Bishop of Kerry, Ray Browne, urges us all to celebrate our common humanity this St Patrick’s Day…

Many maintain that St Patrick’s Day is celebrated with greater joy and emotion abroad than here in Ireland.

Our history as emigrants extends back centuries. Think of the different waves of emigration to England and Scotland, to the United States and to Australia.

While in so many situations, things worked out well, it was tremendously difficult for many and often they had to cope with great prejudice against them.

St Patrick’s Day 2023 confronts us with a different reality. Over 70,000 Ukrainians have come to us escaping a tragic war. Our country has gone the extra mile to welcome them.

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There are also the refugees and asylum seekers from many nations who have come among us over the past decade and more.

Skilled workers have come from many nations, particularly from within the E.U.  All of these people represent many nations, many cultures and many faiths.

In recent years many thousands have received Irish Citizenship at special ceremonies here in Killarney.

Jesus has said to us that in welcoming others we welcome Him, and “what you do to the least of my brethren you do to me”.

Pope Francis has said that there is one human family, that all people on earth are ‘children of God the Father’.

He entitled his Encyclical letter, ‘Sisters and Brothers all’, – ‘Fratelli Tutti’. This was the spirit of St Patrick as he returned to Ireland to proclaim the Gospel fifteen centuries ago.

As we hope that Irish people living abroad are welcomed and accepted, so we seek to welcome and accept all who have come to Ireland to live.

As we hope that all Irish people abroad can live in safety, free from fear, so may all who have come from abroad live safely, free from fear among us.

As Irish people who have made their homes abroad have enriched their new communities, so those who have come among us enrich our communities. Many will participate in parades and other celebrations this weekend.

This St Patrick’s Day let us all celebrate our common humanity. Extend a hand of welcome to all who have come to live in our country.

On Tuesday 21st March at 8.00pm as a diocese we are hosting an Online Lenten Talk – Who Is My Neighbour?

The three speakers have first-hand experience of working with Ukrainians, Asylum seekers and Migrants. Further information and the link to register are on the website, www.dioceseofkerry.ie

— Bishop Ray Browne, Diocese of Kerry

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The 2022 Christmas Message for the Diocese of Kerry from Bishop Ray Browne…

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son,

so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish

but may have eternal life”.  Jn 3:16

Dia dhiabh. Nollaig Shona dhiabh go léir. Christmas is a time when we look back on the year that is passing.

We give thanks to God for all that has happened in our lives and we are grateful for all the people who have been good to us. Whatever challenges lie ahead we face them with confidence putting our trust in God, everything will work out, ‘Le Cúnamh Dé’.

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Thank you to all in all our parishes who have worked together to ensure that all parish life has recommenced after Covid: The Sacraments, prayer and handing on the faith; the social life of every community; care and support to situations where there is need.

Thank you to our priests, deacons, parish secretaries, sacristans, choirs and so many others. Thank God for all local volunteers.

This Christmas remember a prayer for situations of need both local and global. I think of people among us who are ill, greatly troubled or bereaved.

I think of the many couples and individuals in our parishes who have tried everything and still cannot secure a place to make their home. I think of the urgency of peace where there is war and for all nations to unite to face the challenge of global warming.

The Christmas lights in town, a great outdoor Christmas tree, or simply observing the wide-eyed wonder of a little child looking at Santa, warmly touches our hearts each Christmas. For me very special moments occur at the crib in church.

The crib is a tribute to the Christmas story and to the creative, artistic and craft skills of a parish team assembled each year to ‘do the crib’. It is special just to watch people of all ages come to the crib and pause for a while!

The Cathedral crib here in Killarney is a must visit for families from far and near each year. There are all the usual elements: the Holy family and the shepherds; the cow, the donkey, and the sheep; the stables, the manger and the straw. Additional elements vary: trees, flowers and a fawn; a pond with some ducks; doves or a robin; and the lights of Bethlehem in the background.

The focal point is the new-born baby Jesus. Mary is gazing down at herchild bringing our focus to the child.  Why is a baby born in a stable so important? We ponder the mystery, “He shall be called Emmanuel” a name which means ‘God-is-with-us’.  Mt 1:23

Put the crib scene, the birth of Jesus, at the centre of your Christmas. Let it remind you that God ‘so loves the world’, and that all of us have so much to be grateful for. Let God’s goodness to us inspire our goodness to others.

Le gach dea-ghuí, í gcomhair na Nollag. Every Christmas blessing on all in our communities.

+ Ray Browne​

Diocese of Kerry

Christmas 2022.

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Bishop of Kerry, Ray Browne has issued his annual Message for Easter 2021…

If I, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet,

how much more should you wash each other’s feet?  Jn 13:14

What a year! Together all of us have lived through a year of the coronavirus, each has experienced it in our own unique circumstances.

The Winter months have been particularly difficult. The light and new green growth of Springtime has never been so welcome, and it has coincided with the season of Lent. Let us keep our spirits up and encourage one another in following public health guidance.

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Thank God for the way so many people have been there for each other. Thank God for the way front line workers have sacrificed themselves to provide essential services.

We are full of gratitude and acknowledgement of how important it is to live lives of generous service. Individually we are at our best when our communities are at their best.

With government guidance at level 5, and with a genuine concern that we could have another major wave of the virus ahead, it is understandable but sad that we have our Easter ceremonies without a congregation.

