Weekly Bulletin 9th January 2022

Today is the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. In the Gospel today (Luke 3:15-22) the adult Jesus makes his first appearance. He simply emerges out of the crowds that come to John for Baptism. Luke records no meeting between the Baptist and the young Galilean. The baptism is overshadowed by what takes place immediately after it. Jesus is at prayer, and the Holy Spirit descends in bodily form like a dove and a voice from heaven declares “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22). In this story of the baptism Jesus was not being cleansed from sin – because He is without sin. At His Baptism He was publicly declared to be the One who would carry out his Father’s mission. From this point on, He would be defined as God’s Son, God’s envoy, God’s prophet, God’s lover. “I have come to do the will of Him who sent me” (John 5:30). This was the motto of Jesus at his baptism. His Baptism defined Him. We live in a world today as God’s children that tries to define us. Our call to be His disciple can be easily challenged and even obscured. We are bombarded with a million other images that challenge us. “Why don’t you be like this?” Stories abound about young folk scrolling through their social media apps and feeling inadequate because they don’t look like the images that they are viewing. Many are consistently told to be other than what they are – because what they are is not good enough! They – whoever “they” are – tell us our main mission is to be beautiful and feel good about ourselves. We are nothing if we are merely ourselves! Yet that is a lie! These opinions subvert altogether any sense of being made in God’s image, touched by the Spirit, affirmed in our identity and dignity at baptism and loved madly by God.  Archbishop Tutu, who died 26 December 2021 from pancreatic cancer, said that his message is simple “It is that “God loves you”. “I tell them that because the entire culture tells them that they are unlovable and I have to give them the message of who they really are, because God loves them”  Our baptism defines us as God’s child and with that privilege also comes the responsibility to be a missionary for Christ. Pope Francis in his Apostolic Exhortation to Young People called “Christ is Alive” on 25 March 2019 quotes from the image used by Blessed Carlos Acutis.  Pope Francis speaks in the context of communication advertising and social networking that can lull us into addicts of consumerism said:  “Carlo didn’t fall into the trap. He saw that many young people, wanting to be different, really end up being like everyone else, running after whatever the powerful set before them with the mechanisms of consumerism and distraction. In this way they do not bring forth the gifts the Lord has given them; they do not offer the world those unique personal talents that God has given to each of them. As a result, Carlo said, “everyone is born as an original, but many people end up dying as photocopies”. Don’t let that happen to you!” (Number 106)

Thank you for your very generous weekend collection. It came to £1720. We appreciate your kindness and your support of the Graan during these difficult days.   

A word of thanks to our Ushers and Ministers of the Eucharist who help in the smooth running of our religious services. Thank you for obeying their instructions, they are trying their best to keep us all safe from the consequences of this pandemic.

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

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

Friday Exposition continues each Friday from 10am – 2pm.

Masses: Mon to Fri @ 7pm.  Mon (10^th Jan) @ 7pm – Charles.  (Confessions Tues to Fri 2pm – 5pm)  Tues: Brian.   Wed – Victor  Thurs – Arthur. Fri – Anthony. Sat – Charles.

Cleaning Group: Thanks as always to all our Church Cleaning Groups.  January’s group will meet on Wednesday 12^th @ 7.30pm. We are always looking for new volunteers to help with cleaning the church. If you would like to volunteer please leave your name and number at reception.