From Pope Francis
“Today’s Gospel, set on the day of the
Passover, tells the story of the two disciples of Emmaus (cf. Luke 24: 13-35).
It’s a story that starts and ends on the
move… Meeting Jesus: the two of Emmaus first open their hearts to him; then
they listen to him explain the scriptures;
so they invite him home. These are three
steps that we too can take in our homes:
first, open our heart to Jesus, entrust him with the burdens, the
hardships, the disappointments of life, entrust him with the “ifs”;
and then, second step, listen to Jesus, take the Gospel in hand, read
this passage today, chapter twenty-four of Luke’s Gospel; thirdly,
pray to Jesus, in the same words as those disciples: “Lord, “stay
with us” (v. 29). Lord, stay with me. Lord, stay with all of us, because we need you to find our way. And without you there is night.
Dear brothers and sisters, we are always on our way in life. And we
become what we’re going towards. Let us choose God’s way, not
that of the self; the way of yes, not the way of the if. We will find
that there is no unexpected events, there is no uphill path, there is
no night that cannot be faced with Jesus. May Our Lady Mother of
the journey, who, by receiving the Word, has made her entire life a
“yes” to God, show us the way..” (Homily, 26.04.20)
PARISH NEWS
WEEKLY OFFERTORY PROMISE. The collection amounted to £1,650.00.
TROCAIRE TO DATE £10,950 Thank you for your continued support and contributions.
Meditating with Mary in May is a 3-session programme allowing people to pray with art and sacred scripture and to reflect on the life of Our Lady. It has been delivered in several parishes in the Diocese to date with very positive feedback. We hope to run it in our Parish next month so watch this space for more details.
Parish Planning: As we seek to build up our Parish community we welcome suggestions from parishioners about areas for development or initiatives we might consider. If you have any ideas or would like to help with certain aspects of Parish outreach we would love to hear from you. Please use the suggestion box in the Church and any feedback will be gratefully received. Suggestion slips are available outside the Sacristy. Please post completed slips into box located right hand side of Mary’s Statue.
EVERY BLESSING FOR THE SUMMER TERM We wish the children & young people, who returned to school this week, God’s blessing for the summer term. To the children preparing for First Holy Communion on Sat 20th May, we will pray for you. To the young people, especially those completing coursework assignments and preparing for exams, we wish you well and we will pray for you too.
MASS INTENTIONS
Sat 22 (6:30pm): Priest’s intention
Sun 23 (9:30am): Kieran & Annie Marshall
Sun 23 (12:30pm): Gerard & Sadie O’ Neill,
Ann Britton, Moya Browning
Mon 24 (10am): Priest’s intention
Tue 25: No Mass
Wed 26 (10am): Mary Hickland & Mary Holt, Sophie Maguire
Thu 27(10am): Priest’s intention
Fri 28 (10am) Priest’s intention
Sat 29(1pm): Priest’s intention
REMEMBER IN PRAYER
Recently deceased: Charles Rafferty RIP
Months Mind: Liam Joseph Mc Cartan, Patricia Symington, Anne Young
Anniversaries: Paul Eastwood, Lily Mc Burney, Nora Maguire, Peter & Bridget Mc Cleave, Eamonn Farrelly, Anne Johnston, Tom Smith, Eddie Brown, Margaret Barr, Eugene & Mary Mc Manus, Michael Gilmartin, Martha & Edwin Leddy, Patrick Kearney, Maura Haughan.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord!
ACTIVITIES & EVENTS
Down & Connor Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2023: 11/12 – 17th July. 6 nights in hotel from £829, 5 nights in hotel from £769. 5 night in Acceuil Notre-Dame for pilgrims requiring nursing and/or personal care £719.
For more information or to request a booking form, contact the Pilgrimage Office (028) 9077 0162 or email lourdes@downandconnor.org.
visit: www.downandconnor.org/lourdes.
Special Belfast Pilgrimage to the Holy Land at Christmas 2023 EX Dublin
Taking in Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Nazareth, Dead Sea, Sea of Galilee, Last Supper Room, Garden of Gethsemane, Mount of Olives with full day in Bethlehem on Christmas Day
Contact James Treacy 0035361921470 jamestreacyphotography@gmail.com The cost is €2125 which can be paid in instalments.
QUB CATHOLIC CHAPLAINCY HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE. 8 nights, departing 9 February 2024. Spiritual Director Fr. Dominic McGrattan. For details email Chaplaincy Director, Shannon Campbell, at catholicchaplaincy@qub.ac.uk
LIVING CHURCH PILGRIMAGE TO LOUGH DERG. Led by Jim Deeds, Friday 30th June – Sunday 2nd July. Cost £90 includes luxury coach transfers. Early booking recommended. Claire at 90690920 / livingchurch@downandconnor.org
VOCATIONS CONFERENCE In life, many hear God’s call to priesthood. Is your heart open to the Lord? Have you ever considered taking the risk to follow in the footsteps of Jesus? If so, you are invited to the National Seminary of Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, on 25 April, to attend a special conference on evangelisation and vocations in Ireland today. Archbishop Rino Fisichella, Pro Prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelisation, will be the keynote speaker. Please register directly on www.vocations.ie, or contact the National Vocations director Father Willie Purcell at willie.purcell@iecon.ie or Rev Eric Cooney secretary of the National Vocations Office at eric.cooney@iecon.ie
Evangelization through Faith Communities: Archbishop RinoFisichella in Leixlip “I hope that all communities will devote the necessary effort of advancing along the path of a pastoral and missionary conversion, which cannot leave things as they are. … Let us be permanently in a state of mission” (Pope Francis in the Joy of the Gospel, EG, 25). Archbishop RinoFisichella will speak at the Church of Our Lady’s Nativity, Leixlip, Co. Kildare at 7.00pm on Monday, 24thApril 2023. He has worked in many church capacities, and is currently Pro-prefect for New Evangelization of the Dicastery for Evangelization. An engaging and inspiring speaker, his theme will be the important role of faith communities in the urgent work of evangelization. This event will be of particular interest to all who engage in pastoral work – as lay, religious and clerical. It is an ideal opportunity to encourage a number of parishioners and/or co-workers to attend and who then can promote evangelization as a parish vision and priority. Further information: Margaret Webb on 0777972950: magswebb1@gmail.com
07809906792: anne.mcferran@gmail.com:
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