Saints Days since February 14th.

Feast of the Chair of St. Peter.

St. Polycarp.

St. Peter Damian.

Seven Founders of the Servite Order.

St. Fintan.

Google them to find out more. One of them is our own St. Fintan, and there is a beautiful Holy Well dedicated to him in County Laois, in Clonenagh, where he made a foundation.

Mass Intentions for the week ahead, March 1st.

Saturday 28th February 7.30p.m. 1.Mattie Duggan.
2.Susan Dooley.
Pray for Mary & Frank Barrett at all Masses this weekend. ________________________________________________________________
Sunday 9.30 a.m. Mary Wims and John & Eugene Wims deceased.
1st March 11.00 a.m. Fr. Philip Cryan O.D.C.
12.15 p.m. 1. Tom & Ethel Whelan.
2. Michael Hannon.
6.30 p.m. 1. Margaret Faherty and
2. Maria Donaldson. ________________________________________________________________
Monday 2nd March 10.00 a.m Ann Bridget Ward and Ward & Sherlock family.
________________________________________________________________
Tuesday 3rd March 10.00 a.m. Sick and Special Intention.
_______________________________________________________
Wednesday 10.00 a.m.1. Special Intention and
4th March 2. Pat & Cait Murphy and Martin & Susan Murphy ________________________________________________________________
Thursday 5th March 10.00 a.m. Holy Souls
________________________________________________________________
Friday 6th March 10.00 a.m
7.30 p.m. 1. Deceased members of Haugh & Guare,
Dallaghan & Fahy families.
2. Jackie Haddock
______________________________________________________
Saturday 7th March 7.30p.m. 1.Joan McInerney
2.Mary Murphy.
________________________________________________________________
Sunday 9.30 a.m. Katie O’Brien and deceased members of O’Brien
and Corley families.
8th March 11.00 a.m. 1. Mary Downey and
2. Nonie O’Flaherty.
12.15 p.m. 1. Keany family deceased.
2. Jeannette Ninkam & family.
6.30 p.m. Richie Ryan.

Kids Corner, March 1st.

In this Sundays Gospel Jesus is tempted by Satan in the desert, but he doesn't give in and remains strong. When we are Christians we have to remain strong even when we are tempted.



ABOVE YOU'LL SEE A PICTURE OF THIS SUNDAYS GOSPEL FROM THE BOOK OF KELLS. The Book of Kells is an ancient manuscript of the Gospels, done entirely by hand by Irish monks around the year 800. It is kept in Trinity College in Dublin. Why not click on this picture and then print it out and put it up in your room? BE PROUD OF OUR GREAT IRISH HERITAGE!!

DON'T FORGET! OUR FIRST COMMUNION MASS TAKES PLACE THIS SUNDAY AT 11.

Readings for the First Sunday of Lent.

FIRST READING Genesis 9:8-15

God spoke to Noah and his sons, 'See, I establish my Covenant with you, and with your descendants after you; also with every living creature to be found with you, birds, cattle and every wild beast with you: everything that came out of the ark, everything that lives on the earth. I establish my Covenant with you: no thing of flesh shall be swept away again by the waters of the flood. There shall be no flood to destroy the earth again.'

God said, 'Here is the sign ofthe Covenant I make between myself and you and every living creature with you for all generations: I set my bow in the clouds and it shall be a sign of the Covenant between me and the earth. When I gather the clouds over the earth and the bow appears in the clouds, I will recall the Covenant between myself and you and every living creature of every kind. And so the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all things of flesh.'

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Ps 24
Response: Your ways, Lord, are faithfulness and love
for those who keep your covenant.

1. Lord, make me know your ways.
Lord, teach me your paths.
Make me walk in your truth, and teach me:
for you are God my saviour. Response

2. Remember your mercy, Lord,
and the love you have shown from of old.
In your love remember me,
because of your goodness, O Lord. Response

3. The Lord is good and upright.
He shows the path to those who stray,
he guides the humble in the right path;
he teaches his way to the poor. Response

Gospel Acclamation Mt 4:4

Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory!
Man does not live on bread alone
but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory!

SECOND READING 1 Peter 3:18.22

Christ himself, innocent though he was, died once for sins, died for the guilty, to lead us to God. In the body he was put to death, in the spirit he was raised to life, and, in the spirit, he went to preach to the spirits in prison. Now it was long ago, when Noah was still building that ark which saved only a small group of eight people 'by water', and when God was still waiting patiently, that these spirits refused to believe. That water is a type of the baptism which saves you now, and which is not the washing off of physical dirt but a pledge made to God from a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has entered heaven and is at God's right hand, now that he has made the angels of the Dominations and Powers his subjects.

