{"id":2444,"date":"2021-02-18T10:09:21","date_gmt":"2021-02-18T10:09:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.stagnesbelfast.com\/?p=2444"},"modified":"2021-02-19T10:37:34","modified_gmt":"2021-02-19T10:37:34","slug":"st-agnes-parish-bulletin-21st-february-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stagnesbelfast.com\/?p=2444","title":{"rendered":"St Agnes Parish Bulletin 21st February 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"

PARISH NEWS…<\/span><\/h2>\n

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MASS TIMES DURING LENT<\/span>\u00a0Daily Parish Mass (Via Webcam & Parish Radio only at present) will continue as normal:-\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

MIDWEEK + WEEKEND\u00a0 MASSES\u00a0:\u00a0Monday \u2013 Saturday @10am\u00a0 &\u00a0 \u00a0Sunday @ 9.30am<\/span><\/h3>\n

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STATIONS OF THE CROSS\u00a0\u00a0Each Friday in Lent Fr Thomas will conduct the Stations of the Cross @ 7pm ( Via our Webcam )<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

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TR\u00d3CAIRE BOXES <\/span><\/strong>Available for collection at Church Porch. Perhaps you could take one for a friend or neighbour too.<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n

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LENTEN PIONEER PLEDGE <\/span>I promise in honour of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and with the help of the Blessed Virgin Mary to abstain from all alcoholic drink during Lent.<\/span><\/em><\/h3>\n

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COVID UPDATE\u00a0<\/strong>In light of the extension to the current lockdown, until 1st April 2021, Mass will be broadcast online via the webcam and\u00a0 Parish Radio,\u00a0as follows:-<\/span><\/h3>\n

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MIDWEEK + WEEKEND\u00a0 MASSES\u00a0:\u00a0Monday \u2013 Saturday @10am,\u00a0 \u00a0Sunday @ 9.30am<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

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CONFESSION:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>Has been suspended.<\/span><\/p>\n

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PERSONAL PRAYER:<\/strong><\/span>Monday – Sunday, 10.30am – 2pm. NB Adoration has been suspended for this current period.<\/span><\/p>\n

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FUNERALS:<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>Are currently limited to 25 people, with no pre- or postfuneral gatherings.<\/span><\/p>\n

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WEDDINGS:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>Are currently limited to 25 people.<\/span><\/p>\n

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BAPTISMS:<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>Are currently limited to Parents and Godparents every second and fourth Sunday of the month.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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PARISH OFFICE\u00a0To reduce the risk of infection, the Parish Office can be contacted by email or telephone only, and not in person. Please continue to drop any Mass offerings, SVP envelopes etc into the letterbox outside the Parish Office. Thank you.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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NB The wearing of masks is mandatory in our church<\/span><\/h2>\n

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PRAYER INTENTIONS:<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>We extend our sympathies to the families of those who died recently and those whose month\u2019s mind and anniversary occur at this time.<\/span><\/h3>\n

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Recently Deceased:\u00a0Anne Mc Carron<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Sun: 9.30am:Maggie Corrigan, Colm Kelly, John & Owen Farrelly<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Mon: 10am:\u00a0Priest’s intention<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Tue: 10am:\u00a0<\/span>Priest’s intention<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Wed: 10am:\u00a0Priest’s intention<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Thurs:10am:<\/span>\u00a0Priest’s intention<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Fri: 10am:\u00a0Leo & Kathleen Mc Kenna & May Bill Mc Kenna<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Sat: 10am:Richard Maguire<\/span><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

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In the event of a funeral, the assigned intention will be offered privately by the priest at his first available mass.<\/i><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Those whose anniversaries occur at this time:\u00a0Hugh O’ Neill, Joe Mohan, Marie & Anthony Fogarty, William Cinnamond, Jean Gannon,\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/span>Colette Tabb, Harry& Teresa Bleakley, Brian Allen, Margaret Pollock<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

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Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for Lent 2021 <\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u201cBehold, we are going up to Jerusalem\u201d (Mt 20:18) Lent: a Time for Renewing Faith, Hope and Love<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

Dear Brothers and Sisters, <\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

Jesus revealed to his disciples the deepest meaning of his mission when he told them of his passion, death and resurrection, in fulfilment of the Father\u2019s will. He then called the disciples to share in this mission for the salvation of the world. In our Lenten journey towards Easter, let us remember the One who \u201chumbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross\u201d (Phil 2:8). During this season of conversion, let us renew our faith, draw from the \u201cliving water\u201d of hope, and receive with open hearts the love of God, who makes us brothers and sisters in Christ. At the Easter vigil, we will renew our baptismal promises and experience rebirth as new men and women by the working of the Holy Spirit. This Lenten journey, like the entire pilgrimage of the Christian life, is even now illumined by the light of the resurrection, which inspires the thoughts, attitudes and decisions of the followers of Christ. <\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