It is a blessing that you can join in the ceremonies so easily from your home via modern technology. What we miss is the dual presence: the presence of the community gathered in church, and together receiving the Real Presence at the altar.

In some ways it seems like the past year has been one long Lent! If so, what word has God spoken to your heart through it?

Here are three points to reflect on this Easter 2021:

• Live every day putting your trust in God.

In times of great difficulty, in times when life gets us down, we look to Jesus for peace. Jesus’ word to us always is: “Fear not, have peace in your heart, I am with you”. In time of difficulty, regarding health or death, employment or finances, loneliness or depression we sense in our hearts: ‘God is with me, God will see me through, – all will be well’. Have basic Christian hope in your heart and trust in God in all things!

• This Holy Week and Easter, joining in Mass from home, seek nourishment at the table of God’s word.

The introduction to the Roman Missal speaks of the Liturgy of the Word at Mass: “When the Sacred Scriptures are read in church, God himself speaks to his People, and Christ, present in his own word, proclaims the Gospel” (29).

When you go forth from the Easter ceremonies carry words from the scriptures in your heart:  the Last Supper, ‘you should  wash each other’s feet’; the commemoration of the Passion, ‘This is my body, given up for you’; Easter morning, ‘You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified, He is risen …’.

• This year has reminded us that home is where we pray each day.

Home is the place where we first received our faith and where we live it. In the home God is present with us.

Prayer in the home is the time we spend turned towards God talking to him about our lives and asking his help; giving praise and thanks; asking forgiveness and renewing our trust.

Has prayer in the home helped you and your family over the past year? It will be a great blessing if, when this virus is finally a memory, we have a new awareness of prayer in the home.

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A word of thanks to our priests and deacons, and all who have contributed to the life of our parishes over the past year.

A word of thanks to our schools for the great work they have done. A word of encouragement to all young people looking forward to First Confession, First Communion or Confirmation.

We cannot make any plans until we know when we will have congregations in church. The situation is disappointing, but the ceremonies will be worth waiting for.

Another group who have suffered are the Leaving Cert. students. May they trust that all will be well and, come the Autumn, they will be satisfied with the options that come their way.

Thank you to all who have continued to contribute to parish funds and the parish dues for our priests. Keep up the good work.

Priests have been greatly encouraged by your faithfulness. Please remember other local charities and voluntary bodies over the Easter season, so much fundraising has not been possible.

All need funds to pay for the basics like insurance, heating, and the overheads of an office. Please, let us not forget the Lenten campaign of Trócaire. If the corona virus has been hard on us, how much more difficult has it been for the communities Trócaire supports?

Finally, every time we pray over the Easter season let us all, people and priests, remember the deceased of the past year, and their grieving loved ones.

Have a comforting word for the bereaved when you meet. In this world and in the next our hope is in Christ:  “Christ is Risen, alleluia”. Be assured of my prayers.

Bishop Ray Browne

Easter 2021

The Bishop Of Kerry, Ray Browne, has issued his Christmas message to the diocese…

The Word was made flesh,

he lived among us.

To all who did accept him

Jesus gave power to become children of God.

From his fullness we have, all of us, received

yes, grace in return for grace. ​Jn 1:

Nollaig shona dhíobh go léir. ​

God is real, the creator and the sustainer of all that there is.

The heart of Christmas is to simply gaze at a crib, gazing until we sense that the scene points to the presence of God, to the meaning of all life, to the life’s journey of each one of us.

God is love. God never stops loving each one of us. God knows and sees goodness in each one of us.

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God’s mercy is ever there for us, a mercy that supports us amid life’s difficulties, a mercy that gladly forgives us when we do wrong.

All are of the one family of God: young and old, rich and poor, citizen and immigrant.

The birth of Jesus was all about simplicity. There was no room at the inn, but the stable was offered and it was made comfortable for them.

Baby Jesus was born safely. Neighbours and strangers, the shepherds and the wise men, visited and brought loving companionship and gifts.

The Holy Family were joyful and, the angels rejoiced too.

Christ shares with us his great secret of simplicity. Living simply is living well. Living simply gives hope for the good care of the environment.

Christmas excess ultimately does not satisfy. The heart of Christmas is helping anyone who is in difficulty, helping the sad and the lonely, helping the poor and the needy, as the innkeeper and the shepherds helped.

The heart of Christmas is HOPE in God’s goodness and love and offer of salvation, – a HOPE that leads us to sing with the angels:

Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and peace to all who enjoy his favour”. ​Luke 2:14

Christmas is about family and community. Families gather in the home and, communities gather in church.

How beautiful for those families with a young baby. God is present in the love in every home and family.

He is as present as he was in the Holy Family in the Christmas stable. God is present when we gather in church, just as God was present in the Christmas stable when the shepherds visited.

Celebrate Christmas at home with family, celebrate Christmas by visiting friends and neighbours, and celebrate Christmas with your parish by joining in the celebration of the Christmas Day and Sunday Masses. Have time for God this Christmas.

A word of appreciation and thanks to everyone for your participation in your parish and in your community in the past year. A Christmas blessing of joy and peace on one and all.

Um Nollaig agus ar feadh na hAthbhliana, síocháin an Linbh Íosa libh go léir.

Bishop Ray Browne,  

Diocese of Kerry.

Christmas 2019