Communion Reflection. Justice and compassion are the fruits of living our Christian faith. Each time we receive the gift of Christ's body and blood, we receive a gift that has the capacity to change us and make us whole. Our life and the lives of others will be transformed when we share what we have received and become people who imitate the love and compassion of Jesus. As we go from this place of worship, may we not forget what we have received but live it in the week ahead, allowing it to affect our decisions and our relationships. When we are able to do this the world itself may be transformed
Reflection.
The greatest gift we can bestow is thanksgiving. When we give thanks, we give something greater than the gift we have received
, whatever it is. In giving gifts, we often give what we can spare, but in giving thanks we give ourselves. The receiver of a gift depends on the giver, but the circle is incomplete until the giver becomes the receiver – the receiver of thanks.
Reflection.
God's will can be understood only by one who is attentive and vigilant. This is why the gospel speaks so often of vigilance.
Reflection.
There are times when I can visualize Our Lord at the break of day standing by my bed and saying: “Get up, follow me.” Whether I am conscious of it or not, in effect that invitation, that loving but insistent command, is given to me every day. Each new morning is the opportunity to start again. Yesterday there may have been inadequacies and failures but today Christ renews his call: “Follow me. I have chosen you. I need you.” Who can fail to respond to the thought that God needs our willing collaboration.
Cardinal Basil Hume, OSB
Reflection “Give us this day our daily bread: your beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ…” Lord, today is special, a day to see you in those around me, a day to rest with you and have my spirit renewed. I thank you for the gift of life, of faith, the gift of your humble presence in the little form of bread. Amen.
We pray for the prisoners so that God may grant them their freedom and bring them back to their families. We pray for all who are suffering, for the sick, and for all who have lost the joy of living. Pray for peace to all people of good will, For peace to all who long for a sincere brotherhood that rejects all hatred and hostility, and find, in the coming together of the two peoples, both security and an end to the occupation which will bring freedom. Lord you sent your Spirit to renew the face of the earth and reconcile man with you and with one's brothers sisters.
LOVING GOD, I ASK YOUR BLESSING UPON ME AND ALL THOSE I LOVE. SURROUND ME WITH YOUR PROTECTION AND LIGHT. BE A BRIGHT FLAME BEFORE ME. BE A GUIDING LIGHT ABOVE ME. BE A WARM WELCOME AHEAD OF ME. AS I WALK THE ROAD OF DISCERNMENT MAY I KNOW YOUR ENCOURAGING PRESENCE WITH ME. HELP ME TO SHARE YOUR LIGHT WITH ALL THOSE I MEET ALONG THE WAY
TROCAIRE. The people of this Parish contributed €9,374 In your Trocaire boxes during Lent this year. Many thanks to all who conributed. Special thanks to the team who counted the money.
Trocaire We have reached the end of Lent and now move with hope and joy into the Easter period. The story of Easter brings us out of the darkness of despair into the light and we believe that God works in situations that appear hopeless, to bring forth new life. The Easter story reminds us that Jesus is risen and that in our lives, even when it seems desperate, there is always hope of new life. As we move out of Holy Week and into the joy of Easter, it is an opportunity for us to bring our Trocaire boxes and contributions back to the church as a sign of our solidarity with the poor around the world. It is our opportunity to make a difference and support communities all over the world.
How to Build Community Turn off your TV. Greet people. Know your neighbours. Bug from local merehants. Share what you have. Honour elders. Support the local schools and projects for the young. Pick up litter. Ask for help when you need it. Turn down the music. Drive carefully, and with consideration. Think of no one as “them”. Know your heritage. Pledge allegiance to the earth. The above is taken from the March edition of "The Furrows"
A Lenten Prayer. Loving God, as I continue this Lenten journey, I ask you to take me by the hand. I cannot see the road that leads to the joy of Easter. Not knowing what to expect, I am apprehensive. But I trust in you. Help me to make this a season of true conversion in my life. When we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus at Easter, I also want to celebrate the new life I have found in you through the penitential journey I am undertaking. I know it is a long, tough journey, but I entrust this journey to you with each single step that I take.
Getting to know your Trocaire Box. The image on the Trocaire box this year is a young baby from Malawi called Amina. She comes from a small rural village where food is scarce. In 2 of the past 3 years families have lost all of their crops due to drought. Some families have had to sell everything they own and fall back on food aid as the only way of surviving. Amina's mother Teresa, like mothers everywhere, has dreams for her. She wants to provide for her little girl. She wants her to go to school. She wants her to have a real future. Through Trocaire, Amina's family received pigs to start a breeding programme. The pigs will allow them to earn a much needed income. This way Amina should have a better future and her mother's dreams may come through one day.
TROCAIRE. This year our Lenten time focuses on Gender Equality and on women in some of the poorest countries of the world. In the world we live in today, as much as 46% of girls in the world's poorest countries have no access to primary school. It is estimated that 70% of those living in poverty are women. Many women throughout the world continue to live in situations of slavery and oppression. In today's first reading, God asks Moses to set his people free from slavery. In our world today we continue to see many forms of slavery that oppress people and take for them a dignity that all should have. How can we, in Ireland, respond to God's call this Lent, to free his people and give children a future of hope? In today's world many of us are focused on material things and we forget about the things that God wants us to do. A simple way to remember Jesus' message is to help Trocaire during Lent so that they can use the money to help people in the world who live with slavery, oppression and poverty.
