A COMPASS FOR YOUR LIFE
Congratulation to the students of 5th year class St. Mary’s Secondary School, who recently completed the Alpha course as part of their religious formation.
Alpha is a course which introduces participants to the basics of Christian Faith through videos, talks and discussions, giving the opportunity to explore the meaning of life. The unit for young people, Exploring the Christian Faith, is a twelve week course specially developed for their age group.
Alpha was founded in 1977 for an Anglican parish in England. By 1995 it was run in 2,500 centres all over Britain. Now it is presented in 169 countries and has had 27 million participants.
The Alpha Youth film series presents the Christian message in a dynamic way that focuses on the founding truths of the Christian faith. It was piloted recently in three schools in our diocese, Scoil Mhuire gan Smal, Blarney, St. Mary’s Mallow and St. Aloysius’s, Carrigtwohill. In Mallow three groups (78 participants in all) participated in the programme.
Every life’s journey needs a compass. Adults, as well as young people need some management of where their life is going. The sense of adventure and opportunity is particularly alive in young people. Opportunities, attractions, distractions, beckon from every side. This makes life colourful and attractive and good to be alive. However, these can often lead to chaos in our lives, actions without thought, harm to ourselves and others, regrets, disappointments, anger, depression and despair.
Reflected contact with God in our lives, leads to goodness and the happiness it brings, peace of mind and soul, confidence of good living and a joy in our lives as well as seeing the value of others around us. Religious belief in God and interaction with God in our lives (prayer) is a wholesome way of living. When practiced, it becomes a conviction which empowers us and
develops a sense of our own worth. The gift of faith brings that most elusive gift—happiness. The Alpha programme has helped many to rediscover what Faith can do to benefit our lives. That is why I am glad that the students of St. Mary’s had the opportunity to reflect on that faith which is their rightful heritage. I hope that they will continue to reflect on what they have experienced and find in it a useful source of strength for the journey of their lives.
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USING YOUR EIRCODE SMARTLY
It has come to my notice that the Eircode number for each individual house works for guiding a person to the house with exactitude. Hence the request from emergency services for people to know their Eircode. IT WORKS. I recommend that homes have their Eircode adjacent to their phone and be able to give it to those who need it to find their house. This includes priests who may have to search for a house, perhaps at night, when called to a sick call. For a searcher to find the house, they must have Google maps on their phone. These are the only maps, to my knowledge, that work with Eircode at present.
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MASS FROM ST. MARY’S CHURCH, MALLOW
NOW LIVE ON THE INTERNET
All Masses from St. Mary’s Church can now be watched live on the internet. You can now follow Mass and all Services from St. Mary’s Church live. Most households now have an internet connection, for some, if not all, members of the household. It is hoped users will share their facility for others who may not have the skills.
The service is intended firstly for the sick and housebound. It will also facilitate relatives and friends who are unable to attend a funeral Mass or families abroad who cannot attend a wedding.
The existing radio link remains in place also.
Archdeacon Gerard Casey, P.P., V.F., Mallow.