Weekly Bulletin 28th August 2022

Today is the Twenty Second Sunday of the Year. The Opening Prayer of the Mass today states: “Lord…. put into our hearts the love of your name, so that by deepening our sense of reverence you may nurture in us what is good” The word “reverence” is an expression that sounds odd in a world that has become increasingly “irreverent”. The dictionary definition of the word “reverence” states that it is a “feeling of profound awe and respect and often of love”. In the New Testament, the word “reverence” encompasses the ideas of modesty, subjection and giving another honour and respect. Reverence has been a capacity of human life that has kept us accountable to each other and to our environments for hundreds of thousands of years. Many of us have shed that reverence and have dulled our sense of awe that is inspired by a deep connection to the earth, to each other and to ourselves. Unfortunately many of us are no longer enchanted by the beauty of life. Rabbi Heschel (1907- 1972) said awe is not an emotion – it is a way of understanding:  “Awe is itself an act of insight into a meaning greater than ourselves” He goes on and declares, “I had a sensation that there is an animating spirit underlying all creation. The universe bends toward our goodness” There is a “knowing” that lies beyond our ordinary thought processes. It seems that in order to enter into a greater degree of seeing, of awareness, we need to unlearn or let go. God’s kiss of love in the person of his beloved Son coming to wake us up to the fact of our relatedness, to reveal to human kind that we are beautiful – broken, fragile, often misguided but beautiful. It is possible to get caught up in religious practice and fail to see that relationship and reverence is important. We can give greater significance to the way we do things rather than to the relationship that they are meant to nurture. Respect means taking a fresh look at the other, to see again!  It involves a reverent listening, humility and generosity of spirit. It is the challenge of encounter. The Irish poet, philosopher, writer John O’Donohue (1956 -2008) wrote: “What you encounter, recognise or discover depends to a large degree on the quality of your approach. Many of the ancient cultures practiced careful rituals of approach. An encounter of depth and spirit was preceded by careful preparation. When we approach with reverence, great things decide to approach us. Our real life comes to the surface and its light awakens the concealed beauty in things. When we walk on the earth with reverence, beauty will decide to trust us. The rushed heart and arrogant mind lack the gentleness and patience to enter that embrace.”

Feasts of the Week: Monday The Passion of St. John the Baptist.  Thursday. Today is the “World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation” The Orthodox Church also celebrates this day when we all renew our vocation as custodians of creation. We thank God for the gift of creation and we ask pardon for our sins against this beautiful world. St. Bonaventure said “Whoever is not enlightened by the splendour of created things is blind; whoever is not aroused by the sound of their voice is deaf; whoever does not praise God for all these creatures is mute; whoever after so much evidence does not recognise the Maker of all things, is an idiot (stultus est).So, open your eyes, alert the ears of your spirit, unlock your lips and apply your heart (The Journey of the Mind to God 1:15) Saturday: St. Gregory the Great (540-604). Patron Saint of Musicians. When he was Pope he called himself “servant of the servants of Christ” He sent missions to Lombardy, Sardinia and England

Thanks for your generous collection last week. It came to £1750. We appreciate, that during this financial straitened times your generosity towards the Graan is remarkable. We also appreciate the time and energy our readers, singers, ushers, Ministers of the Eucharist support us all in our liturgies over the weekend.

Monday is a Bank Holiday.  Mass will be at 11am only.  The shop and Church will be open until 4pm. 

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

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

Confessions & Duty: Sunday & Monday  – No Duty. Mass (Bank Holiday Mon 29^th August) @ 11am only – Brian.      

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

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament continues each Friday from 10am – 2pm.