Church of St John the Evangelist, Kilbarrack-Foxfield
Parish Newsletter – Sunday, 25th April 2021.
Fourth Sunday of Easter Volume 24 Issue 17
Fr. Peter Finnerty, Administrator, 01-8323150
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
| Anniversary Masses for the coming week | ||
| Name | Date | Time |
| Hannah Boylan (A) | Tues. 27th | 10am |
| James and Kathleen Murtagh (A) | Wed. 28th | 10am |
| Eamon L. O’Dea (A) | Thurs. 29th | 7.30pm |
| David Rooney, Birthday Rem. | Sun. 2nd | 12pm |
| Con Colbert (Month’s Mind) | Sun. 2nd | 12pm |
| Michael Tierney (1st A) | Sun. 2nd | 12pm |
| Joseph Dunphy (1st A) and rem. Rosaleen and Greg Dunphy | Sun. 2nd | 12pm |
Masses Online
Masses in our Church are all on Webcam only – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at 10am; Thursday 7.30pm (and Divine Mercy Hour). Sunday 12noon. See www.kilbarrackfoxfieldparish.ie. Details of other Churches also on our website. Every second Sunday RTE1 Mass at 11am and on the alternate weeks, Mass is celebrated on RTE Now at 2.15pm. Weekday Masses from RTE News Now at 10.30am. Those without internet can hear 10am Mass Monday-Friday on Radio Maria by phoning 01-437-3277 from a landline, then press the speaker symbol on your phone.
We encourage all to pray as set out below –
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.
Recently Deceased
We remember in our Prayers,
Charles Gibney, RIP, late of St. Margaret’s Avenue.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and neighbours. May he rest in peace.
Easter Dues Envelopes may be returned to the Sacristy or dropped into 54 or 56 Foxfield St John.
Weekly Reflection on the Scriptures
The weekly reflection continues each Monday 7.30-8.30pm. Contact Sr Phyllis at 086-890-9488 with your email address and join us on Zoom to reflect on the liturgy for the following Sunday. It is so rewarding and enhances participation at Mass on the day.
Reflection on Today’s Gospel
‘They too will listen to my voice …’
We are invited to deepen our awareness of the protective, caring love of Jesus that surrounds us, holds us and sustains us.
In John’s letter (Second Reading), we are encouraged to meditate on the deep love that the Father lavishes upon us, by calling us his children.
In the Gospel, the image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd is used to show the love that God has for his people. By this image, Jesus is describing the close, intimate relationship we are each called to have with the living Lord. Although we are many, we are one flock, with one Shepherd who knows each one of us personally. Jesus trusts that we will listen to his voice.
This week let us ask for the grace to truly listen with open and accepting hearts to the needs of our community and of the earth. May we become loving shepherds to each other, and to the environment.
Service of the Healing of the Generations
The Service of the Healing of the Generations (Family Tree) will take place today, Sunday, 25th April, in our Church, led by Fr Cathal and team, commencing with Holy Mass at 7pm and concluding at 8pm. Access on the webcam.
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Tuesday-Friday from 11am-3pm.
Pentecost Preparation Programme
The parishes of Old Bawn and Bohernabreena will host a home-based preparation programme for Pentecost and follows the daily inspirational thoughts from Living Word (https://www.jesuit.ie/news/inspiration-and-guidance-for-faith-communities/). The programme leads to a rich awareness of the Holy Spirit in our lives. A weekly video clip is available from geraldine.massey@gmail.com. 01-451-0160/414-1838.
Excerpt from Letter from Archbishop Dermot Farrell
1 am aware that some parishes have been pressed to consider setting dates for the celebration of the sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation. I am writing to confirm that no dates should be proposed by parishes, even provisionally, for such celebrations.
We have yet to receive clarification about the circumstances under which a return to public worship will be permitted under public health guidelines. However, apart from such specific guidelines, we must be cognisant of the foreseeable risks of social gatherings which typically follow such celebrations.
Following clarification of the public health requirements, I will issue guidelines regarding when celebrations of the sacraments may be held. It is likely that it may be necessary to postpone until the autumn at least, some celebrations which would otherwise take place over coming weeks.
Manresa
There are a number of very interesting online resources – videos, retreats etc. at www.manresa.ie.
