Innishannon Macra will be having a meeting on Tues 14 Oct at 9pm in the Parish Hall.  New members welcome.  The club is heading to the National Bowling finals in Carlow this weekend.  Upcoming events to be discussed will be the New Members night at the dogs on Saturday 18 Oct and the clubs trip to the Macra Rally in Galway on the October Bank Holiday weekend.  The Innishannon Club recently won the Carbery Club of the Year title and now have been shortlisted down to the final 6 for the National Tide of Club of the Year and will make a presentation at the rally where the winning club will be annunccd.  For more information contact Kevin Walsh 087 9819268 or Orla Hurley  087 9209088 or look at our wcbsite at www.innishannonmacra.net

A Married Couples Gift to each other A Marriage Enrichment Weekend hosted by Marriage Encounter at the Lake Hotel, Killarney from 7th - 9th November, 2008.

This weekend builds, expands and deepens relationships.  An opportunity to start again if communication & vision has faded.  A very private experience to begin being 'your dream couple' again with a fresh look at ones relationship.  The weekend offers couples the tools & confidence to enrich their marriage & strengthen their love.  For more information or booking contact: 064 44319 / 087 6670418 or 021 4381511 086 8334382 or 026 42579.

Bru Columbanus The knights of St Columbanus, West Cork Branch wish to thank all the people who supported the recent flag day in aid of Bru Columbanus in Cork.  Since the opening of this facility 1200 families have used it, in their hour of need.  Many thanks to our collectors who gave their time, some at short notice..

Bandon Flower Club presents a gardening talk by Mary Sweetnam in the Munster Arms Hotel on Monday 20th at 8pm.  A plant sale will also be held in aid of the Alzheimer's Society.  Visitors welcome

Gaggin ICA are holding an afternoon Tea Dance in the community Hall Gaggin on Sunday October 12th. dancing 3 - 6. Teas served.  Music by Declan Aunger.

Gaggin ICA are holing a craft day in the Community Hall Gaggin on October 18th (Saturday) commencing at 10am.  For further details contact Eileen 023 41982 or Margaret 023 42126

Cumann Seanchais Na Banndan, Bandon Local History Association Regina Sexton will speak on" Food through the ages" on Wednesday 15th October at 8pm in the Parish Centre at the rear of St. Patrick's Church, Bandon.  New members always welcome to join on the evening.

P.T.A.A. Mid West Regional Dinner on Sunday 19th October at 1.30pm at the Carlton Hotel, Kinsale.  Phone 023 41337 or 023 44052.

Gramaophone Circle Monday 13th October 8pm Gateway Hall.  Everybody welcome.

Imagine the scene.  Someone you know is getting married or having a big party and you're sure you'll be invited.  You can't wait for the event to take place, you're looking forward to it - but no invitation arrives.  You keep on waiting and hoping, but the invitation never comes.  You would feel very disappointed, angry, bitter.  You'd feel even more bitter and angry if you discovered that all your friends had been invited, except you.  You would probably feel like never talking to the partygiver again.

When it comes to our God, though, we need never be afraid of not being invited to the heavenly feast.  Today's Gospel shows above all else that our God is a generous, warm God.  He recognises potential, finds good in everyone, and welcomes all to his feast.  God's welcome isn't conditional.  It isn't just offered to the 'right' people but to everyone - young and old, men and women, rich and poor, Protestant, Catholic and dissenter, the sinner and the virtuous.

Earlier in Matthew's Gospel, Jesus captures this idea well when he says that God sends his rain on the just and the unjust alike.  This would have been a severe shock to traditional Jewish thinking, which held that God's favour was restricted to the righteous and those who kept the letter of the law.  But in today's parable, we find God searching high and low, bringing in everyone, offering an indiscriminate welcome to the good, the bad and the ugly.  God goes out of his way to bring people to his feast.  All we have to do is accept the invitation and get ready to party.