Weekly Bulletin 18th July 2021

Today is the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Last Sunday’s Gospel we had the apostles sent out to preach and heal, and in today’s Gospel (Mark 6:30-34) we have them returning to Jesus full of their own importance – “The apostles rejoined Jesus and told him all they had done and taught”  Jesus calls them to stop and rest so that they might become aware of where their true power lies – from the Good Shepherd who constantly leads them “in the right path” (Psalm 22).No wonder Jesus looks at the people with great compassion because they were “like sheep without a shepherd” (Mark 6:34). We too can be scattered, unfocused, tossed about by anxieties, rushing here and there, without purpose or goal – and today we are called to stop and reflect what is going on in our lives. “Trust in the Lord and do what is good, make your home in me and live in peace, make the Lord your only joy and He will give you what your heart desires” (Psalm 37:3). We live today in an age of anxiety. The Covid 19 pandemic is costing us all great stress. We also live in an achievement-oriented society that determines people’s worth by the level and the number of their achievements – such is the air we breathe. In China the polite answer to “How are you?” Is “I am very busy thank you” If you are very busy then you must be fine. Successful people, we think are very busy people! Effective people are busy people. Religious people are busy people. For millions and millions of people busy-ness is a way of life. But it is not the Gospel “Come aside and rest awhile” (Mark 6:31). Abraham Herschel (1907-1972) said that the first holy thing in creation was not a people or a place but a day! God made everything in creation and called it good but when God rested on the seventh day, God called it holy. (Genesis 2:3). That makes the seventh day a “palace in time” Herschel says in which human beings are invited to participate in every single week of our lives! Cardinal Cushing (1895-1970) of Boston composed this prayer: “Slow me down Lord! Ease the pounding of my heart by the quieting of my mind. Steady my “hurried” pace with a vision of the eternal reach of time. Give me amid the confusion of the day, the calmness of the everlasting hills….Teach me the art of slowing down to look at a flower, to chat with a friend, to pet a dog, to read a few lines from a good book…Slow me down, Lord, and inspire me to send my roots deep into the soil of life’s enduring values that I may grow toward the stars of my greater destiny. That I may find you, my God”.

Feasts of the Week: Thursday: St. Mary Magdalene – stood by the Cross and is known as the “Apostle to the Apostles” Friday: St. Bridget of Sweden (1303-1373) Wrote many works on her mystical experiences. Declared Patron of Europe in 2000. Saturday: Blessed Niceforo of Jesus and Mary (Diez Tejerina) and his 25 martyr companions were all members of the Passionist Community of Daimiel Spain. Martyred during the Spanish Civil War in 1931.

Thank you for your generous weekend collection. It came to £1755. A word of thanks also to our Ushers and Ministers of the Eucharist for helping in our religious services. Please continue to wear a mask while in our Church Building, sanitise your hands and keep social distance.  Covid has not gone away – you know! 

Chapter 2021: Our community will be attending our Chapter in Larne this week from Monday evening to Friday afternoon. We are grateful that Fr. Brendan McManus S.J. will cover for us and as a result confessions and weekday Masses will continue here at the usual times. A Chapter is held every four years to elect a new Provincial and team who will in their turn elect new Superiors for our various houses across Ireland, Scotland and France. Please pray that it will be a time of grace and blessing for the Passionists living in these islands at this critical time in our history. 

Mass Monday(19^th July) @ 7pm –  Fr Brendan Mc Manus S.J Confessions (Tues to Fri) 2 – 5pm & Mass at 7pm.  

Tues: Fr Brendan S.J. Wed: Fr Brendan S.J. Thurs – Fr Brendan S.J. Fri – Fr Anthony. Sat – 5pm to 6pm –  Fr Anthony.

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

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament every Friday 10:00am  – 2:00pm.

Our Shop: Mon to Sat: 9.30am – 7pm. Sunday 9.30 – 4pm.