Weekly Connect From: Dermot Cowhey dermot.cowhey@limerickdiocese.org
24th October, 2022:
Dear Chaplains/RE Teachers,
As the first milestone of the academic year looms, I wish you a restful and peaceful mid-term break. May it be an opportunity to slow down and recharge.
The Pope's Monthly Intentions for October, 2022:
A Church Open to Everyone …
We pray for the Church; ever faithful to, and courageous in preaching the Gospel, may the Church be a community of solidarity, fraternity and welcome, always living in an atmosphere of synodality.
… and for November, 2022:
For children who are suffer …
We pray for children who are suffering, especially those who are homeless, orphans and victims of war; may they be guaranteed access to education and the opportunity to experience family affection.
https://www.popesprayer.va/popes-prayer-intentions
To watch the Pope Video - https://youtu.be/aJpxgGQywX8
Thought for the Day:
‘Let’s paint the world kind.’
https://www.facebook.com/dioceseoflimerick
Limerick Grief Centre: Carol Fitz-Gough, from the Limerick Grief Centre, has been in touch to give a little briefing on why the centre is getting in touch with schools in the region. Every November, bereavement services for children in Ireland take a week to help raise awareness of childhood loss. They do so by running different activities throughout the 3rd week of November 14-18th. They would like to engage with the schools within our community and get the children and young people involved.
Limerick Grief will move into its new building early next year on O’Connell Ave, where they will have two new support rooms for the ages of 12-18 years and to mark Bereaved Children’s awareness week this year, they are looking for second Year students in the community to help them name those rooms.
Please see the Attachment 1 for letter containing relevant details.
November Liturgies: Please see Attachment 2 for outline of liturgies for November, Halloween and Advent. Thanks to Aoife Walsh and Fr. Chris for sharing.
Senior Cycle RSE course available in Limerick Education Centre
Courses available in relation to RSE which may be of interest. Please see
https://pdst.ie/onlinebooking?combine=&subject=Health+%26+Wellbeing&ec_name=Limerick+EC§or=All
Thanks to Claire Coakley, Chaplain, Kilmallock for alerting us to these.
Senior Cycle RE – Irish Dominicans
The Irish Dominican Friars will be sharing content very soon that can be used in the classroom, especially senior cycle religion. Links contained in Attachment 3.
‘The Letter – A Message for Our Earth’:
From Jane Mellet Laudato Sí Officer, Trócaire: The Letter – A Message for Our Earth, the movie recently launched by the Laudato Si’ Movement in association with Off the Fence Productions and YouTube Originals. The Letter was launched on the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi in Rome and offers a compelling new message for our planet. You can see the trailer and info about the film. The movie itself is available to watch, for free on YouTube here. If you would like to see the recording of the premier event, which includes speeches from the stars of the show, it is available here . In just one week, this movie has had 3.5 million views online.
Communities are welcome to host a screening of the film. In fact, we are counting on YOU to make it happen! There will a training webinar, organised by the Laudato Si’ Movement on October 19th from 4pm-5.30pm Irish time. You can register for this webinar here and it will be an informative session on all you need to know to host a screening. You'll have the opportunity to ask any questions about it to the LSM Team, brainstorm with the other participants and you'll receive a resource pack to help you organise. I realise some of you are already registered and apologies if you are receiving this information for the second time.
We would ask that you register your planned local screening on the official website here. By registering your screening, you will receive a link to the film that can be watched without license, for free. For those of you who are based in Ireland, we would ask that you wait to organise your local screening until after November 15th if possible.
It is an exciting moment for the Laudato Si’ world and we are counting on our grassroots communities to share this powerful film with as many people as possible.
Attachments –
- Letter from Limerick Grief Centre
- Liturgies for November, Halloween and Advent.
- Irish Dominican RE Resources
- Liturgical Calendar for October
- Attachment containing the usual links and resources. If you can add to this list, please forward all information to me. Nothing added since last week.
If you are accessing this from the diocese website and would like to have these resources, please email dermot.cowhey@limerickdiocese.org. Also, if you have not received the September Liturgical Calendar, contact me and I will send it.
To conclude … as we approach mid-term and the opportunity of a rest, we reflect …
Mid-Term Break
At mid-term we are grateful for times of rest
Lord, we thank you for this time of rest and reflection from the busyness of life.
Thank you for these moments.
May we be able to give comfort and rest to others, to spread calmness, not chaos.
During the coming days take our burdens and replace them with calm.
During the coming days help us to rest from the unending work so that any work we do will be productive.
During the coming days give us comfort so that we can find strength, new wisdom, new power.
Touch the lives and hearts of those around us.
And, as we begin to work again, help us to feel renewed in your presence. Amen.
Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. For we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed. For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.” (Hebrews 4: 1-2, 4)
(from ‘Occasional Prayers for the School Year’ Gráinne Delaney)
Fós le Buíochas agus Dóchas,
Dermot