Lectio Divina - Every Mondayfrom 8pm to 9pm at the Presentation Convent "If a person wishes to follow me, he must take up his cross and follow my steps" (Mark 8).  So follow him my friend: The specific cross you are called to carry for a short span leads to ultimate Victory!

Apostolate of Perpetual Adoration - Change of Adoration Hours, As from Monday 14th September the Blessed Sacrament Chapel will be open from 10am to l0pm each day Monday to Friday.

STATION MASS FOR LOWER KNOCKNAGARRANE on Thursday, 17th September at Eddie and Mary Williamson's at 8pm.

RECENT BAPTISMS Sean Heverin, Monagh, Gaggin, Alicja Kinga Patka, 6 The Grove, Wetherton, Leon Robert Moloney, 18 Thorn Fields, Kilbrogan.

GLASLINN LADIES CHOIR: resumes Wed Sept 2nd in St. Peters Church, Bandon from 8p.m. - 9.30p.m. New members are welcome.  We sing all kinds of music popular, folk, musicals etc.  See you there!

St BROGAN'S COLLEGE ADULT EDUCATION COURSES: Ten weeks, El 15.  Beginner Computers, ECDI,, Art and Bridge (Beginners & Improvers).  Enrol Mon 14th Sept 7-8pm.

GRAA10PHONE CIRCLE Mon 14th September, 8pm.  Gateway Hall.  Everyone welcome.

WEDDING RING lost in the Church on Monday last.  If anybody finds it please hand it into the Sacristy.

STAGE STARS DRAMA CLASSES resumes Tuesday 22 Sept in Gaggin Hall, 4-7 yrs 4-5pm. 8-12 yrs 56pm.  NEW TEEN DRAMA CLASS 13-17 yrs 6-7pm.  All enquiries: Pam Golden 087-2465118.

BANDON FLOWER CLUB Presents a flower arranging demonstration by Una Flemming A.O.I.F.A. on Mon 21 st in Munster Arms Hotel at 8pm.  Visitors welcome.

TAI CHI CLASSES for health, fitness, stress management, well being.  Classes resume 10th Sept, Town Hall, Bandon.  Beginners classes Morn & Eve starting 17th Sept 2009.  Contact Mary Niles 087 249292 1. Instructor with John Ding International Academy Tai Chi Chuan.

There is a rapier-like question from Jesus.  After a pretty innocuous question regarding the opinion of people concerning Jesus, the important and telling question: 'but you, who do you say that I am?'

Immediately, having been given the verbal answer we are drawn back into the First and Second Readings.  Do we have absolute confidence in Jesus and do we show our professed belief in the sorts of lives that we live?

Then Peter, who had declared so confidently who Jesus was for him, had his world turned upside down.  He could not believe (nor was it sensible) that Jesus would have to suffer greviously, to be rejected and executed.  Strangely, Peter did not seem to advert to Jesus' reference to rising on the third day.  So sensible Peter gave Jesus some good advice.  What a slap in the face it must have been to Peter to be called 'Satan'; to be told that he had totally missed the point and lost the plot.

Then Jesus gave 'the cost of discipleship' - the suffering involved in following Christ.  And Jesus did not say you must accept the cross when it comes to you but you must take up the cross - it is a free choice.  When we see others suffering either in a big way or in something rather trivial - we must be willing to help that person in their trouble.  It seems hard enough to carry your own cross, but to be willing to shoulder the cross of other people makes following Jesus very difficult and generous.  No wonder Peter finds it so hard to accept Christ's words.