Weekly Bulletin 16th August 2020

Today is the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time:  Today’s Gospel (Matthew 15:21-28) is the story of a woman who won’t take “No” for an answer. If she was asking to be healed herself she would have left the scene long ago. But she was a mother. Her daughter was very sick. She would go to any length so that her child would be cured! The woman is an Canaanite – these people were ancestral enemies of the people that Jesus was born into. All of us have a history with people. Some good. Some bad. The coldness that Jesus displays to this woman, almost to the very end understandably troubles many. His initial responses to the poor woman’s request to free her daughter from demonic possession, do not point him out in a good light. Jesus was divine but he did not lose his humanity. Remember we are told that Jesus is the one… “who has been tempted every way that we are, though he is without sin” (Hebrews 4:15) and in (Luke 2:52) we read “Jesus increased in wisdom, in stature and in favour with God and man” From this woman Jesus learned a lesson. Even though Jesus told his disciples “ only to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matthew 10:6) – she shows Him that God’s care, compassion, and concern extends beyond all national boundaries, and the limits that our preconceived ideas put upon us. Hear those words in today’s first reading “My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples” (Isaiah 56:7). God is not some narrow-minded bigot! This unnamed woman is one of the great heroes of the gospel tradition. She drags the Jewish Messiah from an understanding that his powers were solely for the benefit of his own people. Even though she was from the “other side” –  her faith received an answer and her daughter was healed. She helps Jesus comprehend more fully what his mission was about. This woman stands in for us who, like her, are Gentiles – we can all learn from her faith. Jesus, himself, did not actively reach outside his own people but he commanded his disciples “Go, therefore, make disciples of all the nations: baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). We have our religion and we belong to God’s Church, but God has no religion nor does God belong exclusively to any Church.

Last week our prayer room above the shop has undergone a deep clean. We are also getting the chairs in that prayer room re-covered – all 50 of them! The room will have a TV monitor connected to the sanctuary in our church and in the next couple of weeks we will be able to use it as an over-flow room for those who cannot get into the main body of our church. The other overflow room will be the old sacristy which will also have a TV monitor. Thank you for your contributions to our weekly collections and to the many anonymous donations sent into us by various means towards the upkeep of the Graan. Thanks also to all our ushers who help our visitors to acquaint themselves with our new seating arrangements here in the Graan. A little word of appreciation also to those who so readily help to clean the seats of the Church and door handles after each Mass. If you pick up a bulletin, please do not leave it in the church, but take it home with you.  Despite the restrictions of social distancing etc our shop continues to be very busy and we appreciate your custom. You are being remembered everyday in the prayers of this community. Fr. Charles C.P.

Friday Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from 10am until 2pm.  Confessions Tues to Fr 2- 5pm. Saturday 5pm – 6pm.

DUTY FOR THE WEEK:  Sun 16^th &  Mon 17^th  No Duty. (Monday to Friday) Mass @ 7pm –  Charles.   Tues  –  Charles.  Wed – Charles.  Thurs – Charles. Fri – Anthony. Sat –  Anthony.

Feasts of the Week: Monday: Our Lady of Knock: On 21 August 1879 Our Lady, St. Joseph and John the Evangelist appeared to fifteen people young and old at the southern gable of Knock Parish Church. Co. Mayo. It is an internationally recognised Marian Shrine. Thursday: St. Bernard (1090-1153) Abbot of Clairvaux. Advisor to popes, – had a solid grasp of biblical studies, spiritual theology and philosophy. Bernard died at the age of 63, after 40 years as a monk. He was the first Cistercian placed on the calendar of saints.  Friday: St. Pius X (1835-1914) Became Pope in 1903. Encouraged frequent communion especially for young children. Saturday: Queenship of Mary: This feast was established in 1955 at end of Marian Year by Pius X11 to stress the connection of Mary’s queenship with the Assumption.

Shop Opening Hours: Mon to Sat: 9.30am – 7.30pm. Sunday – 9.30am – 5pm.

Guild Mass Cards: We have a wide selection of cards for Deceased, Mass Bouquets, Get Well, Birthday, Special Occasion, Wedding, Thinking of You  and Exam Mass Bouquets which cost £2 / €2.50 each. We value your support.