Pope Francis proves to be a crowd-puller!

In the build-up to the Galway Races last week, one of the programmes from the archives touched upon the Papal visit of John Paul 11 to Ballybrit in 1979 and the fact that almost 400,000 people packed into the Galway racecourse. Carol and myself were among the huge throng that arrived there early. I can still remember five of us leaving Creggs after closing time on the Saturday night, making our way to a field outside Galway where we got parking, and spending a very uncomfortable sleepless night in the car. However it was all worthwhile when the great man arrived and to this day we will never forget his ‘Young people of Ireland I love you’ address to the massive crowd. At the time I was one of those young people and we were all so thrilled and delighted to get to physically see our Pope. In the intervening years the Church itself has been hit with so many scandals, and with allegations of so much wrongdoing, including abuse of every conceivable kind, that a lot of the believers that day in Galway have long since turned their back on their Catholic religion.

And so I cannot deny that I was more than surprised when I saw on this week’s papers that more than 1.5 million young folk braved extreme heat to see Pope Francis over the weekend in Lisbon, Portugal. They were there to take part in an International Youth Festival and along with 200 bishops and 10,000 priests the Pope prayed for peace in Ukraine. It just goes to show that no matter what troubles befall the church, people will always follow whatever religion they belong to.

Pope Francis, at 86 years of age, warned our youth about the dangers of social media, asked them to pray for peace, and met with a delegation of 15 young people from war-torn Ukraine. For some reason, on a personal level I haven’t warmed to Pope Francis in the same way that I did to John Paul 11, but he does appear to be a good leader of the Catholic Church. Anyone that can get 1.5 million people to listen to his words has to command huge respect. He visited Ireland in 2018 and impressed all who met him. It’s a big job to try to reinvigorate Catholicism, but maybe Francis is the man to do it!

And finally…

Out in Creggs we had two big family reunions over the Bank Holiday weekend with the McGoverns getting together on Friday evening in Mikeen’s (and continuing the celebrations over the weekend), while on Sunday the Whites had their family get-together.

Members of both families travelled from as far away as the United States while there were many home from England too. The celebrations lent themselves to a highly enjoyable weekend in our little village and it was great to meet up with friends and neighbours who are domiciled elsewhere.

George Reynolds collection on display in Strokestown Library

An exhibition of historical Strokestown material collected by the late George Reynolds will be held in Strokestown Library during Heritage Week, August 12th to 20th

The exhibition will be launched by Senator Eugene Murphy in Strokestown Library on Friday, August 11th, from 7 pm to 8 pm. For any queries, contact Helen in Strokestown Library at 090 6637227. All are welcome to attend!

Congratulations to former Roscommon hurler Chris Duignan of Creevy, Roscommon and Katie Gill of Ballintubber on their recent engagement

From Siobhán McGinley and Cillian Egan

Newsbriefs

Nature Walk in Athleague

On Tuesday, 15th of August from 11 am to 12 pm, Roscommon County Council Heritage Office in association with Roscommon Women’s Network CycleUp Group are delighted to host a short nature walk with Michael Bell from Nature Learn.

The walk will start from the Riverside Centre (the old Angling Centre) in Athleague F42 K685 and follow part of the Suck Valley Way along the River Suck. There will be tea/coffee and chats in the Riverside afterwards. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. This is an outdoor event, so please dress for the weather. Ground is wet so wellies will be needed!

Ballintubber Tidy

Towns hosts ‘Castles in Communities’ event

Ballintubber Tidy Towns will host a presentation called ‘Castles in Communities’ by Andrew Bair in the Old Schoolhouse on Tuesday, August 14th, at 7.30 pm. Andrew will discuss the recent archaeology dig and surveying of the local castle and surrounding area. This is a free event in keeping with National Heritage Week. All are welcome to attend.

Cemetery Mass in Kileenan and Ardcarne

Mass will be celebrated in Kileenan Graveyard, Knockvicar on Saturday, August 19th at 3 pm. Mass will also be celebrated in Ardcarne Graveyard on Sunday, August 20th at 12 noon.

