Latest news with #WhiteFathers
Irish Independent
7 days ago
- General
- Irish Independent
Around the Districts: Ballyhea, Buttevant and Kilbrin
Mass Times – Friday, May 30, 10 a.m.; Saturday the 31st 10.000 a.m. and 7.30 p.m.; Sunday, June 1, 8.30 a.m. and 11 a.m.; Monday, June 2, midday; Tuesday, June 3, midday; Wednesday, June 4, midday (Latin); Thursday, June 5, 10 a.m.; Friday, June 6, 10 a.m.; Saturday, June 7, 10 a.m. and 7.30 p.m.; Sunday, June 8, 8.30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament will take place on Thursday after 10 a.m. Mass. Month of June – The month of June dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Feastdays for the coming week – Monday, June 2, St Marcellinu's and Peter martyrs; Tuesday, June 3, St Kevin, abbot; Wednesday, June 4, Ss. Charles Lwanga and Companions, martyrs; Thursday, June 5, St Boniface, bishop and martyr; Friday, June 6, St Norbert, bishop; Saturday, June 7, St Colman, bishop; Sunday, June 8, Pentecost Sunday. White Fathers – Fr Diarmuid Sheehan of the White Fathers wishes to thank the parish for its generous support during his visit last week. Collectors for June – 8.30 a.m. Mass: Paudie Morrissey. 11 a.m. Mass: Tadgh Mortell. Readers – Saturday, May 31: Elizabeth Ryan. Sunday, June 1: Sarah Barrett. Saturday, June 7: Ger. O'Shea. Sunday, June 8: Audrey Morrissey. Saturday, June 14: Louisa Carroll. Sunday, June 15: Mary Byrne. Church Altar Flower Arrangers – Saturday, May 31: Gretta Donegan Kenny. Saturday, June 7, and Saturday, June 14: Bernie Leahy. New Crucifix – The parish has acquired a large out-door Crucifix from the Redemptorist Monastery in Esker, Co. Galway. To defray the purchase and transport costs a subscription list is now open for anyone who would like to support this initiative. Subscriptions may be left into the sacristy at any time. Pilgrimage to Medjugorje – Leaving Cork on August 20 to September 4. Early booking offers available. Money can be paid in instalments to spread out the cost. For more information, please contact Mary Cott, Group Leader 086 1220850. Blessed Well Mass Mass was celebrated on Wednesday, May 21, at 7.30 p.m. in Ballyhea Blessed Well by Monsignor O'Brien. In attendance were the First Holy Communion Children. It was a lovely evening and the weather was glorious. Ballyhea Parish Choir were also in attendance and a very good crowd turned out. Parent and Toddler Group The parent and Toddler Group in Ballyhea is now meeting Friday mornings from 10 a.m. to midday in the Parish Hall. Coffee and tea is provided. €3 donation please. Ballyhea National School enrolment. Application forms (Admission notice) for September 2025 are available on the School Website ( or by calling to the office at Ballyhea NS Completed forms to be returned as soon as possible. Prospective parents may contact the school at 083 1475817 for further information or to facilitate a school visit. GAA club news Lotto – The numbers drawn on May 24 were 11, 12, 42. There was no winner of the jackpot of €3,100. Lucky tips winners: €30 Bernie Crowley c/o Bernie Crowley, €30 Trevor O'Sullivan c/o Online lotto €30 John Coleman c/o Costcutter Ballyhea. Next draw is on Saturday, May 31, for a jackpot of €3,200. Get your tickets before 5 p.m. on Saturday from Costcutters Ballyhea, Corbett Court, The Idle Hour or from any of the ticket sellers or they can be purchased online at Thank you for your continued support. Groundskeeper Position – A part-time position is available as Groundskeeper for 19.5 hours per week at Ballyhea GAA Must qualify for Community Employment. Please contact Kathleen at 086 836 97 64 for further details. Club membership – Membership fees for 2025 are currently being taken. Anyone wishing to pay online can do so by going to and selecting Ballyhea Club. Memberhip can also be paid to any committee member. All players must have membership paid before the commencement of all competitions. Membership fees for 2025: Adult €75, Adult Player €100, Juvenile player/student €50, Family €150, OAP/Unwaged €30. Community Alert Ballyhea Community Alert has successfully set up a Text Alert Network to immediately alert our community when an incident occurs. Prompt information to and from Gardaí deters criminal activity. If you are interested in becoming a member of our Text Alert Network please phone any of the following people for information and sign up details – Phil Ryan 087 2937465, Pat Daly 086 1220114, James Horgan 087 2572271, Willie Meaney 087 1936842, Con Walsh 086 8570355. The fee for this service is €10 annually. BUTTEVANT North Cork Vintage Club The North Cork Vintage and Classic Car Club, held a Vintage,and Classic Car Runon Sunday last, May 25th in the North Cork and Limerick area, with the headquarters in Buttevant. There was a very big turnout, of all makes and models of vehicles on the run, which were also available, to be seen, on their return from the run. The organising committee were more than delighted and appreciative of all who supported their latest venture. The committee wishes to thank all vehicle owners, and