3rd March 2019 – 8th Sunday of Ordinary Time (C)

LENT
Lent 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.  Repentance involves a renewal of attitudes, a change of focus from the self to others.  We need to remember that there is no real relationship with Jesus outside community, and solitary Christianity is a contradiction in terms.  We don’t always succeed in renewing our attitudes, but Jesus forgives, heals and makes us whole.  He died for all of us and gave us a model of utter self-sacrifice. In Lent we pray for a new spirit of community, and that we will recognise the sacred in the people around us, brothers and sisters for whom Christ died.

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.

Ash Wednesday 6th March is a day of fast and abstinence. On Ash Wednesday we bless ashes made from palms which were blessed on Palm Sunday last year. The sign of the cross is made as the ash is put on our foreheads as the priest or minister says ‘turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel,’ or similar words. The ashes remind us of our dying to the old way of life and challenges us to live our lives in the light of faith. We encourage everyone to come to Mass on Ash Wednesday and during Lent, if possible.

Ashes will be blessed and distributed at the 10.00 am and 6.00 pm Masses on Ash Wednesday. At the 10.00 am Mass pupils from local schools will be commissioned to bring blessed ashes to the schools where they will impose ashes on staff and fellow pupils.

Trócaire Family Fast Boxes for Lent are available at the back of the Church, and will be distributed through the Schools.

Shrove Tuesday, 5th March – Coffee Morning in Parish Centre after 10.00 am Mass – Pancakes!

Morning Alpha Course
Explore: life
              faith
              meaning

Our morning Alpha course begins after 10.00 am Mass on Thursday morning next 7th March, and continues on Thursday mornings for ten weeks.  Each session will start at 10.45 am with tea/coffee and finish at 12.15 pm sharp. This is perhaps an opportunity to do something positive for Lent and Easter. If you are interested, please contact Br. Andrew at 086-1522160.
“Friendships are made at Alpha”

Deaths:  We pray for Jim O’Connor, Old Blackrock Road, Joseph Murphy, Togher and Ursula Lawlor, Killeigh, Co. Offaly who died recently.  We extend our sympathy to their families.

Do this in Memory: Meeting of the First Holy Communion Class Parent Representatives in the Parish Centre this Monday 4th March at 7.30 pm.