General Chat

Good morning :-)

Hi Vera..........hope your visits went well yesterday and that you were cheered up rather than cast down... :-D

Nights are being a problem with us at the moment. Yesterday, I thought my dreams had come true - I had 6 hours sleep but......................last night .... arrrrrghhh probably 4 hours max. Forgive the matchsticks keeping my eyes open :-D


For today

You are the God
who calls us to be
a chosen people,
a living sacrifice,
a holy nation.
You are the God
who calls us to be
a light in this world,
a faithful people,
a people of praise.
You are the God
who forgives
and restores us,
the God we serve.

Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

The Collect (special prayer) for today:

Almighty God,
whose Son revealed in signs and miracles
the wonder of your saving presence:
renew your people with your heavenly grace,
and in all our weakness
sustain us by your mighty power;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

The gospel reading tells of Jesus calling the fishermen to be ‘Fishers of men’.


Today is Education Sunday and the worship in many churches may be led by pupils from church schools.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


A thought for today............

God never promised
A life without pain,
Laughter without tears
Or sun without rain.
But He did promise
Strength for the day,
Comfort for the tears
And light for the way,
And for all who believe
In His Heaven above
He rewards their faith
In His everlasting love.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

Do we ever feel that our prayers are not being answered?

I asked for strength and God gave me difficulties to make me strong.
I asked for wisdom and God gave me problems to solve.
I asked for prosperity and God gave me brawn and brains to work.
I asked for courage and God gave me dangers to overcome.
I asked for patience and God placed me in situations where I was forced to wait.
I asked for love and God gave me troubled people to help.
I asked for favours and God gave me opportunities.
I asked for everything so I could enjoy life.
Instead, He gave me life so I could enjoy everything.
I received nothing I wanted, I received everything I needed.

- Unknown


Hope all are well. Cx :-)

Good morning :-)



For today :

What Keeps You Going?

Happiness keeps You Sweet,
Trials keep You Strong,
Sorrows keep You Human,
Failures keep You Humble,
Success keeps You Glowing,
But Only God keeps You Going!


Off to Walton to see the Parky's nurse today.

Cx :-)

Hello all

Thank you Cynthia. I say "AMEN". to your last two postings.

I have felt unwell. There are so many bugs around and I appear to have got one.
It's not what I would wish, but it is what I have, at least for now. It can only get better!

I hope all goes well for your hubby and you at the PD clinic today.

Sending Blessings to all who are reading this now xx

'Tell God what you feel to his face. God “likes to argue with us,” especially when it is difficult to accept His will.

He likes it when you get angry and tell Him what you feel to his face because He is a father!” the Pope said on January 24 during Mass in the chapel of Domus Sanctae Marthae.

(The Catholic Herald).

Good morning :-)


Poor kandj, you are having such a tough time at the moment bless you. Hope you feel better today <3

Dermot......I think it has long been said that arguing, shouting and ranting at God is quite acceptable.......He understands. :-)

The hospital visit went well - straight into a parking place and called right in - didn't have to sit down in the waiting area. :-D Things are as stable as they can be, so no change really.

Something to think about today..........


If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.
If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it.
He sends you flowers every spring.
He sends you a sunrise every morning.
Whenever you want to talk, He listens.
He can live anywhere in the universe,
but . . . He chose your heart.
And . . . that thing He did at Calvary . . .
Face it, friend--He is crazy about you!


Love to all. Cx :-)

Because Redemptorist priest Fr Tony Flannery has been forbidden by the Vatican to speak in public, he had to seek a non-church venue for the Mass he celebrated on Sunday to mark his 70th birthday.

“The obvious place was the community hall here [in Killimordaly]. Living so close by, where else would I go?” he mused as he addressed the packed congregation in the hall. “But it was such a right decision,” he added. “The local community took it up. The sense of support, engagement and affection that I got from this area has been incredible.”

