A CULTURE OF SERVICE?
Jesus came to bring hope and meaning to our lives, to bring light to a dark world. His message of love lifts our hearts, and is for all. He wants his followers to make a difference to the world around them, we are called to be in the world but to be different, to have standards based on something higher than self-interest. We need to remember that a grumpy inward-looking Christian is a contradiction in terms. Yet at times we may share the feelings expressed by Job in today’s Old Testament reading, being sick, joyless, restless and miserable. When circumstances bring us to this state, Job feels, life seems pointless, a matter of unremitting hard work, struggle and drudgery, virtual slavery. In the second reading Saint Paul tells of a different experience of slavery, as an apostle and follower of Christ. He travelled, preached, suffered and wrote, working hard to the point of making himself a slave of everyone. His reward was the joy in spreading the news of a better way of living in love and peace, news of eternal life. His enthusiasm never failed, the message was always fresh.
Turner’s Cross Pilgrimage to Lourdes
Sunday next 11th February is World Day of Prayer for the Sick and is the 160th anniversary of the Apparitions of Our Lady to St. Bernadette in Lourdes. This year’s Cork & Ross Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes will leave Cork Airport on Monday 11th June, returning on Saturday 16th (5 nights, full board accommodation). Fr Kerry will lead a Turner’s Cross Parish Group forming part of the Diocesan Pilgrimage and those interested in participating are asked to leave their names in the Sacristy.
Booking forms can be obtained from: Joe Walsh Tours, 117 Patrick Street, Cork, telephone: (021) 4277959. Enquiries for Special Sick/Assisted Section should be directed to the Pilgrimage Director, V. Rev Canon James O’Donovan, Parochial House, Ballinlough, Cork, telephone (021) 4292296.
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes Collection A special collection will be taken up at all Masses next weekend 10th/11th February to help those whose health and/or means would otherwise prevent them from travelling to Lourdes. It also subsidises the travel of essential care personnel.
Anointing of the Sick. Sunday 11th February is World day of the Sick, and the February Anointing of the Sick will take place on Saturday 10th February after the10.00 am Mass.
Deaths: We pray for Denis O’Driscoll, Tory Top Road, Louise Leahy, St. Anne’s Park, and Liam Jones, Capwell Avenue, who died recently. We extend our sympathy to their families.
“Do this in Memory” There will be a meeting of the Parent Representatives in the Parish Centre on this Monday 5th Feb. at 7.30pm. Next Mass on Sunday 11th Feb. at 10.00 am.
The Parish Assembly: meeting this Thursday 8th February in the Parish Centre at 8.00 pm.
Ministers of the Word may collect their Rota from the Sacristy.
The Poor Clares Monastery, College Road, Cork
“Come and See” Vocation afternoon, Saturday 10th February 2 – 4.30pm for young women considering a vocation Email: vocationspoorclarescork@gmail.com,<http://www.poorclarescork.ie>
A parent and toddler group has started in the Turners Cross Community Centre, Curragh Road (next to the Credit Union), at 10.00 a.m. each Tuesday morning, all parents and new parents are welcome. For further information please contact Linda McKernan on 087 1962025.
Dates for your Diary
13th February Shrove Tuesday – Coffee Morning in Parish Centre – Pancakes!
14th February Ash Wednesday, Beginning of Lent – Day of fast and abstinence
Wednesdays of Lent Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after 10.00am Mass
Fridays of Lent Morning Prayer of the Church after 10.00am Mass
7th March First Confession for Bunscoil Chríost Rí at 7.30pm
30th March Good Friday
1st April Easter Sunday
3rd May Confirmation Day
19th May First Holy Communion Day