Our parish is part of the partnership in the Howth Deanery as follows – Baldoyle, Bayside, Howth, Kilbarrack/Foxfield, Sutton. Registered Charity Number 20016166.
| Masses for the coming week | ||
| Day | Date | Time |
| Special Intention | Mon. 27th | 10am |
| Mary Lonergan, RD | Wed. 28th | 10am |
| William and Maura O’Keeffe | Sat. 2nd | 6pm |
| Leo Swan (A) | Sun. 3rd | 12pm |
Lent – Don’t Give Up – Take On!
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Tuesday – Friday from 11-3pm; Pray and reflect on the weekly sign at the altar – this week ‘Listen to Him”. Monday reflections. Wednesdays Journey. Morning prayer 9.45am each morning except Thurs., Sat. and Sun.
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament is held Tuesday to Friday, 11am-3pm, each week.
Reflection on the Scriptures
Our Zoom reflections are on Mondays 7.30-8.30pm Insight and understanding are gained as we reflect on the readings for the following Sunday. All are welcome. Contact Phyllis 086 890 9488 with email address.
Journey Through Lent – Invitation
Will you journey with us for one hour each Wednesday through Lent as we reflect on the Word of God in preparation for a more personally meaningful Easter season? Led by Fr Séamus in our Church.
Wednesdays in Lent, 7.30 – 8.30pm – hope you can join us on all or any of these. Most welcome!
Outdoor Collection
The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul will hold their outdoor collection this weekend after all Masses.
Baptism News
Baptisms are now held on the Second Saturday of each month.
- Baptismal Registration Forms are available from the Parish Office.
- Completed Registration Forms to be returned with your child’s Birth Certificate and the Baptismal Fee. Enquiries contact Janice in the Parish Office on 018390433.
Reflection on Sunday Readings
“This is my Son, the Beloved”
Trust in the Lord is the theme that links all this week’s readings. We are reminded of the extent of the Lord’s love and generosity – if we but listen to his voice and place our trust in him.
In the First Reading we see the depth of Abraham’s trust in God as he is asked to sacrifice his beloved son. Abraham’s faithfulness is rewarded with more blessings than he could ever have imagined.
The Psalmist gives thanks and praise to the Lord who has freed him, reminding us that he trusted God even when sorely afflicted. Like him, we can rejoice as we walk in the presence of the Lord.
In the Second Reading, St Paul challenges us to recall the immensity of God’s love for the world in giving up his Son. With Jesus standing at the right hand of God pleading for us, we can have confidence in placing all our trust in him.
In the Gospel, Jesus asks Peter, James and John to trust him and not speak of the wonder of what they have witnessed on the mountain top.
This week we pray for the grace to trust and to listen ever more closely to the voice of the Lord, so that we too might walk in his presence.
The Transfiguration of Jesus in the presence of three of His disciples may have been a bewildering or confusing moment for them but, beyond that, it was a glimpse of the glory of God, a changing moment that would strengthen them in faith and give them the courage and hope they needed for the challenging and dark times ahead.
Service of the Healing of the Generations (Family Tree)
The Service of the Healing of the Generations takes place today Sunday 25th February in our Church led by Fr Cathal and team commencing with Holy Mass at 7pm and concludes at 8pm. Access on the webcam – https://www.mcn.live/Camera/st-johns-church
Trócaire 2024
Malawi has extremely high levels of poverty, with life a struggle for many. Climate change means flooding, and droughts are more extreme and unpredictable. People are losing their homes, their livelihoods, and their lives. This year Trócaire’s focus is on work for water justice as a response to the effects of climate change.
Trócaire’s next online workshop will look at Laudato Sí’ and how it links to the work Trócaire is doing in Malawi. See www.trócaire.org to register.
Trócaire boxes are on the back table in our Church – please take one and return during Holy Week.
