Fr Peter Finnerty, Administrator, 01-832-3150
Fr Finbarr Neylon, CC, 086-356-6380
Fr Séamus Connell, Ph: 087-702-5120
Fr Cathal Price, Ph 01-832-3683
Janice Dornan, Parish Sec, Parish Office, Ph 01-839-0433
Email info@kilbarrackfoxfieldparish.ie
www.kilbarrackfoxfieldparish.ie
| Masses for the coming week | ||
| John and Liam Boylan (A) | Tues. 27th | 10am |
| Brian Kavanagh (A) | Sun. 1st | 12pm |
The Church is now open for attendance at Masses – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at 10am; Thursday 7.30pm (and Divine Mercy Hour). Saturday 6.30pm; Sunday 9.30am and 12noon. Masses are also on Webcam. See www.kilbarrackfoxfieldparish.ie. We encourage all to pray as below if joining in on webcam.
Act of Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
Pope Francis
Pope Francis has advised people to switch off from the stresses of modern life.
During his weekly Sunday noon address at St. Peter’s Square, he encouraged the hundreds of people in the audience to regularly turn off their mobile phones so that they can “truly rest”.
It was his first public appearance since returning to the Vatican last week after an 11-day stay in hospital, where the 84-year-old had surgery to remove part of his colon.
When recovering in Rome’s private Gemelli Polytechnic hospital, he had addressed crowds from the balcony of his 10th-floor room. He had lauded the “precious benefit” of universal free healthcare. In his most recent address, Pope Francis did not mention his recovery from surgery but stressed the value of “rest, contemplation and compassion.”
Reflection on Today’s Gospel
His hands were as earth beneath the bread and his voice was as thunder above it’ St Ephrem the Syrian (d. 373)
This Sunday’s readings remind us that God provides for us physically as well as spiritually.
St Paul, (Second Reading), assures the Christian community that God, who unifies the people, is in control.
The three readings are brought together in the Gospel account of the Feeding of the Five Thousand (which is a foreshadowing of the Eucharist and the only miracle of Jesus that is recounted in all four gospels). Jesus demonstrates that, by feeding the people from his own divine hands, God is unifying the people through meeting their needs.
Let’s pray, this week, that we might know that we are in the hands of the Lord, and that our lives may bear abundant fruit as a result.
Service of the Healing of the Generations
The Service of the Healing of the Generations (Family Tree) will take place today Sunday, 25h July, in our Church, led by Fr Cathal and team, commencing with Holy Mass at 7pm. Access on the webcam for those who cannot attend.
Family Offerings
We receive regular family offerings from a family – envelopes number 324. However we do not know who this is so would appreciate it if the family would contact Janice 01-8390433 in the Office to arrange for updating of the records.
Annual Charity Tax Refund Scheme
We are sending out forms for updating to 47 parishioners for the annual charity tax refund scheme and would appreciate it if they are completed and returned signed and including PPS number. These forms will suffice for five years – if you prefer a yearly one, please contact Janice. If you do not wish to be involved, please let the parish office know.
Pilgrim Path Website of the Week
| For the great Trappist mystic and writer, Thomas Merton, the “deeply spiritual life” meant the “experience” of God’s presence and love at all times, combining that with action in everyday life. An 11-minute PBS programme provides an excellent introduction to Merton. Visit www.NewPilgrimPath.ie www.newpilgrimpath.ie. |
Praying for Vocations
Archbishop Farrell is asking for people and priests to pray for vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life on a regular basis. As you are well aware, the need is great, so let’s answer God’s call and “Pray the Lord of the harvest to send labourers into his harvest”.
World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly
Pope Francis has established a World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly – starting today, Sunday, 25thJuly – theme ‘I am with you always’ (Mt 28:20).
This is an excerpt of his message –
Dear Elderly Friends,
“I am with you always” (Mt 28:20): this is the promise the Lord made to his disciples before he ascended into heaven. They are the words that he repeats to you today, dear grandfathers and grandmothers, dear elderly friends. “I am with you always” are also the words that I, as Bishop of Rome and an elderly person like yourselves, would like to address to you on this first World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly. The whole Church is close to you – to us – and cares about you, loves you and does not want to leave you alone!
I am well aware that this Message comes to you at a difficult time: the pandemic swept down on us like an unexpected and furious storm; it has been a time of trial for everyone, but especially for us elderly persons. Many of us fell ill, others died or experienced the death of spouses or loved ones, while others found themselves isolated and alone for long periods.
The Lord is aware of all that we have been through in this time. He is close to those who felt isolated and alone. Even at the darkest moments, as in the months of pandemic, the Lord continues to send angels to console our loneliness and to remind us: “I am with you always”. He says this to you, and he says it to me. That is the meaning of this Day, which I wanted to celebrate for the first time in this particular year, as a long period of isolation ends and social life slowly resumes. May every grandfather, every grandmother, every older person, especially those among us who are most alone, receive the visit of an angel!
See full message –
Look with Love
Look with love on grandparents the world over.
Protect them!
They are a source of enrichment
for families and for all of society.
Support them!
As they grow older,
may they continue to be for their families
strong pillars of Gospel faith,
guardian of noble domestic ideals,
living treasuries of sound religious traditions.
Make them teachers of wisdom and courage,
that they may pass on to future generations the fruits
of their mature human and spiritual experience.
Help families and society
to value the presence and roles of grandparents.
May they never be ignored or excluded,
but always encounter respect and love.
Help them to live serenely and to feel welcomed
in all the years of life which you give them.
Keep them constantly in your care,
accompany them on their earthly pilgrimage,
and by your prayers, grant that all families
may one day be reunited in our heavenly homeland,
where you await all humanity
for the great embrace of life without end.
And Then God Created Grandmas
And then, the Lord Most High looked down from Heaven and said, “I need a soft and caring soul.”
So God made a grandma.
It needed to be somebody willing to get up before dawn, give the baby a bottle and her daughter a break, work all day making meals, give the baby a bottle again, then change the diapers and stay up past midnight folding the laundry. So God made a grandma.
It had to be somebody with strong arms to push kids in swings, yet gentle enough to rock babies to sleep. Somebody to call the grandkids in for milk and bikkies, calm cranky toddlers, eat all of her dinner cold just to make sure everyone else has theirs hot. So God made a grandma.
He needed a woman willing to stay up all night with a colicky new-born so her daughter-in-law could sleep. Someone who could make tarts and sweeties and take magical trips to the ice cream shop. Who could turn a rainy day into a grand adventure, read books, and sing lullabies. Who would get up early and go to bed late, making sure that everyone is happy, fed, and warm. So God made a grandma.
God had to have somebody willing to break the rules behind Mama’s back, but know her limits and then say, “Mammy said no,” with a grimace and a wink. So God made a grandma.
God needed somebody strong enough to hold her girls’ hands through the hardest years of their parenting, yet joyful enough to throw her head back and laugh when there would be nothing else to do but cry. Someone who would stop scrubbing the dishes to speak wisdom and truth into her daughter’s life. So God made a grandma.
It had to be the perfect someone whose love would be endless and never run dry.
Somebody to snuggle, hug, kiss and tickle and tell bedtime stories and sneak sweets and tell them about Jesus. Someone who would bind a family together with the soft strong bonds of love and compassion. Who would laugh, then reply with smiling eyes when the grandkids said they never want to leave Grandma’s house. So God made a grandma.
To all of the grandmas . . . We would be lost without you.
Thank you for the gift you are.
Thought for the WeekGrandparents are there to help the child get into mischief they haven’t thought of yet. –Gene Perret |