There had also been emails, calls and texts of support from elsewhere “which was lovely. But what happened here was special”, said Fr Flannery of the way friends and neighbours in his home place had rallied round.

Fr Flannery was silenced by the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, five years ago. The reason given by the Vatican’s ‘strong arm’ was that his liberal views on celibacy, women priests and homosexuality were out of line with Church teachings, as were his criticism about how the Church had dealt with cases of child sex abuse.

However, Fr Flannery feels that the real reason for the Vatican’s ire was his involvement in setting up The Irish Association of Catholic Priests. By silencing him, Rome was letting priests know that they were not entitled to a voice.

His decision to celebrate Mass in defiance of the Vatican was to mark the milestone of his 70th birthday, which fell on January 18. It was not to declare war on the Vatican, he said, just to celebrate his 40 years of ministry.

One group of women at Sunday’s event commented on the sadness of the occasion, given that those “with power and pomp” had prevented Fr Flannery from saying Mass for the previous five years.

But Tony Flannery didn’t look sad. In fact, he radiated happiness. This was a celebration. The Mass featured a reading from the prophet Isaiah, while Matthew’s Gospel spoke of how “the people living in darkness have seen a great light”.

Some in the congregation nodded. Mostly middle aged and older, with many from the local area, they didn’t look like revolutionaries. Respectable people, they were there to support a popular priest, whose message resonates.

(Connacht Tribune 26.01.17.)

You post some interesting articles Dermot.

Cynthia, I am glad your hospital visit with OH went well.

Poor Kandj, you really are having a basinful of problems right now. I hope you start to feel better very soon. Keeping you in my thoughts <3.

Thinking tonight of everyone who has to be out in these icy, foggy conditions. May they stay safe.

Good morning :-)

Another interesting article Dermot .....thank you.


Today is Holocaust Memorial Day.

Holocaust Memorial Day takes place on 27 January each year. It’s a time for everyone to pause to remember the millions of people who have been murdered or whose lives have been changed beyond recognition during the Holocaust, Nazi Persecution and in subsequent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.

On HMD we can honour the survivors of these regimes and challenge ourselves to use the lessons of their experience to inform our lives today. 27 January marks the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp.

HMD is a time when we seek to learn the lessons of the past and to recognise that genocide does not just take place on its own, it’s a steady process which can begin if discrimination, racism and hatred are not checked and prevented. We’re fortunate here in the UK; we are not at risk of genocide. However, discrimination has not ended, nor has the use of the language of hatred or exclusion.


Something to ponder indeed.


Cx :-)

Good morning :-)

For today:

They lie on the table side by side
The Holy Bible and the TV Guide.
One is well worn and cherished with pride.
Not the Bible, but the TV Guide.
One is used daily to help folks decide.
No, not the Bible, But the TV Guide.
As the pages are turned, what shall they see,
Oh, what does it matter, turn on the TV
So they open the book in which they confide,
No, not the Bible, but the TV Guide.

The Word of God is seldom read.
Maybe a verse before they fall into bed.
Exhausted and sleepy and tired as can be.
Not from reading the Bible, from watching TV

So then back to the table side by side,
Lie the Holy Bible and the TV Guide.
No time for prayer, no time for the Word,
The plan of Salvation is seldom heard.
But forgiveness of sin, so full and free,
Is found in the Bible, not on TV.



Cx :-)

Good morning :-)


Sunday - traditionally a day of worship and well earned rest.......how will you spend your day?

The Collect (special prayer) for today :

God our creator,
who in the beginning
commanded the light to shine out of darkness:
we pray that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ
may dispel the darkness of ignorance and unbelief,
shine into the hearts of all your people,
and reveal the knowledge of your glory
in the face of Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.


The Gospel for today tells us of the story of the Marriage at Cana in Galilee.


Hope all are well.

Cx :-)

The Church in Wales has its first woman bishop.

Her consecration marks the end of a journey that, the Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, said, had been “long and hard” for the women of the Church —“first to be made deacon, then priest, and now bishop”.

