THE COMMEMORATION OF ALL THE FAITHFUL DEPARTURED MONDAY 2ND NOVEMBER.

The Novena for the Holy Souls will take place from 2nd-10th November inclusive.  There will be evening mass in the Parish Church at 7.30 pm for the nine days of the Novena.

Envelopes for the Novena are available throughout the church.

THE COELIAC SOCIETY OF IRELAND, Southern Branch will hold the following meeting in November: Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009, S.M.A. Centre, Wilton, Cork. 8.00 p.m. Gluten Free Bread Making and talk from Dietitian.  Refreshments will be served.  All welcome.

A TABLE QUIZ will take place in aid of Bru Columbanus in Highfield Rugby Club on Tues 3rd November.  Tables of four are :E40.  Bru Columbanus is a charity that provides accommodation to relatives of patients in Cork Hospitals or Hospice and is reliant on donation and fundraising initiatives to cover the running costs of the house.  For further details or to book your table please call 021-4345754 or 087 2787074.

THE EMMAUS MEN'S FELLOWSHIP presents fr.  Pat Collins C.M. and Janice Carrig who will speak at our annual conference, for men and women, on the theme: "Forgiveness does it Matter" at the Sacred Heart Community Hall, Western Road, on Saturday 28th November and Sunday 29th November.  Starting at 10.30 and ending 5.30 each day.

There will be a Healing Service on Saturday afternoon and Mass with healing Service on Sunday afternoon.

THE BANDON CARDIAC SUPPORT GROUP will meet on Tuesday 3rd of November, in the Munster Arms Hotel from 2.30 to 4.00. Louise Creed will talk on cardiac medication.

RECENT BAPTISMS Scren Anne l,ehane, 5 Harold's Court Enniskeane; Eva Aisling Nagle Tullyland; Aidan David O'Driscoll, Borghese Crossmahon; Olin Martin Hurley, Anglesea Terrace, Cork.

IRISH TENORS CHRISTMAS CONCERT ST PATRICK'S CHURCH, BANDON Wednesday 9th December at 8.00 pm. Tickets:  E25 on sale at the back of the church at all masses this weekend.

COMMUNITY CORAL PRACTICE starting St. Peter's Thursday November 12th onwards at 8.30 pm for an hour each week.  Community Coral service taking place St. Peter's Friday December 18th.  All welcome to practice.

BANDON BRANCH OF COPE will hold their next meeting at the Munster Arms Hotel, Bandon on 2nd November at 8.30 pm.  All members are requested to attend please. MUSICAL GALA in aid of local Charities with 'An Garda Siochana Band' and special Guest singers at St Patrick's Church, Bandon on Wednesday 18th November 2009 at 7.45pm. Tickets available Bandon Garda Station - 023-8852200 and from members of Bandon R.N.L.I. St Michael's and St Vincent de Paul, Bandon at :E 15.

THE MONTHLY MEETING of St. joseph's Young Priests' Society will take place on Tuesdav next 3rd Nov at 8.30pm in the Munster Arms Hotel.

A SUM OF MONEY was found in the Church last weekend.  Enquiries to the Sacristy.

Have you ever noticed that in radio and TV interviews where an issue of national importance is being discussed the language of 'seeing' and 'hearing' is often used to describe understanding, comprehension and insight?  'I see it this way....... What I hear you saying is...'. In this sense, sight has as much to do with seeing beneath the surface of things as it has to do with being able to recognise persons or objects in the physical sense.  In other words, truly 'seeing' goes deeper than surface realities.  In the same way, truly 'hearing' often demands going beyond the surface meaning of words used to the deeper reality they point towards.  Language like this appeals to listeners to 'hear' in order to 'see' and understand.

The three readings from Scripture which are proclaimed in today's Mass are all linked by an appeal to these two senses of hearing and sight.  John 'saw' another angel and 'heard' how many were sealed.  He 'saw' a huge number of people and 'heard' their shouts of praise.  Again in his first letter, John use language to appeal to the immaginations of those who would read his letter.  He asks them to think about the love God lavishes on them in order for them to better 'see' who they really are: the children of God.  By seeing this more clearly, they will then model their lives more closely on Christ's in order to come one day into the fullness of reality in heaven.

The Gospel ties all this together beautifully by opening with three simple yet powerful words: 'seeing the crowds'.  By 'seeing', Matthew means that Jesus looks at them with compassion and insight.  He sees into their hearts and he recognises the need they have for encouragement and hope.  He also wants them - and by extension, us - to recognise that blessedness belongs to those who are faithful in the ordinary circumstances of their everyday lives.  Blessedness is part and parcel of the lives of those who are humble, gentle, compassionate, just, merciful, generous, peaceful and willing to sacrifice for the good of others.  This is the path to sanctity.