drivers who attended and supported, the event, the proceeds from which will benefit local charities. Your support is greatly appreciated. Heritage Group Buttevant Heritage Group are celebrating Irish Walled Town Network Day, on July 5th, and have organised a programme of events to coincide with this occasion. Anybody who may wish to exhibit on this day should contact Francis Trimm at the Post office. There will be numerous events taking place in the playground including medieval combat enactment, animal exhibits, face painting and many other items. All events will take place within the 'Green Area' under the watchful eye of Fionn Mac Cumhail's sculpture which was sculptured by local artist Michael Culloty. Your support will be greatly appreciated as a programme to suit all tastes will take place. Saturday Vigil Mass Saturday Vigil Mass for the month of May will take place in Lisgriffin Church. Lisgriffin Church Lisgriffin Church, is to undergo renovations, including interior painting, and exterior power-washing, and treatment, in the Autumn. A sloped pathway, at the church entrance, is also on the agenda. Extra street lighting, is to be provided, in the vicinity of the Church area. Corpus Christi Corpus Christi procession will take place on Saturday June 14th to Buttevant G.A.A., grounds, where benediction will take place. The route will also take in Military Road, and Barrack Place. '40 Years On' Cahirmee Singers have long been established in Buttevant and have performed far and wide and are much acclaimed for their choice of song and music showcasing their talents to many appreciative audiences who are loud in their praise of this talented group of performers. To celebrate their 'fortieth anniversary' the group will hold a celebratory concert on Saturday May 24th in Saint Marys' Church Buttevant (by kind permission of Fr Baker P.P. There will be several guest acts on the night with the group also performing. Tickets will be pre-sold and can be purchased from Mary Guiney (0879729600) and/or Mary Shinnick (086 7936318) and also at Centra Buttevant. Bingo The weekly bingo session continues to be held on Monday night in the local G.A.A. where a substantial monetary jackpot can be won the first together with other numerous games associated with bingo sessions. Games get under way from 8p.m. Running Club Buttevant running training continues on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7.15p.m. in the G.A.A. club grounds. Over-18-years is required and hi-vis gear is also compulsory. Lotto The locally promoted lotto draw continues tobe held on Thursday night in Buttevant Soccer Club Pavillion where a monetary jackpot of €5700 can be won or shared on the choice of four lucky numbers to match the four lucky numbers drawn on draw night. Draw cards can be purchased locally from club members and some appointed local retail outlets. Your support is greatly appreciated. Walking Club Buttevant Walking Club continue their weekly sessions on Monday nights from 7p.m. Assembly point is at Scoil Mhuire na Trocaire. Cul Camp Buttevant G.A.A. club is holding their annual Cul Camp from July 7th to July 11th inclusive again this year in their local grounds. KILBRIN Kilbrin GAA Duhallow Hurling League Semi Final: Our hurlers play Banteer in the Supervalu Hurling league semi final next Monday night, June 2nd at 6:30pm in Rathcoole. Please support the lads. Keep an eye out on Club Zap, our social media pages and club texts for updates. Club Zap: Kilbrin GAA have partnered with ClubZap, a leading club management platform that helps streamline communication, payments, and updates all in one place. With ClubZap, our members can stay up to date with fixtures, results, news, and events while also making membership payments and booking fundraising events seamlessly. This partnership will enhance how we connect with players, coaches, and supporters, making club life easier and more efficient for everyone. Download the ClubZap app from the App Store on iPhone or the Google Play Store on Android, create an account and search for Kilbrin GAA and follow us. Congratulations: Well done and congratulations to Colaiste Treasa Kanturk who won the under 14 football county final last Tuesday, well done to all our local lads involved. Scoreboard training: We are looking for volunteers to operate our new electronic scoreboard for match days. If you are interested in getting trained up, please contact us on 089 974 0093, through one of the club's officers or via our social media pages. Club updates: If you would like to be added to our GAA group texts where you will receive updates on all things Kilbrin GAA, please let one of our club members know or contact us on 089 974 0093 or through our social media pages. Walkway: The evenings are getting brighter so get out and utilise this brilliant community facility. The lights will come on at dusk and turn off at 9:30pm 7 days a week. Club Lotto: There was no winner of our recent jackpot. The numbers drawn were 6, 14, 21 & 26. Our lucky dip winners were: Paudie O' Callaghan, Conor Breen, Nora