Parish Notes, 17th February 2013
1st. Sunday of LENT.
Nature shows us that there is a time for planting and a time for reaping. This applies to our lives too. We too have our seasons because we are involved in a process of growth. From a spiritual point of view, Lent is an opportune time for us. There is something about the Blessed Ashes on Ash Wednesday and Lent that spurs us into action in the battle against evil. Maybe its the picture of Jesus battling against his demons in the desert. We too are called and challenged to pray a little more, called to penance and works of charity ; in short to a fuller living of the Christian life.
( Your Trocaire Box awaits you at the door as you leave Mass!! )
Our Thanks dear Parishioners for last week’s collections:
Priests €1,374 and ACCORD €2,020 .
Catholicism
To mark the Year of Faith Presentation Brothers are screening Fr. Robert Barron's D.V.D. Talk takes place each Tuesday at 7.30. Contact Bro. Andrew 2300824
Dún Laoghaire Borough Historical Society:
A talk entitled “George's Street Rephotographed Photographs from 1890 onwards Rephotographed in
2012”. Speaker: Tom Conlon. This talk takes place in the Kingston Hotel at 8pm on Wednesday next 20th March.
Our diet for Lent.
Give up worry......trust Divine Providence.
Give up discouragement.....be full of hope.
Give up bitterness......turn to forgiveness.
Give up hatred.....return good for evil.
Give up anger......be more patient.
Give up pettiness.....become more mature.
Give up gloom.....enjoy the beauty that is all around you.
Give up jealousy....pray for trust.
Give up gossiping.....control your tongue.
Give up sin.....turn to virtue.
Give up giving up....hang in there !!
And for your Lenten penance, no funny joke this week !!
LENTEN Talks held in St Joseph's Church for the season of Lent:
Monsignor Dan O‘Connor Feb. 21st. and on Feb. 28th. A speaker from Pieta House will speak on the pain of Suicide. Time 7:30.
Pope Benedict’s resignation has thrown up many headlines.
The one I liked best was in an English newspaper,“his was a noble and selfless decision “ His great strength was his intellectual gifts and he was an outstanding exponent of the claims of faith in an age of scepticism and materialism. He was a holy man with a lifetime dedication to Christ and the Church. However he will also be remembered for his lack of enthusiasm for the second Vatican Council and in particular the concept of collegiality. Many will be critical of him for appointing bishops and cardinals in strategic dioceses around the world thus eliminating the possibility of an African or Asian becoming the next pope. Not too many of us were happy with the letter he wrote to the Irish Church. However as he leaves office we say ‘thank you Pope Benedict for your goodness and your many achievements. May God bless you with many years of good health and happiness. ‘ Pope Benedict, Servus servorum Dei, servant of the servants of God.
Persons with a Coeliac Condition are welcome to receive the Eucharist from the Chalice at any Mass in Glasthule. You are invited to come forward with the Eucharistic Ministers and to stand beside them indicating that you wish to receive from the Chalice. We also have coeliac hosts available. Please check in the sacristy before Mass.
CURA: was established by the Irish Bishops to ensure services for anyone facing a crisis pregnancy situation eg. crisis pregnancy support and counselling, counselling and support after an abortion, support for mothers/fathers of a new baby and schools awareness programmes. All services are provided by trained crisis pregnancy and post abortion counsellors. They are free, confidential and non-judgemental. Tel.1850622626 and www.cura.ie
Relic of St John Bosco:
As part of a worldwide pilgrimage, a major relic of St. John Bosco is coming to Ireland from 23rd February to 7th March 2013 visiting twelve locations including Crumlin, Sean McDermott St (Dublin), Celbridge, Ballinakill, Portlaoise, Fernbank, Milford (Castletroy), Southill and Pallaskenry in Limerick, Knock, Navan, and St Peter’s Cathedral in Belfast. For further details contact the Salesians directly at 01 4555605.
Recently Deceased: Your prayers are requested for the repose of the soul of James Pat Breen late of O'Donnell Gardens. May he rest in peace.
Parish Funding Appeal
We would like to acknowledge, with thanks those of you who have responded to our recent request to complete and return contribution forms to us. We appeal once again to those who have not done so and ask that you make a special effort to complete a return before the end of the present month. We appreciate that it is a difficult time for all of us but we are confident that we can succeed in significantly reducing the debt with the help of all. We thank you for your continuing support. The Finance Committee