13th September, 2020
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Second Sunday of the Season of Creation
SEASON OF CREATION
Pray for our Planet, our Common Home
Pope Francis on Caring for Our Common Home
We need to strengthen the conviction that we are one single human family.
The Earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth. In many parts of the planet, the elderly lament that once beautiful landscapes are now covered with rubbish.
Never have we so hurt and mistreated our common home as we have in the last 200 years.
We are not God. The Earth was here before us and was given to us.
The idea of infinite or unlimited growth, which proves so attractive to economists, financiers and experts in technology … is based on the lie that there is an infinite supply of the earth’s goods, and this leads to the planet being squeezed dry at every limit.
Yet all is not lost. Human beings, while capable of the worst, are also capable of rising above themselves, choosing again what is good, and making a new start.
SCHOOLS
As our schools reopen after such a long period of closure our thoughts and prayers are with pupils and their families, and with teachers, support staff and management as they work to maintain a safe school environment.
Leaving Certificate
We ask God’s blessing on our 2020 Leaving Certificate Students who received their results during the week. We pray for them and their families and wish them well as they face the challenge of the next phase of their lives in this most difficult of years.
First Holy Communion and Confirmation
The Sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation for the pupils of Bunscoil Chríost Rí were deferred to the autumn because of the Covid-19 closure.
Confirmation ceremonies will be held on Wednesday 7th October, and Wednesday 14th October, at 12.00 noon, and First Holy Communion Masses will take place on Saturday 17th October, at 10.00 am and 12.00 noon.
Because of Covid-19 restrictions the number of people present in the church for each ceremony will be limited to the pupils receiving the sacrament, their parents and one other person only for each family.
Trocaire Lent Campaign
Our 2020 Trocaire Lent Campaign was interrupted by the school and church closures in March, Trocaire Boxes may still be returned to the Church, and we will facilitate completion of the Lent campaign in October.
COLLECTION FOR THE HOLY PLACES
The Annual Collection for the Holy Places in the Holy Land will be taken up this weekend 12th/13th September.
FACE COVERINGS should be worn in Church for all Masses and other liturgical celebrations to create as safe an environment as possible in our churches and minimise the possibility of spreading the virus. Children under 13 years of age and people who have received medical advice to not wear a mask are of course exempt.
DUTY TO GO TO MASS
Catholics continue to be dispensed from attending Sunday and Holy Day Masses until further notice. Those over 70 years and those with underlying health conditions should follow health regulations and remain at home where appropriate. Anyone who feels uncomfortable or nervous about returning to Mass at this time has a legitimate reason to remain at home. Anyone who has symptoms of any sickness (even mild symptoms) should not attend the public celebration of Mass