O' Connor, Denis Scully & Caroline Lehane. Our next lotto jackpot is €6,200 and takes place on May 28th. You can play our lotto on our club website here: Club shop: Kilbrin GAA have partnered with Azzurri Sports and have opened a club shop with them. Check out their website for a range of leisure and training gear We also have a club shop with O' Neills who have a range of various leisurewear and training gear. Check them out here: Social media: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and X (formally Twitter) and help grow our page @KibrinGAAClub. We keep you up to date with match fixtures, results, club projects and local ongoings in the GAA club. You can contact us directly through all of these outlets. Badminton news Anna Lucey O'Sullivan secures another All Ireland title with Club Carrigaline winning the All Ireland C Club Badminton final V Navan in Baldoyle on Saturday. Anna played both singles and mixed and they won all games well to secure the title. Well done Anna Taekwon-do news Kanturk taekwon-do academy held their first Chon-Ji friendship tournament at scoil Mhuire Kanturk on Sunday 25th May. Kilbrin winners on the day were Fiadh Dennehy winning gold in her pattern and sparring. Conor O'Riordan winning gold in sparring and bronze in his pattern. Bingo Bingo is held every Monday night in the Kilbrin Social Club at 8.30 sharp. Tea, coffee, sweets and treats and bar refreshments available. A Lovely warm comfortable environment to be in for these Spring evenings. Jackpot is €1,600 in 51 calls. Thank you to all that support week in and week out. It is much appreciated. Pickleball Pickleball continues every Thursday from 8pm in the Social Club Hall. We always welcome current and new members to this fun and exciting new sport! Squash Did you know Kilbrin sports and social is host to one of North Cork's last remaining active squash courts. Founded in 1980, this club had upwards of 50 members back in 2009 with huge juvenile interest leading to them competitive games & success. For further information contact: Brendan Barrett at 0872789501 or kilbrinsquashclub@ or the community page here. Kilbrin Village Hub Is your son or daughter looking for a quiet place to study for their upcoming Leaving Cert, consider using the hub! Book your day for study or remote office working at We have 2 remote work stations with 500mb fibre broadband, tea/coffee facilities, fridge, free parking. Student rates available. Contact Bas on (087) 1805511 for further details or kilbrincc@ For any correspondence or information to be put on the Kilbrin notes, please contact Bas (087) 1805511 or Noel (086) 6001873.
Fox News
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Pope Francis was disruptive. Now, the next pope must clean up the 'mess'
If there is any one thing that can be agreed upon by all parties about Pope Francis's pontificate it is that it was disruptive and ambiguous on several levels. Many will rush to make an assessment of his legacy but this is premature, if not injurious. After all, we are still assessing past pontificates—never mind the broader legacy of Vatican II—and their implications for the life of the Church. As the first pope from the Americas—though of Italian immigrant parentage—his election was historic. While improbable, it is not entirely inconceivable the next conclave could result in the first African pope since ancient times, especially considering the Church's dynamic growth on the continent. If you go to most Catholic parishes these days, you are likely to see a priest from Africa (or even India) celebrating Mass. The French missionary priests to Africa who were once known as the "White Fathers" may soon be revived, but in reverse, with the "Black Fathers" evangelizing the West. It is, perhaps, best to first consider the role of the Petrine ministry in its historical context. Despite the widespread and immediate attention given papal homilies, allocutions, documents, and international visits, it is helpful to remember that, until recently, Catholics rarely heard from the pope directly. The idea of a hierarchy has, of course, been part of the Church's self-understanding going back to the Apostles, but most of the actual governance has been carried out and implemented by local bishops and only, when clearly needed, by higher levels of ecclesial authority. Authentic "synodality" is more normatively seen at the local parish-level engagement and through subsidiarity, where needs are met by those closest to them. The contemporary micromanagement of the Church, at times right down to parish bulletins, is largely a phenomenon enabled by modern technology, the ease of travel, and instant communication. Pope Francis spoke frequently and emphatically about the "technological paradigm," warning against a worldview that reduces human dignity to technical problem-solving and manipulative engineering. He also worked, alongside figures like the late Cardinal George Pell, to reform Vatican finances—though admittedly with inconclusive results. His condemnation of Western "ideological