Weekly Bulletin 21st August 2022

Today is the Twenty-First Sunday of the Year: The second reading at Mass today from the Letter to the Hebrews speaks of suffering. The author of the letter declares “Suffering is part of your training; God is treating you as his sons and daughters” (Hebrews 12:8) Dr. Viktor Frankl, author of the book “Man’s Search for Meaning,” (Rider 2004) was imprisoned by the Nazis during World War Two because he was a Jew. His wife, his children, and his parents were all killed in the holocaust. The Gestapo made him strip. He stood there totally naked. As they cut away His wedding ring, Viktor said to himself, “You can take my wife, you can take away my children, you can strip me of my clothes and my freedom, but there is one thing no person can ever take away from me-and that is my freedom to choose how I will react to what happens to me!” Even under the most difficult of circumstances, happiness is a choice which transforms our tragedies into triumph. Suffering is part of life. Cardinal Newman –  now Saint John Henry Newman – said that a preacher will preach himself until he has greatly suffered – let his heart be ploughed by some keen grief or deep anxiety and Scripture will be a new book to him!  (Grammar of Assent). When your heart is ploughed the seed can be planted. The retreat director and author Father Daniel O’Leary’s last book written during the last six months of his life called “Dancing to my Death with a Love Called Cancer” (Columba Press 2019) speaks of the mystery of God in the midst of suffering. Because of this cancer, the foundations of his faith were shaken, the pillars of his certainties fell and the usual faith strategies he shared with others no longer worked for him. Plunged into suffering so intense that shook every fibre of his being, he lost his centre as he wrestled with doubt, denial and desolation. He was shocked at the difference between his past ‘good and holy thoughts’ about dealing with cancer and dying, and the terrible, raw and relentless reality of it. Looking back on his past work he said that his teaching was too shallow – mental rather than visceral. Words, he declared, can never replace suffering and sacrifice. We meet people in great suffering. Only when we are deprived of something do we know how precious it is!  Pope Paul V1 (1897-1978) said that suffering and joy are compatible. Pope Paul VI, just some 48 years ago spoke of this same mystery at a General Audience (July 26, 1974). After he had given several addresses following the Church’s celebration of Pentecost with its corresponding outpouring of the Spirit, tongues of fire, charisms, and joy, the Pope said that this vision needed to be corrected with a second vision—the vision of the Cross, for `the Holy Spirit does not take the Cross away from human reality.’ He stated that the `fortune of grace’ and the `fortune of suffering’ are two experiences which `are not only possible together but are compatible.‘ Joy can follow suffering, but it can also co-exist with suffering. `The Christian can at the same time, have two different, opposite experiences which become complementary: sorrow and joy.’ …..

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Feasts of the Week: Monday: The Queenship of the BVM.

Wednesday: St. Bartholomew – identified as Nathanael of Cana whom Philip brings to the Lord. He preached the Gospel in India.

Friday: Blessed Dominic Barberi (1792-1849). An Italian Passionist who brought the Congregation to England He contributed to the conversion of John Henry Newman. In 1963, he was beatified by Pope Paul V1.     

Saturday: St. Monica (332-387). Her prayers and tears brought her son St. Augustine to Christianity and a moral life. She is patron saint of all mothers

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Thanks: Thank you for your very generous collection of £1700 last weekend. Thanks also to our Ushers, Readers, singers and Eucharistic ministers who help in the smooth running of our religious services.

Our Shop is open:  Monday to Friday from 9.30am -7pm and Sunday from 9.30 -5pm

Guild Mass Cards:  Deceased, Mass Bouquets, Get Well, Wedding, Christening, Graduation, New Born etc.

Confessions & Duty: Sunday & Monday  – No Duty. Mass (22^nd August)  @ 7pm – Brian

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

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament continues each Friday from 10am – 2pm.

Cuilcagh Mountain Dawn Trek to mark World Suicide Prevention Day takes place on Saturday 10^th September at 7am. For more info contact the Aisling Centre at info@theaislingcentre.com  or Telephone:02866325811.