Day: September 9, 2025

Dia is mhuire díobh go léir a cáirde and welcome to my Report.

We have no less than two new saints to help us along after the weekend. The Ceremony at the Vatican on Sunday  was awa-inspiring. The crowds who filed into St. Peter’s Square and beyond was a joy to behold. Filling out hearts with encouragement in these times when our religion gets so much negative press.  Carlo Acutis died at the age of 15, the first saint to be canonised this century. His parents attended the ceremony, what an honour it was for them. Surely their story will give  great encouragement to parents and their son will form a wonderful anchor for young people all over the world.  His Prayer leaflets are available and one could prove enlightening to the many students who are booking into digs and  into  every university town in the country at the moment.

The death has occurred of our beloved Tim O’Shea. I’m not sure of his correct age, but I can remember clearly the first day he came to school. Strange how things of the past come back and we can’t remember what we did yesterday. It was back in 1940 or 41, the year before World War two began. Tim had an older brother John, there wasn’t much between them and he was kept back until it was time for his younger brother to start. Things did not go well for Tim on his first day and he was crying mad. But his Big brother helped Sr. Philomena the calm him down and very soon all was fine. Tim never left the parish and neither did I as well as lots more. So our lives were kris-crossing all along the way. Sunday Mass was a great place to meet people and while parents and elders spoke about the price of the milk and cattle and the price of eggs, the young crowd met with friends and talked about what ever was current in their lives at the time. For the girls it would be the latest fashion and the boys  football matches but at the same time throwing the evil eye at the opposites. I think that society lost out by not going to weekly Mass, it was more than a religious event, it was an important meeting of people for people of all ages and surely that was blessed by God too.

[read more …] “Eily’s Report – 9th September”