Homily of Bishop John Fleming at the Funeral Mass of Father Muredach Tuffy
We gather, on the Feast of All Souls, as a family, as a priesthood, and as friends, stunned by Muredach’s death and devastated in our grief. We gather to commend him to the gentle mercy of our loving God and we gather to comfort and console each other in our sorrow. We come together with one word on our minds. Why? Why did someone as gifted and as young as Muredach only see darkness on Monday last and decide that he could travel no further on life's journey? Why did he not share whatever anxiety filled his mind with someone? Why? Why? And as these days pass, we come, without an answer, to the realisation that we have to consign our questions to the realm of mystery, the divine mystery in which God lives, in which we believe Muredach now shares God’s life and in which we must ultimately leave all our unanswered questions. Muredach began his Christian journey at the baptismal font in this church, in the parish of Castleconnor. It was here that he received the Lord for the first time in Holy Communion. It was here also that he was confirmed in his faith. It was here that he received the Sacrament of Orders and here that he said his first Mass. Equally importantly, it was here that he received the forgiveness of God for the first time in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. And as we gather here this morning, we pray that the reconciliation which he received here, which was so important to him as a Christian and which he exercised so conscientiously as a priest, will now be extended to him once more by the God who loves him, so that he will experience forever the peace of Christ, which is beyond all telling. Read More...
20 Nov 2012 - 03:12 by administrator2	XNews |

Statement by the Standing Committee of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference on the equal and inalienable right to life of a mother and her unborn child
At the conclusion of the meeting of the Standing Committee of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference today in the Columba Centre, Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, the following statement has been issued: The death of Mrs Savita Halappanavar and her unborn child in University Hospital Galway on the 28 October last was a devastating personal tragedy for her husband and family. It has stunned our country. We share the anguish and sorrow expressed by so many at the tragic loss of a mother and her baby in these circumstances and we express our sympathy to the family of Mrs Halappanavar and all those affected by these events. In light of the widespread discussion following the tragic death of Mrs Halappanavar and her unborn baby, we wish to reaffirm some aspects of Catholic moral teaching. These were set out in our recently published Day for Life message on 7 October last, available on www.chooselife2012.ie : 1. The Catholic Church has never taught that the life of a child in the womb should be preferred to that of a mother. By virtue of their common humanity a mother and her unborn baby are both sacred with an equal right to life. 2. Where a seriously ill pregnant woman needs medical treatment which may put the life of her baby at risk, such treatments are ethically permissible provided every effort has been made to save the life of both the mother and her baby. 3. Whereas abortion is the direct and intentional destruction of an unborn baby and is gravely immoral in all circumstances, this is different from medical treatments which do not directly and intentionally seek to end the life of the unborn baby. Current law and medical guidelines in Ireland allow nurses and doctors in Irish hospitals to apply this vital distinction in practice while upholding the equal right to life of both a mother and her unborn baby. 4. Some would claim that the unborn baby is less human or less deserving of life. Advances in genetics and technology make it clear that at fertilisation a new, unique and genetically complete human being comes into existence. From that moment onwards each of us did not grow and develop into a human being, but grew and developed as a human being. With many other religious and ethical traditions we believe in upholding the equal and inalienable right to life of a mother and her unborn child in our laws and medical practice. This helps to ensure that women and babies receive the highest standard of care and protection during pregnancy. Indeed, international statistics confirm that Ireland, without abortion, remains one of the safest countries in the world in which to be pregnant and to give birth. This is a position that should continue to be cherished and strengthened in the interests of mothers and unborn children in Ireland.
20 Nov 2012 - 03:08 by administrator2	XNews |

Homily of Bishop John Fleming at the funeral mass of Fr. Tom Finan on June 13, 2012
Fifty five years a priest, an entire lifetime spent in academia within the hallowed walls of Maynooth, in his 82ndyear, cherished by his parents, Michael and Delia, supported by his brothers Michael John, Bernie, Frank and the late Andy, his sisters, Nora and Bea and their spouses, respected and admired by his nephews and nieces, grandnephews and grandnieces, his Maynooth colleagues, his former students and his fellow priests in this diocese, blessed with good health until five years ago; the stoic words of the Prophet Quoheleth seem particularly apt as we gather to give thanks to God for the gift of life to Canon Tom Finan and the gift of his life to all those whose paths he crossed during his almost 82 years. “There is a time for everything, a time for every occupation under heaven, a time for giving birth, a time for dying, a time for planting, a time for uprooting what has been planted.” For Canon Tom, that time has now come full circle and we gather to commend him to God and to His mercy, as we celebrate the sacred mysteries which he so faithfully celebrated during these past fifty five years. Read More...
12 Sep 2012 - 05:10 by administrator2	XNews |

