Weekly Bulletin 3rd July 2022

Today is the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: In Luke’s gospel (Luke 10:1-20) the mission of the seventy-two disciples has a twofold meaning. On the one hand it indicates that the announcing of the kingdom of God was not confined to the twelve apostles. In Luke’s second book called “Acts of the Apostles” we find other missionaries continuing the mission of the seventy two. The number seventy two represented for the Jewish people the number of pagan nations that were in existence at that time. Every Christian is sent by Christ into the world as a messenger of hope and love.  The “world” here means the area in which I live, my place of work, the people I meet every day and so on.  An active concern for the world and for other people is an essential mark of a good Christian.  We are all responsible for some small corner of the Lord’s vineyard where it is up to us to reap the harvest. The life of the disciple is a call to die to your self, for the sake of the kingdom of God. But it does not only mean dying, it also means rising, a sharing in new life. In the second reading Paul calls us all to be a new creation in Jesus Christ. “It does not matter if a person is circumcised or not; what matters is for him/her to become an altogether new creature” (Galatians 6:15) The first reading today (Isaiah 66:10-14) gives us an image of God being like a Mother for us. Julian of Norwich in the 14th century- one of the best known female theologians and writers – clearly named the feminine in God.  She said that God is truly Mother as God is Father, for we, “owe our being to Him, and this is the essence of motherhood.”    In her book “Revelations of Divine Love” (Chapter 60) she writes “But our true Mother Jesus, he alone bears us to joy and to endless living.” God is waiting for us to come to full birth and to grow mature in our following of Christ. Likewise in the Gospel after the disciples come home from their work of proclaiming the kingdom of God they are full of joy in what they can do, but Jesus tells them not to rejoice in their power over evil but that their names are written in heaven.  Jesus redirects the focus of the disciples from their power over evil to their dwelling in the kingdom. When we gather here to celebrate Mass we renew our identity as Christians, and disciples of the Lord.  And here in this place we have the privilege to celebrate our son-ship and daughter-ship with the God who is both Father and Mother to us. We become aware that all privileges bear with it responsibilities.  We have the responsibility of letting God’s kingdom be known by what we say and above all by what we do. St. Francis of Assisi said: “It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless we preach as we walk”. At the end of Mass the celebrant says to you: “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord”    You answer: “Thanks be to God” We thank God, not that the Mass is over for another week, but that we have been given the privilege and responsibility of witnessing to Him during the following days

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Feasts of the Week: Wednesday: St. Maria Goretti (1890-1902) A young Italian girl stabbed to death in defence of her virtue. She is honoured as one of the first Passionist martyrs. On 5 July 1902, at the age of 12, Maria who had made her First Communion at the nearby Passionist church was attacked by Alessandro Serenelli. When she would not submit to his advances, he stabbed Maria fourteen times. We have a shrine in honour of St. Maria Goretti here in the Graan to the left of the main altar. 

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Thank you for the collection last week. It came to £1623. We appreciate your generosity and support of our mission here in Graan. Thanks also to all the very generous people who give of their time help us with reading in the church, distributing Holy Communion and showing people to their seats. Your assistance is invaluable. 

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July’s Church Cleaning group will meet on Wednesday 6^th July next.

Our Shop: We have a range of 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 (4^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.