colonization," particularly regarding gender ideology, was strong. However, unlike his predecessor, John Paul II, Francis was far less forceful in his statements against the widespread persecution of Christians in China, Cuba, Nicaragua, and in the Middle East. His own declarations, such as in "Fiducia Supplicans," which permitted the spontaneous blessing of same-sex couples, were seen by some as highly problematic both theologically (contradicting established moral teaching), but also culturally, particularly in Africa, where church leaders viewed them as akin to the cultural imperialism they experience from some international NGOs. As the Church prepares for its next chapter, the lessons of Pope Francis's papacy will undoubtedly shape its future trajectory. His legacy remains a work in progress, a testament to the evolving nature of the papal role in the modern world. Pope Francis's off-the-cuff remarks, often mid-flight, sometimes referred to as the "Airplane Magisterium," have caused confusion and often necessitated clarification from the Vatican. While his approach to the environment has earned him the moniker "The Green Pope," in practice he pretty much aligned with the teachings of John Paul II and Benedict XVI, particularly on population and life issues. In fact, to the surprise of some who have only superficially followed his pontificate, his stance on abortion was uncompromising—calling it "homicidal" and even likening it to "hiring a hitman"—even if he suggested it ought not be the constant focus. The diplomatic rapprochement with China, largely brokered by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, encompasses a vision for a closer relationship and eventual bilateral relations. His relationship with a nation of more than one billion Chinese, among whom 12 million are estimated to be Catholics (both clandestine and legal), has produced a provisional agreement as controversial as it is secretive. Cardinal Parolin's policy largely follows the Cold War-era policy of Ostpolitik of Cardinal Agostino Casaroli, his predecessor, whose tepid approach to the persecutions in the Soviet bloc did not come to an end until the more confrontational pontificate of John Paul II, who replaced Casaroli a year into his pontificate. At the inception of his papacy, Francis's call to "make a mess" in the Church led to debates, divisions, and polarization. Perhaps surfacing these differences was a good thing. But it is possible, and likely, this may cause the cardinal electors in the upcoming conclave to select a more stabilizing figure. Of course, even Bergoglio was seen by some at the beginning to be a kinder and gentler Ratzinger. Francis laudably condemned ideological colonization and the commodification of the human person, while also recognizing the role of entrepreneurs in economic development. These kinds of statements have been, however, eclipsed by his more strident and un-nuanced critiques of capitalism, too often failing to distinguish between free markets grounded in virtue and the corrupt crony capitalism he witnessed in his native Argentina. In terms of preserving the continuity of the Church's moral teaching, perhaps the most theologically deficient contribution of his legacy is to be found in his encyclical "Amoris Laetitia," particularly where, in a single cautious footnote, he laid the ground for the possibility Catholics in irregular marriages (i.e., couples in marriages outside the Church's teaching on marriage) could receive Communion in certain circumstances. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINIONLikewise, Pope Francis's updating of the Catechism's teaching on capital punishment to now being "inadmissible" has stirred an ongoing debate on whether the death penalty is intrinsically evil, putting it on the same level as abortion. This, too, needs clarification. Many people today see the Catholic Church as largely anachronistic, closed, and harsh—not at all empathetic to the real-life problems people face. Pope Francis seemed bent on deconstructing that perception by presenting a merciful, open, and maternal face of the Church. He might say that it is not enough to teach people what the Catechism says, we must inspire them to live it. In this way, as the ministry of any priest, he must negotiate the tension between coming, in effect, upon the woman caught in the very act of adultery, protecting her from the stones of condemnation, and yet also finding a way to lovingly, credibly, and truthfully tell her to "sin no more." As the Church prepares for its next chapter, the lessons of Pope Francis's papacy will undoubtedly shape its future trajectory. His legacy remains a work in progress, a testament to the evolving nature of the papal role in the modern world. And it is against this backdrop that the next pope or a future one will seek to clarify the myriad ambiguities and unclear messaging on moral and doctrinal matters that have defined the last 12 years. This is imperative not only to maintain the credibility of the Petrine Office, but for the health of the universal Church.