GOSPEL Mark 1:12-15

The Spirit drove Jesus out into the wilderness and he remained there for forty days, and was tempted by Satan. He was with the wild beasts, and the angels looked after him.

After John had been arrested, Jesus went into Galilee. There he proclaimed the Good News from God. 'The time has come' he said 'and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the Good News.'

This Years Trócaire Lenten Campaign.

Trócaire’s Lenten campaign this year is about 26 million of our brothers and sisters worldwide who have been forced to abandon their homes because of armed conflict and violence. People such as Khalid and his family, who appear on this year’s Trócaire box, are forced from their homes in terrifying circumstances losing their land, their livelihoods, and often even their own family members. As Christians, we are challenged this Lent to open our eyes to the pain of these displaced peoples. We are called, like the Good Samaritan, to go to the help of our suffering brothers and sisters. One very effective way of doing this is by supporting Trocaire's Lenten campaign this year or doing the 24Hr Fast on the 6^th/7^th of March and remembering to pick up your Trócaire box today.

You'll find a link to Trócaire on the menu bar at the side of this page.

You can pick up your box in the church.

Also, why not take a look at our Lenten Display in The Church, beside Our Lady's Statue and the Baptismal Font.

The Ignatian Identity Group Invite You.

The Ignatian Identity Group,

Coláiste Iognáid

and

The Jesuit Spirituality

and

Culture Centre, Galway


Invite you to an evening on

Catholic Education in

Ireland Today

Speaker: Fr. Bruce Bradley SJ

Venue: School Hall, Coláiste Iognáid, Sea Road, Galway

When: Tuesday March 10, 2009, 7.30 pm

All welcome

Admission free

New! POPE'S MESSAGE FOR LENT. WE WILL PUBLISH THE WHOLE MESSAGE OVER THE WEEKS OF LENT.

PART ONE, FIRST WEEK OF LENT.

MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS
BENEDICT XVI
FOR LENT 2009

"He fasted for forty days and forty nights,
and afterwards he was hungry" (Mt 4,1-2)

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

At the beginning of Lent, which constitutes an itinerary of more intense spiritual training, the Liturgy sets before us again three penitential practices that are very dear to the biblical and Christian tradition – prayer, almsgiving, fasting – to prepare us to better celebrate Easter and thus experience God’s power that, as we shall hear in the Paschal Vigil, “dispels all evil, washes guilt away, restores lost innocence, brings mourners joy, casts out hatred, brings us peace and humbles earthly pride” (Paschal Præconium). For this year’s Lenten Message, I wish to focus my reflections especially on the value and meaning of fasting. Indeed, Lent recalls the forty days of our Lord’s fasting in the desert, which He undertook before entering into His public ministry. We read in the Gospel: “Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry” (Mt 4,1-2). Like Moses, who fasted before receiving the tablets of the Law (cf. Ex 34,28) and Elijah’s fast before meeting the Lord on Mount Horeb (cf. 1 Kings 19,8), Jesus, too, through prayer and fasting, prepared Himself for the mission that lay before Him, marked at the start by a serious battle with the tempter.

We might wonder what value and meaning there is for us Christians in depriving ourselves of something that in itself is good and useful for our bodily sustenance. The Sacred Scriptures and the entire Christian tradition teach that fasting is a great help to avoid sin and all that leads to it. For this reason, the history of salvation is replete with occasions that invite fasting. In the very first pages of Sacred Scripture, the Lord commands man to abstain from partaking of the prohibited fruit: “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die” (Gn 2, 16-17). Commenting on the divine injunction, Saint Basil observes that “fasting was ordained in Paradise,” and “the first commandment in this sense was delivered to Adam.” He thus concludes: “ ‘You shall not eat’ is a law of fasting and abstinence” (cf. Sermo de jejunio: PG 31, 163, 98). Since all of us are weighed down by sin and its consequences, fasting is proposed to us as an instrument to restore friendship with God. Such was the case with Ezra, who, in preparation for the journey from exile back to the Promised Land, calls upon the assembled people to fast so that “we might humble ourselves before our God” (8,21). The Almighty heard their prayer and assured them of His favor and protection. In the same way, the people of Nineveh, responding to Jonah’s call to repentance, proclaimed a fast, as a sign of their sincerity, saying: “Who knows, God may yet repent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we perish not?” (3,9). In this instance, too, God saw their works and spared them.

TO BE CONTINUED.....

PART TWO WILL BE PUBLISHED HERE NEXT WEEK.

Lenten Talks and Neighbourhood Retreats at the Pastoral Centre.

Click to zoom..... you'll always find a direct link to the Pastoral Centre in the menu bar at the side of the page.

Morning Prayer for Lent.

Every weekday morning for Lent we will have Morning Prayer of the Church at 9:50, just before the 10 Mass. Why not make it part of your Lenten journey?

