Weekly Bulletin 21st February 2021

Masses on webcam are Mon to Fri Mass @ 7pm.  Sat – Vigil @ 6.30pm.  Sun 10.30am, 12noon & 4pm

Today is the First Sunday of Lent: Next weekend we begin our Novena of Hope here in the Graan on the webcam only. We are still in lockdown mode. We celebrate today our first Sunday in Lent. I am sure that for many it feels like this pandemic already has been one year-long Lent.  We would now say to Jesus, haven’t we given up enough?  We’ve given up hugs and kisses. We’ve given up, visits to the pub, concerts and social gatherings. We’ve given up birthday parties and holidays. No question this past year has tested our faith, especially those who have lost a loved one to Covid 19! What else is there to sacrifice? The many months of mask wearing and social distancing have taken self-sacrifice to a new level. But giving up something because you have to just isn’t the same as because you want to. Lent is as good a time as any to appreciate the true meaning of sacrifice.  This  pandemic has been a “long Lent” because in some way everyone has made sacrifices during the pandemic for the betterment of each other. Whether it’s wearing a mask, or adding a little extra in your contributions to those places that are struggling to keep themselves afloat. However giving up alcohol in the year of our Lord 2021 doesn’t carry too much weight when you can’t go to the pub because they are closed! But Lent is about more than just sacrifices. Fasting aside, Lent also is about praying and giving, two acts of goodwill that can galvanise and unite people even as a pandemic forces them apart. Lent also allows us time to think about what our life will be like as we move into and prepare for the post-pandemic life. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at the beginning of the great Easter Triduum on Holy Thursday evening. The practice of using ashes in worship comes from the ancient Jewish tradition of penance and fasting. The ashes symbolise the dust from which God made us. As the priest applies the ashes to a person’s forehead, he speaks the words: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return. “Alternatively, the priest may speak the words, “Repent and believe in the Gospel.” Ashes also symbolise grief, in this case, grief that we have sinned. This year we did not distribute any ashes on Ash Wednesday here in the Graan. We did miss this outward sign, a cross-mark on the forehead, of a willingness to make an inward change in our lives. I know many people who are not known for their Church-going also felt the loss this year of this ancient practice keenly.  The use of ashes speaks into something deep within us,  – it is archetypal. It speaks into the reality of who we are: –  human, vulnerable, fragile and finite.  Lent is that sacred time, where we become aware that we are constantly called to conversion and to renewal of life. 

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Lent is A Season for FASTING, A season for FEASTING

Sat 27th February: Feast day of the patron of the Graan Monastery, St Gabriel. Mass will be celebrated on the webcam at 12noon. Blessing with the relic after Mass on the webcam.  

Novena of Hope 2021: Takes place next weekend Sat 27^th Feb – 8^th March 2021. Due to Covid restrictions our Church will be closed to the public but the Novena can be viewed on our web-cam at www.thegraan.com.  If you have not the facility to go on-line you can join with us in prayer in your own home. You can download the Novena and petitions leaflets or you can telephone  the Graan and we’ll send the leaflets and petitions out to you. Telephone: 028 66322272.

Thank you for your prayers and support during this time of lockdown. We appreciate those who have used the DONATE button on our web-site to send us donations. We are grateful to those who sent in their contributions by post or through our letter box. These are difficult times for all of us and we want to assure you that you are all being remembered in the prayers of this community. 

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Masses: Due to the Covid regulations our Masses are not open to the public but, if you have the facility, you are more than welcome to join us via the web-cam and pray with us. We do miss your physical presence with us but it is good to know that you are with us by the miracle of technology!  

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Our Shop: If you wish to contact us as regards purchasing cards please ring us during office hours (9:30 am – 4:00 pm) or visit our web-site www.thegraan.com and we will try our best to facilitate you.

PRAYER THROUGH LENT: Resources to help families and individuals pray at home this Lent are available on our diocesan website www.clogherdiocese.ie. Also, livestream connections to all our parishes are accessible on the home page of the website. May prayer draw us deeper into the presence of the Lord as we journey together towards Easter.  

ONLINE TALKS FOR LENT – Awaken Our Baptismal Calling in Parish Ministry. The first of our online talks will be held on www.clogherdiocese.ie and on the Diocese of Clogher Facebook page on this Wednesday 24 February at 7.30pm when the speaker will be Julie Kavanagh on Baptism and Parish Ministry. No booking necessary. 

LOUGH DERG TALKS PILGRIMAGE online in a trio of talks. These talks offer insight about the experience of pilgrimage. Dates: 23 February, 6 & 23 March @7.30pm. Spaces are booking up quickly. For further information and to register contact info@loughderg.org or 071 9861518. www.loughderg.org