A collection will be taken up at Ardcarne Graveyard for the cost of lighting the church and graveyard for the coming year. All support would be gratefully appreciated.

Cemetery Sunday in Cloontuskert

Cemetery Sunday will be celebrated in Cloontuskert Cemetery on this Sunday, 13th of August at 6 pm.

Breakfast 7.30am – 11.30

Breakfast: 7.30am to 11.30am Lunch 12pm to 3pm Evening Bar & Bistro Menu: 3pm to 9pm

Lunch 12 –3 Evening Bar & Bistro Menu 3-9

‘Once we have inhabited the earth’ exhibition

As part of National Heritage Week 2023, a retrospective ‘Once we have inhabited the earth’ exhibition is being staged by local artist and author, James M Moran. This will be an engaging exhibition of artwork, collage, and script, illustrating our generational skill and practices, for better or worse, with an ecological twist.

It will take place in Athleague Community Centre, from 11 am to 6 pm, on this Saturday, August 12th. All are welcome to attend.

Hospice Coffee Morning

Mayo Roscommon Hospice are calling for people to host a coffee morning on National Coffee Morning for Hospice, sponsored by Bewleys, on Thursday, September 21st – or on another date if that suits you better.

You can host a coffee morning/evening with family, friends or work colleagues, or you can have drive-by or takeaway coffees if you wish. Anything goes!

You can register online or make a donation at hospice. ie. Email info@hospice.ie or call 094-93-88666 and a free pack will be sent out to you. All funds raised locally stay locally. Please be sure to support if you can.

Kilcroan Cemetery Mass on Sunday

Mass will be celebrated at Kilcroan Cemetery this Sunday, August 13th, at 3 pm. A collection will take place on the day, which the committee hopes will be generously supported.

Legion of Mary day trip

The Legion of Mary is organising a day trip to Lough Derg on Saturday, September 23rd. The group will be leaving the Sacred Heart Church, Roscommon car park at 6.30 pm. For bookings, please contact Teresa on 087 1206343 or Noreen on 086 3529916 (090 6625209).

Pilgrimage to Lough Derg on August 19th

There will be a one-day pilgrimage to Lough Derg on Saturday, August 19th, leaving Ballyleague Hall at 7 am. The bus will pick up passengers at Scramogue, Rooskey, and Carrick-on-Shannon. To book, call Mary on 043-3321969.

Gospel Reflection

Sunday 13 August

How do we find God in the storms and struggles of our lives, in the trials we encounter in trying to do His will?

God commands Elijah in today’s First Reading to stand on the mountain and await His passing by. And in the Gospel, Jesus makes the disciples set out across the waters to meet Him. In each case, the Lord makes Himself present amid frightening tumult – heavy winds and high waves, fire and earthquakes.

Elijah hides his face. Perhaps he remembers Moses, who met God on the same mountain, also amid fire, thunder, and smoke (see Deuteronomy 4:10–15; Exodus 19:17–19). God told Moses no one could see His face and live, and He sheltered Moses in the hollow of a rock, as He shelters Elijah in a cave (see Exodus 33:18–23).

The disciples, likewise, are too terrified to look on the face of God. Today’s Gospel is a revelation of Jesus’ divine identity. Only God treads across the crest of the sea (see Job 9:8) and rules the raging waters (see Psalm 89:9–10). And the words of assurance that Jesus speaks – “It is I” – are those God used to identify Himself to Moses (see Exodus 3:14; Isaiah 43:10). Even Peter is too overcome by fear to imitate his Lord. His fears, Jesus tells him, are a sign of his lack of faith. And so it often is with us. Our fears make us doubt, make it hard to see His glory dwelling in our midst.

Yet, we should know, as we sing in today’s Psalm, that His salvation is near to those who hope in Him. By faith we should know, as Paul asserts in today’s Epistle, that we are heirs to the promises made to His children, Israel. We must trust that He whispers to us in the trials of our lives – that He who has called us to walk along the way of His steps – save us whenever we begin to sink.

-Scott Hahn Ph.D., www.salvationhistory.com (courtesy of Sacred Heart Church, Roscommon)