Shrove/ Pancake Tuesday.

Traditionally on this day people used up all their eggs and milk before Lent began the next day,hence the delicious pancake was born!

Why not google pancake recipes? A good site is www.allrecipes.co.uk

Lent is coming!

Tomorrow,February 25th, is Ash Wednesday and marks the beginning of Lent. We have two Masses on the day, 10 O'Clock and 7:30, at which ashes will be distributed. Remember the ashes are not a lucky charm but a reminder that we are dust and to dust we shall return, and, during the season of Lent, we are called to turn away from sin and believe in the Gospel, to prepare and reflect, so that, come Easter Sunday on April 12th we will be renewed in body, soul and mind, ready to greet the Resurrected Lord.

Take the Pioneer Challenge for Lent!

Click to zoom. Find out more about The Lenten Challenge by visiting www.pioneertotal.ie
Our local Pioneer Branch is Galway City West, and they meet in Galilee House, Salthill (at the back of the church), the first Monday of the Month at 7:30. Our local contact people are Eileen Browne, 140 Corrib Park (Tel: 091- 521611) and Pat McMahon, 32 McDara Road.

Lenten Events in Croí Nua Spirituality Centre.

Click to zoom.

Stephen Lamb, R.I.P.

Your prayers are asked today for the repose of the soul of Stephen Lamb, 73 John Coogan Park, who has died. Stephen's remains will leave O'Flaherty's Funeral Home on Munster Avenue tomorrow, Monday, February 23rd, at 7 for our church. His Funeral Mass will be on Tuesday at 11, with burial afterwards in Mount Saint Joseph Cemetery, Rahoon. 

Stephen was so young (20), but he bore his illness with great courage and fortitude. We support his mam, dad, and all the family at this dark time.

'We shall see him face to face.'

Mass Intentions for the week ahead, February 22nd.

Click on image to zoom.....

Months Mind Masses this week, February 22nd.

Kids Corner.

CLICK TO ZOOM.... COPYRIGHT www.sermons4kids.com

Click to zoom............. COPYRIGHT: REDEMPTORIST PUBLICATIONS.

Westside Library, Tuesday, March 3rd, Westside Reads Event.

Click to zoom.... support our local library!

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, February 22nd, Liturgy of the Word.

FIRST READING Isaiah 43:18-19.21-22.24-25

Thus says the Lord:

No need to recall the past,
no need to think about what was done before.
See, I am doing a new deed,
even now it comes to light; can you not see it?
Yes, I am making a road in the wilderness,
paths in the wilds.
The people I have formed for myself
will sing my praises.
Jacob, you have not invoked me,
you have not troubled yourself, Israel, on my behalf.
Instead you have burdened me with your sins,
troubled me with your iniquities.
I it is, I it is, who must blot out everything
and not remember your sins.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Ps 4O:2-5. 13-14.
Response Heal my soul for I have sinned against you.

1. Happy the man who considers the poor and the weak.
The Lord will save him in the day of evil,
will guard him, give him life, make him happy in the land
and will not give him up to the will of his foes. Response

2. The Lord will help him on his bed of pain,
he will bring him back from sickness to health.
As for me, I said: 'Lord, have mercy on me,
heal my soul for I have sinned against you.' Response

3. If you uphold me I shall be unharmed
and set in your presence for evermore.
Blessed be the Lord, the God ofIsrael
from age to age. Amen. Amen. Response

SECOND READING: 1Cor 1:18-22

I swear by God's truth, there is no Yes and No about what we say toyou. The Son of God, the Christ Jesus that we proclaimed among you - I mean Silvanus and Timothy and I - was never Yes and No: with him it was always Yes, and however many the promises God made, the Yes to them all is in him. That is why it is 'through him' that we I answer Amen to the praise of God. Remember it is God himself who assures us all, and you, of our standing in Christ, and has anointed us, marking us with his seal and giving us the pledge, the Spirit, that we carry in our hearts.

Gospel Acclamation Jn 1: 12. 14

Alleluia, alleluia!
The Word was made flesh and lived among us;
to all who did accept him
he gave power to become children of God.
Alleluia!

or Lk 4: 18

Alleluia, alleluia!
The Lord has sent me to bring the good news to the poor,
to proclaim liberty to captives.
Alleluia!

