Weekly Bulletin 17th January 2021

Today is the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. In the first reading today the old man Eli tells the boy Samuel to say to the Lord “Speak Lord your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:9) An anagram is when you rearrange letters to make different words, using the same letters.  Alfred Brendel, an Austrian pianist has a famous poster that says, “Listen and Silent are spelled with the same letters – coincidence? I don’t think so.” Everyone wants to talk and be heard, but it seems to me that so few know how to be silent and listen. Most people do not listen with the intent to understand. They listen with the intent to reply. To really listen to the other without judgment is so very difficult. It is so easy to fill your brain and drown out thoughts of your own with the thoughts of others. In itself this is not a bad thing, their words can help you think better. But best not to let them crossover at the same time. When you’re listening to yourself, silence the thoughts of others. When you’re listening to others, silence the thoughts of yourself. During these solitary quiet days of lockdown we have the luxury of time to really listen to what is going on within us in the silence of this new environment. Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) French mathematician and religious philosopher said that “All human misfortune comes from one thing alone, that is, not knowing how to be at rest in one’s own room…From this it follows that human beings so love noise and commotion, as well as the fact that prison is such horrible agony. And from this it follows that the pleasure of solitude is so incomprehensible.”  To really listen we need silence! For listening to yourself, get quiet. Go for long walks, (if you are able) write a letter to yourself. Use pen and paper if the latest film on Netflix is too tempting! For listening to others, try having a conversation without using the word ‘I’. Or by letting the other person talk more than you. It is not an easy task to listen.  Listen to the words of the psalm from the Mass of today: “You do not ask for sacrifice and offerings but an open ear. You do not ask for holocaust and victim. Instead here am I” (Psalm 39)

Feasts of the Week: Thursday: St. Agnes was a beautiful young Christian girl of good family who lived in Rome in the early 4th century. Agnes was only 12 or 13 years old when she was martyred on 21st January 304.The lamb, a symbol of purity, is one of the symbols associated with St Agnes.

Lockdown: Our Church will be open each day from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm for private prayer. Mass will be celebrated privately but if you have that facility you can view it on our web-site.  If you wish to donate to the Graan we have a “DONATE” button within our web-site. Thanks to all who have sent in donations, we are so grateful for your support. We are remembering you and all who are suffering during this dreadful time from the coronavirus. We also remember our gallant NHS medical staff and essential workers.  

Passionist Jubilee Indulgences: In celebration of the Passionist Jubilee Year, Pope Francis has granted special Jubilee Indulgences to those who visit The Graan, Enniskillen Co. Fermanagh (or any Passionist Church). This Jubilee Indulgence can be received every day in all Passionist churches during the Jubilee Year, which lasts until 1 January 2022. The conditions for the Jubilee Indulgences are (1) Spiritual Participation in the Jubilee of the Third Centenary of the Foundation of the Passionist Congregation. (2) A serious commitment to conversion confirmed by sacramental confession and participation in the Eucharist. (3) Prayer for the Pope’s Intentions. The elderly, the infirm and those who cannot leave the house, due to serious impediment can gain the Jubilee Indulgence by joining spiritually in the Jubilee celebrations, committing themselves to fulfilling the three condition (Confession, Holy Communion, Prayer for the Pope’s Intentions) as soon as possible.

The Annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: This begins tomorrow Monday 18 January and lasts until Monday the 25^th. The theme this year is “Abide in my love and you shall bear much fruit”, based on John 15:1-17. The resources for this year have been provided by the Monastic Community of Grandchamp in Switzerland. Because of Covid Regulations the Prayers for Christian Unity can be a subject for our own private prayers in our homes during this week

The Shop: If you wish to contact us as regards purchasing cards please ring us during office hours (9.30am – 4pm) or visit our website www.thegraan.com and we will try our best to facilitate you.