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Weekly Connect From: Dermot Cowhey dermot.cowhey@limerickdiocese.org

9th May, 2022:

Dear Chaplains/RE Teachers,

Graduation Ceremony Liturgies: I have sent out a number of graduation liturgies in separate e-mails. If you did not receive these please let me know and I will resend. Thanks to Fr. Gerard Condon, DA Cloyne, and Fr. Michael Collins, DA Killaloe for generously sharing these.

The Pope's Monthly Intentions for May, 2022:

May: For faith-filled young people …

We pray for all young people, called to live life to the fullest; may they see in Mary’s life the way to listen, the depth of discernment, the courage that faith generated and the dedication to service.

https://www.popesprayer.va/popes-prayer-intentions

To watch the Pope Video - https://youtu.be/aJpxgGQywX8

Thought for the Day: We publish a thought for the day every morning at 7am on the Diocesan Facebook page. Sunday’s thought was …

‘If we all do one random act of kindness daily, we just might set the world in the right direction.

https://www.facebook.com/dioceseoflimerick

Liturgical Calendar: Please see Attachment 1 for the May. As always, we are deeply grateful to Colette O’Doherty, DA Diocese of Ferns, for her generosity in sharing these resources.

Catholic Schools in Ukraine: See information on a webinar on Catholic schools in Ukraine. The link is on the attached invitation. (See Attachment 2). Feel free to circulate the information to your contacts.

A Message from Dom Perrem National Director, Alpha Ireland

Alpha Youth has been running in sixty schools around Ireland in the past few years – with new schools starting each year. This is amazing, as this represents 8% of all the schools in the country, across nineteen counties. We’re excited about this, and have a training event on 17th May focused on Alpha Youth (Click here for details) which I’d love to see you at, if you can come. We know we have a chance to really invest in youth, and I’d love to talk to you about it.

We have a team of just six people at Alpha Ireland but the real ‘team’ are the volunteers around Ireland who have a heart to run Alpha — like you. I'm hoping to meet up with you in person this September 24th at the Alpha Ireland Conference 2022 — more on that coming soon!

Vocations’ Sunday: This Sunday is a day of prayer for Vocations to the religious life and the priesthood.  There are resources for the day here:  

https://www.catholicbishops.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Vocations-Sunday-Resources-2022.pdf

Tommy Tiernan recently interviewed Fr David Vard, "the youngest priest in Ireland":  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9o0UuWW_rI

The full interview is found in the RTE Player, Season 6, episode 12.  

Attachments –

  1. May Liturgical calendar
  2. Catholic Schools in Ukraine webinar information
  3. End of year prayer (Thanks to Fr. Gerard Condon, D.A . Cloyne for generously sharing.)
  4. Surrender Novena: A novena for those who stress and worry – pupil friendly!
  5. Attachment containing the usual links and resources. If you can add to this list, please forward all information to me.

  If you are accessing this from the diocese website and would like to have these resources, please email dermot.cowhey@limerickdiocese.org

To conclude …

As we draw to the end of the academic year, we reflect on our departing sixth years and in the words of John O’Donoghue …

In out of the way places of the heart
Where your thoughts never think to wander
This beginning has been quietly forming
Waiting until you were ready to emerge.

For a long time it has watched your desire
Feeling the emptiness grow inside you
Noticing how you willed yourself on
Still unable to leave what you had outgrown.

It watched you play with the seduction of safety
And the grey promises that sameness whispered
Heard the waves of turmoil rise and relent
Wondered would you always live like this.

Then the delight, when your courage kindled,
And out you stepped onto new ground,
Your eyes young again with energy and dream
A path of plenitude opening before you.

Though your destination is not clear
You can trust the promise of this opening;
Unfurl yourself into the grace of beginning
That is one with your life’s desire.

Awaken your spirit to adventure
Hold nothing back, learn to find ease in risk
Soon you will be home in a new rhythm
For your soul senses the world that awaits you.