GOSPEL Mark2:1-12

When Jesus returned to Capernaum, word went round that he was back; and so many people collected that there was no room left, even in front of the door. He was preaching the word to them when some people came bringing him a paralytic carried by four men, but as the crowds made it impossible to get the man to him, they stripped the roof over the place where Jesus was; and when they had made an opening, they lowered the stretcher on which the paralytic lay. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, 'My child, your sins are forgiven.' Now some scribes were sitting there, and they thought to themselves, 'How can this man talk like that? He is blaspheming. Who can forgive sins but God?' Jesus, inwardly aware that this was what they were thinking, said to them, 'Why do you have these thoughts in your hearts? Which of these is easier: to say to the paralytic, "Your sins are forgiven" or to say, "Get up, pick up your stretcher and walk?" But to prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,' - he said to the paralytic - 'I order you: get up, pick up your stretcher, and go off home.' And the man got up, picked up his stretcher at once and walked out in front of everyone, so that they were all astounded and praised God saying, 'We have never seen anything like this.'

Lent at The Abbey.

There will be Lenten Taizé music, meditation, and prayer in The Abbey Church, St. Francis Street, every Thursday of Lent (apart from Holy Thursday), from 8 to 9 PM. All are welcome.

Parish Visitation.

Monsignor Malachy is visiting Claremont Park, and Father David  Rockfield Park, over February and March. They look forward to meeting all the residents there, and thank you for the welcome received to date.

KATS - Knocknacarra Amateur Theatre Society- Present Martin McDonaghs The Pillowman at The Black Box Theatre.

KATS, Galway

THE PILLOWMAN

By Martin McDonagh

McDonagh’s brightest, blackest comedy: an unsettling, exhilarating story that rages about society, cruelty and creativity.

“[McDonagh’s plays] are bridges over a deep pit of sympathy and sorrow, illuminated by a tragic vision of stunted and frustrated lives” Fintan O’Toole

Bookings: Town Hall Theatre, Courthouse Square (The Town Hall runs The Black Box Theatre).

091- 569777

www.tht.ie

World Day of Prayer.

Click to zoom.

Galway Diocesan Pauline Pilgrimage for Year of St. Paul.

Click on image to zoom. A Pauline Pilgrimage, to mark this Year of St. Paul, is being preposed for October. You'll get all the details on the above poster, and Monsignor Malachy or Father David are happy to take your names too.

Monthly Mass for the Indian Community.

The Monthly Mass for the Indian Community will be this Wednesday, February 18th. Confessions will be heard before the Mass at 5:30. There will, as usual, be a get- together after. The Weekly Indian Prayer Group and Get- Together continues every Friday in the Attic/ Prayer Room of the church at 6:30.

Mass Intentions for the week ahead, February 15th.

Click to zoom.

Kids Corner.

COPYRIGHT: REDEMPTORIST PUBLICATIONS.

COPYRIGHT: http://www.sermons4kids.com/

CLICK EACH IMAGE TO ZOOM IN AND PRINT.

DON'T FORGET! THIS SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15TH, IS THE SUNDAY FOR OUR MONTHLY FIRST COMMUNION PREPARATION MASS AT 11.

Saints of the past week, google them to find out more. Two of them, St. Mel and St. Gobnait, are our own.

                                                                  St. Gobnait.

                                                              St. Scholastica.

                                                                 St. Josephine Bakhita.

                                                                   St. Jerome Emiliani.

                                                                       St. Mel.

                                                    St. Paul Miki and Companions.

                                                                      St. Agatha.

                                                           St. Ansgar.

St. Valentine- the Irish connection.

COPYRIGHT: Sean J Murphy 2007 (Google St. Valentine in Dublin)

It may not be widely known outside Ireland that the Carmelite Church in Whitefriar Street in Dublin City claims to hold the remains of St Valentine. The Carmelites first arrived in Ireland in 1271, and today there is a community of 17 in the Monastery attached to Whitefriar Street Church. The story of how the remains of St Valentine came to rest in Whitefriar Street is interesting, and involves a famous nineteenth-century Carmelite attached to the Church, Fr John Spratt. Fr Spratt visited Rome in 1835, and apparently largely on the strength of his powers as a preacher, Pope Gregory XVI decided to make his Church a gift of St Valentine's body, then believed to be in the Cemetery of St Hippolitus in Rome. The remains of Valentine were duly transferred to Whitefriar Street Church in 1836, and since that date have been venerated there, especially around the time of the Saint's Feast Day.

As is the case with some other famous saints, there are rival claimants for the honour of possessing the body of St Valentine, and in view of past scandals concerning the manufacture and sale of relics, authenticating them is notoriously difficult. Thus some accounts claim that the remains of St Valentine were in fact buried in the Church of St Praxedes in Rome. It is stated that Valentine of Terni is buried in that town, and an effigy of him in bishop's dress may be viewed there. In 1999 there was widespread newspaper and television coverage of the claim that St Francis's Church in Glasgow holds the 'real' relics of St Valentine. In response to the implication that Whitefriar Street possesses only a False Valentine, there were calls for DNA testing, which of course are wide of the mark as there exists no point of comparison. Yet it may legitimately be asked how a Dublin priest could have persuaded tourism-conscious Romans to part with such a draw as the complete remains of St Valentine, and what we have here is a minor historical mystery. Perhaps a selection of relics is all that might have been donated to Dublin, and publication of relevant contemporary documents would help to throw some light on the matter.

