Fourth Sunday in Lent (Laetare Sunday, a day of rejoicing that the great events of Holy Week and Easter are coming closer.)
Saint of the Week:
Our very own St. Patrick.
St. Patrick was born very probably in the early years of the fifth century in Britain. He was taken captive at the age of sixteen and brought to Ireland where he worked as a slave. His captivity had a very positive effect on his spiritual life. He escaped back home at the age of twenty two. It was very obvious to him that God was calling him to return to convert the Irish. He studied probably in France, returned to Ireland c. 457-61 and made a tremendous number of converts. He died in 491.
1. Daily Mass here in the Sacred Heart from Monday to Friday at 10:00. Mass on Tuesday is for the sick and ill. Masses for St. Patrick’s Day are the Vigil Mass at 7:30 on Tuesday, 16th, and on the day itself at 9:30, 11:00 and 12:15. There is no Evening Mass that day.
2. For Lent we have Morning Prayer of the Church before the Daily Mass at 9:50.
3. Adoration every night from 8 to 10; new adorers always welcome.
Confessions on Saturdays from 6:30 to 7:30.
4. The Irish Catholic is on sale in the church.
Visit their website:
http://www.irishcatholic.ie/site/
5. On Palm Sunday, March 28th, at 3:00 pm, each parish is invited to send representatives for a Service of Reparation in the Cathedral. The prayer service will include readings, prayers of intercession and hymns. We’ll be asking God’s forgiveness for crimes of physical, sexual and emotional abuse that have brought shame on all us. In our prayer we’ll remember all who are survivors of abuse, all in need of healing, in need of the peace that only God can give.
6. The Patrician Brothers Brass Band are a Galway institution and will hold their annual church gate collection at our church on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st of March. Please be as generous as you can.
7. Trócaire Bulletin for the Fourth Sunday in Lent.
By Father Ajaya, Orissa, India.
Kandhamal is one of the poorest regions in the eastern Indian state of Orissa. 87% of the 650,000 people who live in Kandhamal live in poverty, a figure considerably higher than the state-wide average of 48%. Most of the population are rural farmers living a hand to mouth existence.
To compound the problem of poverty and years of government neglect large areas of Kandhamal witnessed communal violence in 2007 and 2008. Over 50,000 were displaced and 70 killed, with more than 50 unaccounted for, presumed dead. My colleague reported the forcible conversion of his father, a catechist: he had had an axe held to his neck by members of a mob, and was forced to renounce his Christian faith in favour of Hinduism. Subsequently, he was repeatedly escorted to a Hindu temple and forced to worship. This experience was not unique to him. The struggle in Kandhamal is not of Christian rights, but the right to choose one’s ideology.
Trócaire comes to this region with compassion, to help the abandoned and neglected communities reclaim their dignity and humanity. 90% of people live on agricultural and forest produce which means many go hungry when crops fail due to floods, droughts and cyclones. With Trócaire’s support we have formed village development committees so that these farmers have access to and control over their resources and do not fall into the hands of the greedy moneylenders and petty traders. They are made aware of the different entitlements they can access, as well as their constitutionals rights, and have been empowered so that they can advocate for their rights and entitlements from local government.
Female literacy rates in Kandhamal are one of the lowest in the state. To help the women and children we organise them as best we can into cooperative groups with saving schemes and teach them basic business skills to set up microenterprises so that they can earn extra income for their families.
Trócaire was one of the first international agencies to respond to the communal violence in Kandhamal and supported food rations and clothes for displaced families in the immediate aftermath of the violence. Trócaire is now supporting a housing programme for those who lost their homes as a result of the violence. Trócaire is there when the communities struggle to stand; not with sympathy, but with sure empathy. As a priest, it is worth having a partner like Trócaire who understands the needs of the people.
The Trócaire Box has been part of the Irish Lenten Experience since 1973, and they are available at the church doors. Why not find out more about the Trócaire campaign and their work at http://www.trocaire.org/ ?
8. The Parish Boxes for the Offertory Collection have been distributed. Boxes for Laurel Park, Ros Geal, Gort Greine, Rosan Glas, Corrach Bui, and those outside the parish boundary who are part of our worshiping community, are available from the parish office (Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday’s from 10:30 to 1:00/ T:091-524305) or from the sacristy after any of the Masses.
9. A Youth Afternoon with the Franciscan Brothers (Friars of the Renewal) from Moyross, Limerick, will take place in the Church of St. John the Apostle, Knocknacarra, at 2 pm on Saturday, March 13th. Come for an afternoon of song, music, snacks, friendship and time with the Lord.
10. Pilgrimages.
A. A Pilgrimage to Turkey in the footsteps of St. Paul takes place from October 22nd to 29th. Some of the places visited will be Pamukale, Konya, Ephesus and Our Lady’s House. The cost is €1159 per person sharing in a four star hotel, including all entrance fees. More details can be had by phoning 091- 524207/ 758373/ 753763.
B. The 26th Annual Pilgrimage to The City of the Sacred Heart (Paray- le- Monial) takes place from June 7th to 14th. The Spiritual Director is Fr. Charles Davey, S.J., (Galway), and the trip will include a visit to Ars and Verosvres and a Tridium in Honour of the Sacred Heart.
Details can be had from Edward and Carmel Donaghy at 041- 6871877.
C. The Annual Galway Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes takes place again this year from July 1st to 6th led by Bishop Martin Drennan.
Contact: http://www.fahytravel.ie/
Fr. Martin Moran, PP, Kilannin, 091-550106.
D. Pilgrimage
Have you ever gone on pilgrimage? Would you like to share this memory? We are both recording people’s memories through oral interviews and collecting written memories for preservation in a special archive in Mary Immaculate College. If you prefer you may write some brief answers to the following questions. Please include your name, age and address.
• Which pilgrimages have you done
• When did you first go
• How did you get there
• Who went with you
• Why did you go
• Your most vivid memory of pilgrimage
Please send information to:
Justin FitzGerald
History Dept
Mary Immaculate College
South Circular Road
Limerick City
11. ACCORD the Catholic Marriage Organisation is looking for volunteers who will help present pre-marriage courses and/or be involved in counselling at its Galway centre. There will be an information evening on Wednesday, April 14th, at 8 pm, in The Diocesan Pastoral Centre, Arus de Brun, Newtownsmith. For more information ring ACCORD Galway at 091- 562331.
http://www.accord.ie/
12. A Holy Icon Exhibition takes place in the Tertiary Hall, St. Mary’s, the Claddagh, from Friday, March 12th until Tuesday, March 16th. The official opening of the exhibition will be at 7:30 on the evening of March 12th by Dr. Eugene Duffy, Theologian. Admission is free.
Children’s Corner.
Click to zoom...
