Today is the Second Sunday of Lent: Today we begin our Novena of Hope at the Graan. Over the next nine days of prayer we come to listen to His Word, and to hear those who have a hope-filled word for us at this moment in our lives. We will meet God as we pray together, giving Him thanks for all his blessings and asking for His help in all our difficulties. In the Gospel today (Matthew 17:1-9) we hear of Jesus being transfigured on the “high mountain”. Last Sunday we were with Jesus being tempted on the Mount of temptation. For the past few Sundays we have been listening to Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Today we are on the mountain of transfiguration. Mountains have been universally revered as places of divine/human encounter. Mountains were places of theophany, places of God’s manifestation. Everybody knows that religions build temples on mountains because God is “up”. Mountains rise up from earth towards heaven. They are liminal places between the earthly and the heavenly. In most cultures they are “holy places.” We have Croagh Patrick in Mayo and many other holy places in our Celtic spirituality. In the Old Testament, the highest of the mountains was the place were God was nearest. Moses met God on the mountain regularly. The prophets Micah (4: 1-5) and Isaiah (2:1-5) announced that once the mount of Jerusalem would be the highest of the mountains all over the world and that God would dwell there and found his kingship. And we don’t forget that Moses ( Exodus 33:18-22) and Elijah (1 Kings 19:9-13) are the only ones of the Old Testament who ‘saw’ God on a mountain. So, if you need confirmation that Jesus is really God’s Son…, that Jesus is God’s ‘Amen’ after the Holy Books, then you have no better witnesses than Moses and Elijah. Mountain climbing is difficult and dangerous work but the views from the summits are amazing. However we do not stay on the mountain. Peter wanted to stay there forever and enjoy the wonderful experience of Jesus being transfigured, “it is wonderful for us to be here, if you wish, I will make three tents here, one for Moses and one for Elijah” (Matthew 17:4). We are pilgrims. God continually calls us on the journey of faith. He calls Abraham, the father of our faith in today’s first reading (Genesis 12:1-4) to leave his country “for a land I will show you.” It will not be easy. St. Paul in the second reading (2 Timothy 1:8-10) today encourages his friend Timothy “to bear the hardships for the sake of the Good News relying on the power of God…” The story of the transfiguration remains a mysterious episode but it is really about the closeness of God rather than the remoteness of God. Our journey of faith is not yet finished. The journey for Jesus did not end on the mountain of transfiguration. And it does not end for us either. Like Him, we must finish the journey, travel up Mount Zion, enter the city of Jerusalem and face all that transpires there. There are moments when life is boring, we trudge through it hoping for light at the end of the tunnel and at other times there are moments of illumination or gentle joy. We can call them mountain-top experiences. May our Novena of Hope be a blessed experience for all who attend.
Thanks for the collection last week. It came to £1900. We appreciate your generosity. Thanks to all who helped in cleaning the Church in preparation for our Novena. We genuinely appreciate the work of all those who helped in preparation for this Novena. A word of thanks to our Ushers, Readers, Ministers of the Eucharist, Singers, Car Park volunteers and church cleaning groups.
Children Drawings: As you can see there are many children’s drawings with the theme of hope all around the church. Thanks to the children and their teachers for preparing such beautiful artwork.
Novena of Hope: All the times of the various sessions of our Novena are to be found on separate brochures. These brochures are in the porches of the Church. It also contains the prayers that we will use at each session of the Novena. The two times to remember are 12:30 pm and 7:30 pm each evening.
Community Celebration of the Sacrament of the Sick will take place on Wednesday (8th) and Saturday (11th) at 2:30 pm.
(Except Wednesday when Masses will be at 11am & 7.30pm & Saturday 11am and 6.30 pm)
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: will take place between 2pm to 5pm during the time of the Novena (except on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday).
Petitions: Come to the Graan and write out your petitions. There will be pens and paper available in the Church. However if you are unable to travelyou may send in any petitions for the Novena by either post or email. If you wish to receive the Novena brochure please ring us here at the Graan (during office hour between 9:30-5 pm. Some petitions may be read out during the Novena prayers.
Novena On-Line: We are aware there are some who are unable to enter into crowds because of their physical health and their fear of coronavirus. However if you have the facility, you can view our Novena on our webcam which can be found at www.thegraan.com. The service will also be recorded each night (7.30pm) and can be viewed at a time that is suitable to your personal schedule.
Duty: There will be a priest available each day of the Novena from 2pm to 5pm.
Except Wednesday: 3.30pm – 5pm & Saturday from 3.30 – 6pm.
Shop: Open Mon to Sat – 9.30 – 7pm. Sun 9.30pm – 4pm.
The Shop has been restocked for the Novena.
Home-Start Lakeland is the nominated charity who will be collecting around Enniskillen on St Patricks Day. They are a local family support charity who has been supporting families with young children in Co Fermanagh since 1999. All money raised by Home-Start Lakeland will be used directly in Co Fermanagh.
Recently Deceased
Margaret Moohan, Bundoran
Cecil Lynam, Floraville, Enniskillen
Bobby Boyd, Corban Av, Enniskillen
Mena Corrigan, Rossdoney, Bellanaleck
John James Murphy, Macken, Enniskillen
Anniversaries
Mary Rose & James Foy, Clarnagh, Tempo
Hugh Mc Cormac, Enniskillen
Gerry Treacy, Tullyholvin, Boho
Eileen Mc Brien, Skea, Arney
Michael & Kathleen Connolly, Main Street, Tempo
Ted Feely, Garrison
Rev Canon Fr Padraig O’Reilly, Killanny, Co Monaghan
Ellen, Tommy & Sean Bannon, Belturbet
Ita & Desmond Dolan, Old Rossorry Crescent, Enniskillen
Patricia Gallagher, Plumbridge
Imelda Maguire, Derrylin
Chris & Mary Boylan, Ballymoney
Agnes Monaghan, Rathfort Crescent, Belleek
Jim Breen, Maguiresbridge
