Weekly Bulletin 1st May 2022

Today is the Third Sunday of Easter. Today’s Gospel (John 21:1-19) has many different themes contained within it. In its opening sequence we find the apostles all at sea. They are confused, lost, and empty.  They are still reeling from the death of their Master.  They don’t know what to do with themselves and so in a kind of reflex action, they revert to their old trade of fishing.  The unprofitable night indicates that they were both literally and figuratively at sea.  “Have you caught anything?” (John 21:5) asks a voice at the shoreline.  They answer: “We laboured all night long and have caught nothing.“ And we pause on hearing this.  Aren’t those frequently our words?  How often have we, in one form or another, spoken them after fruitlessly trying to pick up the pieces of life after the death of a spouse, or a setback or the loss of a job or a sickness, or a divorce? Nothing! We have caught nothing! And so like the disciples we labour at familiar tasks.  We keep busy.  But it seems all day long and all night long we catch nothing.  There is just an empty net.  But then one day we are aware of a stranger on the shore-line. We can’t quite make him out, but one day there is someone there and this time something connects.  A friend walks into our life or maybe we’re struck by a Bible verse we’ve heard a hundred times before;  there is a new and encouraging word, a slow sensation that things are beginning to move.  We find there is a nibble on the net!! This gospel is a message of hope in those empty times. This gospel is also the gospel of the “second chance”! Remember who were in those boats.  Yes, they were once Jesus disciples!  They were the ones who fled when he was arrested. They were the ones who fell asleep when he needed a bit of comfort. They were the ones when the going got tough abandoned him. And there too, was Peter the leader, most prominent in this story.  He was there.  Remember he denied even knowing Jesus.  It is to these that Jesus appears.  And he has a question.  And it is urgently important that you realise the question is not; “What have you done?” The question is not; “Who were in you in the past?” The question is not; “Do you remember your sins?” The question had nothing to do with the past and everything to do with the present.  His question is simple;  “Do you love me?” Let bygones be bygones. Let sins be forgotten. Let mistakes be put aside. Let stupidities be buried. Let hurts be unrecorded. Let betrayals be unmentioned.  All that matters is, “Right here and right now do you love me?” Scholars tell us that this Gospel was not written by St. John but by one of his disciples. It was added on to the original Gospel later. This was why the gospel was saved by the faith community.  It was saved for people like ourselves who also needed to know that the Stranger on the shore of our lives as we toil with empty nets loves us and calls us to respond. 

Feasts of the Week: Monday St. Athanasius: Born in 295. He was the chief defender of Christian orthodoxy in the 4th-century battle against Arianism, the heresy that the Son of God was a creature of like, but not of the same, substance as God the Father. Tuesday: St Philip and James (Apostles) Philip born in Bethsaida was a disciple of John the Baptist and became a follower of Jesus. James was the son of Alphaeus and cousin of the Lord. He ruled the Church in Jerusalem. He was martyred in the year 62. Thursday: Blessed Edmund Rice (1762-1844) From Kilkenny. Founder of the Christian Brothers and the Presentation Brothers. 

Thank you for the collection last weekend. It came to £1630. Thank you for your support during these very difficult financially stringent times. A word of thanks also to our Ushers, Ministers of the Eucharist, Readers and all who help in our religious services.

Bank Holiday Monday: Mass will be at 11am. There will be no 7pm Mass. The shop will be open until 4pm.

Church Cleaning Group: will meet on Wednesday next 4^th May.

Our Shop is now fully stocked for those wishing to buy a gift for anyone who is making their First Holy Communion or Confirmation. Guild Mass Cards: Deceased, Mass Bouquets, Get Well, Wedding etc.

Exposition: Continues each Friday from 10am – 2pm.

Confessions & Duty: Sunday & Monday – No Duty. Mass Bank Holiday Monday @ 11am only.

Masses: Tuesday to Friday @ 7pm.

Duty: Tues 2pm – 5pm  – Brian. Wed – Victor.  Thurs – Arthur.  Fri – Anthony. Sat 5 – 6pm. Sat – Anthony.  

Anniversaries

Mary & Billy Armstrong, Sligo Rd, Enniskillen

John Mc Cusker, Tempo

Helen Duffin, Belfast

Bernadette Gallagher, Lisnaskea

Mary & Henry Mc Goldrick, Omagh

Sean Mc Gowan, Drumcose, Enniskillen