Today is the First Sunday of Lent – Last Wednesday many of us had ashes smeared on our foreheads. It was a moment when we promised to enter more deeply into our journey as a disciple of Jesus. Today we listen to the Gospel of Jesus being tempted in the wilderness. This Gospel has been read on the first Sunday of Lent since the 4th century. Just before Jesus goes into the desert to be tempted by Satan He is baptised in the River Jordan by John the Baptist. A voice comes from heaven and states: “This is my Son, the Beloved, in whom I am well pleased”(Matthew 3:17) What does it mean to be a Son of God? The devil has some suggestions for Jesus. His identity as God’s Son is put to the test in the desert. The desert has always been a symbol for the encounter between the naked self and God. This is because the desert is so bald, so barren, so vast, so primeval, so unforgiving, so basic, so hand-to-mouth that because one must concentrate on simply surviving, all distractions are filtered out, and one is left alone with oneself. Going into the desert, the desert journey, has become a metaphor for leaving all behind and, in our utter exposure and honesty, confronting who and what we are and what really matters. Being laid low with illness is referred to often as a desert experience. Lent is that collective desert experience for all of us. We are also sons and daughters of God. St. Paul tells us this fact in many of his letters. “…you are all of you, sons and daughters of God through faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26) and again; “The spirit you received is not the spirit of slaves bringing fear into your lives again, it is the spirit of sons and daughters and it makes us cry out “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15). Our awareness of our identity as followers of Jesus Christ can get lost in the hurly burly of life. As a society we suffer from a kind of psychic and emotional jet-lag: we never quite catch up with ourselves. We live in the society of the sound–bite, reactions to events rather that sound reflection, – has our face book, snapchat, face time, messenger generation given us time to think in this age of emoting and sensationalism? Many young people are drawn to measure self-esteem in likes, social media re-sharing, followers, and other virtual entrancing reactions/distractions of the online world. Lent is a time when we have the opportunity to re-discover our true identity. Our true identity is not found in things or possessions but in the truth and reality of our lives as a baptised child of God. We read in the Preface of today’s Mass: “By abstaining forty long days from earthly food, He consecrated through his fast the pattern of our Lenten observance and, by overturning all the snares of the ancient serpent taught us to cast out the leaven of malice so that, celebrating worthily the Paschal Mystery, we might pass over at last to the eternal paschal feast”
Novena of Hope: Our Novena of Hope begins next weekend 4 March at all the Masses and will continue until Monday 13 March. There are posters and brochures at the entrance of our church porches which gives the times and the names of our speakers of the Novena. Please take one home with you and please pray that these special days of prayer will bring blessings in abundance on our families and friends. All are welcome to attend.
Eucharistic Ministers: Please return your rotas early this week.
Children: In preparation for the Novena of Hope we invite children through schools, and individually to submit posters. You always do such a superb job. Please bring in your art work early this week so we can display them.
Thanks for the collection last week. It came to £1580. Thank you for your generosity and support of our work here at the Graan. A word of appreciation also to our Readers, Ministers of the Eucharist, Ushers and Singers.
Sunday & Monday no duty. Mass Monday (27th Feb) @ 7pm – Arthur. Confessions: Tues to Fri 2pm – 5pm. Sat 5pm – 6pm. Mass: Mon – Fri @ 7pm. Tues – Charles. Wed – Victor. Thurs – Brian. Fri – Anthony & Sat – Anthony.
March’s cleaning group will meet on Wednesday 1st March @ 7.30pm.
Shop: Open Mon to Sat – 9.30 – 7pm. Sun 9.30pm – 4pm. It has been restocked for our upcoming Novena of Hope.
Guild Mass Cards: Our selection includes Deceased, Mass Bouquets, Get Well, Novena of Hope, St Patrick’s Wedding, Birthday, Anniversaries, Christening, New Home Bouquets & Mother’s Day Mass Bouquets. Cost £2. We have a new range of Novena & Holy Communion and Confirmation items now in stock.
Recently Deceased
Denis Kelly, Monea
Cormac Mc Caughey, Trillick
Deirdre Mc Larnon, nee Gannon, Lurgan formerly Lisnaskea
Shaun Conroy, Sixmilecross
Gerry Murphy, Galliagh Terrace, Enniskillen
PJ Mc Phillips, Lisbellaw
Geraldine Cassidy, Bray formerly Monea
Jillian Dean, Cavandale, Enniskillen
Charlie Mc Cusker, Windmill Heights, Enniskillen
Anniversaries
Jody Nolan, Skea, Culkey
Mary Murray, Leamore, Letterbreen
Caoimhe Gault, Asdale, Enniskillen
Phonsie Maguire, Enniskillen
Gerry Maguire, Monea
Veronica Early nee Hanley, Kilmacormick, Enniskillen
Patrick Feely, Belleek
Sean, Maureen & Eoin Lunny, Willoughby Place, Enniskillen
Tommy Moohan, Drumlyon, Enniskillen
Patrick, Margaret & Siobhan Shannon, Carrickaheenan, Enniskillen
Francy Mc Crory, Ardmore Heights, Omagh
Johnny, Sarah, Gabriel & Felix Shannon, Mullinaherb, Derrylin
Peter Drumm & the Drumm Family, Beechill, Enniskillen
Agnes Lunney & the Lunney Family, Kilmore South, Lisnaskea
Patrick, Sue & Paul Mc Teggart, Tullycreevy, Monea
