27th September 2020, 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

GOUGANE BARRA SUNDAY

Our diocesan pilgrimage to Gougane Barra in honour of St. Finbarr is normally held on the last Sunday in September. This year due to the Covid-19 pandemic we cannot travel and everyone is invited to join ONLINE in prayer with Bishop Fintan Gavin as he celebrates Mass at the Oratory in Gougane on this Sunday 27th September.

Rosary at 2.45 and Mass starts at 3.00 pm

Connect through the diocesan website www.corkandross.org

 

Pray for Our Planet, Our Common Home

We begin the last week of the Season of Creation, that time set aside by Pope Francis for all of us to reflect on our place within the story creation and to accept our individual and collective responsibility to care for our common home. The Season of Creation offers us an opportunity to renew our vocation to become stewards of God’s creation.

Our commitment to the care of our common home is not some kind of add-on to our faith or optional extra; instead as Pope Francis continually reminds us the care of God’s creation is at the centre of our Christian faith. This year as well as the environmental crisis we are also in the midst of an international health crisis, as we pray for God’s protection of his people and of all his creation.

 

 

PARABLE OF THE TWO SONS

The parable of the two sons in today’s gospel reading challenges us. In response to their Father’s invitation to work in his vineyard: one says no, but then goes; the second says yes, but then doesn’t go. There is a big difference between them, the first is lazy, but the second is a hypocrite. The invitation of his father remained in in the heart of the first son and even after he said “no,” the memory of his father’s voice drew him from his laziness.  Although the second son knew what was good, he did not do it and he broke his word.  For him the father’s voice was buried. Without any problem he ignored his conscience, ignored the voice of God in his heart.

We are not always willing to do what is right, because we are sinners. But maybe we can choose what kind of sinner to be, whether to be sinners on the journey of life, who try to listen to the Lord, and when we fail, repent and try to do better, like the first son, or whether to just say the right thing and then go our own way, always  ready to  justify ourselves with words according to what suits us.

May we have hearts that seeks the Lord, that struggle every day and repent when necessary, and return to Him. May we be pure of heart, rather than pure “on the outside.”

 

The Annual Collection for the Education of Students preparing for Priesthood & Diaconate takes place at all Masses this weekend. This collection is the principal source of funding.

 

Ballinlough Parish

Confirmations ceremonies in the Church of Christ the King at 2.00 pm and 4.00 pm on Wednesday 30th September  and at 2.00 pm on Thursday 1st October, attendance limited to named family members.

Ballinlough First Holy Communion on Saturday next 3rd October at 11.30 am, attendance again limited to named family members.

 

Turner’s Cross First Holy Communion and Confirmation

Confirmation ceremonies will be held on Wednesday 7th October, and Wednesday 14th October, at 12.00 noon.

Our 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.

There will be no public morning Mass on Saturday 17th October.

 

Covid-19 Safeguards Our existing arrangements comply with Level 2 of the Government Resilience and Recovery Plan for Living with Covid for public worship. We will continue to work closely with our volunteer stewards to ensure that all precautions are in place.  These include the following:

Clear signage in relation to arrangements

Hand sanitizing available as people enter and leave the church

Social distancing guidelines implemented

The churches is subdivided into two distinct sections or pods with not more than 50 persons in each pod.

Each pod must have its own entrance/exit route

There must be four metres between pods

People are asked to wear a face covering for public worship.

 

Help Needed Those who wish to volunteer as Parish Stewards are asked to give their names to one of the priests.

 

Anam Cara: Evening for bereaved parents on Wednesday 7th October at 7:20pm in the Clayton Hotel, Cork City. This free event is open to all bereaved parents. regardless of the age your child died, *Subject to change in accordance with government advice*