Weekly Bulletin 5th June 2022

Today is Pentecost Sunday. The time of waiting for the Father’s promise to send the Spirit (the Advocate & Consoler) was fulfilled on this day of the Pentecost as the disciples gathered together in the Upper Room in Jerusalem. This was a life-changing moment for these men and women; it was a moment of conversion and transformation: from a lack of confidence, fear and insecurity to freedom, courage and risk, driving them out boldly to bear witness to Christ and carry out God’s mission of justice, love and peace to the whole world. We hear all about this event in today’s first reading from the Acts of the Apostles. (Acts 2:1-11). St. Paul in his letter to the Romans 8:8-17 today tells us “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 makes us cry out, “Abba, Father! (8:14-15). Fear is a big obstacle to faith.  What happens when we are afraid?  We grab onto things. We all have within us a desire for security. The apostles were scared witless when they were caught out in a hurricane in the Sea of Galilee. (Mark 4:35-41)  Watch the reaction of those viewing a horror movie, many of a sensitive nature, hold on to the person next to them. Why? Because they are afraid. We can hold on to things with our minds and hearts also.  How many people like to go to churches that preach a doctrine that is clear cut. We like things to be black and white! We like to feel safe. Unhealthy fear cripples us. After Jesus calms the storm at sea He rebukes the disciples because they showed more fear than faith. “Then he said to them, “Why are you so frightened? How is it that you have no faith” (Mark 4:40) He rebukes them not because they have dropped some article of the creed, but because they have no trust or faith in Him.  Essentially our faith is not merely about trusting a book or a written word, but it is about trusting the person of Jesus Christ, who in today’s Gospel (John 14:15-26) promises us the Holy Spirit. One of the names for the Holy Spirit is the “Advocate” The advocate is like the defence lawyer who stands with us in times of struggle and difficulty. At Mass when we stand to pray the prayer we share with all Christians the priests introduces it by saying “Let us pray with confidence to the Father in the words our Saviour gave us…” We can be confident, and without fear, because the Holy Spirit brings us all into the very life of the Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

O breathe on me, O breath of God,
Fill me with life anew
That I may love the things you love,
And do what you would do.

O breathe on me, O breath of God,
Until my heart is pure;
Until my will is one with yours,
To do and to endure.

O breathe on me, O breath of God,
My will to yours incline,
Until this earthly part of me
Glows with your fire divine.

O breathe on me, O breath of God,
So shall I never die,
But live with you the perfect life
Of your eternity.           Edwin Hatch (1835 – 1889)

Feasts of the Week: Monday: Mary – Mother of the Church. Thursday: St. Columba – Born in Gartan Donegal in 521. He left Ireland either for penance or to be a pilgrim for Christ. Iona an island of the coast of Scotland became his principal foundation and from there preached the Gospel to the Picts and the district of Northumbria. He died on 9 June 597. Saturday: St. Barnabas from Cyprus was a co-worker & companion in the preaching of the Gospel with St. Paul. His name means “encouragement!” 

Thank you for the collection last weekend. It came to £1480. Thanks also to the June Church cleaning group who helped clean this church last Wednesday night. We appreciate the fact that you gave of your time and energy to this task. I wish to include in these words of thanks, all our ushers, readers, choir and ministers of the Eucharist who help us during our celebration of Mass at the weekend. May you be blessed.

Our Shop: We have a range religious items, statues, pictures, medals, candles, rosary beads, etc.

Guild Mass Cards: Deceased, Mass Bouquets, Get Well, Wedding, Exam, Graduation, New Born, Special Occasion, etc.

Confessions & Duty: Sun & Mon – No Duty. Mass Mon (6^th June) @ 7pm: Arthur. Monday to Friday Mass @ 7pm.

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

Family fun and wellbeing day at Boho Community Centre on Saturday 11th June 2pm -5pm 

Cancer Connect NI: Are having Vintage Coffee Morning on Saturday 18th June 10am -1pm in Franco’s Garden Room, Enniskillen.