The Whitefriar Street Carmelites have now published online the following translation of a letter in Latin which accompanied the remains of St Valentine when they arrived in Dublin:

We, Charles, by the divine mercy, Bishop of Sabina of the Holy Roman Church, Cardinal Odescalchi Arch Priest of the Sacred Liberian Basilica, Vicar General of our most Holy Father the Pope and Judge in Ordinary of the Roman Curia and of its Districts, etc, etc.

To all and everyone who shall inspect these our present letters, we certify and attest, that for the greater glory of the omnipotent God and veneration of his saints, we have freely given to the Very Reverend Father Spratt, Master of Sacred Theology of the Order of Calced Carmelites of the convent of that Order at Dublin, in Ireland, the blessed body of St Valentine, martyr, which we ourselves by the command of the most Holy Father Pope Gregory XVI on the 27^th day of December 1835, have taken out of the cemetery of St Hippolytus in the Tiburtine Way, together with a small vessel tinged with his blood and have deposited them in a wooden case covered with painted paper, well closed, tied with a red silk ribbon and sealed with our seals and we have so delivered and consigned to him, and we have granted unto him power in the Lord, to the end that he may retain to himself, give to others, transmit beyond the city (Rome) and in any church, oratory or chapel, to expose and place the said blessed holy body for the public veneration of the faithful without, however, an Office and Mass, conformably to the decree of the Sacred Congregation of Rites, promulgated on the 11^th day of August 1691.

In testimony whereof, these letters, testimonial subscribed with our hand, and sealed with our seal, we have directed to be expedited by the undersigned keeper of sacred relics.

Rome, from our Palace, the 29^th day of the month of January 1836.

C.Cardinal Vicar

Regd. Tom 3. Page 291

Philip Ludovici Pro-Custos

For those wishing to visit St Valentine's Shrine in Dublin, Whitefriar Street Church is located between Aungier Street and Wexford Street, and is just a few minutes' walk west of St Stephen's Green. Within the Whitefriar Street Church building there is a shop where one can purchase various souvenirs, such as cards, keyrings and other material bearing Valentine's image. Unlike most other surviving inner city churches in Dublin, Whitefriar Street always seems to be busy, and as well as the shrine to St Valentine, there are shrines to the Black Madonna and St Albert. The Whitefriar Street Fathers today emphasise St Valentine's association 'with young people and their needs as they grow into maturity and adult life'. To express it more romantically, the Whitefriar Street Shrine to St Valentine has been and continues to be a place of pilgrimage for those celebrating love - as well as for those who have lost it or have yet to find it!

The Origins of St. Valentine’s Day

COPYRIGHT:  www.americancatholic.org

A quick quiz: St. Valentine was:

a)  a priest in the Roman Empire who helped persecuted Christians during the reign of Claudius II, was thrown in jail and later beheaded on Feb. 14.

b)  a Catholic bishop of Terni who was beheaded, also during the reign of Claudius II.

c)  someone who secretly married couples when marriage was forbidden, or suffered in Africa, or wrote letters to his jailer's daughter, and was probably beheaded.

d)  all, some, or possibly none of the above.

If you guessed d), give yourself a box of chocolates. Although the mid-February holiday celebrating love and lovers remains wildly popular, the confusion over its origins led the Catholic Church, in 1969, to drop St. Valentine's Day from the Roman calendar of official, worldwide Catholic feasts. (Those highly sought-after days are reserved for saints with more clear historical record. After all, the saints are real individuals for us to imitate.) Some parishes, however, observe the feast of St. Valentine.

The roots of St. Valentine's Day lie in the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia, which was celebrated on Feb. 15. For 800 years the Romans had dedicated this day to the god Lupercus. On Lupercalia, a young man would draw the name of a young woman in a lottery and would then keep the woman as a sexual companion for the year.

Pope Gelasius I was, understandably, less than thrilled with this custom. So he changed the lottery to have both young men and women draw the names of saints whom they would then emulate for the year (a change that no doubt disappointed a few young men). Instead of Lupercus, the patron of the feast became Valentine. For Roman men, the day continued to be an occasion to seek the affections of women, and it became a tradition to give out handwritten messages of admiration that included Valentine's name.

There was also a conventional belief in Europe during the Middle Ages that birds chose their partners in the middle of February. Thus the day was dedicated to love, and people observed it by writing love letters and sending small gifts to their beloved. Legend has it that Charles, duke of Orleans, sent the first real Valentine card to his wife in 1415, when he was imprisoned in the Tower of London. (He, however, was not beheaded, and died a half-century later of old age.)

