18th June, 2023

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Diamond Jubilee of Priestly Ordination

This month Fr Kerry Murphy O’Connor and an tAth. Tomas O Murchu (a native of Derrynane Road) celebrate sixty years in the priesthood. A special Mass will be celebrated today, 18th June in Our Lady Crowned Church, Mayfield, at Noon. It was in this church that they were ordained on the 8th June, 1963. Included in this celebration is Fr Colin Doocey who was ordained 30 years ago. These three priests have 150 years of ministry between them. We are all invited to this Mass and to the open-air party afterwards. Mass at St. Michael’s Cemetery, Blackrock Wednesday 28th June, at 7.30 pm. Family members, friends and neighbours of all those buried in St. Michael’s Cemetery are invited to attend. Please bring your own chairs as seating will not be provided. In the event of bad weather Mass will be celebrated in Holy Cross Church.

Reflection on Today’s Gospel:

Jesus Chooses the Twelve Apostles What does the term ‘apostle’ mean? It is someone who is sent. Jesus himself was sent by the Father to reveal God to the world and to redeem humanity. Jesus chose twelve of his followers and they acted as his core group of collaborators. They knew Jesus better than anyone else. Their closeness to him over the time of his public ministry was a preparation for their mission in life. Just as Jesus had been sent by the Father, Jesus in turn sent out his twelve disciples to make him known, initially to the Jews and eventually to the whole world. In today’s gospel he tells them: ‘And as you go, proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand’ (Matthew 10:7). Later in that gospel we read the Great Commission, i.e. Jesus’ final sending out of his apostles: ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age’ (Mt 28:18-20) This commission is now the responsibility of the whole Church, not just the successors of the apostles. Pope Francis proposes this extension of the apostolic mission to all Christians as synodality. This important insight and proposal of the pope needs extensive reflection at some future date.

Recent Deaths.

The deaths have occurred of Michael (Frank) O’Leary, Greenhills Court and Thomas (Tom) O’Leary, Greenhills Court. We pray for them and sympathise with their families.