Weekly Bulletin 29th August 2021

Today is the Twenty Second- Sunday of the Year. During the skiffle craze of the late 1950s Loonie Donegan (1931-2002) had a hit song called “Putting on the Style.” One of the verses of the song goes like this: “Preacher in the pulpit roars with all his might/Sing Glory Hallelula with the folks all in a fright/Now you might think he’s satan that’s coming down the aisle/But it’s only our poor preacher, boys, putting on his style” In the Gospel today (Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23) Jesus accuses the Pharisees and scribes of being hypocrites. In other words they were “putting on the style”. They are being inauthentic, untrue, and lacking sincerity in their following of the commandments of God. They were so caught up in the externals of the law that they forgot the essentials. To be converted to God’s ways first begins in the interior of our beings. We can be like trees that are rotten on the inside. We can look good on the outside, but if we are not strong on the inside, we won’t hold up over time or in a storm. As much as we adjust and shape outside behaviours and appearances, it is the inside that matters. It is the inside where real transformation begins and continues. St. James in the second reading today (James 1:17-18, 21-22, 27) declares “Accept and submit to the word which has been planted in you and can save your souls. But you must do what the word tells you and not listen to it and deceive yourselves” The psalm today (Psalm 14) calls us to speak the “truth from our heart”.  No one wants to live a life that is artificial and untrue. Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) said: What you are, shouts so loudly in my ears, I cannot hear what you say.” Or has the Zulu proverb puts it: “I cannot hear what you say; for the thunder of what you are.” The queen of Sheba came to visit Solomon, and one day she put him to the test. She brought artificial flowers so perfectly formed that no human eye could detect them from real flowers. She put them in a vase on Solomon’s table, in his throne room next to his flowers. As he came in, the queen of Sheba is reported to have said, “Solomon, you are the wisest man in the world. Tell me without touching these flowers, which are real and which are artificial.” It is said that Solomon studied the flowers for a long time and spoke nothing, until finally he said, “Open the windows and let the bees come in.” There are ways to tell the artificial from the real—let the bees come in; they will know where the real is. If we live with the authentic Jesus long enough, we will recognise the artificial when we see it. The simple question that I ask myself today and encourage you also to reflect upon: “Are my words and actions as disciples of Jesus consistent with my belief in him?” 

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

Day of Prayer:  This Wednesday 1 September is a Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. This celebration started among the world Orthodox Christian community in 1989 with the leadership of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. Pope Francis asked the Roman Catholic Community in 2015 to join in this prayer.  He calls us all to celebrate this opportune moment to “reaffirm [our] personal vocation to be stewards of creation, to thank God for the wonderful handiwork which he has entrusted to our care, and to implore his help for the protection of creation, as well as his pardon for the sins committed against the world in which we live.”

Feast Days of the Week: Saturday: St. Gregory the Great (540-604) He established a pattern for the papacy for the years that followed. He sent missions to Lombardy, Sardinia and England. He is patron saint of musicians. 

Thank you for your collection last weekend. It came to £1830.  We appreciate your wonderful generosity and kindness. Be assured of a constant remembrance in our community prayers. Thanks also to our Ushers and Ministers of the Eucharist for helping in the smooth running of our religious services. We appreciate that you continue to wear your masks, keep social distancing and sanitise your hands while in our Church building. We remember the many people in our district who are suffering from the effects of Covid 19. May the Spirit of God help us to use our common sense in our attempts to keep this deadly virus at bay. 

Confessions: Tues 31^st Aug to Fri 3^rd Sept 2.00 – 5.00pm   Sat 5.00pm to 6.00pm. Tues – Charles.   Wed – Victor.  Thurs – Arthur. Fri –  Anthony.  Sat –  Anthony.  

The Shop: Open Mon (Bank Holiday) 9.30 – 4pm. Tues to Sat:  9.30am – 7pm.  Sun 9.30 – 4pm.

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament every Friday 10:00am  – 2:00pm. Next Friday (3^rd Sept) is the First Friday of the month.

Guild Mass Cards: We have a wide selection of cards for Deceased, Mass Bouquets, Get Well, Graduation  etc. Cost £2 / €2.50

Support with Mental Health – COVID-19 has impacted on us all; for some bringing new and stressful challenges into our lives for others adding to existing stresses and challenges.  But remember no matter how bad things are for you there is always help available.  Aisling Centre offers a free, confidential and professional counselling service, with a simple self-referral process.  For more information contact 028 66 325811 or email – info@theaislingcentre.com

COVID-19 Support Line for Older People ALONE manage a national support line and additional supports for older people who have concerns or are facing difficulties relating to COVID-19 (Coronavirus). Professional staff are available to answer queries and give advice and reassurance where necessary. The support line is open seven days a week, 8am – 8pm, by calling 0818 222 024.