First Sunday of Lent

First Sunday of Lent               2 February 2012 Fr Frank Grey, Carrick, Finea, Mullingar, Co Westmeath. 043 6681129 e-mail: ballymachugh@eircom.net

Mass Times And Intentions

Ballynarry Sat 25th Feb 8:00 pm Mardi Baxter, Moat Servers: Aine Goldrick. Ryan Smith Thur 1st Mar 9:30 am Mass Fri 2nd Mar 8:00 pm First Friday (Confessions before Mass) Hugh & Agnes Cooney, Crover Sat 3rd Mar 8:00 pm Paddy Ellis, Kilnaleck. Servers: Enya Kiernan. Sean O’Neill

Carrick Sun 26th Feb 12 O’clock Bridie & Frank Sheridan, Moynagh and their son Frank and daughter Eileen. Servers: Eimear Kelly. Shania Smith. Mon 27th Feb 9:30 am Mass Tue 28th Feb 9:30 am Mass Wed 29th Feb 9:30 am Mass Fri 2nd Mar 9:30 am First Friday (Confessions before Mass) Sun 4th Mar 12 O’clock Paddy Ellis, Kilnaleck. Servers: Dwayne Mulvey, Roisin Coyle.

Lent 2012 'Come aside and rest awhile' It is a time to refresh the body, mind and spirit, in quiet prayer, in a church, some holy place of nature, away from it all. Maybe we could do some fasting or other penance for our sins or the sins of others, in our family, in our church, in our workplace, in the environment and think of the type of love that we are called to share with others, especially the poor.   Lent focuses on prayer, fasting and almsgiving: all ways of taking us inside ourselves to be renewed, and outside ourselves to love others. The real test of Christian life is how we live our lives in our everyday. The test of Lent in the end is not what we have done for Lent, but what our Lent has done for us and others. It is a sacred space to get in touch with Jesus, and a sacred time to talk seriously with him William Arthur Ward wrote about fasting and feasting in Lent: Fast from judging others;       feast on Christ in them. Fast from wanting more;        feast on being thankful. Fast from anger;                     feast on patience. Fast from worry;                    feast on trust. Fast from complaining;          feast on enjoyment. Fast from negatives ;                              feast on positives. Fast from stress ;                    feast on prayer. Fast from anger ;                    feast on forgiveness. Fast from self concern;           feast on compassion for others. Fast from fear;                        feast on truth. Fast from discouragement ;    feast on hope. Fast from gossip;                    feast on silence. Fast from fighting:                  feast on peace. Amen

Hope

Perhaps Spring’s greatest blessing is the gift of hope.

The cold, wet days and long, dark nights we are enduring will come to an end.

The earth is renewing itself and, as the days lengthen and the green buds of spring appear, spirits lift and lighten. It’s a wonderful time in the cycle of nature, and In the cycle of our lives, when we emerge with hope from some grief or hardship, loss or pain that has beset us. Without hope in our lives we would tread a long, hard, dreary path. Hope is a grace that is given to us. Even in the worst times of life, when in pain, grief and difficulty we are lucky if we can hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel. No matter how hard it is, if we can fan the little spark of hope that lies deep within us, it will sustain us and keep us going no matter what.

We believe in hope.

‘Hope does not disappoint’ (Romans v,5)

"In these days, God taught me as a schoolteacher teaches a pupil" (Saint Ignatius).
I remind myself that there are things God has to teach me yet,
and ask for the grace to hear them and let them change me.

In the presence of my loving Creator, I look honestly at my feelings over the last day,

the highs, the lows and the level ground.
Can I see where the Lord has been present?

Help me, Lord, to notice how

you are speaking to me.

Prayer Before a Crucifix

BEHOLD, O good and sweetest Jesus,
I cast myself upon my knees in Thy sight,
and with the most fervent desire of my soul
I pray and beseech Thee
to impress upon my heart
lively sentiments of faith,
hope and charity,
with true repentance for my sins
and a most firm desire of amendment:
whilst with deep affection and grief of soul
I consider within myself
and mentally contemplate Thy five most precious Wounds,
having before mine eyes that which David, the prophet,
long ago spoke in Thine own person concerning Thee,
my Jesus: “They have pierced My hands and My feet,
they have numbered all My bones.”

 

Trocaire boxes are being distributed through the school. You may also pick up a box at the church door. Your Lenten gift will make a huge difference.

While many children today are loved, protected and receive more materially than they need, for millions of others life is a daily struggle. Children in countries such as Uganda, equally loved and cherished by their parents, are forced by poverty to work in hazardous conditions to support their families. Children as young as six are denied a childhood because of the unjust balance of our world. What you put in the Trocaire box will make a big difference to them.

50th International Eucharistic Congress, Dublin.

Sunday 10th— Sunday 17th June

Sunday 10th to Saturday 16th June at The R.D.S.

Sunday 17th at Croke Park. It is a gathering to celebrate the gift of the Holy Eucharist.

Theme: “Communion with Christ and with one another”

Having come to Mass and receiving Jesus Christ in Holy Communion, then we go out and become Christ to one another by living a good life, being honest, decent, kind, caring, loyal etc. A number of tickets have been allocated to the diocese for the Mass in Croke Park on Sunday 17th June and have been divided out among each parish. Our allocation is 9 tickets. The members of the Parish Council, on Monday night, decided that the best way to a lot them is on a lottery basis. If you would like a ticket please put your name in the box provided under the tree beside the Sanctuary. The draw will be on Sunday evening next 4th March

NOTICES

First Friday Fr Frank will bring Holy Communion to the sick and the housebound on Thursday. Mission Appeal Fr Donal Harney will be present at the Masses next weekend on mission promotion. He will be making an appeal on behalf of the Mill Hill Missions. Stations of The Cross During Lent on alternate Sundays Stations of the Cross in Carrick and Ballynarry. This Sunday evening Stations of the Cross in Carrick at 6:00 pm. GAA Fixtures 26th Feb— 4th Mar Senior Men:- play Shercock this Sunday 26th at 2:00 pm in Sheelin Park. Minors:- play O’Raghealli Gaels on Sat 3rd March in Sheelin Park at 2:00 pm. I.C.A. “Dancing for Pleasure” classes with Lila resume on every Wed night 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm. All welcome.

Baptism We welcome into the Christian Community James Declan McBreen, son of Tara Reilly and Declan McBreen, Crover who was baptised in St Mary’s Church, Carrick on Sat  18th Feb. Ballynarry N.S. Anyone who would like to enroll their child in Ballynarry N.S. in Junior Infants for September may do so by getting an application form from the school. Phone 049 4336833  Ministers for March Ballinarry:              Reader:   Rosaleen Kiernan Euch Min:               Bridie Smith Altar Society:           Patricia Rudd, Lorna Faraday,                                 Maura Smith Carrick: Reader:   Mark Mahon Euch Min:               Joan Kelly Altar Society:           Liz Mahon, Elaine Muldoon Counters:                Mary Reilly, Eithne Reilly. Bell:                         Benny Kiernan