Weekly Bulletin 19th February 2023

Today is the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. Today is also Temperance Sunday. It is a day which offers us an opportunity to reflect on our relationship with various forms of addiction and a day on which we can take time to pray for those who suffer from addiction. The Responsorial Psalm 102 that we pray in today’s Mass gives us a wonderful description of God. It states – “The Lord is compassion and love, slow to anger and rich in mercy// He does not treat us according to our sins nor repay us according to our faults” In other words God is a forgiving God. Today’s Gospel (Matthew 5:38-48) calls us to manifest that quality of forgiveness and mercy in our own daily lives. We recall the time after the horrific bomb in Enniskillen on the 8 November 1987 that good Christian man Gordon Wilson (1927-1995) spoke on the loss of his daughter Marie. He spoke about holding the hand of his dying daughter, as they lay together in the rubble. These were his words “Daddy, I love you very much.’ Those were her exact words to me, and those were the last words I ever heard her say” He then, amazingly went on to say “But I bear no ill will. I bear no grudge. Dirty sort of talk is not going to bring her back to life. She was a great wee lassie. She loved her profession. She was a pet. She’s dead. She’s in heaven and we shall meet again. I will pray for these men tonight and every night.”    Where did he get the strength to come out with such words? It is evident that his Christian faith was not merely a matter of words and sounds but this statement came from the heart of a man who was soaked in the Gospel edict of “love of your enemy”.  Jesus tells us this in the Gospel today “You have learnt how it was said: you must love your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I say this to you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5: 43). It is a difficult task to love your enemy. We cannot do it on our own. We need the power of God’s Spirit to help us. We need to ask for that help. The opening prayer of the Mass today states: “Keep before us the wisdom and love you have revealed in your Son. Help us to be like him in word and deed.”

One of the reasons why we receive the Eucharist is to help us to become more like Jesus. We are challenged at each Mass to become what we receive. As St. Augustine lay dying in the year 430 AD, at that same time, the Vandals were attacking and pillaging all along the North African coast. The city of Hippo – St. Augustine’s city – was being destroyed. They were difficult times. Augustine wrote “You all say, “the times are troubled, the times are hard, the times are wretched. Live good lives and you will change the times by living good lives. You will change the times and then you will have nothing to grumble about”

Feasts of the Week:  Wednesday: Ash Wednesday. The beginning of the Lenten season. Ashes will be distributed at the Graan after the 12noon & 7:00pm Masses on this day.  Friday: Worldwide Day of Prayer for Survivors and Victims of Sexual Abuse. “Lord we are sorry for what some of us did to your children treated them so cruelly especially in their hour of need. We have left them with a lifelong suffering. That was not your plan for them or us. Please help us to help them. Guide us Lord. Amen”

Thank you for the collection last week. It came to £1650. We appreciate your support of our mission here at the Graan. Thanks to our Readers, Ushers, Singers, and Ministers of the Eucharist who help us with the liturgy every weekend. Thank you for your service.

Novena of Hope begins on the Second Sunday of Lent from the 4 March to the 13 March. Please keep this event in your prayers that it will be a time of grace and healing for the people who will attend. The Novena posters and petitions leaflets are available for distribution at the reception.

Eucharistic & Readers: Please return your rotas this week in time for the Novena by post or email. 

Children:  In preparation for the Novena of Hope we invite children through schools, and individually to submit posters. You always do such a superb job. Car Park: If anyone would like to volunteer to help in the car park leave your name & details @ reception.  

SAVE OUR ACUTE SERVICES, Vigil at the Townhall, Tuesday 21st February at 6.30pm. There is a special meeting between the Council and SOAS (Save our Acute Services) taking place in the Townhall. It is vital that the Fermanagh Community turn up, thus showing our support for saving our Emergency surgical services and our disgust at what the Trust is trying to do!! WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT, PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD!

Sunday & Monday no duty. Mass Monday (20^th Feb) @ 7pm – Charles.

Confessions: Tues to Fri 2pm – 5pm.  Sat 5pm – 6pm.    

Tues – Brian. 

Ash Wednesday –  Charles. Mass @ 12noon & 7pm.  

Thurs – Arthur.  

Fri – Anthony & Sat – Anthony. 

Shop: Open Mon to Sat – 9.30 – 7pm. Sun 9.30pm – 4pm. 

Guild Mass Cards: Our selection includes Deceased, Mass Bouquets, Get Well, Novena of Hope, St Patrick’s Wedding, Birthday, Anniversaries, Christening, New Home Bouquets & Mother’s Day Mass Bouquets. Cost £2.  We have a new range of Novena &Holy Communion and Confirmation items now in stock.