Weekly Bulletin 23rd October 2022

Today is the Thirtieth Sunday of the Year. Today also is Mission Sunday.  The collection taken up at all Masses today will go to Missio Ireland. Missio Ireland is the Irish branch of the Pontifical Mission Societies. They are the Holy Father’s official charity for overseas mission. Wherever the Church is present, they are there, meaning they can reach out across five continents to support over 1,100 mission dioceses. Each Missio is headed by a National Director, appointed by the Holy Father. The theme of this year’s Mission Sunday is “You shall be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8). In the Gospel today (Luke 18:9-14) Jesus speaks about two men going up to the temple to pray but there is only one who is really praying! The Pharisee makes his prayer. We have no reason to doubt what he declares. He begins his prayer with a thanksgiving to God for keeping him good, not for the goodness in God; and he concludes with a disregard for others. He believes that all in him is godly. He is unaware that he loves no one, neither God nor his neighbour; he doesn’t recognise how corrupted his prayer has become. He sees evil outside of himself. The tax-collector, considered a sinner on two counts: being a bad person and because he collected taxes for Rome, expresses his relationship with God in a simple supplication that he repeats various times, as he strikes his chest: “God be merciful to me a sinner”. Given his extreme poverty, it is only in God that he can find his salvation. Jesus praised the tax-collector. In doing so, Jesus is not inviting us to be sinners so that God will pay attention to us. Jesus is inviting us to discover that we are loved for our frailty and not for our excess of piety. He asks us to be humble; not to come before God (nor before others) praising our virtues and our good works. Whoever thinks he is rich, asks for nothing. Whoever considers himself wise, doesn’t ask questions. Whoever thinks he is perfect, has no need to beg pardon for anything. We read in today’s first reading (Ecclesiasticus 35:12-19) “The Lord shows no respect of personages to the detriment of the poor man…the prayer of the humble person pierces the clouds.” Contrasting with these reflections it would appear to be St. Paul the Apostle’s attitude as he praises his own merits. Listen to what he says in today’s second reading (2 Timothy 4:6-18) “I have fought the good fight to the end, I have run the race to the finish; I have kept the faith, all there is to come now is the crown of righteousness reserved for me” We know that Paul is not exaggerating in summing up his adventures and his sufferings for Christ. Paul states that should he glory in any aspect of his life, it should be on the Cross of Christ. Thus, he recognises that the prize which God has prepared for him is not only for him: …“and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance”. What is more important: he recognises that …’the Lord stood by me and gave me strength…I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.” The Apostle does not fall into self-sufficiency, but rather into the attitude of gratitude because of the good that God has permitted him to do for the sake of the Christian Communities and for the evangelisation of the world. We remember our missionaries especially in our prayer today. 

Feasts of the Week: Friday: Sts Simon and Jude: Apostles. Saint Jude is the patron saint of hopeless cases.

Prayer to St. Jude – O glorious Apostle, faithful servant and friend of Jesus! The name of the traitor has caused thee to be forgotten by many, but the Church honours and invokes thee universally as the patron of hopeless cases – of matters despaired of. Pray for me who am so miserable; make use, I implore thee, of that particular privilege accorded to thee, to bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolations and succour of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations and sufferings, particularly… (here make your request), and that I may bless God with thee and all the elect throughout eternity. I promise thee, O blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favour, and I will never cease to honour thee as my special and powerful patron and do all in my power to encourage devotion to thee. Amen. St. Jude, pray for us. And for all who invoke thy aid. St. Jude, help of the hopeless, aid me in my distress! Amen. 

Thank you for the collection last week. It came to £1800. We genuinely appreciate your generosity and support of our work here at the Graan. We remember our benefactors every day in our community prayers. Thanks also to our Readers, Singers, and Ministers of the Eucharist who help with the liturgy over the weekend.

November Dead List are available in the church porches The enrolled names will be left on the Altar during November and remembered at every Mass offered during the month of November.                                                                                                 

Graan Draw: Tickets are available at all the doors of our Church for our draw. The draw will take place on the 2 December and can be viewed on the webcam. It is the only fund-raising activity that we have we would appreciate your support by buying or selling tickets for us. We are grateful to all our outlets and volunteers who are giving of their time to sell tickets for us in our various outlets.

Ticket Selling Outlets: On Friday 28 & Saturday 29 Oct  next – McKeagney’s Tempo. Belleek – 4 Nov. Martin Rooney’s Enniskillen 18 & 19 Nov. Dunnes Store, Enniskillen 24 & 25 November.

The Shop has restocked for Christmas. There are a great selection of cribs on display as well as candles, diaries, cards and suitable gifts for Christmas and new Christmas Mass Bouquets.  Cost £2 / €2.50.

Confessions & Duty: Masses Mon to Fri @ 7pm. Sunday & Monday  – No Duty. Mass (24^th Oct) @ 7pm – Arthur.

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