Today is the Fifth Sunday of Easter. St. Peter in today’s second reading is instructing the new converts who have just received Baptism. He says to them “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a people set apart to sing the praises of God who called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9). We, also are included in that statement. We are not things, objects, or articles but the loved people of God. When we live out of that identity our lives take on a new meaning. In the Gospel today (John 14:1-12) the apostles Thomas and Philip do not understand the full magnitude and import of the life of their Master. “To have seen me is to have seen the Father so how can you say, “Let us see the Father”? (John 14:9). Many people have a difficulty in praying with the image of God being like a Father. They may have had a poor relationship with their own father and as a result they project that image onto God who is the best of all Fathers. We only have to read the parable of the Prodigal Father in the fifteenth chapter of St. Luke’s Gospel to be disabused of that image of a cold, impersonal, uncaring father. God is the Father who waits for his errant son to come home and he runs out to meet him, brings him in through the front entrance of his house instead of the servants quarters and puts a ring on his finger and shoes on his feet, and gives him the best robe in the house – which is his own robe! He even throws a party for him! In the Old Testament God is spoken of as Father on fourteen occasions. God is Israel’s Father, not as some mythological ancestor or procreator but as one, who elected, delivered, saved his people by mighty deeds in history. When Christ came, He gave expression to that which was unspoken in the past and became Himself the fullest revelation of the Father. He freely opened the Heart of God to us and showed us that God is indeed a God of loving kindness, one who is Father, Mother, Person and not some merely Unmoved Mover of the philosophers! We are sons and daughters of God our Father. To be a son or daughter of His Father we have to become prodigal with his kindness. The importance of being son and daughter does not mean that we must be constantly perfect but it does mean we are called to stay in relationship with this loving Father. It is not about being correct but it is about being connected to this wonderful God through Jesus who tells us today in the Gospel that He is “the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you know me you know my Father too.” (John 14:6-7).
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Thanks for last weekend’s collection. It came to £1670. We appreciate your generosity towards us in these fraught financial difficult times.
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Thanks to the May church cleaning group who cleaned the Church on Wednesday evening. Thanks also to the Readers, Singers, Ushers, and Ministers of the Eucharist and all who help in our weekend liturgies.
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Passionist Vocation Retreat: A weekend retreat for young men interested in knowing more about life as a priest or brother in the Passionist Community will be held at the Passionist Monastery, Tobar Mhuire, Crossgar, County Down, beginning on the evening of Friday, 2 June and ending with lunch on Sunday, 4 June. If you are interested, please contact Fr Paul Francis CP at passionistvocations@gmail.com
Exposition: Continues each Friday from 10am – 2pm.
Shop: Monday to Saturday – 9.30 – 7pm. Sun 9.30pm – 4pm.
Guild Mass Cards: Our selection includes Deceased, Get Well, Wedding, Birthday, Anniversaries etc.
Cost £2.
Sunday & Monday no duty. Mass Monday 8th May @ 7pm. Confessions: Tues to Fri 2pm – 5pm.
Sat 5pm – 6pm.
Mass: Tues – Fri @ 7pm. Tues – Brian. Wed Arthur. Thurs – Charles. Fri – Anthony. Sat – Anthony.
Gluten-Free Hosts: If you are Coeliac and you wish to receive communion please come up to the altar and stand beside the Eucharistic Minsters where you will receive the gluten-free host.
May Rosary will take place at Our Lady’s Grotto each evening in May at 6.30pm. All are welcome to join.
Recently Deceased
Sr Christine Reilly, P.B.V.M, Pakistan formerly Co Cavan
Seamus Whitley, Ferney Rise, Enniskillen
Deirdre Burns (nee Elliott), Lackaboy View, Enniskillen
Aran Sheridan, Glenside, Killyclogher
Anniversaries
Edward & Mary Ellen Maguire, Belleek
Michael & Mary O’Brien, Belleek
John Sheridan, Sligo Rd, Enniskillen
Maisie Boyle, Fintona
Martin Mc Crory, Ardmore Heights, Omagh
Rosemary Cassidy, Ardmore Heights, Omagh
Mary Conway, Mullaslin, Carrickmore
Sonny Haren, Fairview Park, Derrygonnelly
Bea Jones, Drumbeggar, Derrygonnelly
Margaret Coffey, Drumscallop, Monea
Sean Mc Gowan, Drumcose, Enniskillen
Tom Mc Grath, Mullaghdun
Tom & Michael Maguire, Mulleek
Sean & Susan Nugent, New Street, Ederney
Margaret Pattison, Enniskillen & Armagh
Jim O’Rourke, Scaffog Ave, Enniskillen
The Clancy, Leonard & Nolan Families, Enniskillen & Sligo
Bridget Mc Caffrey, Coa
Margaret Collins, Kilrid, Newtownbutler
Annie & Robert Collins, Bohassett, Newtownbutler