Fasting, prayer and almsgiving,<\/em> as preached by Jesus (cf. Mt 6:1-18), enable and express our conversion. The path of poverty and self-denial (fasting), concern and loving care for the poor (almsgiving), and childlike dialogue with the Father (prayer) make it possible for us to live lives of sincere faith, living hope and effective charity. <\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

1. Faith calls us to accept the truth and testify to it before God and all our brothers and sisters. <\/em><\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

I<\/em>n this Lenten season, accepting and living the truth revealed in Christ means, first of all, opening our hearts to God\u2019s word, which the Church passes on from generation to generation. This truth is not an abstract concept reserved for a chosen intelligent few. Instead, it is a message that all of us can receive and understand thanks to the wisdom of a heart open to the grandeur of God, who loves us even before we are aware of it. Christ himself is this truth. By taking on our humanity, even to its very limits, he has made himself the way \u2013 demanding, yet open to all \u2013 that leads to the fullness of life.<\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

Fasting, experienced as a form of self-denial,<\/em> helps those who undertake it in simplicity of heart to rediscover God\u2019s gift and to recognize that, created in his image and likeness, we find our fulfilment in him. In embracing the experience of poverty, those who fast make themselves poor with the poor and accumulate the treasure of a love both received and shared. In this way, fasting helps us to love God and our neighbour, inasmuch as love, as Saint Thomas Aquinas teaches, is a movement outwards that focuses our attention on others and considers them as one with ourselves (cf. Fratelli Tutti, 93).<\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

Lent is a time for believing<\/em>, for welcoming God into our lives and allowing him to \u201cmake his dwelling\u201d among us (cf. Jn 14:23). Fasting involves being freed from all that weighs us down \u2013 like consumerism or an excess of information, whether true or false \u2013 in order to open the doors of our hearts to the One who comes to us, poor in all things, yet \u201cfull of grace and truth\u201d (Jn 1:14): the Son of God our Saviour.<\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

2. Hope as \u201cliving water\u201d enabling us to continue our journey.<\/em> <\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

The Samaritan woman at the well, whom Jesus asks for a drink, does not understand what he means when he says that he can offer her \u201cliving water\u201d (Jn 4:10). Naturally, she thinks that he is referring to material water, but Jesus is speaking of the Holy Spirit whom he will give in abundance through the paschal mystery, bestowing a hope that does not disappoint. Jesus had already spoken of this hope when, in telling of his passion and death, he said that he would \u201cbe raised on the third day\u201d (Mt 20:19). Jesus was speaking of the future opened up by the Father\u2019s mercy. Hoping with him and because of him means believing that history does not end with our mistakes, our violence and injustice, or the sin that crucifies Love. It means receiving from his open heart the Father\u2019s forgiveness.<\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

In these times of trouble<\/em>, when everything seems fragile and uncertain, it may appear challenging to speak of hope. Yet Lent is precisely the season of hope, when we turn back to God who patiently continues to care for his creation which we have often mistreated (cf. Laudato Si\u2019, 32-33; 43-44). Saint Paul urges us to place our hope in reconciliation: \u201cBe reconciled to God\u201d (2 Cor 5:20). By receiving forgiveness in the sacrament that lies at the heart of our process of conversion, we in turn can spread forgiveness to others. Having received forgiveness ourselves, we can offer it through our willingness to enter into attentive dialogue with others and to give comfort to those experiencing sorrow and pain. God\u2019s forgiveness, offered also through our words and actions, enables us to experience an Easter of fraternity.<\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

In Lent, may we be increasingly concerned with \u201cspeaking words of comfort, strength, consolation and encouragement, and not words that demean, sadden, anger or show scorn\u201d (Fratelli Tutti, 223). In order to give hope to others, it is sometimes enough simply to be kind, to be \u201cwilling to set everything else aside in order to show interest, to give the gift of a smile, to speak a word of encouragement, to listen amid general indifference\u201d (ibid., 224).<\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

Through recollection and silent prayer,<\/em> hope is given to us as inspiration and interior light, illuminating the challenges and choices we face in our mission. Hence the need to pray (cf. Mt 6:6) and, in secret, to encounter the Father of tender love.<\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

To experience Lent<\/em> in hope entails growing in the realization that, in Jesus Christ, we are witnesses of new times, in which God is \u201cmaking all things new\u201d (cf. Rev 21:1-6). It means receiving the hope of Christ, who gave his life on the cross and was raised by God on the third day, and always being \u201cprepared to make a defense to anyone who calls [us] to account for the hope that is in [us]\u201d (1 Pet 3:15).<\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

