Weekly Bulletin 22nd March 2020

Sunday 22^nd March  2020  Fourth Sunday of Lent  (028 66322272) www.thegraan.com

Coronavirus update: 24/03/20

NOTICE

Due to the current circumstances our
shop and Monastery will remain closed

for the foreseeable future.

However our church will remain open
from 9.30am – 4pm each day

for private prayer.

There will be no Exposition of the
Blessed Sacrament on Friday.

May God bless you and your dear ones

during these difficult days.

Be assured of our prayers. Fr Charles

As you all know as a result of the recent regulations in the Diocese of Clogher we are unable to celebrate any public Masses. Therefore there will be no public Masses on Saturday evening and Sunday.

The Anniversary Masses for Saturday and Sunday will be celebrated privately by the priests here at the Monastery.

Prayer Groups: All Prayer Groups meetings are cancelled until further notice.

Today is called Laetare Sunday. On this Fourth Sunday of Lent traditionally Christians took a break from all their fasting and had a celebration. The word Laetare comes from the Entrance Antiphon of today’s Mass: “Rejoice, Jerusalem! Be glad for her, you who love her….”The word Laetare means “Rejoice”. Of course we do not have much to rejoice in during these days. The silent enemy of the coronavirus is in our midst. Instead of joy – anxiety and fear reign! But we are believers in Jesus who is our hope and our light. May the One who walked with the two frightened disciples on the road to Emmaus walk with us now and bless us with his Presence and may we hear his words deep in the silence of our own hearts “Do not be afraid!” Blessings to all mothers today and prayers for those affected by the coronavirus are being constantly remembered here in the prayers of the community in the Graan. Stay safe! Remember the Lord is the one who disappoints all our fears and fulfils all our hopes.

                                                                                            Blessings from:    Father Charles and the Community in the Graan

A Reflection from Rabbi Josef:   Let’s reflect a moment on the human, religious dimension of this present hour.

Two of the brand-new terms that have entered our daily conversation is “social distancing” and “self isolation”.  These are shorthand, as we know very well, for the practical physical precautions that we all need to and must take in order to protect ourselves and others. I’d humbly suggest though, that we use the terms sparingly, if at all. Language is a powerful shaper of thinking. And the very last thing we need right now, is a mindset of mutual distancing.

We actually need to be thinking in the exact opposite way. Every hand that we don’t shake must become a phone call that we place. Every embrace that we avoid must become a verbal expression of warmth and concern. Every inch and every foot that we physically place between ourselves and another, must become a thought as to how we might be of help to that other, should the need arise.

It is obvious that “distancing”, if misplaced or misunderstood, will take its toll not only upon our community’s strength and resiliency, but upon the very integrity and meaning of our spiritual commitment. And who knows if it was for this time that we have committed ourselves to walk in God’s ways.

Let’s stay safe. And let’s draw one another closer in a way that we’ve never done before.”

***

Pope Francis made a special Sunday afternoon visit to the icon of Mary at St Mary Majors Basilica, in Rome before which, as we know, St Paul of the Cross the founder of the Passionists made his vow to remember the Passion of Jesus.  Pope Francis went to pray before this icon whose name is Mary. Salvation of the People. He prayed this traditional prayer to our Blessed Mother We fly to Thy protection, O Holy Mother of God. Do not despise our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O Glorious and Blessed Virgin.

Guild Mass Cards: We have, Easter,  Deceased, Mass Bouquets, Get Well, Birthday, Special Occasion, Thinking of You & Exam Mass Bouquets which cost £2 / €2.50 each.  Please note if anyone would like Mass cards sent out to them by post,  feel free to give us a call or email us to thegraan@btconnect.com.  Telephone  028 (048) 66322272.