New Pilgrim Path
The 3-Minute Retreat, an outreach of Ignatian spirituality, is a peaceful online prayer experience that helps the user re-connect with God and re-centre the day. Each day, provides a bite-sized retreat filled with Scripture passages, tranquil music, and questions to prompt reflection. Join and rest in God’s loving presence at www.newpilgrimpath.ie
Fáilte Bayside
See http://failtebayside.ie for information on the exciting Failte Bayside project of housing a Syrian refugee family. Call Eileen 085-114-8200 or Sally 087-274-5422 for further details. Help them get to €10,000 needed to help the family settle in. If you wish to donate see https://gf.me/u/y96t8n
Christifdeles Laice
Christifideles Laice, the book of His Holiness John Paul II, on the vocation and mission of the lay faithful in the church and the world, is worthwhile reading. See
http://www.vatican.va › apost_exhortations › documents.
Heaven’s Grocery Store
As I was walking down life’s highway many years ago
I came upon a sign that read Heaven’s Grocery Store.
When I got a little closer the doors swung open wide
And when I came to myself I was standing inside.
I saw a host of angels. They were standing everywhere.
One handed me a basket and said ‘My Child shop with care.’ Everything a human needed was in that grocery store. And what you could not carry, you could come back for more.
First I got some patience. Love was in that same row.
Further down was understanding; you need that everywhere you go.
I got a box or two of wisdom, and Faith a bag or two.
And Charity of course, I would need some of that too.
I couldn’t miss The Holy Spirit; it was all over the place.
And then some strength and courage to help me run this race.
My basket was getting full but I remembered I needed grace,
And then I chose salvation for salvation was for free.
I tried to get enough of that to do for you and me.
Then I started to the counter to pay my grocery bill,
For I thought I had everything to do the Master’s will.
As I went up the aisle I saw prayer and put that in,
For I knew when I stepped outside I would run into sin.
Peace and Joy were plentiful, the last things on the shelf.
Song and praise were hanging near so I just helped myself.
Then I said to the angel, ‘Now how much do I owe?’
He smiled and said ‘Just take them everywhere you go.’
Again I asked ‘Really now, how much do I owe?’
‘My child, Jesus paid your bill, a long, long time ago.
‘Some Thoughts to Put Life in Perspective’
Friendship is like a book. it takes a few seconds to burn, but it takes years to write.
All things in life are temporary. if they are going well, enjoy them, they will not last forever. if they are going wrong, don’t worry, they can’t last forever either.
Old friends are gold! new friends are diamonds! if you get a diamond, don’t forget the gold! to hold a diamond, you always need a base of gold!
Often when we lose hope and think this is the end, God smiles from above and says, “Relax, sweetheart; it’s just a bend, not the end!”
When God solves your problems, you have faith in his abilities; when God doesn’t solve your problems, he has faith in your abilities.
When you pray for others, God listens to you and blesses them, and sometimes, when you are safe and happy, remember that someone has prayed for you.
Franz Kafka and the Doll
(We carried this story on this page before, but it is so beautiful it is always worth a repeat).
At 40, Franz Kafka (1883-1924), who never married and had no children, walked through the park in Berlin when he met a girl who was crying because she had lost her favourite doll. She and Kafka searched for the doll unsuccessfully.
Kafka told her to meet him there the next day and they would come back to look for her.
The next day, when they had not yet found the doll, Kafka gave the girl a letter “written” by the doll saying “please don’t cry. I took a trip to see the world. I will write to you about my adventures.”
Thus began a story which continued until the end of Kafka’s life.
During their meetings, Kafka read the letters of the doll carefully written with adventures and conversations that the girl found adorable.
Finally, Kafka brought back the doll (he bought one) that had returned to Berlin.
“It doesn’t look like my doll at all,” said the girl.
Kafka handed her another letter in which the doll wrote: “my travels have changed me.” the little girl hugged the new doll and brought the doll with her to her happy home.
A year later Kafka died.
Many years later, the now-adult girl found a letter inside the doll. In the tiny letter signed by Kafka it was written:
“Everything you love will probably be lost, but in the end, love will return in another way.”
Embrace the change. It’s inevitable for growth. Together we can shift pain into wonder and love, but it is up to us to consciously and intentionally create that connection.
Karen Maddock
Thought For The Week“We draw people to Christ by showing them a light that is so lovely, they will want with all their hearts to know the source of it.” – Madeleine L’Engle
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