3rd February
Borris-in-Ossory Evening Mass at 7.30 pm
In honour of St Blaise and The Blessing of Throats will take place after the Mass.
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First Friday Mass
Friday 6th February is First Friday Evening Mass at 7.30 p.m. in Borris-in-Ossory. There will be no Morning Mass on that day.
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Senior Citizens Party
The Annual Social Services party for Senior Citizens will take place in St. Joseph’s National School, Borris in Ossory on Sunday 1st March from 12.30 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. All are welcome.
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Eucharistic Ministers Next Weekend 8th February
Borris-in-Ossory SUNDAY 11.00 a.m.
Carol Giles,
Gail Maher,
Mary Sheeran,
Pauline Gardiner
Knockaroo SUNDAY 9.30 a.m.
Mary Campion and Marie Fitzpatrick
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Church Readers Next Weekend 1st February
Borris-in-Ossory SUNDAY 11.00 a.m.
Julie Kirwan
Knockaroo SUNDAY 9.30 a.m.
Marie Fitzpatrick
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Baptised and Sent
Editors note: well worth a read
· The Mass has been central to the Irish Catholic identity and experience. Every small village has a chapel; Mass rocks dot the country from Penal times. Devotion to and the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was central to our cultural and religious self-understanding.
· Vocations to priesthood abounded to ensure the celebration of this Sacred Mystery and of the other sacraments.
· Baptism has never formed the Irish Catholic imagination in the same way. Unlike many other European countries, no ancient baptismal sites have been found in our land.
· The contemporary emphasis on baptism as the foundation of Christian life and mission does not sit easily with Irish Catholicism.
· The Second Vatican Council intended to put an end to the pyramidal vision of the Church and to assert that all members of the Church are equal by reason of their baptism, prior to any subsequent differentiation. The term ‘the people’ has often been used to denote ‘the laity’ or ‘the faithful’ besides the pope, bishops, priests and religious.
· Vatican II intended the term ‘People of God’ to refer to all the baptised, ‘from the bishops to the last of the faithful lay people’.
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