CALL TO HOLINESS
Jesus tells us to be perfect even as our Heavenly Father is perfect. He calls us to something higher than compliance with the law. Just as God the Father is kind to those who offend him, including us, we are called to be kind and gentle to those who offend us.  This is a call to love without limit, without counting the cost.  This is of course the nature of sincere love, as we see in people who are in love, in the love of a mother for her child, in the love of God our Father for his children. The way of the Christian involves loving one’s enemies and praying for those who persecute us, it’s not enough to be nice, or loving, to those who are nice to us.   St Paul reminds us that individually and together we form a temple where God dwells, a sacred place.  We pray that while we are young and active we will be active loving people, and that when we are older we will be peaceful, mellow, “let it be” people, full of love.  We pray for the grace to answer God’s call and we pray for the love of Christ in our hearts and for the peace of Christ which is beyond all human understanding.

A PARISH MISSION for Lent will run from Monday 20th to Friday 24th March at Christ the King Church and will be given by a team from St Patrick’s Community.  Mission Masses on Monday to Friday at 10.00 am with an extra Mass on Monday to Thursday at 7.30 am. Mission Evenings Monday to Friday at 7.30 pm including closing Mass of the Holy Spirit on Friday. Team member John Pridmore, ex-gangster and international bestselling Author of the book ‘From Gangland to Promised Land,’ will be sharing his amazing story on Monday night.  John has been interviewed on RTE, BBC, ITV, TV3, UTV, on American and Australian TV and numerous daily newspapers and radio shows. Millions have heard his incredible story. Mission Leaflets for distribution will be available in the Sacristy on Saturday and Sunday 25th and 26th February and help from our Dues Collectors would be greatly appreciated.   

                                                                                                  Mission Prayer
Heavenly Father,
We pray that our Parish Mission may be a time of grace and renewal for all.
We ask you to bless all the families in our Parish especially those who are experiencing difficulties.
Bless the old, the young, the poor, the sick, the unemployed and those in sorrow or despair.
Help us dear Lord to grow in faith and love of you.
Amen.

Lent Reflection Evenings for young adults ‘Croí Nua’ each Thursday of Lent starting 2nd March in St Augustines, Washington St. Time 6.30pm with refreshments. Donation only. Contact Anne-Marie Whelan, Evangelisation & Vocations Officer, Sisters of Bon Secours at eavopost@gmail.com or 0872209994

Deaths: We remember in our prayers Eileen Cripps, Loretto Park and Nell Cremin, Greenhills Estate, who died recently. We extend our sympathy to their families.

Trocaire: Visit John McColgan’s powerful photography exhibition ‘This Is Palestine’ at Nash 19 in Princes Street in Cork on next Monday (February 20th).  We hope you can drop in and view John’s stunning collection of photographs depicting the lives of people in the West Bank and Gaza.  The exhibition is helping to raise funds for Trocaire’s work in Gaza.

Holy Land Pilgrimage: Sunday 8th October to Monday16th October, 2017, flight from Cork.
Spiritual Director Fr. Christy Fitzgerald, P.P. Ballinhassig, Cork and Ross Diocesan Director of Liturgy & Ecumenism. Highlights include: Jerusalem, Via Dolorosa, Bethlehem, Nazareth, Mount of Olives, Sea of Galilee, Cana and the Dead Sea. Return flights, 8 nights 4* hotels, dinner, bed & breakfast throughout, comprehensive daily programme. English speaking Christian guide. Contact MAP Travel, 36 Upper O’Connell Street, Dublin 1. Tel (01) 878 3111 or Jim Keogh Tel (021) 4885371 (087) 2678793.  Places are strictly limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

Anam Cara, the organisation that supports bereaved parents, is holding its next monthly Parent Evening on Wednesday 1st March from 19:30 to 21:00 in the Clayton Hotel, Silver Springs, Tivoli, Cork. This event is open to all bereaved parents regardless of the age your child died, the circumstances of their death, or whether the death was recent or not.
The Society of African Missions wishes to appoint Lay Outreach Workers (2).  The part-time posts (17.5hrs/pw) will be based at SMA houses in Dublin and Cork for one year with the possibility of extension.  Further details can be requested at low@sma.ie <mailto:low@sma.ie> .  Closing date for completed applications is 28th Feb. at 12 noon. Interview dates: Cork 10 March, Dublin 16 March