Weekly Bulletin 25th July 2021

Today is the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Today also is the first world day of prayer for Grandparents and the elderly. It is celebration of the huge role that they play in handing on the faith to future generations. This Sunday is chosen to acknowledge their contribution because on this Monday we celebrate the feast of St. Joachim and St. Anne who were reputed to be the grandparents of Jesus. Today we interrupt the usual Gospel readings from Mark, and for the next few Sundays we read from John Chapter Six which tells us that Jesus is the Bread of Life. Andrew in today’s Gospel brings to Jesus a small boy with only five barley loaves and two fish, in his possession. This little boy is willing to surrender his small lunch to help feed the crowds gathered around Jesus. All the four gospels speak about the generosity of Jesus in feeding the thousands in the desert. There is a legend about the boy who gave up his five barley loaves and two small fishes so that Christ could feed the multitude. It tells how the boy hurried home, after all the fragments had been gathered, and told his mother about the exciting incident. With eyes still big with wonder, he told her how his five little barley cakes and two dried fishes had multiplied in the Saviour’s hand until there was enough to satisfy 5,000 hungry people. And then with a wistful look, he added: “I wonder, Mother, whether it could be that way with everything you gave him!” The generosity of this little boy reflects the generosity of our loving Lord – the young boy gives all – so that all may be fed. Notice the verbs that are used when Jesus has the bread in his hands – “Then Jesus took the loaves, give thanks, and gave them out to all who were sitting ready” (John 6:11) – they echo the words we use when we celebrate Mass. John’s Gospel has no words over the bread and wine at the Last Supper, all the other three Gospels have recorded them. In John’s Gospel however, even though the occasion for communion with Jesus was not identification of the bread and wine as his body and blood but the practice of washing one another’s feet (John 13:14-15).  Today we thank God for those now in the autumn years of their lives who have faithfully witnessed to the generosity of God by living their lives generously and witnessing by their deeds the reality of God’s love in their world. Pope Francis message to the elderly on this day states our need for their prayers. “Especially in these difficult times for our human family, as we continue to sail in the same boat across the stormy sea of the pandemic, your intercession for the world and for the Church has great value: it inspires in everyone the serene trust that we will soon come to shore.” (Message to the Grandparents and Elderly 31 May 2021) 

Feasts of the Week: Monday: St. Joachim and Anne parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Thursday: St. Martha – sister of Lazarus and Mary and like Peter proclaimed her faith in Christ “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who was to come into the world” (John 11:27). Saturday: St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) Founder of the Jesuit Order. 

Thanks for your generosity. Last week’s collection came to £1450.  We appreciate your kindness during these difficult days of financial constraints. Thanks also to our Ministers of the Eucharist and Ushers who help in the smooth running of our religious services. Thank you for wearing masks, sanitising your hands and keeping social distance while in our Church building. 

Mass Monday(26^th  July) @ 7pm –  Arthur. Confessions (Tues to Fri) 2 – 5pm & Mass at 7pm Monday to Friday.  

Tues:  Charles. Wed: Victor.  Thurs – Arthur. Fri – Charles. Sat – 5pm to 6pm –  Arthur.  

Guild Mass Cards: We have a wide selection of cards for Deceased, Mass Bouquets, Get Well, Birthday, Graduation, Wedding, Thinking of You  and Exam Mass Bouquets which cost £2 / €2.50 each. We value your support.

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament every Friday 10:00am  – 2:00pm.

Our Shop: Mon to Sat: 9.30am – 7pm. Sunday 9.30 – 4pm.