(The Church Times).

Good morning :-)

Thank you Dermot.......we are gradually becoming used to the fact that we now have women bishops. We do have an American woman bishop linked to our diocese and also a female American Archdeacon. Raised eyebrows aplenty in this diocese! :-D


Yesterday in church, we heard once again, the story of the Wedding at Cana – the first miracle of Jesus and the beginning of his ministry.

I quote the following….”During the story, Mary says…”Do whatever he tells you”. We are encouraged to follow these words with…. Love
…..with a listening heart
……in the silence of prayer
……patiently, sensitively, courageously
..….with joyful generosity
………holding nothing back.

We, too give ourselves, in faith, for our lives to be transformed …….from water…….into the glorious wine of the Kingdom.”

Words to think about.


Cx :-)

Saw this on FB.

Emergency Bible Numbers

Upset?..........John14
Weak?..........Psalm 18:1-29
Lonely? Psalm 23
Sinned?........Psalm 51
Worried?.......Mathew 8: 19-31
Anxious?.......Phil 4: 4-9
Unhappy?......Col 3: 12-17
In Danger?......Psalm 91
Depressed?.....Psalm 27
Lack of Faith?...Exodus 14
Others Unkind?.John 15
Need Courage?.Joshua 1
Need Direction? Psalm 73 : 21-26
Seeking Peace?.Mathew 11: 25-30

My thoughts for those in need of comfort x

Good morning :-)

Thank you Emma - it's a good list to keep handy..... :-)

For today:

May this day be a gentle time
Of love and kindness shown,
To all my friends and family
A love that helps us grow.

Let Tuesday always prompt my heart
To place my life in You.
To see Your holy will be done
I give my life anew.


Love to all.... Cx :-)

Hello all

The awful lurgy symptoms are finally calming down after almost two months in our home. Hubby is less weary but I am still feeling fragile and have lots to catch up on.

Special words for Tuesday Cynthia, just very lovely and appreciated. Thank you.

Dermot, you do find very interesting articles to share with us here. Thank you.

Emma, Here are words in Scripture from the list you posted earlier. Thank you.

Psalm 18 verses 1-3 from the Good News Bible.

How I love you Lord!
You are my defender.

The Lord is my protector;
He is my strong fortress.
My God is my protection
and with him, I am safe.
He protects me like a shield
He defends me and keeps me safe.

I call to the Lord ,
and he saves me from my enemies
Praise the Lord!

Sending gentle hugs to all in need today. xxx

Good morning :-)


So glad things are looking a bit brighter kandj.......hopefully you will gradually improve too. <3

We've had a bit of a hiccup with OH. He has been waking early morning and has had some difficulty in trying to catch his breath. Saw the doctor who said there was some fluid around - due to his heart condition mostly. An increase in one of the tablets has been prescribed......hopefully it will help. Otherwise, not doing too badly really.

For today:

From our rising in the morning
to our lying down again,
you are with us
every hour of the day,
our reassurance
when storms assail
and strength
when courage fails.
From our rising in the morning
to our lying down again,
your light illumines
every step of the way,
our comfort
when darkness falls
and peace
that calms our souls.
From our rising in the morning
to our lying down again,
you are with us.



Cx :-)

An auxiliary bishop who was attacked during a weekend Mass in New Jersey has addressed the congregation to tell them he’s doing fine.

Fr Manuel Cruz was punched in the mouth on Saturday at Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark during an event honouring the late baseball 'Hall of Fame' Roberto Clemente.

Essex County authorities say 48-year-old Newark resident Charles Miller was in a pew when he got up, went to the altar and punched Fr Cruz. The bishop was treated at a hospital for undisclosed injuries that aren’t considered serious.

Fr Cruz addressed the congregation Sunday and told parishioners he was doing well.

Miller was charged with assault. Authorities have declined comment on a possible motive.

(Catholic Herald Magazine).