This is the first Sunday of Lent and we begin our Lenten observance of prayer fasting and almsgiving. In today’s gospel reading Jesus says that the time has come, the kingdom of God is here and we need to be ready. The forty days of the Lenten season recalls the forty days Jesus spent in the wilderness, and indeed the forty years of wandering in the desert experienced by the children of Israel. We at times experience a wilderness in our own lives, times of temptations and dangers, and hardship
God has told us he will be with us, will hear us when we cry to him. He has made a covenant with us, and promised that his faithful love will not be withdrawn. A covenant signified an agreement by which the participants are bound to each other in a family-like loyalty. We hear in the reading from Genesis of the covenant with Noah, a covenant of safety, of salvation. Jesus is the new Adam who restores creation, he brings the safety and salvation promised to Noah, he fulfils the promises to Abraham, he brings the new law of love to complete the law of Moses, and he fulfils the covenant with David. The Old Testament covenants foreshadow the new and eternal covenant of Jesus. All the promises of the Old Testament covenants are fulfilled in Jesus,
WORLD MEETING OF FAMILIES 2018
Icon of the Holy Family
A specially commissioned WMOF2018 icon of the Holy Family has been made available to travel to each diocese in Ireland. We welcome the Pilgrimage of the Icon to our Diocese of Cork & Ross from 22nd February to 5th March. It will be brought to three venues here, the Cathedral in Cork, the Cathedral in Skibbereen and Bandon Parish Church. Everyone is invited to come, pray, venerate the icon and place their prayer petitions in the box which will be taken to the Papal Mass on August 26th. The following liturgies will take place in the Cathedral in Cork:
Welcome celebration with Bishop Buckley
Thursday 22nd February, 7:30pm.
Hour of prayer for vocations
Saturday 24th February, 3.00 pm.
Ecumenical Service
Sunday 25th February, 3:00pm.
Cork Alzheimers Café a safe place for people with Alzheimers and other dementias, their carers, family and friends along with social and health professionals to meet. Last Friday of each month 1.30–3.30 pm in St Finbarr’s Hospital, Douglas Road.
Light refreshments provided free of charge. All welcome.
Our next meeting: Friday 23rd February.
Evening Mass at 6.00 pm on weekdays of Lent.
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on Wednesday mornings in Lent after 10.00 am Mass to 11.00 am.
Morning and Evening Prayer of the Church (Lauds and Vespers) on Fridays in Lent after 10.00 am and 6.00 pm Masses.
“Walk with Me,” a Lenten Journey of Prayer – This is an excellent booklet. Cost €1.30, copies are available at the back of the Church.
Deaths: We pray for PJ Murphy, Mayfield who died recently. We extend our sympathy to his family.
Preparing for Easter: Evening of Prayer & Reflection in the Chapel of St. Finbarr’s Hospital on Wednesday 21st February, Mass at 7.30 pm for all who serve and help in our Parish. Deacon Frank McKevitt will lead the evening. All are welcome.
Mass and Novena Prayers in honour of Matt Talbot will begin on Monday 19th February at 7.30 pm in the Way of the Cross Church, Togher, and will continue for the 6 Mondays of Lent. The Celebrant and preacher this week will be Fr. Peter McVerry, S.J.
: Gospel Perspectives on Family facilitated by Dr Jessie Rogers (Maynooth) Sat. Feb 24th from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm in Sacred Heart Hall, Western Road, Cost: €10. email corkscripturegroup@gmail.com or phone 021-4295144
Trócaire Family Fast Boxes for Lent are available at the back of the Church. Last Lent we raised € 4,204 for Trócaire.
Cork City Partnership digital skills course starting next Wednesday 21st February in Turner’s Cross Community Centre. Details of this and other free community education courses from Linda Mc Kernan, Community Development Worker, Cork City Partnership, Tel: 087 1962025, lmckernan@partnershipcork.ie
A Hundred Years Agrowing: Our Prayers and good wishes to Tom O’Regan, Doyle Road who celebrates his 100th Birthday this Sunday. Congratulations Tom!
Art Classes: Would you like to join Art Classes on Wednesday Afternoons in Turner’s Cross. For information call 087 2459369.