OUR LADY OF LO{JR1)ES CHURCH, Fr. Vincent Mc Devitt 090-9678125 Fr. Kevin Reynolds 090-9688617
Sat 19th July John & Nelly Conway RIP - Esker Caltra7.30pm Sun 20th July Sunday Mass with Anointing of Sick 11.30am Our anointing celebration is in summer to make it easier to get out and it's on Sun
CEMETERY MASS :Sunday 3rd Augfist 11.30 am Collection after mass on 2nd & 3rd for upkeep of Graveyard. Caltra Graveyard Inscriptions Books on sale after mass on 3rd August. ALTAR SOCIETY: Group 1 Friday 25th July GOING TO SUNDAY MASS: Comment by Fr Aiden Ryan It is obvious that there has been a great decline regular Mass attendance over recent times in Ireland. This is well known and documented. It seems that Mass-goers are now a minority of the Catholic population. Some of the motives from the past have faded such as a sense of obligation, a fear of mortal sip.and hell if one missed Mass. There was also a strong social and family pressure' to attend. Often too our personal choice was not strong but the culture all around us brought us to Mass. Then too other forces began to compete for peoples time: more social activities for young people, more sporting activities on Saturday evening and Sunday morning ; the lure of TV etc -these are not wrong, they just present a greater challenge to our practice. At first, people missed Mass only occasionally but the occasions grew more frequent until the habit of going to Mass was broken. Then for some the scandals of clergy as the last straw or a good excuse to increase the drop-off that was already growing. The Sabbath was first set aside for two reasons- to give people freedom from work and time to thank God our Creator.Many now take the leisure only forgetting the second part-to take time to thank God at the Sunday Mass. Today children can only be at Mass if their parents bring them.
SOME WORDS FROM OUR NEW BISHOP "God is AL WAYS calling us and while we can only see a short way ahead, He has plans for each of us, which extend beyond time into eternity. I am particularly happy to find myself here in this diocese, because L while I am a third generation Dubliner, I have had many links with Elphin over the years. The first of these was my Ordination in 1976. Each day brings with it the challcn .TC discerning what God is asking. In that, sense, we arc never don' 1 urnln ' what it is to be a Christian or to be a disciple, Since the day I was Ordained 1 have been learning what it means to be a priest. I think my colleagues will know what I mean when I say that we ~re ordained to serve God's People, but.it is often God's people who teach us how to be good priests. Now I have to learn to be a BISHOP and I hope you will be my teachers. The bishop is not called to be a "lone Ranger". The service of communion includes recognising the diverse gifts which the Spirit has given to everyone in the community of the diocese, religious, clergy and members of the lay faithful, and making it possible for those gifts to be developed and placed at the service of all." I
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ANGELUS: Newsletters of Diocese available at Church Entry price 1 with lots of news on the new bishop etc ONCOLOGY UNIT UHG; FUNDRAISING 8KM/5KM Run/Jog/Walk this Sunday 20th July @12.30pm. Registration €20. Prizes & refreshments afterwards. Special guests on the day.Your support greatly appreciated. I WARMER HOMES SCHEME:funds energy efficiency improvements in the homes of the elderly & vulnerable, making their homes more comfortable and more cost effective to run. Any further queries 090-6630252 PRAYER FOR OUR DIOCESE: I
Lord Jesus, By the shores of the sea of Galilee, You gathered your disciples and taught them By word and example to proclaim the good news. We pray for our diocese that, ..11 gathered around our Bishop Kevin and led by Your Holy Spirit, we may be your Living Body at this time and in this place. As we listen prayerfully to your Word from us, in your spirit of generous service and give us courage, even when it is inconvenient, to be your witnesses in the world. You who are with the Father And the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever AMEN I