March 16th 2003 – 2nd Sunday of Lent

Moriah — Tabor
It doesn’t make sense! Abraham and Sarah longed for a son for years, and now Abraham walks to some unknown district of Moriah to offer that much-loved son back to God.  A shivering thought! I wonder did Sarah know, did Isaac have the faintest clue what was going on, did Abraham know what he was walking onto? We can only speculate, put ourselves in his shoes and they’re a very poor fit! Abraham, a man of faith, a man who trusted, a man who not only seized the knife but seized the moment: that moment he met his God.
The journey up the Mount of Tabor, another opportunity to seize the moment. Peter, ever impetuous, wants to package the experience, build a tent, press the ‘pause’ button on the remote control! But the God of Tabor, the God of Moriah can’t be packaged into our neat bar-coded world. Tabor and Moriah show us two aspects of God, but they are not the full picture. Lent gives us that opportunity to seize the moment, get to know the full picture and make some sense of our own image of God.

St. Patrick’s Day
Vigil Mass on this Sunday evening for the Feast of St. Patrick at 6 pm. Mass times on Monday 17th March:
9, 10.30 & 12 noon.
Weekday Lenten Masses continue at 7.30 am & 10 am.

Spring Dues
The Spring Dues envelopes, with Progress Report on the Church Restoration Fund, will be ready for the area collectors next weekend.

Death
We remember in our prayers:
Michael Kearney, Kilcolman Lawn, who died during the week, and extend our sympathy to the family.

New Ministers
We thank all those who have accepted the call to become Ministers of the Word and Eucharist. There will be a meeting in the Parish Centre on Monday 24th March at 8.15 pm for the new ministers. Fr. Gearóid Dullea will talk on Ministry and the Mass.

Legion of Mary Acies
will take place in the Church of Christ the King, Turners Cross, at 3 pm on Sunday next 23rd March.
All active and auxiliary members are invited.

Global Vigil for Peace
This Sunday, 16th March, at 7 pm.
Meet at Daunt Square for silent single file candlelit walk and vigil. Join people all around the world in a global wave of prayer, hope and candle light for peace in Iraq.
Please bring your own candle.

Passion Play
on Monday and Tuesday of Holy Week. Tickets will be available in the Parish Office during the week.

Easter Triduum
A triduum of Masses will be offered on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week. Cards are available in the Parish Office.

All roads lead to Croke Park
Our good wishes to Nemo Rangers
who play Crossmolina
in the All Ireland Club Football Final
in Croke Park tomorrow, St. Patrick’s Day at 3.40 pm. The very best of luck to our team.

LOTTO DRAW March 10th.
Numbers drawn:  20,  22,  23,  25.
NO WINNER
€35 CASH
M. Sheehan,   M. Mangan,   R. Barry,   Kingston
THIS WEEK’S JACKPOT :    €5225
Last week’s net “take”       €1,635
Anonymous Donations:    €100, €100, €100    
The Old Money is still welcome for the Restoration Fund. Box at back of the Church.
Because of St. Patrick’s Day the Lotto Draw will be on Tues. 18th in the Parish Centre at 7.30 pm sharp.

Parish Family Walk
in aid of the Restoration Fund will take place next Sunday 23rd March at 3 pm. We gather outside the Church and walk to the Lough. Sponsorship Cards are available after Mass and in the Parish Office during the week.

A Prayer to Build Peace
Let us pray for the power to be gentle, the strength to be forgiving, the patience always to be understanding, and the endurance to accept the consequences of holding what we believe to be right.
Let us put our trust in the power of good to overcome evil and the power of love to  overcome hatred.
Let us pray for the vision to see and the faith to believe in a world emancipated from violence:
a new world where fear shall no longer lead people
to commit injustice nor selfishness make them bring suffering to others.
Let us devote our thoughts and energy to the task of making peace, praying always for the inspiration and the power to fulfil the destiny for which we and all people were created.