New Pilgrim Path – Poems for Lent and Holy Week
A beautiful Lenten resource for individual and group meditation is “Ecce Homo: Poems for Lent and Holy Week. The daily poems include poems of lamentation and pain – reminders of Jesus’s suffering – as well as contemplation, praise and thanksgiving. Access www.newpilgrimpath.ie
Rotary Peace Fellowship
Application process is now open for Rotary Peace Scholarships and Certificates (both fully funded) for year 2025/2026. Closing date 15th May 2024.
Details at https.// www.rotary.org>Peace fellowships.
Are you caring for a loved one at home with additional needs? A spouse, partner, child, close relative, or neighbour? Then you are a family carer! Become a member of Family Carers Ireland, the national charity supporting Ireland’s 500,000+ family carers nationwide. Contact 057 93 70221 and hear how we can support you or for more info visit www.familycarers.ie.
What’s On
- Chairobics Tuesdays 11.30am -12.30pm.
- Are you a reader? – come and see the big selection of books in our Parish Centre before and after all weekend Masses. See Donation boxes there.
- Vacancies in Palestrina and Pro cathedral Girls choirs,. Apply by 29th email choirmanagerprocathedral@gmail.com
- ARA – chairobics 2pm 28th Feb Parish Centre.
- Novena of Grace Raheny Church 4th-12th March. Fr Reynolds SJ. Mon–Sat 10am. Sat 6pm.Sun 8.30, 11.30am.
- Upcoming Monastic Experience. Poor Clare Monastery Galway. Sat 2nd March 10am-5pm. Book by email vocations@poorclares.ie
- Dublin Diocese Knock Pilgrimage, 27th Queries to knockpilgrimage@dublindiocese.ie
- Preparing for Marriage? Weekend residential courses available. 26th-28th April and 20th-22nd Details. www.grasta.org or info@grasta.org
Surviving With Dignity
Nothing is more important than empathy for another human being’s suffering. Nothing. Not a career, not wealth, not intelligence, certainly not status. We have to feel for one another if we’re going to survive with dignity. Audrey Hepburn
Isn’t Love the Greatest …………………………..Pat O’Keeffe
Not in my nature to wave my hands in joy
Demonstrative I am not, I am really shy
Not in my nature to bare my soul to you
But in my poetry of who I am there’s a clue
I express the beauty that’s within
And the demons that cause me to fall and sin
What’s the reason for my existence? I ask philosophically
“Isn’t love the greatest! Is the answer revealed to me
I was loved into existence in my mother’s womb
And I’m going to be loved eternally way beyond the tomb
Really, if I believed all this I should jump for joy
But demonstrative I am not, I am really shy
The reason I exist, with certainty I now know why
I’ll break the mould and praise the Lord and wave my hands in joy.
Grief
I had my own notion of grief. I thought it was the sad time that followed the death of someone you love. And you had to push through it to get to the other side.
But I’m learning there is no other side. There is no pushing through. But rather, there is Absorption. Adjustment. Acceptance. And grief is not something you complete’ But rather, you endure.
Grief is not a task to finish and move on, But an element of yourself – An alteration of your being.
A new way of seeing. A new dimension of self.
Gwen Flowers
Every Day is the Best
Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. He is rich who owns the day, and no one owns the day who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety. Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities, no doubt crept in. Forget them as soon as you can, tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely, with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense. This new day is too dear, with its hopes and invitations, to waste a moment on the yesterdays.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Better Things Are Coming Your Way
This letter is to you. The you that’s had a rough week. The you that seems to be under constant storm clouds. The you that feels invisible. The you that doesn’t know how much longer you can hold on. The you that has lost faith. The you that always blames yourself for everything that goes wrong. To you. You are incredible. You make this world a little bit more wonderful. You have so much potential and so many things left to do. You have time. Better things are coming your way, so please hang in there. You can do it. Jodi Ann Bickley
Thought For The Week
Kindness doesn’t cost a thing.
Yet, it’s the richest gift you can give.
