Weekly Bulletin 22nd May 2022

Today is the Sixth Sunday of Easter. On Tuesday 24 May of this week, the day is dedicated as “World Day of Prayer for the Church in China” This day was instituted by Pope Benedict in May 2007. At the beginning of this month the ninety year old Cardinal Joseph Zen of Hong Kong was arrested by the communist authorities and is now out on bail. Joseph was born into a Catholic family in Shanghai in  China in1932, and he left for Hong Kong, then a British colony, in 1948, a year before the Communist takeover of the mainland. Joseph Zen adopted an activist role, against the communist authorities after he was appointed Hong Kong’s junior bishop in 1996, the year before Britain handed control of the city to Beijing. He frequently drew the wrath of China’s Communist leaders, who called him a “Vatican agent.” Bishop Zen backed the city’s pro-democracy movement and was an outspoken critic of proposed anti-subversion legislation that officials were forced to shelve. He went on a three-day hunger strike to protest at government plans to curtail the influence of churches in publicly funded schools. Joseph Zen when he was a junior bishop took over the Hong Kong diocese in 2002 and Pope Benedict XVI named him a cardinal in 2006. Cardinal Zen retired from the Hong Kong post in 2009.  Cardinal Zen was released on bail on 12 May and a source close to him said the cardinal was set to appear in court on this Tuesday 24 May, adding it was possible that he would be further detained, should charges be laid. His arrest is a cause of concern about the situation for human rights and threats to religious freedom in Hong Kong. Myanmar Cardinal Charles Bo, the president of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences, issued a statement on May 14, he said; ““Hong Kong used to be one of Asia’s freest and most open cities. Today, it has been transformed into a police state,….freedom of expression, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly and association, and academic freedom have all been dismantled. There are early signs that freedom of religion or belief, a human right set out in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Hong Kong is a party, is threatened….to see a city that was a beacon for freedom, including religious freedom, move so radically and swiftly down a much darker and more repressive path is heartbreaking. To see a government in China break its promises made in an international treaty, the Sino-British Joint Declaration, so repeatedly and blatantly, is appalling” In the Gospel today (John 14:23-29) Jesus says “Peace I bequeath you, my own peace I give you, a peace the world cannot give, this is my gift to you” We remember our Christian brothers and sisters in China this week and we pray that the peace that Jesus promised to all will become a reality for them.  We pray for the church in China, as well as the Uyghurs, Tibetans and others facing persecution

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Feasts of the Week: Thursday: St. Philip Neri (1515-1595). Italian priest who founded the Oratorians. 

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Thanks for the generous collection last week of £1540.  A word of thanks also to all those who use our DONATE button on our web-site and have set up a standing order with us to contribute to the support of our mission here in the Graan. May your kindness and thoughtfulness be rewarded.

Thanks also to our Ministers of the Eucharist, Readers and Ushers who help in the smooth running of our religious services. Please continue to wear a mask when you come to our Church and if you have forgotten to bring a mask ask one of our ushers and they will get one for you. Do not let the absence of a mask prevent you from prayer! 

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Vocation Evening: Father Gareth Thomas our Vocation Director for the North of Ireland will be with us on the evening of the 21 June at 7:00 pm to celebrate Mass and speak about the Passionist Vocation. If you know of anyone interested in our way of life please invite them and they will have an opportunity to meet with Fr. Gareth after the Mass. There are posters in the porches of our church giving details of this event. 

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Our Shop: We have a range First Holy Communion or Confirmation items, statues, pictures, medals, etc.

Guild Mass Cards: Deceased, Mass Bouquets, Get Well, Wedding, Exam, Graduation, New Born, Special Occasion, etc.

The May Rosary continues each evening at 6.30pm at Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto here at the Graan All welcome.

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

Confessions & Duty: Sun & Mon – No Duty. Mass Mon (23^RD May) @ 7pm:Arthur. Monday to Friday Mass @ 7pm.

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