‘The Last Irish Missionaries' review: Two-part RTÉ documentary doesn't avoid thornier issues around missionary work
Pat Stacey
Today at 17:35
To be honest, I approached two-part documentary The Last Irish Missionaries (RTÉ One, Monday, July 15, and RTÉ Player) with trepidation.
For people of my generation, who attended school in the 1960s and 70s, the word 'missionary' is a loaded one. It evokes memories of tin-shaking and guilt-tripping.
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‘The Last Irish Missionaries' review: Two-part RTÉ documentary doesn't avoid thornier issues around missionary work
Bryan Dobson and Dearbhail McDonald co-present an exploration of Irish Catholic priests and nuns spreading the world abroad Pat Stacey Today at 17:35 To be honest, I approached two-part documentary The Last Irish Missionaries (RTÉ One, Monday, July 15, and RTÉ Player) with trepidation. For people of my generation, who attended school in the 1960s and 70s, the word 'missionary' is a loaded one. It evokes memories of tin-shaking and guilt-tripping.
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Around the Districts: Ballyhea, Killavullen and Meelin
Church Notes Mass Times – Thursday, July 10, 10 a.m.; Friday July 11, 10 a.m.; Saturday, July 12, 10 a.m. and 7.30 p.m.; Sunday, July 13, 8.30 a.m. and 11 a.m. Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament will take place on Thursday after 10 a.m. Mass Holy Communion – Only those receiving Holy Communion should approach the Altar and only on a seat-by-seat basis. Booked Anniversary Masses – Booked Anniversary Masses are accepted on the understanding that Funeral Masses and month's mind Masses take precedence. Month of July – The month of July dedicated to the Most Precious Blood Feastdays for the coming week – Thursday, July 10, St Alexander. Friday, July 11, St Benedict, Abbot, patron of Europe. Saturday, July 12, Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Sunday July 13, 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Alms for Nigeria – Alms may still be left into the sacristy. These will be applied to a charitable purpose designated by Archbishop Crotty, Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria. New Crucifix – The parish has acquired a large out-door Crucifix from the Redemptorist Monastery in Esker, Co. Galway. To defray the purchase and transport costs a subscription list is now open for anyone who would like to support this initiative. Subscriptions may be left into the sacristy at any time. Collectors for July – 7.30 p.m. Vigil Mass: Helen O'Doherty. 8.30 a.m. Mass: PJ O'Driscoll. 11 a.m. Mass: Michael O'Mahony. Readers – Saturday, July 12: Elizabeth Ryan. Sunday, July 13: Mary Byrne. Sataturday July 19: Ger. O'Shea. Sunday, July 20: Sheila Fennessy. ADVERTISEMENT Church Altar Flower Arrangers – Saturday, July 12: Breda Crowley. Saturday, July 19, and Saturday, July 26: Angela Ryan. Irish Catholic Newspaper/Sacred Heart Messenger – The Irish Catholic newspaper and the Sacred Heart Messenger are available in the Porch for purchase. Irish Catholic €3, Sacred Heart Messenger €2. Pilgrimage to Medjugorje – Leaving Cork on August 20 to September 4. Early booking offers available. Money can be paid in instalments to spread out the cost. For more information, please contact Mary Cott, Group Leader 086 1220850. Church gate collections – No church gate collection taken up at St Mary's Church, Ballyhea is endorsed by the parish. Any group or organisation intending to collect outside the church gates are asked to present copies of their permits in the sacristy, together with copies of letters of authorisation of those collecting on their behalf. This should be done before the collection commences. GAA club news Lotto – The numbers drawn on June 28 were 18, 19, 40. There was no winner of the jackpot of €1,200. Lucky dips winners were: €30 Dinny Ring c/o Mike O'Kelly, €30 Ríona Garvey c/o David Garvey, €30 Oliver Herbert c/o the idle Hour. Get your tickets before 5 p.m. on Saturday from Costcutters Ballyhea, Corbett Court, The Idle Hour or from any of the ticket sellers or they can be purchased online at Thank you for your continued support. The first three numbers of the National Lottery Main Draw will be the jackpot numbers. If a number higher than 42 is drawn in the first three, the draw will continue with the next number drawn under 42. Groundskeeper Position – A part-time position is available as Groundskeeper for 19.5 hours