Readings for this Sunday, February 15th, Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

FIRST READING                         Leviticus 13:1-2.44-46

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 'If a swelling or scab or shiny spot appears on a man's skin, a case of leprosy of the skin is to be suspected. The man must be taken to Aaron, the priest, or to one of the priests who are his sons.'The man is leprous: he is unclean. The priest must declare him unclean; he is suffering from leprosy of the head. A man infected with leprosy must wear his clothing torn and his hair disordered; he must shield his upper lip and cry, "Unclean, unclean." As long as the disease lasts he must be unclean; and therefore he must live apart; he must live outside the camp.'

RESPONSORIAL PSALM:     Ps 31:1-2.5.11. 
Response                               You are my refuge, O Lord;
                                                  you fill me with the joy of salvation.

1. Happy the man whose offence is forgiven, 
    whose sin is remitted.
    O happy the man to whom the Lord 
    imputes no guilt,
    in whose spirit is no guile.    Response

2. But now I have acknowledged my sins; 
    my guilt I did not hide.
    I said: 'I will confess
    my offence to the Lord.'
    And you, Lord, have forgiven
   the guilt of my sin.                    Response

3. Rejoice, rejoice in the Lord,
    exult, you just!
    O come, ring out your joy,
    all you upright of heart.          Response

SECOND READING:                1Cor 1O:31-11:1

Whatever you eat, whatever you drink, whatever you do at all, do it for the glory of God. Never do anything offensive to anyone - to Jews or Greeks or to the Church of God; just as I try to be helpful to everyone at all times, not anxious for my own advantage but for the advantage of everybody else, so that they may be saved.

Take me for your model, as I take Christ.

Gospel  Acclamation           Eph 1: 17

Alleluia, alleluia! 
May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ 
enlighten the eyes of our mind, 
so that we can see what hope his call holds for us.
Alleluia!

or                                              Lk 7: 16

Alleluia, alleluia! 
A great prophet has appeared among us; 
God has visited his people.
Alleluia!

GOSPEL                                  Mark 1:4O-45

A leper came to Jesus and pleaded on his knees: 'If you want to' he said 'you can cure me.' Feeling sorry for him, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him. 'Of course I want to!' he said. 'Be cured!' And the leprosy left him at once and he was cured. Jesus immediately sent him away and sternly ordered him, 'Mind you say nothing to anyone, but go and show yourself to the priest, and make the offering for your bealing prescribed by Moses as evidence of your recovery.' The man went away, but then started talking about it freely and telling the story everywhere, so that Jesus could no longer go openly into any town, but had to stay outside in places where nobody lived. Even so, people from all around would come to him.

Message on Bereavement Course from The Pastoral Centre.

A four week Bereavement programme which began on Feb 4th is continuing in the Pastoral Centre each Wednesday @ 8pm. Places are still available.

You 'll always find the link to the Pastoral Centre on the menu bar at the side of this page. The Pastoral Centre is in Newtownsmith, beside The Mercy Convent Secondary School. Buses number 2,4,5 & 7 all stop nearby.

The phone number is 091- 565066.

http://www.pastoralcentre.ie/

Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, February 11th.

Our Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes takes place every year from July 1st to 6th. You'll get all the details by clicking on the poster above.

It was on February 11, 1858, that a beautiful lady first appeared to Bernadette Soubirous of Lourdes, France. Bernadette was a sickly girl. Her family was so poor they lived in a cellar that had once been a jail. Even though she was fourteen, Bernadette still could not read or write. She never could remember her catechism lessons, but she was a good girl. She loved God very much. Although her memory was poor, Bernadette kept trying hard to learn all she could about God. She was pure and obedient, too.
The beautiful lady Bernadette saw wore a white dress and a light blue sash. A white veil covered her head and fell over her shoulders to the ground. On her feet were two lovely golden roses. Her hands were joined and a rosary hung from her right arm. Its chain and cross shone like gold. The lovely lady encouraged Bernadette to say the Rosary. She appeared eighteen times to St. Bernadette. She asked her to tell the people to pray, to do penance and to recite the Rosary for sinners.
During the last apparition, Bernadette asked the beautiful lady who she was. The lady replied, "I am the Immaculate Conception." She was Mary, the Mother of God.
A large church called a basilica was built where Bernadette saw Our Lady. Although the apparitions took place over a hundred years ago, miracles still happen there. Many people are cured of sicknesses. Crippled people walk again. Blind people see again. Lonely, broken people find hope again. There, where she once appeared to St. Bernadette, Our Lady still shows her love for us.

As we celebrate this feast day of the Blessed Mother, we ask her prayers to "help us rise above our human weakness."

