Jesus heals the Leper
Wednesday next is Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent. This is a time for taking stock, for repentance and renewal, as we prepare to commemorate the passion, death and resurrection of Our Lord at Easter. But we have lots to do, lots to worry about; we are tired and we don’t trouble too much about God. Cut off from him, we drift into the pattern of the world around us, into excessive individualism, and at times we drift into self centeredness. Before God, we may feel “unclean.” Today we hear of Jesus’ encounter with a victim of a feared and contagious disease who was considered unclean and outside the community of God’s people. The leper’s approach to Jesus is socially unacceptable but Jesus is moved by compassion and touches the untouchable. He goes beyond social and religious limits, showing God’s compassionate love in the words: of course I want to [cure you]. When we in our turn feel “unclean,” because of our selfishness, our lack of love, and our sin, we tend to turn from God and we raise barriers, but for Jesus there are no boundaries. As we mutter a prayer: Lord if you want you can restore me, Jesus says: of course I want to, be cured. Forgiveness is given to us, as a gift, and we live out that forgiveness by forgiving others.
Ash Wednesday 18th Feb.. Masses 10am & 6pm. Ashes will be blessed and distributed at the Masses. At the 10am Mass on Ash Wednesday pupils from Bun Scoil Chriost Ri will be commissioned to bring the blessed ashes to their school where a ceremony will take place and they will impose ashes on the staff and fellow pupils. The 6pm Mass will continue each weekday during Lent. Open the attached. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfWQf9Xp488
“Walk with Me” On sale this weekend a Lenten Journey of Prayer – an ideal companion during the season of Lent. The theme for this Lenten “Walk with Me” is The Joy of living the Beatitudes. More than anything else we all want to be happy, but how do we know God’s happiness in our lives? The answer lies in the Beatitudes. The Beatitudes are at the heart of Jesus’ teaching. This is an excellent booklet. Cost €1.30, available at the back of the Church.
Confessions: Saturdays: after the 10am Mass & after Saturday Vigil Mass or ask one of the priests at any time.
Parish Choir: New members of our Parish Choir are always welcome, contact Paula 087-3879733 or any member of the Choir.
Death: We remember in our prayers John Sexton, Cove St. We extend our sympathy to his family.
Meeting and Greeting: Volunteer forms for this parish service are available at the back of the church.
Wanted Old / Broken Mobile Phones: Bun Scoil Chriost Ri are collecting old mobile phones, batteries and chargers for Irish Autism Action Scheme “iPads for Phones”. Old phones can be placed in the box at the back of the Church.
Trócaire Family Fast Boxes are available at the back of the church, and will also be distributed through the Primary & Secondary Schools. Last Lent through the Family Fast Boxes the sum of €5,466 was raised for Trócaire from our Parish & Bun Scoil Chriost Ri.
A.G.M of South Parish / Turners Cross Parish Summer Scheme will take place on Wed. the 18th of February in the South Parish Community Centre, Sawmill Street at 8.00 pm, all welcome.
The Christian Vocation – a talk by the Papal Nuncio to Ireland. His Excellency, The Most Rev Charles J. Brown, He will speak as part of the St. Columba’s Church Bi-centenary Talk Series at St. Columba’s Church, Douglas, Thursday 26th February 8.00 pm. All Welcome.
Synod of Bishops: The meetings in October, 2015 will examine the Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church and Contemporary World, continuing the discussion from the 2014 Assembly. Pope Francis has again asked for wide consultation with local churches, and we are asked to comment on special questions included in the preparatory document. The Parish Assembly has arranged a meeting to discuss our response at 8.00 pm on Monday 23rd February, all are welcome. The results of the meeting will be sent to Bishop Buckley, to be included in the diocesan return which will form part of the national return to Rome.