Homily of Bishop Fleming on the occasion of the Diocesan Jubilee Celebrations in St. Muredach's Cathedral on Tuesday evening July 11
Collectively, this evening, we mark four hundred and twenty five years of service given to the Church by eight individuals over the past forty to sixty five years. This service has been given in places as far apart as Figi and Bangor Erris, Nottingham and San Diego, Belmullet, Ballina and Rome. It encompasses service given by diocesan priests and religious, by priests of this diocese and those of other dioceses and congregations; a service given, however, by all of us who claim this cathedral as ours by reason of birth or adoption. This evening, therefore, we celebrate the service given by our jubilarians to the Church and, in particular, to the Church in this diocese. Read More...
11 Jul 2012 - 12:47 by administrator2	XNews |

Bishop preaches at Mass of Thanksgiving in St. Cormac's Church, Moygownagh on May 5, 2012 for the 125th anniversary of the opening of Carn National School
This afternoon, as we gather to thank God for the gift of one hundred and twenty five years of Carn National School, we are deeply conscious of the remarkable journey which this school has taken during the past century and a quarter. From the days when this school was founded down to the present day, our country and this school have seen great changes. Carn National School has seen the years of the foundation of this State, the War of Independence, two World Wars, the declaration of the Republic of Ireland and the longest period of unbroken peace in our country since the eighteenth century. Read More...
8 May 2012 - 03:17 by administrator2	XNews |

Homily of Bishop John Fleming at National Famine Commemoration Mass- St. Muredach's Cathedral- May 6, 2012
The Fourth National Famine Commemoration will be held on Sunday next, May 13th in Drogheda, Co Louth. An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny. T.D. will lead this event. The theme of this year’s commemoration is the exodus of people from Mayo to England through the Port of Drogheda and the focus will be the journey of an unnamed family from this area, who left Ballina in 1847 in the hope of a better life. This commemoration coming a month after that of the centenary of the sinking of the Titanic concentrates our minds once more of the plight of emigrants from Mayo over the past century and a half. Read More...
8 May 2012 - 03:12 by administrator2	XNews |

Bishop Fleming's Homily for the Chrism Mass on April 3
St Muredach’s Cathedral, Ballina. April 3rd 2012. “Communion with Christ and with one another”. This is the theme of the 50th International Eucharistic Congress which we will celebrate in eleven weeks from now. Communion with Christ and with one another is also the force which draws bishops, priests, religious and people to cathedrals all over the world during these days to celebrate their shared calling at the Mass of Chrism. Communion with Christ and with one another is, therefore, the call which brings all of us together this evening as the portion of God’s People who live in this diocese. Read More...
5 Apr 2012 - 07:21 by administrator2	XNews |

Lenten Resolution? Why not attend 'Reflections for Lent in St. Patrick's Church
Reflections for Lent in St. Patrick’s Church. Ballina Every Wed. 7-8 pm starting Ash Wednesday. Theme: Healing and Hope For further informationcall any of the following members of the Prayer Guidance Team: 087 9688901; 087 9740730; 086 3426599; 087 6978839 087 9213999
3 Feb 2012 - 16:13 by administrator2	XNews |

Bishop Fleming's homily at the funeral mass of his predecessor Bishop Thomas Finnegan on December 28, 2011
Sixty years a priest, almost twenty five years a bishop, in his 87th year, cherished by his parents, supported by his brother Patsy, his sisters, Pauline and Maureen and their spouses, adored by his nephews and nieces, grandnephews and grandnieces, blessed with good health, faithful fellow workers and so many good friends, dying after a short illness, the words of the Prophet Quoheleth seem particularly apt as we gather to give thanks to God for the gift of life to Bishop Finnegan and the gift of his life to all those whose paths he crossed during his almost 87 years. “There is a time for everything, a time for every occupation under heaven, a time for giving birth, a time for dying, a time for planting, a time for uprooting what has been planted.” That time has now come full circle and we gather to commend him to God and to His mercy, as we celebrate the sacred mysteries which he so faithfully celebrated during these past sixty years. Read More...
7 Jan 2012 - 09:54 by administrator2	XNews |

Bishop Fleming's homily at funeral mass of Fr. Sean McHugh on December 27, 2011
Fr Sean began his Christian journey, on August 14th 1950, some sixty one years ago, in the parish of Easkey. Having received his early education in Killeenduff National School, Easkey Vocational School and St Muredach’s College, Ballina, he went to Maynooth in 1969 and was ordained a priest for this diocese in this Cathderal on June 13th 1976. Highly intelligent, he received a Bachelors of Arts degree in Celtic Studies in1972, a Bachelors of Divinity in 1975 and a Higher Diploma in Education four years later, in 1979. Read More...
7 Jan 2012 - 09:49 by administrator2	XNews |

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