ARTICLE COPYRIGHT: DAUGHTERS OF ST. PAUL

TODAY IS ALSO WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE SICK. PLEASE PRAY FOR ALL OUR SICK AND, REMEMBER, EVERY TUESDAY WE OFFER OUR MORNING MASS AT 10 FOR ALL OUR SICK. WE HAVE A SPECIAL BOOK OF THE SICK THAT IS BROUGHT TO THE ALTAR FOR THAT MASS. TO INCLUDE THE NAME OF A LOVED ONE PLEASE CALL TO THE SACRISTY AFTER ANY OF THE MASSES, OR CALL 091- 522713/ 524751 YOU CAN ALSO CALL ON BERNIE IN THE OFFICE, MONDAY, WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY FROM 10:30 TO 1:00 (TEL: 091 -524305 DURING THOSE HOURS). OUR E-MAIL IS sacredheartgalway@eircom.net

Don't forget! All this week!

Tomorrow, Thursday, February 12th, is a special Day of Reconcilliation at The Novena. There will be Mass at the 11:00 and 3:30 sessions only, and a beautiful availability to receive God's forgiveness in Confession at the other sessions.

Fancy some peace and spiritual refreshment in beautiful Donegal?

Click on poster above to zoom in.

Lenten Retreat (Open to everyone)

Saturday, February 28th - Sunday March 1st

Fr Owen O'Sullivan OFM Capuchin

'Share a Faith Journey'

Cost €85

There are loads more events coming up in Ards,

find out more at 074 - 9138909

www.ardsfriary.ie

Monica Brown Concert in Bearna.

Click to zoom.

Interested in volunteering as a lay missionary? Click the image to zoom!

Wedding Bells, Martin Ward and Mary Mongan.

Heartiest congratulations to Martin Ward from Corrach Bui and Mary Mongan, Binn Bhan, Knocknacarra, who were married in our church today. Blessings, long life, health and happiness to you both.

Mass Intentions for the week ahead, February 8th.

Click to zoom.

Richard Ryan, R.I.P., 45 John Coogan Park. Richard is reposing at his home from 2 to 6 on Sunday. His remains will be removed to the church at 11:30 on Monday morning, to arrive at our church in time for 12 noon Mass. Burial is afterwards in Mount Saint Joseph Cemetery, Rahoon.

Please continue to pray for Richard's mum, Bernie, and all the family.

New feature! Kids Corner. Click on images to zoom in, print, and colour.

COPYRIGHT: http://www.sermons4kids.com/

COPYRIGHT: http://www.redemptoristpublications.com/

It's Here! The Novena begins this Monday!

Click on leaflet to zoom in for all the times.

Readings for this Sunday, February 8th 2009.

FIRST READING.
Job 7:1-4.6-7

Job began to speak:

Is not man's life on earth nothing more than pressed service,
his time no better than hired drudgery?
Like the slave, sighing for the shade,
or the workman with no thought but his wages,
months of delusion I have assigned to me,
nothing for my own but nights of grief.
Lying in bed I wonder, 'When will it be day?'
Risen I think, 'How slowly evening comes!'
Restlessly I fret till twilight falls.
Swifter than a weaver's shuttle my days have passed,
and vanished, leaving no hope behind.
Remember that my life is but a breath,
and that my eyes will never again see joy.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM.Ps 146:1-6.
Response:Praise the Lord who heals the broken-hearted.
or :Alleluia!

1. Praise the Lord for he is good;
sing to our God for he is loving:
to him our praise is due.Response

2. The Lord builds up Jerusalem
and brings back Israel's exiles,
he heals the broken-hearted,
he binds up all their wounds.
He fixes the number of the stars;
he calls each one by its name.Response

3. Our Lord is great and almighty;
his wisdom can never be measured.
The Lord raises the lowly;
he humbles the wicked to the dust.Response

SECOND READING. 1 Corinthians 9:16-19.22-23

I do not boast of preaching the gospel, since it is a duty which has been laid on me; I should be punished if I did not preach it! If I had chosen this work myself, I might have been paid for it, but as I have not, it is a responsibility which has been put into my hands. Do you know what my reward is? It is this: in my preaching, to be able to offer the Good News free, and not insist on the rights which the gospel gives me.

So though I am not a slave of any man I have made myself the slave of everyone so as to win as many as I could. For the weak I made myself weak. I made myself all things to all men in order to save some at any cost; and I still do this, for the sake of the gospel, to have a share in its blessing.

Gospel Acclamation.
Jn 8: 12

Alleluia, alleluia!
I am the light ofthe world, says the Lord,
anyone who follows me
will have the light of life.
Alleluia!

or Mt 8: 17

Alleluia, alleluia!
He took our sicknesses away
and carried our diseases for us.
Alleluia!

