Entrance Hymn: I am the Bread of Life

Eucharistic Procession Today Sunday, 7^th June.

We are invited to assemble at 2:30pm at the Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne to begin the Procession at 3pm. Alternatively, people can go directly to the Grand Parade. It is 100 years since the first Eucharistic Procession in Cork so today’s event is especially significant.  A procession is the occasion where we walk with Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament. Jesus is with us all the time and the procession is the time when this presence is made explicit. May it bring many blessings to our people.

The Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist

Jesus refers to himself as bread: ‘I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh’ (John 6:51). Now this is not a spiritual communion only. We are familiar with the prayer of spiritual communion in our livestreamed masses. But Jesus intends us to eat the bread of life in a physical way. St John appreciated that because he uses a very physical term for ‘to eat’ (trogein); it really means to chew/to bite, and it is not the usual verb for eating in Greek (phagein). We can take from this that Jesus intended us to consume the bread of life physically and not just spiritually. In addition, we can say that the climax of the Mass is the reception of Holy Communion and not the words of institution. It is the whole Eucharistic Prayer which is consecratory and not just the words of institution. So, we have a huge challenge in convincing our people that to participate fully in the Eucharist we need to receive communion.

First Communion Procession

Last Sunday’s Mass welcomed the children who recently received their First Holy Communion. They participated in a procession at the end of Mass and this was followed by treats in the Parish Centre. The experience was indeed a memorable one. Sincere thanks to Rose and Ephie Fitzgerald and to Ephie’s mother, Chrissie, who prepared and donated the drinks and cakes. Incidentally, they also do so for the Morning Coffee on the first Tuesday of each month. Mile buiochas.

Parish Assembly meets tomorrow, Monday, at 8.00 pm

Feast of the Sacred Heart: Next Friday, 12^th June.

The Sacrament of the Sick will be offered at the 10.00 Mass on Friday.

Remembrance Mass in St Michael’s Cemetery

The annual remembrance Mass will be held on Wednesday, 24^th June, at 7.30pm. The organisers advise that those attending bring their own chair.

They are also inviting participation from this parish by reading a prayer at the Mass. Just let me know if you would like to do so.

Weekend Mass Collection Last weekend the amount received was €1070.00.

Recent Death: The death has occurred of Aideen Donnellan, Midleton and late of Doyle Road. She is the daughter of our choir member, Kay Mullins. We sympathise with Kay and with Aideen’s son and daughter. May she rest in peace.