Weekly Bulletin 14th November 2021

Today is the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. The second sentence in today’s first reading from the prophet Daniel declares “There is going to be a time of great distress unparalleled since nations first came into existence” (Daniel 12:2). Next Sunday is the last Sunday of the Church’s year and the theme of the readings today speaks of the ‘end times.” This subject is always to the fore when we come to the end of the liturgical year in the Church. We know, for example, that climate change poses a dire threat to civilisation. We know that biodiversity loss and the sixth mass extinction could precipitate sudden, irreversible, catastrophic shifts in the global ecosystem. A thermonuclear exchange could blot out the Sun for years or decades, bringing about the collapse of global agriculture.These “end times” scenarios now being discussed are based not on the revelations of religious prophets, but on robust scientific conclusions defended by leading experts in fields such as climatology, ecology, epidemiology and so on. What is the Christian response to this? Do we throw our hands up in despair? Lock our door and hide under the bed? No. The Old Testament speaks for the first time of “everlasting life” The last sentence of the first reading declares “The learned will shine as brightly as the vault of heaven and those who have instructed many in virtue, as bright as stars for all eternity” (Daniel 12:3). How do we live in the world today so that we are such stars and beacons of hope and life in the midst of distress, wars, destruction and ecological disasters? Jesus tells us today in his Gospel (Mark 13:24-32) that His love for us is secure “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” (Mark 13:31). The only way to prepare for an unpredictable event is to make the present time a time of fidelity and integrity. When we do that then there is nothing to fear.  When we have finished praying the Our Father at Mass, the priest prays on behalf of the people “Deliver us, Lord we pray from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days that by the help of your mercy we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Saviour, Jesus Christ”

Feasts of the Week: Wednesday: St. Elizabeth of Hungary (1207-1231), a queen at fourteen, widowed & exiled at twenty, Franciscan tertiary until her death at twenty-four. A woman of prayer and service of the poor. Thursday: Blessed Grimoaldo of the Purification CP. Italian Passionist clerical student (1883-1902) Died of acute meningitis. Beatified by Pope (St.) John Paul 11 in 1995. 

Thanks: Thank you for your very generous collection of £1870 last weekend. Thanks also to our Ushers and Eucharistic ministers who help in the smooth running of our religious services.

Masses Mon to Fri @ 7pm. Confessions: Tues – Fri 2.00pm – 5.00pm   Sat 5.00pm to 6.00pm.                                

Mass (15^th Nov @ 7pm) – Brian.  Tues – Brian.  Wed – Charles. Thurs – Arthur. Fri – Anthony & Sat – Arthur.   

November Dead Lists are available in our Church. Mass will celebrated here every day during the month of November for the names of your dead friends and relatives that you have inscribed in the list. “It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins”. (2 Maccabees 12:46)

Graan Draw: Tickets are available at all the doors of our Church. The draw will take place on the 17 December 2021. This is the only fund-raising activity that we have and we would appreciate your support as always. The prizes are: 1^st Prize – £5000, 2nd prize – £1000 & a further 5 prizes of £100. Thanks to everyone who bought tickets at Swifts in Lisnaskea.                                                                                                                                

The Shop has restocked for Christmas. There are a great selection of cribs on display as well as candles & suitable gifts for Christmas as well as Christmas Mass Bouquets.  Cost £2 / €2.50. Mon to Sat:  9.30am – 7pm. Sun 9.30 – 4.30pm.