Next week many students begin their Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate examinations on June 3rd . We keep them in our prayers, asking God to grant them calmness and confidence.

Prayer for those sitting exams:

Lord, you are my friend and you are with me today and always.

You have blessed my life with many gifts and talents.

As the exams approach I feel nervous so I pray for your peace.

Calm my mind so that I can think clearly and write down what I know.

Help me to remember what I have learned and to do my best.

Lord, your loving presence surrounds me and I believe you have a plan for my life.

Help me to trust that you will guide me. Amen.

Parishioners are invited to a gathering for Fr. Andrei as we thank him for his ministry among us and bid him farewell as he returns to Romania to take up his new appointment as Parish Priest of Horgești, Diocese of Iași.

After the 6 p.m. Mass in the Cathedral on Saturday 20th June, there will be a gathering in the Parish Community Centre.

Since August 2021, Fr. Andrei has made a significant contribution to our parish. We are grateful for his chaplaincy in St Mary's Primary School, Presentation Junior School and Coláiste Mhuire CBS.

Many parishioners have ppreciated Fr. Andrei's homilies, which were always thoughtful, insightful, engaging, and delivered with humour, particularly resonating with younger members of the congregation. He helped develop our parish website and our social media presence. Fr. Andrei showed a special dedication to the community of Walshestown, where he introduced the Ceremony of Light during November, a beautiful tradition from his native Romania.

As Fr. Andrei prepares to begin this new chapter of ministry, we thank him sincerely for all he has done among us. We assure him of our prayers and good wishes and pray that his new appointment may be both pastorally rewarding and personally fulfilling.

We wish Fr. Andrei every blessing in the future, a lowering golf handicap, and better days ahead for Liverpool!

This Pilgrimage will be led by the Bishop of Meath Dr. Thomas Deenihan.

The Diocesan Choir will lead the singing.

Youth Groups are particularly welcome.

Phone 046 9557021 for further information.

This year the Shrine at Knock is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Basilica in 1976.

Pope Leo XIV’s first Encyclical Letter, Magnifica humanitas, on safeguarding the human person in the age of artificial intelligence, has been released. It is available on vatican.va.