Weekly Bulletin 24th July 2022

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Mon to Fri Mass @ 7pm. Sat -Vigil @ 6.30pm.    Sun 10.30am, 12noon & 4pm.  www.thegraan.com

Today is the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Today also is the World day of Prayer for Grandparents and the Elderly. The first reading and the Gospel today addresses the subject of prayer. In the first reading we have the story of Abraham bargaining with God to save his nephew Lot and the city of Sodom from destruction (Genesis 18:20-32). Abraham displays a refreshing outspokenness!  He is putting it up to God – make no mistake about it!  The LORD is a transcendent God, but is not a remote God and certainly not a fearsome God. Prayer is not merely a monologue but it is a dialogue with the Lord who longs to enter into relationship with us. The Jewish people came up with a “credo of five adjectives” to describe the God they met on their historical journey. The LORD was experienced as (1) merciful, (2) gracious, (3) faithful, (4) forgiving, and (5) steadfast in love. The response in our psalm today underlines the fact that the Lord answers our prayers. “On the day I called you answered me, O Lord” [Psalm 137]. Jesus gives the prayer of the “Our Father” to his disciples as a form of praise and intercession to His Father. (Luke 11:1-13).  It is the most important prayer in the New Testament. The prayer reflects their communal spirit. The disciples recognise themselves as a community. They wanted a prayer that would identify them as such, and that would give expression to their chief concerns. These men and women already knew how to pray. They recognised in their Master Jesus that He is a Man of Prayer. From ancient time, the Lord’s Prayer was considered the exclusive prerogative, not only of the whole Christian community, but of those who, through baptism have already received the spirit of God’s adopted children. St. Paul speaks about the importance of baptism in today’s second reading: “You have been buried with Christ, when you were baptised, and by baptism, too, you have been raised up with him through your belief in the power of God who raised him from the dead” (Colossians 2:12). It was only after they were baptised at their first celebration of the Eucharist they could join the community in reciting this prayer. Before their baptism they merely listened to the others praying it. The “Our Father” is the “union card” or the “identity card” of all baptised Christians. It is a basic summary of the Gospel!  Today we give thanks for all who are now facing into the autumn years of their lives. “May you Lord make them teachers of wisdom and courage that they may pass on to future generations the fruits of their mature human and spiritual experience. Living Lord Jesus, source of hope, thank you that you are always with us, help us to recognise your peace and presence in our lives today. We pray for all who face hard decisions or difficult situations. Grace us with gifts to listen with care and with courage to share openly, seeking life in all its fullness. For all in great need, and the families and friends of those whose lives and stories reflect the pain and violence of our world”. 

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Feasts of the Week: Monday: St. James, brother of St. John whose father was called Zebedee. He was put to death by Herod Agrippa in the year 44. He was the first of the apostles to die for Christ. His shrine is at Compostella in Spain. Tuesday: Saints Joachim and Anne traditionally named parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Friday: Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus welcomed Jesus as a family friend. 

Thank you for the collection last week. It came to £1496. During these difficult and financially stringent times we appreciate you generosity and support of our mission here in the Graan. Thanks to our Readers, choir, ministers of the Eucharist and ushers and all who contribute to making our weekend liturgies nourishing and life-giving. 

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

 We have a range religious items, statues, pictures, medals, candles, rosary beads, etc.

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

Confessions & Duty: Sun & Mon – No Duty. Mass Mon (25^th July) @ 7pm: Arthur       Monday to Friday Mass @ 7pm.

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