Today is the Nineteenth Sunday of the Year. Some scholars tell us that every time we read about a “boat” in the Gospels it is an image of the Church. The boat in today’s Gospel (Matthew 14:22-33) is “far out on the lake, battling with a heavy sea, for there was a headwind” Over the centuries the church seemed to be sinking under many storms. In the early days of the church’s life the persecution of the church was initially infrequent and sporadic. The event that sparked official opposition to Christianity was the great fire of Rome (which began on July 19th, 64 A.D.). It lasted for nine days and destroyed 10 of the 14 city districts. Although probably innocent, Nero the Emperor was accused by his enemies of setting the fire alight. The Church was used as a scapegoat by Nero to divert attention from himself. Both Saints Peter and Paul were martyred as a result of these events. We have had persecutions, we have had fascism in the rise of Hitler in the last century, also we have had atheistic Communism, the corruption of the Papacy, the rise of secularism but we are living through the days of another great storm created from within our ranks and that is of religious and clerical sex abuse. The Church continually struggles against storms of many kinds. In the Gospel Jesus walks on the sea towards the boat and the disciples are terrified. Jesus reassures them “Take courage, it is I, fear not” (Matthew 14:27). In these words we hear the words spoken to Moses at the Burning Bush “I am who I am” (Exodus 3:14). The presence of Jesus is the saving presence of God. The Church through its long voyage in history and seemingly abandoned by its Lord is not forgotten. This passage assures the faithful that divine concern is never truly absent but is ever ready, even in darkest moments to save. The story of Peter getting out of the boat to walk towards him is an expression of his faith but he takes his eyes off Jesus for a few moments and “sees” instead the force of the wind. His plea for rescue “O Lord save me” (Matthew 14:30) is a prayer we still pray in Church. Jesus gently asks Peter, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” speaks to all of us. Like Peter we are all mixtures of boldness and fear, strength and weakness. We can make Peter’s cry for rescue our own and feel, as he felt, the Lord’s strong hand reaching out to draw us up from the deep. St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) prayed: “Let nothing disturb you, Let nothing frighten you, All things are passing away: God never changes. Patience obtains all things Whoever has God lacks nothing; God alone suffices”.
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Feasts of the Week: Monday: St. Maximilian Kolbe (1894-1941) Franciscan priest, He worked in the apostolate of the press in Poland & Japan and died in Auschwitz. Tuesday: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Thursday: Our Lady of Knock. On 21 August 1879 a miraculous apparition was witnessed by fifteen people, young and old on the south gable of Knock Parish Church. It is now a recognised Marian Shrine.
Tuesday Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Masses are at 10.30am, 12noon & 7pm.
Thanks for the collection last week. It came to £1940. We appreciate your generosity. Thanks also to all who help in our weekend liturgy. Thank you to August Church Cleaning Group for their continued hard work.
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We welcome Antony Connelly; a Passionist from Glasgow. Antony will be a member of this Community at The Graan for the next few months. He will be helping out in celebrating Mass and hearing confessions.
Exposition: Continues each Friday from 10am – 2pm. Shop: Monday to Saturday – 9.30 – 7pm. Sun 9.30pm – 4pm.
Guild Mass Cards: Our selection includes Deceased, Get Well, Wedding, Graduation, Wedding etc.
Cost £2.
Sun & Mon no duty. Mass Mon 14th Aug @ 7pm – Antony Connelly.
Confessions: Tues to Fri 2pm – 5pm.
Sat 5pm – 6pm. Mass: Tues – Fri @ 7pm. Duty: Tues – Brian. Wed – Arthur. Thurs – Antony Connelly.
Fri & Sat – Anthony.
Gluten-Free Hosts: If you are Coeliac and you wish to receive communion please come up to the altar and stand beside the Eucharistic Minsters where you will receive the gluten-free host.
Belcoo Sports Day: Takes place tomorrow Tuesday the 15th. For further info: belcoosportsandfestival@hotmail.co.uk.
Recently Deceased
Sean Mc Henry, Torrhead, Co Antrim
Sean Martin, Kinawley
Michael Mc Girr, Coa
Art Mc Rory, Dungannon
Tony Baxter, Omagh
Felix Hannigan, Maguiresbridge
Anniversaries
Tommy, Mary & Rosemary Durnien, Main Street, Lisnaskea
Vincent & Frances Mulligan, Killygullen, Lisnaskea
Colum Maguire, Sligo Rd, Enniskillen
Bernie Gault, Hillview, Enniskillen
Moira Carleton, Ashwoods, Enniskillen, (Month’s Mind)
Maura Greene, Rossfad, Ballinamallard (Month’s Mind)
Caroline Cooney, Dublin & Enniskillen (Month’s Mind)
Maura Mc Mahon, Lackaghboy Park, Enniskillen
Tony Cox, Swanley formerly Garvary, Enniskillen
Peter & May Brewster, Ashwoods, Enniskillen
Thomas & Catherine Hunter & the Hunter Family
John Gormley, Roscor,Belleek
Brigid (Bridie) Wilson, Omagh
Vincent Fee, Ratoran, Tempo
Sarah Mc Manus, Drumaraw, Springfield
The Mc Manus Family, Carngreen, Boho
Margaret & Tom Mc Kervey, Fairgreen Street, Irvinestown
Eugene & Josephine Quigley & Quigley family, Bellanaleck
Margaret Boyle & the Boyle family, Bellanaleck
Patrick & Eileen O’Connor, Aughleam, Co Mayo
Mary & Patrick Rooney, Manorhamilton, Co Leitrim
Hugh D’Arcy, Bellanaleck
