FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT
Laetare Sunday
REDEMPTION
The fourth Sunday of Lent, “Laetare Sunday,” marks the half way point in our Lenten journey and we begin to look forward to Holy Week and Easter, to the mystery of our redemption. Nicodemus came to see Jesus at night in case anybody would see him. He came in darkness, and we may think of the darkness of our own time, hostility to the gospel of life, the Covid-19 pandemic and all the other problems of the world. In the darkness we hear Jesus saying, “I am the light of the world.”
God loves the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that through him the world might be saved. He calls us to holiness and indeed to happiness and inner peace, a call to live through love in his presence.
St. Patrick’s Day
Live-streamed Vigil Mass on Tuesday at 6.00 pm. Masses on Wednesday at 10.00 am & 12.00 noon. No evening Mass on St Patrick’s Day, but Lent Wednesday Stations of the Cross at the usual time of 6.00 pm.
Bishop Fintan comments that many people who live and work abroad have been unable to return home to visit families for almost a year. St. Patrick’s Day is traditionally a day to reach out and connect to our diaspora. Our live streamed celebrations of Mass for St Patrick’s Day will include those who are away from home. Please feel free to send us names of family members living abroad, via e-mail.
TRÓCAIRE
Join the fight for justice this Lent
Trócaire Family Fast Boxes for Lent are available at the back of the Church.
By supporting Trócaire at Lent, we help ensure that families in developing countries can earn an income and have enough to eat, we help communities rebuild their lives after disasters and conflict, and we defend the rights of people under threat.
Download resources for school, parish and home from the Trocaire website.
St Joseph
March 19th, Solemnity of St Joseph Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Pope Francis proclaimed a Year of Saint Joseph to mark the 150th anniversary of the declaration of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church, from 8th December 2020, to 8th December 2021. Saint Joseph appeared, together with Our Lady, Saint John the Evangelist, and the Lamb of God in the Apparition at Knock in 1879. On Friday next on the Feast of St Joseph the Holy Father will formally designate Knock as an International Marian and Eucharistic Shrine in a homily which will be transmitted via video link to Mass in the Shrine Chapel at Knock. The Mass will be celebrated by Archbishop Michael Neary and concelebrated by Father Richard Gibbons, PP and Rector of Knock Shrine.
Our thanks to Mons. Aidan O’Driscoll and Clonakilty Parish who have arranged Prayer Resources which will be available in our church and on our Website for the Feast of St. Joseph in this special year.
Our thanks to Mons. Aidan O’Driscoll and Clonakilty Parish who have arranged Prayer Resources which will be available in our church and on our Website for the Feast of St. Joseph in this special year.
Mothers’ Day
In spite of the Corona Virus, this Sunday is still Mother’s Day, and we wish all mothers a happy Day. Prayers are offered for all our mothers, living and deceased, at all Masses this weekend.
A Mothers’ Day Prayer
We thank you, Creator of us all, for our mothers.
We thank you that they gave us life and nurtured us all those years.
They gave us our faith, helping us to know you and to know Jesus and his ways.
They taught us how to love and how to sacrifice for others.
Bless them with the graces they need and which you want to give them today.
Help them to know that they are precious in your eyes and that we love them.
Give them strength and courage, compassion and peace.
Bless them this day and every day with your love.
Amen.
Deaths: We pray for Arthur Ward, Mercier Park who died recently. We extend our sympathy to his family.
Morning and Evening Prayer
Lauds and Vespers on Fridays of Lent after the 10.00 am and 6.00 pm Masses.
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on Wednesday mornings in Lent after the 10.00 am Mass until 11.00 am.
Pope Francis: Saturday of this weekend is the eighth anniversary of the election of Pope Francis. We pray for his ministry to the Universal Church and to all humanity.
Financial Support
Sincere thanks to all who have contributed so generously following our recent appeal. A “Donate Button” for church collections and dues is now live on the parish website.
VOCATIONS
