Weekly Bulletin 12th September 2021

Today is the Twenty-Fourth Sunday of the Year:  In the Gospel today (Mark 8:27-35) Jesus asks the disciples the big question: “Who do you say that I am?” (Mark 8:29).  This is the central question of all theology and faith. Up to this point in Mark’s Gospel, it is only the demons who have accurately attested to the true identity of Jesus “Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God” (Mark 1:24). King Herod has already answered this question about Jesus for himself. “It is John whose head I cut off; he has risen from the dead” (Mark 6:16).  The crowds focus Jesus identity in the past; they say that He is merely a repeat of an old story. They think that Jesus is an old prophet having another try!   In this theory there is no new challenge, no new message.  It is easy to talk about what other people say about Jesus’s identity. But the question becomes irreducibly personal, when we are asked “Who do you say I am?” Our religion can never be a carried tale.  It is not merely about reciting a creed but it is about knowing a person. St. Paul met the Lord on the road to Damascus and later he writes to his friend Timothy.  “But I have not lost confidence for I know who it is that I have put my trust in, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that day what I have entrusted to him” (2 Timothy 1:12). The Gospel today spells out the cost of following Christ. We will have to pay the price for witnessing to the truth of the Gospel.  We are to have the same values as Christ did, and to put our favour on the same kind of people that He loved, namely the poor, the outcast and the rejected. If we go public on our commitment to the outcast, as Jesus did, we will become outcasts ourselves. The question is not whether we will suffer in this life, the question is for whom and for what!  St. Vincent de Paul whose feast day we celebrate on 27 September upon enquiry from his nephew about becoming a priest replied: “If I had known what it was when I had the temerity to enter it – as I have come to know since then – I would have preferred to till the soil than to submit myself to such a formidable way of life”

Feasts of the Week: Monday St. John Chrysostom (347-407). Bishop and Doctor of Church. He is named “Golden Mouthed” Archbishop of Constantinople, died in exile.

Tuesday: The Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The true Cross was discovered by St. Helena on this day in the year 320. It is a day of rejoicing over the redemption won by Christ. Wednesday: Our Lady of Sorrows. Mary stood by the Cross as her Son was dying and shared in the work of our redemption.  Thursday: St. Cornelius & St. Cyprian. Cornelius was pope in 251 and died in exile. Cyprian (210-258) Bishop of Carthage. Teacher and preacher. He was martyred by being beheaded in 258. 

Church cleaning group: A word of appreciation for those good folk who turned up on Wednesday night to clean the church. Thanks for giving of your time and effort on behalf of all of us. If you are free to join one of the cleaning groups please leave your name in at the reception and we will get in touch with you

Thanks for the generous weekend collection. It came to £1600. Thanks also to our Ushers and Ministers of the Eucharist who help in the smooth running of our religious services. Thanks to you all for obeying their instructions and keeping us all safe during this pandemic. We are still called to keep social distancing, sanitise our hands and to keep wearing our masks while in the Church building. We carry out these tasks for the sake of the whole community that come to be with us at the Graan.                                                                                                                                                                                     

Masses Monday to Friday @ 7pm. Confessions: Tues – Fri 2.00 – 5.00pm   Sat 5.00pm to 6.00pm. Mon-Charles   Tues –Charles   Wed – Victor   Thurs – Arthur  Fri- Charles  & Sat – Arthur                                                                 

The Shop: Open Mon to Sat:  9.30am – 7pm.  Sun 9.30 – 4.30pm.                                                                       

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament every Friday 10:00am  – 2:00pm.                                                                          

Guild Mass Cards:  We have a wide selection of cards for Deceased, Mass Bouquets, Get Well, Graduation, Wedding  etc. Cost £2 / €2.50. We value your support.