GOSPEL. Mark 1:29-39

On leaving the synagogue, Jesus went with James and John straight to the house of Simon and Andrew. Now Simon's mother-in-law had gone to bed with fever, and they told him about her straightaway. He went to her, took her by the hand and helped, her up. And the fever left her and she began to wait on them.

That evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and those who were possessed by devils. The whole town came crowding round the door, and he cured many who were suffering from diseases of one kind or another; he also cast out many devils, but he would not allow them to speak, because they knew who he was.

In the morning, long before dawn, he got up and left the house, and went off to a lonely place and prayed there. Simon and his companions set out in search of him, and when they found him they said, 'Everybody is looking for you.' He answered, 'Let us go elsewhere, to the neighbouring country towns, so that I can preach there too, because that is why I came.' And he went all through Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out devils.




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Taken from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, published and copyright 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House Inc, and used by permission of the publishers.

Music Workshop with renowned composer, Marty Haugen, in St. Patrick's.

Renowned liturgical composer, Marty Haugen comes to Galway for a once-off music workshop for parish choirs and musicians on Friday 6 February, The workshop, which will be followed by a public prayer service, will be held in St Patrick's Church, Forster Street, on Friday from 7pm to 8.30pm. Afterwards, between 9-10pm, the general public will be welcome to come along and attend the 'Prayer Service for Justice and Peace' during which some of the music learned during the earlier workshop will be recited, with the accompaniment of a band.


Organised by Fr Frankie Lee and Dee Newell of local singing and performance group, 'Gather Music Project', the workshop gives the Project a chance to welcome Haugen (who penned the music for all Gather Music productions over the past few years) to Galway for the first time.

According to Fr Lee the workshop will "give parish choirs and musicians the opportunity, not only to acquire new music but also enable much needed contact and support."

Entry to the prayer service will be free of charge, but the cost of the workshop will be €20 per person, which will cover a score for each participant and refreshments.

For more details contact Dee on 087 - 2050577 or Fr. Frankie on 086 - 8308865

Golden Eye at the Eye.

The EYE Cinema have asked us to tell you that they have started a new monthly screening for the more mature members
of our community – retired or otherwise. This new monthly screening is known as
‘Golden Eye’ will takes place the 2nd Wednesday of every month at 11.30am.

Free tea and coffee will be available at the Eye Cinema Bar Café Electric after
the screening and will allow filmgoers a chance to catch up with each other.

Tickets are priced is €5.00 with complimentary tea/coffee after the screening.
For more information on booking please call 091 78 00 78 or log onto
www.eyecinema.ie

The dates to keep in diary for Golden Eye screenings are:

Wed Feb 11th 11.30am Valkyrie (12A) and The Reader (16)
Wed Mar 11th titles to be confirmed
Wed Apr 8th titles to be confirmed
Wed May 13th titles to be confirmed

The Eye Cinema is on the Eastside, in The Wellpark Retail Park, between The G Hotel and Expert Electrical. The numbers 2, 4,5,8&9 buses will all leave you nearby.

RICHARD RYAN, R.I.P., 45 JOHN COOGAN PARK, FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS.

ARRIVING AT DUBLIN AIRPORT FROM AUSTRALIA THIS FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6TH, AT 17:45.

REPOSING AT HIS HOME ON SUNDAY FROM 2 TO 6.

REMOVAL ON MONDAY MORNING FROM HIS HOME AT 11:30, TO ARRIVE AT OUR CHURCH IN TIME FOR MASS AT 12 NOON.

BURIAL AFTERWARDS IN MOUNT SAINT JOSEPH CEMETERY, RAHOON .

Please continue to pray for, and support, his mum Bernie and all the family.

'There are many rooms in my fathers house'

Saints of the last week, January 25th to 31st.

HERE ARE THE FEAST DAYS OF LAST WEEK. THREE OF THE PEOPLE ARE OUR OWN, SAINT AIDAN, BLESSED MARGARET BALL, AND BLESSED FRANCIS TAYLOR. WHY NOT GOOGLE EACH SAINT TO LEARN MORE? IT'S OUR CATHOLIC CULTURE AND INHERITANCE.




THE CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL. DON'T FORGET THIS IS A SPECIAL YEAR OF ST. PAUL IN THE CHURCH, CELEBRATING TWO THOUSAND YEARS SINCE HIS BIRTH. YOU'LL FIND THE LINK TO THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE YEAR ON THE MENU BAR OF THIS PAGE. THIS PAINTING OF THE CONVERSION IS BY MICHELANGELO.


ST. TIMOTHY AND ST. TITUS.


ST. ANGELA MERICI.

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS.


SAINT AIDAN.


BLESSED MARGARET BALL AND BLESSED FRANCIS TAYLOR.


ST. JOHN BOSCO.