Weekly Bulletin 5th September 2021

Today is the Twenty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time. A man is brought to Jesus in today’s Gospel. (Mark 7:31-37). He is unable to hear. This inability to hear made his speech imperfect. We can only imagine the isolation and the loneliness that this poor man suffered. He was unable to receive words verbally because of his deafness. Also he could not communicate his own thoughts and feelings. He was locked into a world of one. Loneliness radically cuts people off from human connection. Loneliness is a kind of wilderness where a person feels deserted by human companionship, even when surrounded by others.  Loneliness can be short or long term, occasional or permanent. The first negative word spoken by God about his creation in the Bible comes in the book of Genesis after he made Adam: ‘And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man is alone; I shall make him a helpmate opposite him.”’(Genesis 2:18). Loneliness is most dangerous when it is not recognised accepted and worked through creatively. If we refuse to listen to the pain of our hearts we blunt and callous ourselves to our own real needs and yearnings. We all need friendship and support during the dark times. Hopefully you have one person in your life that you can share your struggles and ask for help. We are not machines, or robots, we are people with needs and hungers. We only hope that we can be friends for our friends in their time of darkness.  We are called to care for one another with a quality of presence that enables the other to explore their issues without fear. Notice in today’s Gospel how Jesus treats the man who was deaf and dumb. He takes him aside from the crowd. The man was not just a “case” to be dealt with, he was a precious individual. The man had a special need and a special problem and with tender consideration Jesus treats him.  Through the touch and the word of Jesus he is brought into the hearing and the speaking world of interpersonal communication. The reaction of the crowd to the healing echoes the messianic promise that Isaiah gives us in today’s first reading “The eyes of the blind shall be opened, the ears of the deaf unsealed, then the lame shall leap like a deer and the tongues of the dumb sing for joy” (Isaiah 35:5-6)

Feast Days: Wednesday: Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She is the one who brought the dawn of hope and salvation to the world. Thursday: St. Ciaran (512-545) He founded the monastery of Clonmacnois. He died at the age of 33 while the monastery was still being built. Friday: St. Peter Claver (1580-1654). He worked tirelessly for the slaves from Africa arriving in Colombia. 

Thank you for the weekend collection. It came to £1420. We appreciate your generosity. Thanks also to our Ushers and Ministers of the Eucharist who help in the smooth running of our religious services.

September’s church cleaning group will meet on Wednesday next at 7.30pm. If anyone would like to join this ministry please come along on Wednesday evening.  Your work is a source of blessings for all of us. 

Masses Monday to Friday @ 7pm.  Confessions: Tues – Fri 2.00 – 5.00pm   Sat 5.00pm to 6.00pm. Tues –  Arthur. Wed – Victor. Thurs – Charles. Fri  & Sat – Anthony.

The Shop: Open Mon to Sat:  9.30am – 7pm.  Sun 9.30 – 4.30pm.

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament every Friday 10:00am  – 2:00pm.

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

A Triduum in preparation for the Feast of St Padre Pio will take place at the Franciscan Friary, Rossnowlagh from Monday 20th – Thursday 23rd September with Mass, Homily & Blessing each evening at 7.30pm.  The preacher will be Fr Pius Mc Laughlin O.F.M who met Padre Pio.