3. Love, following in the footsteps of Christ, in concern and compassion for all, is the highest expression of our faith and hope.<\/em> <\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

Love rejoices in seeing others grow<\/em>. Hence it suffers when others are anguished, lonely, sick, homeless, despised or in need. Love is a leap of the heart; it brings us out of ourselves and creates bonds of sharing and communion.<\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

\u201c\u2018Social love\u2019 makes it possible to advance towards a civilization of love, to which all of us can feel called. With its impulse to universality, love is capable of building a new world. No mere sentiment, it is the best means of discovering effective paths of development for everyone\u201d (Fratelli Tutti, 183).<\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

Love is a gift<\/em> that gives meaning to our lives. It enables us to view those in need as members of our own family, as friends, brothers or sisters. A small amount, if given with love, never ends, but becomes a source of life and happiness. Such was the case with the jar of meal and jug of oil of the widow of Zarephath, who offered a cake of bread to the prophet Elijah (cf. 1 Kings 17:7-16); it was also the case with the loaves blessed, broken and given by Jesus to the disciples to distribute to the crowd (cf. Mk 6:30-44). Such is the case too with our almsgiving, whether small or large, when offered with joy and simplicity.<\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

To experience Lent with love<\/em> means caring for those who suffer or feel abandoned and fearful because of the Covid-19 pandemic. In these days of deep uncertainty about the future, let us keep in mind the Lord\u2019s word to his Servant, \u201cFear not, for I have redeemed you\u201d (Is 43:1). In our charity, may we speak words of reassurance and help others to realize that God loves them as sons and daughters. <\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

\u201cOnly a gaze transformed by charity can enable the dignity of others to be recognized and, as a consequence, the poor to be acknowledged and valued in their dignity, respected in their identity and culture, and thus truly integrated into society\u201d (Fratelli Tutti, 187). <\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

Dear brothers and sisters, every moment of our lives is a time for believing, hoping and loving. The call to experience Lent as a journey of conversion, prayer and sharing of our goods, helps us \u2013 as communities and as individuals \u2013 to revive the faith that comes from the living Christ, the hope inspired by the breath of the Holy Spirit and the love flowing from the merciful heart of the Father. <\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

May Mary, Mother of the Saviour, ever faithful at the foot of the cross and in the heart of the Church, sustain us with her loving presence. May the blessing of the risen Lord accompany all of us on our journey towards the light of Easter.<\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

Rome, Saint John Lateran, 11 November 2020, the Memorial of Saint Martin of Tours<\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

FRANCISCUS<\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

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TR\u00d3CAIRE CAMPAIGN<\/span>\u00a0Every year Tr\u00f3caire asks for your help during Lent to fund lifesaving programmes around the world. Tr\u00f3caire are appealing to you to continue your support this Lent. Resources, prayers and videos are available on www.trocaire.org and donations can be made to the Lent campaign in the following ways:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

1. Online at www.trocaire.org\/donations\/now\/<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

2. By phone: 0800 912 1200 (Northern Ireland) The contents of each and every Tr\u00f3caire donation, no matter how small, come together to make a significant difference. This virus knows no borders, but neither does our compassion.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Day of Prayer for Survivors and Victims of Abuse<\/span> The annual Day of Prayer for Survivors and Victims of Abuse will take place on Friday 19 February 2021. The Diocese will mark this day with a Mass in St Peter\u2019s Cathedral at 10 am on Friday 19 February. (Link below) https:\/\/www.churchservices.tv\/stpeterscathedral<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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PARISH NEWS… MASS TIMES DURING LENT\u00a0Daily Parish Mass (Via Webcam & Parish Radio only at present) will continue as normal:-\u00a0 MIDWEEK + WEEKEND\u00a0 MASSES\u00a0:\u00a0Monday \u2013 Saturday @10am\u00a0 &\u00a0 \u00a0Sunday @ 9.30am   STATIONS OF THE CROSS\u00a0\u00a0Each Friday in Lent Fr Thomas will conduct the Stations of the Cross @ 7pm ( Via our Webcam ) […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stagnesbelfast.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2444"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stagnesbelfast.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stagnesbelfast.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stagnesbelfast.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stagnesbelfast.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2444"}],"version-history":[{"count":24,"href":"https:\/\/www.stagnesbelfast.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2444\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2469,"href":"https:\/\/www.stagnesbelfast.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2444\/revisions\/2469"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stagnesbelfast.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2444"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stagnesbelfast.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2444"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stagnesbelfast.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2444"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}