per week at Ballyhea GAA Must qualify for Community Employment. Please contact Kathleen at 086 836 97 64 for further details. Ballyhea in Black and White – 'Ballyhea in Black and White' is a collection of memories from local photographer Michael McGrath and photos that have been collected. It features some great GAA and camogie memories from down through the years. Books can be purchased at Costcutters shop in Ballyhea for €20. Online Shop – The club's online shop is proving to be very popular. All the latest club gear can be purchased from the O'Neill's website. Check it out at Instagram – The club can now be followed on Instagram. To see the latest club pictures go to ballyheagaaclub. Ballyhea Community Alert Ballyhea Community Alert has successfully set up a Text Alert Network to immediately alert our community when an incident occurs. Prompt information to and from Gardaí deters criminal activity. If you are interested in becoming a member of our Text Alert Network please phone any of the following people for information and sign up details – Phil Ryan 087 2937465, Pat Daly 086 1220114, James Horgan 087 2572271, Willie Meaney 087 1936842, Con Walsh 086 8570355. The fee for this service is €10. annually. Killavullen Farmer's Market Killavullen Farmer's Market takes place this coming Saturday in the Birthplace of Nano Nagle from 10.30am until 1pm. All are welcome to come along for the local produce and the company. Community Café Community Café will reopen on Tuesday July 29th from 10.30-12.30 in Killavullen Community Centre. Men's Shed Killavullen Men's Shed meets at the Nano Nagle Birthplace, and there will be more activities planned. All are invited to come along. Contact the Nano Nagle Birthplace for further details. Date for your Diary The annual parish pilgrimage this year will be to Cobh by bus from Killavullen Church on August 15th. Mass for the Feast of the Assumption will be celebrated at St Benedict's Priory followed by a visit to the adjoining Bible Garden. A guided tour of St Colman's Cathedral will be followed by lunch at the Harbour Suite of the Commodore Hotel. In the afternoon, a guided visit to the recently opened Barryscourt Castle (Carrigtwohill) will conclude the day. Cost: €50 (under 21: €30); Reservations: Kathleen Hanley: 086-1556360 Chiropody dates Appointments with our friendly and dedicated chiropodist Patricia are now available for August 9th and September 6th. Please contact her at 086 3225052 to arrange an appointment. Lotto Killavullen Community Council Lotto takes place twice a week. The bonus ball of the National Lottery draw is the winning number each Wednesday and Saturday evening. Last week's winners were Lottie, Anna & Harry and J&C Browne both having the lucky bonus numbers. Congratulations and thank you to one and all for your support. GAA club news Lotto Jackpot shared - There were two winner's winners of the GAA lotto, on Tuesday night last, 1st July in the draw, which took place in the Community Centre. The numbers drawn were 4, 9 and 22. The jackpot on the night was at €1,500. Jake Barrett from Castletownroche, who won the Lotto before, about 2 years ago, was one recipient of the win, and the other was Norma Roche. Both long standing supporters which is always good to see. The winning tickets were sold by John Angland and Nora Roche respectively. The winners of the lucky dips were as follows: €50 - Bessie Rea (seller – Michael Rea); €30 – Brendan Luddy (seller – Lar Luddy); €20 – Jack Neenan (seller – John Beechinor) The next jackpot on Tuesday night 8th July is €1,000 again. In the Killavullen GAA club Lotto, you must pick three numbers from thirty-six which means that the lotto can easily be won, just you have to play, to have a chance. Purchase your ticket from any committee member or from our website- Thank you for your anticipated and ongoing support. Scramble for All Ireland tickets - The final whistle had not sounded in Croke Park, when the requests from staunch Cork and Killavullen supporters could be heard, seeking any kind of a ticket for the All-Ireland Final, on 20th July. With the huge following that Cork hurling has at the moment, a vibrant, youthful and colourful following, invariably there will be disappointments as people who may have followed the progression of the Cork team to every game thus far, are left disappointed. Meelin Vintage car and tractor run The Joe Withers memorial vintage car and tractor run will take place in Meelin on Sunday 13th July.
