The Season of Creation:

CHURCH MATTERS:

Last Sunday, Anniversary Mass was celebrated for Jimmy Stapleton. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a Anam dilís.

2nd Sunday celebrating the 'Season of Creation': A change of heart is what Pope Francis calls for today in our relationship with creation - without a change from within, there will be no enduring change in our lifestyle- after all, “to love God we must love what God loves.” Our relationship with others and the world around us needs to be seen through a new lens. For too long our consumerist mentality has left us preoccupied with self. We need to move away from our self-centred orientation to a broader understanding of creation. Responsibility rests with us to keep abreast of sound scientific thinking in relation to climate change and act appropriately. There is hope and we can make a difference. What action can we take in our local community to show our care for our environment during this season of creation? Perhaps, a first simple step could be to stop and ponder on this beautiful world of ours. Allow the awe and majesty of creation to fascinate us by gazing at flowers or tiny creatures, like small children do. As the American poet Maya Angelou is reported to have said: “Our lives are measured not by the number of breaths we take - but by the number of moments that take our breath away”.

Thought for the Week: May we sow seeds of Light & Goodness in everyone we meet.

C.F. FUNDRAISER:

Sun 15th Sept, 11am-3pm, Woodlands House Hotel. The Limerick Car Club, in association with Cars & Coffee Limerick, are hosting a Car Show Bonanza at the Hotel, in aid of Cystic Fibrosis Limerick. Entry fee of €10 euro. The Limerick Car club show will be showcasing some of the best cars from Car Clubs throughout Ireland who will be trying to take home the coveted prize of "Car of the Show 2024".

HARP CONCERT:

Sun 15th Sept, 8pm, Lough Gur Visitor Centre. A concert of traditional Irish harp music, where four of Ireland's finest harpists will share their artistry, in the beautiful lakeside setting. This special concert celebrates the musical heritage of Lough Gur and honours its connection to 17th-century harper-composer Thomas Connellan. The concert features Alannah Thornburgh, Kathleen Loughnane, Cormac Cannon, Michelle Mulcahy and Emma Benson. Tickets can be booked on www.eventbrite.ie Further info on

087 7676331 or grainnefitzgibbon@outlook.com.

FROM TIBET:

Thur 19th Sept, 8pm, St. John's Church, Knockainey, V35HA89. Something completely different.!!

( The Roof of The World Tour .) A masked dance and sacred Tibetan chants will be performed by Tibetan Monks from The Tashi Lhunpo Monastery. Further info on 087 1277468, tickets available from www.eventbrite.ie

AGM TIME:

Tue 24th Sept, 8pm, is the date set for the AGM of the Development Assoc. We invite you to become a committee member and help continue the good work.

Looking back on what the Association has done for the Hall; In 2010 the committee began work on tracing the deeds & eventually transferred ownership from the original Trustees to the GDA. A wheelchair accessible toilet was added and an extra WC in the changing room. In 2013/14 through LEADER funding of €42k, a big refurb was done costing €58k - new internal/external doors. New lighting internal/external. Roof insulation & new timber ceilings in the rooms. Men's WC was re-tiled and new urinals fitted. Ladies WC and Kitchen floors re-tiled. Extractor fans fitted in the main hall, new stage curtains, extra gas heaters, new fuse board & generator change-over switch installed. Finally the car park was re-surfaced.

In 2018, with a grant from the Dept. Rural & Community Development of €39k, towards the total cost of €63k, the floors in the hall and two rooms were replaced with extra insulation added underneath. Liquid DPC was injected into the wall facing the road, plus extra insulation, dry lining and new skirting board. This helped to combat the wall condensation & improve heat retention. In 2021, the thirty year old Gas Tank was replaced by the company, however an underground gas leak was found. We had to replace all outside pipework & add a new regulator to the tank. New gas pipework was installed in the hall, meeting room, kitchen and back room also, costing €3,500.

In 2023, the original roof was replaced through a grant from Pobal of €84k. Asbestos was found in the roofing tiles which added an extra cost to have it packed and safely removed. The new roof has solved all the leaking problems & the extra insulation has made the Hall much warmer.

Another grant application has been made this year to upgrade the kitchen, purchase new tables, replace the chipped mugs/plates, add a fridge, hob and extra chairs. I got the shock of my life, pricing new catering teapots - €73 for a 3.4L & €94 for a 4.5L !! Like a house, there is always more work & improvements to be done, going forward. Just another reason to have an Association in place to make sure the building is looked after properly.

EXHIBITION:

Cork City Library, 57-61 Grand Parade. Exhibition throughout September, if you happen to be in Cork.

A powerful story, if you visit 'Climate Justice Now', a photo exhibition that highlights the global impact of the climate crisis and those activists who are speaking out for climate justice.

Juan Pérez Cac’s village in Guatemala was burned to the ground and the community was evicted. Why? To service the global rush for climate-wrecking, Palm oil. This oil, found in many everyday products from biscuits to shampoo & comes with devastating consequences for our planet and for those least responsible for climate change. This exhibition features striking photography from Trócaire’s journeys alongside activists leading the charge for justice on global, national, and local fronts. You can hear first-hand how courageous activists on the frontlines, such as Juan Pérez Cac, are standing up for their communities and demanding action for a fairer, more sustainable world for all.

HALLOWEEN FARM:

Liskennett are looking for any Halloween decorations in good working order, you no longer need? They would be delighted to rehome your decorations for their Halloween Farm! Please contact Susan in Fundraising at 086 033 3310 or email fundraising@sjf.ie to arrange a time to drop off your items.

Opening times for the Farm; Sensory Day: Saturday 26th, some spaces still available between 10am-2pm.

Open to Public: Sunday 27th; some spaces available between 10-12 & 4-6pm. Monday 28th; some spaces available between 2-4pm & 4-6pm. Tickets can only be purchased from: https://register.enthuse.com/.../LiskennettHalloweenFarm2024. Please be aware of scams and offers of tickets via Social Media Comments or Messages.

For queries; please contact fundraising@sjf.ie 086 033 3310.

𝐏𝐚𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐀𝐢𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠:

Learn essential life-saving techniques to be able to provide children with First Aid in their homes!

10am to 1pm, Monday 14th October, Sunbeam (Top Floor), Croom Mills, V35 E306.

Training is free to all participants, but registration is essential and must be done through the link: https://www.ballyhouradevelopment.com/.../paediatric...

DID YOU KNOW:

Four billion years ago, the first cells were born and life began. Within the newly formed oceans a rich variety of chemicals gathered together in the form of bacteria. Earth awoke into life. Scientists give their lives trying to build even a single living cell. There are some 100 billion cells in your brain. The body itself has 30 trillion cells, each with its own structure and function. Our energy comes through our respiratory and digestive systems. Lungs take in air, extract life giving oxygen, and expel carbon dioxide. The mouth takes in food and drink and with the help of a 30-foot digestive tract, converts it into energy. The cardio-vascular system circulates the blood and provides nutrients. The immune system is always on standby to come to the aid of areas that need help. Eventually, at the end, the whole body system breaks down and we become a handful of dust..!!