Today is the Sixth Sunday of Easter. In the Gospel today (John 14:15-21) Jesus is giving His last will and testament to the disciples. The disciples are uncertain about their future without Jesus bodily presence with them. The questions that are in the background, from the disciples, can be summed up in the following way. (1) How will the followers manage after the master has left? (2) Will he be present in another way? (3) How should the followers behave in a practical way? In some ways, the answer to all three problems is the same: the Spirit will keep the spirit of Jesus alive and they will know this by their love; such love will keep them in the communion with the Father and with Jesus himself. The words of the gospel today are deeply intimate and they cannot be understood with the head, only but with the heart. As we spend time with Jesus words we begin to realise that it not just the disciples’ story, it is also our story, a story we experience on a deep level. It is another reminder to us that all beings are sacred, all beings carry divine DNA within. We are being asked to begin again to see God present within ourselves, in others and in all of creation. We could ask ourselves the questions “What prevents you from growing in deeper awareness of God’s indwelling presence in yourself and in others? Some possibilities might be our everyday concerns, busyness or a lack of space or silence. Take time to pray this Gospel and recall a moment of grace where you saw your life as sacred, aware of Christ’s presence within. Father Pedro Arrupe SJ, (1907-1991), from Spain, was the 28th Superior General of the Jesuits from 1965 to 1983. He was a man of great spiritual depth who was committed to justice. He said: “The greatest things you’ll ever learn is to love and be loved in return.” In one of his letters he writes: “Nothing is more practical than finding God, that is, than falling in love, in a quite absolute, final way. What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything. It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning, what you will do with your evening, how you will spend your weekends, what you read, who you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude. Fall in love, stay in love and it will decide everything.”
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Feasts of the Week: Tuesday: St. Gemma Galgani from Lucca, Italy born in 1878 who died at the age of 25 in 1903. She was a Passionist mystic and is called the “Daughter of the Passion” Gemma wished to become a Passionist nun, but her poor health prevented her from being accepted. She offered this disappointment to God as a sacrifice.
Thanks for the collection last week. It came to £1785. Thanks also to our Ministers of the Eucharist, Readers, Ushers and Singers who help at our weekend liturgies.
Passionist Vocation Retreat: A weekend retreat for young men interested in knowing more about life as a priest or brother in the Passionist Community will be held at the Passionist Monastery, Tobar Mhuire, Crossgar, County Down, beginning on the evening of Friday, 2 June and ending with lunch on Sunday, 4 June. If you are interested, please contact Fr Paul Francis CP at passionistvocations@gmail.com
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, Birthday, Anniversaries, Wedding etc.Cost £2.
Sunday & Monday no duty. Mass Monday 15th May @ 7pm. Confessions: Tues to Fri 2pm – 5pm.
Sat 5pm – 6pm. Mass: Tues – Fri @ 7pm. Tues – Brian. Wed – Victor. Thurs – Arthur. Fri – Anthony. 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.
May Rosary will take place at Our Lady’s Grotto each evening in May at 6.30pm. All are welcome to join.
Recently Deceased
Ann Mc Barron, nee Harvey, Enniskillen
Fr Kevin Mullin, Drumquin
Kathleen Maguire, Clones
Brendan Mc Cann, Coa
Gerry Dolan, Lisnaskea
Charlie Keenan, Trillick
Cornelius (Neilly) Mc Cabe, Lurgan
Anniversaries
Angela Acheson, Blaney & parents Kate & Denis Mc Guinness
John & Annie Hassard, Drumlyon, Enniskillen
John Mc Cusker, Tempo
Mary Ackroyd, Warwickshire & formerly Tempo
Frank Hunter, Isle of Man & formerly Dromore
Noel Hunter, Dromore & Enniskillen
Agnes Gray, Holywell, Belcoo
John & Catherine Mc Gullion, Derrygonnelly
Mary Keown, Roscor, Belleek
Patrick Joseph Campbell, Keady
Tommy Mc Cusker, Toneyglaskin, Tempo
Tom Horan, Renmore, Co Galway
