PRIESTS OF THE PARISH Father Denis O' Leary P.P. - 023 884 3794.  Father Myles Mc Sweeney - 023 886 5067

RECENT BAPTISMS: Ruth Anna Mary Murphy, Innishannon.  Cathal Oliver Ring, 29 Richmount Court.  Louis Richard Dukelow, Crossmahon.  Thomas Samuel Kingston, Cashelmore.

LECTIO DIUNA: Every Monday from 8pm to 9pm at Presentation Convent.  Lectio is about exploring the Word, but this is not any'word'.  At Mass the reader says :This is the Word of the Lord".  This Word has the power to connect with me - to light up my life.  It is an encounter with God.

COFFEE MORNING: In aid of cancer treatment for young mother will take place on Sunday 6th of September from 11.00 - 1.00pm at 38 Radharc an Bhaile.  Phone 085 1499783.

BANDON & SURROUNDING AREAS LADIES FOOTBALL CLUB: U-12 Girls Training 4.30 5.30 from 7th Sep.  U-14 Girls Training 4.30 - 5.30 from 7th Sep.  Both groups will train on one pitch due to ground improvements.  U-16 +Adult Training Saturday 4.30 - 5.30. New members welcome.  Challenge match 12th September at 7.00 meet at pitch 6.30. All training will cease on 19th October for this year.

UNWANTED WOOL: Please donate to Bandon Day Care Centre.  Tel. (023) 88 52029.

GAGGIN ICA: will be holding their next meeting on Thursday September 10th at 8.30pm in the Community Hall Gaggin all members are requested to attend and new members always welcome.

BANDON TOASTMASTERS: We meet 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month in the Bandon Room of the Munster Arms Hotel, at 8.15 sharp.  We are starting a new season and are looking for members or if you are just interested in what Toastmasters is all about, please come to our first meeting of the year which is on Wednesday 9th of September.  At toastmasters we like to talk.

COOLFADDA BRIDGE CLUB: re-opened on September ist and continues weekly at 7.45 in the Gateway.

BIBLICAL SCHOLAR: to talk in turner's cross church on Wednesday 9th Sep.  Fr.  Jerome Murphy-O'Connor, will continue his series of talks in Christ the King Church, Turner's Cross, on Wednesday 9th September at 8pm.  His topic will be "Learning the Scriptures" Fr.  Jerome has spent most of his life studing and teaching the Scriptures in Jerusalem and around the world.

BRIDGE LESSONS: commencing shortly at Curragh Crowley Bridge Club, Ballineen.  For further information contact Lucia Murphy at 087 947 9184.

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!

It is a beautiful and simple part of the Baptism liturgy when the priest (Or deacon) touches the ears and mouth of the newly baptised and prays that soon the word of God will be heard and proclaimed.  Perhaps today is an opportunity to revisit that liturgy.

It goes without saying what wonderful gifts are those of speech and hearing.  It is good to reflect how well we use them.  Today - and we know it - many people are lonely and their great need is to be able to talk to someone. it may be an elderly person a child with a problem, or someone we work with in need of a shoulder to lean on.  Yet, we can be too busy, we don't know how to reply, we have problems of our own, we can't take it to have people pulling out of us ... the litany of excuses goes on.  We need to be 'obedient' people; obedient in its full, mature sense ... coming from the Latin 'ob-audire' which means to listen attentively to - to listen to God and to give heed by listening to our neighbour

What a miracle of nature is the gift of speech!  And sadly so often abused.  We hear People everyday using foul and coarse language and inevitably teaching their children the same.  We hear the Holy Name taken irreverently and without thought.  Speech well used, can be such a positive force for good.  People were amazed at the gracious words that came from Jesus - he spoke with authority.  Authority' (coming from the same word as 'author' - means we give people the confidence to be themselves, show the opportunities they have, and help to build them up.  The Gospel is good news, not good advice, and as we proclaim the gospel we are teaching/telling good news to people about themselves and what, under God, they are capable of doing.