NEWSLETTER

ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT:
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament one hour before Mass or Eucharistic Services followed by Prayer of the Church.

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: Tuesday evening after Mass and By Appointment.

WEDNESDAY: Please note that Mass commences at 9.15 a.m. and is a Class Mass.

FRANCES HOGAN:

Frances will be visiting St. Michael’s during Holy week this year and our Lenten preparations will be based on the Holy Week programme she has prepared. Details of talks and services are available in the Church Porch.

NEW PARISHIONERS:

If you are new to the Parish or have been here only a short while please take one of the Welcome packs in the porch. These packs contain a lot of information which new parishioners should find helpful.
Would those parishioners who HAVE taken a Welcome pack recently please complete the enclosed form and return it in the envelope provided. Even if you have been in the Parish a little while we may not have your name, address and telephone number in the Parish Census. Thank-you.

CONFIRMATION LETTER AND MEETING:

Please note that the initial meeting for those wishing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation this year is at 6.00 p.m. in the Parish Centre and NOT as shown in the letter. Please inform as many friends and acquaintances as possible. Confirmations will be held on Sunday 29th June.

PENITENTIAL SERVICE:

The Lenten Penitential Service will be on WEDNESDAY 19th March at 7.00 p.m. when a number of priests will be available for individual Reconciliation.

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS – BISHOP KEVIN DUNN:

Bishop Kevin’s body will be received into St. Mary’s Cathedral on Monday 10th March at 7.00 p.m. with the Celebration of Mass followed by a Vigil of quiet prayer ending with Compline at 10.00 a.m. The Cathedral will open at 6.00 p.m. and this Mass and Vigil of Prayer is open to all people who wish to attend.
The Requiem Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday 11th March at noon followed by burial in the Cathedral Crypt. Please note that entrance to this Mass is BY TICKET ONLY.

REFLECTION FOR THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT.

As we come closer to Holy Week we become conscious of the price Jesus paid to redeem us so we enter more deeply into self sacrifice and self giving.

Ezekial 37:

This is the fifth stage of the journey of Salvation. The promise to raise the Nation of Israel from the ‘death’ of the Exile has a deeper meaning for the Church.

• Jesus went into death to deliver us from death. ‘Death’ means whatever destroys us; whatever makes it impossible for us to reach eternal glory.
• Jesus went into both death and Hell on the cross in order to raise US to the New Life of the Resurrection.

John 11:

Here is the drama of death and resurrection played out for us so that we can contemplate it before Holy Week.

• ‘The man you love is ill’ is the whole of Humanity sick unto death from sin.
• When Jesus arrived on earth death had already done its destructive work.
• Even the disciples did not believe anything could be done.
• The leadership of Israel was present for Lazarus’ death… and Jesus’ death later. At both events they were scoffing and unbelieving.
• Nevertheless Jesus gave His great revelation: ‘I AM the Resurrection and the Life.’
• Jesus wept before Lazarus’ tomb because he observed the destructive power of sin on humanity; ‘the wages of sin is death.’ (Romans)
• Jesus knew the He ALONE could remedy the situation but it meant giving His ONE LIFE to achieve this goal.
• Jesus raided Sheol and brought Lazarus back; he had to recompose the body and restore the soul to that body THUS PROVING THAT HE WAS GOD.
What He prepared for here He accomplished in Holy Week.

HOLY WEEK TIMETABLE