Advent Candles
Advent means “coming”. It is the time of watching and waiting for the Lord. In earlier times bonfires were lit to herald the sun through the cold of winter and its coming back in Spring. Christians then lit candles to the Son of God. We watch and pray for his coming anew into our personal lives, and await his coming at the end of time.
The Advent Wreath
Holly, the old pagan symbol of good luck, became the symbol of Christ's crown of thorns and his blood shed for us. By his wounds we are healed. Holly and Ivy intertwined symbolise peace in our world and harmony between man and woman
For more Advent Prayers and Reflections click here
Time for Reflection
We invite you to make a sacred space in your day by making time for stillness and reflection.
Remember that God is everywhere,all around us, constantly reaching out to us even in the most unlikely situations. The following reflection may help you get in touch with God and God's presence in your life:
The presence of God as I sit here,
the beating of my heart,
the ebb and flow of my breathing,
the movements of my mind
are all signs of God's ongoing creation of me.
I pause for a moment and
become aware of this presence of God within me.
Please click on the link below to get a copy of our 'Prayers and Reflections' leaflet
Prayers and Reflections
Other websites that may be of interest
www.sacredspace.ie
www.vatican.va
More prayers and reflections
Prayer of Hope
Jesus our hope,
you have a call for each one of us
and you say to us: come, follow me;
you will discover where to
find rest for your heart.
Jesus our hope,
even if we are fragile,
we would like to follow you
on the road that leads to love
in the same way that you loved us.
Jesus our hope,
by your Gospel we realize that,
even in the hours of darkness,
God wants happiness for us.
And the peace in our hearts
can make life beautiful
for those around us
Written by Br Roger of Taize (1915-2005)
A November Prayer
In the rising of the sun and in it's going down
We remember our loved one
In the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter
We remember our loved one
In the rustling of leaves and in the beauty of autumn
We remember our loved one
In the beginning of the year and when it ends
We remember our loved one
A Prayer over the Cot
Heavenly Father,
watch over this tiny, fragile person that you have entrusted to our care
Lord Jesus,
you who welcomed children into your arms, may he/she never want for your love.
Holy Spirit, protect and overshadow our new-born child.
Shower upon him/her your eternal gifts
Courage
Loving Saviour, how daunting it is to do everything in the light of the Gospel! And yet, that's what it means to be
your follower. I want to deepen my
commitment to you and I want to open my ears and heart to hear what you are asking me to do.
Give me your gift of courage.
Another Christmas
Advent is waiting for the birth of Jesus,
but it's a strange waiting:
we are waiting each year for someone we know is here!
We recall in Advent
that the Lord Jesus has come amoung us,
is present all the time
and will come again in glory.
He is the child who is born each year,
for the world always needs its God and
Saviour
He is the child awaited each year,
for our lives are new each year,
and we need him in different ways at
different stages of life,
and the world has different needs of God
at different times.
We need the child of peace to be born
in our wars and violence,
the child of wisdom in our search for
truth and meaning,
the child of gentleness in a world which
can be harsh and greedy.
We need to know in Jesus
that birth and life
are the most precious gifts of God,
and that in the birth of Jesus each year,
is the everlasting prmise of God
to be with us.
And Advent looks ahead,
letting us see that the life of Jesus is never over,
that the truth of Jesus is always spoken over,
that the truth of Jesus is always spoken,
and that he will one day be seen in glory.
For we are people of Advent and Easter,
of waiting and of resurrection;
we are people of earth and heaven,
as heis the Son of God and Son of Mary,
and leads us through our life on earth
to the eternal glory of heaven.
By Donal Neary SJ
Welcoming a New Year
a new year stands on my doorstep
ready to enter my life's journey.
something in me welcomes this visitor:
the hope of bountiful blessings
the joy of a new beginning
the freshness of unclaimed surprises
something in me rebuffs this visitior:
the swiftness of the coming
the boldness of the entrance
the challenge of a year's good-bye
something in me fears this visitor:
the unnamed events of future days
the wisdom needed to wald love well
the demands of giving away and growing
a new year stands on my doorstep.
with fragile caution I move
to open the door for its entrance.
my heart leaps with surprise,
joy jumps in my eyes,
for there beside this brand-new year
stands my God with outstretched hand!
He smiles and gently asks of me:
can we walk this year together?
and I, so overwhelmed with goodness,
can barely whisper my reply:
Welcome in!
By Joyce Rupp OSM
A child who lives with criticism, learns to condemn.
A child who lives with hostility, learns to fight.
A child who lives with ridicule, learns to be shy.
A child who lives with shame, learns to feel guilty.
A child who lives with tolerance, learns to be patient.
A child who lives with encouragement, learns confidence.
A child who lives with praise, learns ot appreciate.
A child who lives with fairness, learns justice.
A child who lives with security, learns to have faith.
A child who lives with approval, lears to like himself or herself.
A child who lives with accetance and friendship, learns to find love in the world.
