Ave Maria
Gratia plena
Dominus tecum
Benedicta tu

Ave Maria…

Prayer
Despite our best intentions, we may have let prayer slip. Lent is an opportunity to put prayer time at the top of our agenda every day. The prayer of silence (ie without words) is a particularly worthy kind of prayer. If we use words it is important to put praise and thanks at the centre of our prayer. Taking a passage of the bible and reflecting on it is most desirable. It may be just a sentence or a single word or phrase that will lead us to experience God’s presence. And, of course, we can pray anywhere. But prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament in a church is especially effective. In that situation we are more likely to forget about ourselves and be conscious of the presence of Jesus in the tabernacle.

Fasting and Penance
Penance is an essential part of the lives of all Christ’s faithful.  It arises from the Lord’s call to conversation and repentance.  Christians undertake penance: in memory of the Passion and death of Jesus; as a sharing in Christ’s suffering; as an expression of inner conversion; as a form of reparation for sin. Penance is part of all our lives given our limations of health in body, mind and spirit. Saying ‘yes’ to the cross that is in our lives may be the most real penance.

Charity/Love
Traditionally during Lent many of the faithful commit to fasting or giving up certain types of luxuries as a form of penitence, the money saved from this can be donated to charity, for example, contributing to their Trócaire box. Lent is a time to look carefully at how we treat other people, in family, school and the work place.

Coffee Morning Tuesday after Mass. All welcome. Pancakes are popular on Shrove Tuesday!!

Second Collection next weekend:

Irish Bishops’ Commissions.

Ministers of Word and Eucharist

Are invited to a meeting at the parish centre in Frankfield on Tuesday, 11^th February. The meeting for Ministers of the Eucharist is from 7-8 pm. The Ministers of the Word meet from 8-9 pm. It is very important that you avail of these meetings which are organised for our family of parishes.