Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time                 19 February 2012 Fr Frank Grey, Carrick, Finea, Mullingar, Co Westmeath. 043 6681129 e-mail: ballymachugh@eircom.net

Mass Times And Intentions

Ballynarry Sat 18th Feb 8:00 pm The Lynch family Omard and Holywell. Servers: Aine Goldrick. Ryan Smith Wed 22nd Feb 8:00 pm Ash Wednesday Thur 23rd Feb 9:00 am Mass Fri 24th Feb 8:00 pm Pee McLoughlin, Mullaghboy. Sat 25th Feb 8:00 pm Mardi Baxter, Moat Servers: Aine Goldrick. Ryan Smith

Carrick Sun 19th Feb 12 O’clock James Denneny, Moynagh. Servers: Eimear Kelly. Shania Smith. Mon 20th Feb 9:30 am Joe Kearney, Carrick. Wed 22nd Feb 9:30 am Ash Wednesday Sun 26th Feb 12 O’clock Bridie & Frank Sheridan, Moynagh and their son Frank and daughter Eileen. Servers: Eimear Kelly. Shania Smith.

‘What are you giving up for Lent?’ was a popular phrase growing up. Or ‘I thought you were off sweets for Lent’ spoken just after some confectionary had been placed in the mouth. During Lent we are asked to make an extra effort in the areas of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, following chapter 6 of the Gospel of Matthew. Fasting is a way of replicating Christ’s fasting for forty days in the desert and we are encouraged to take the money spent on extra food and give it to charity. Lent is also an ideal time to make an extra effort in prayer, by attending Mass daily, spending time before the Blessed Sacrament or other forms of prayer. Lent has also adopted to today’s more technological world. In place of (or perhaps in addition to) giving up sweets, it has become fashionable to give up social networking sites such as Facebook for Lent. One wonders whether time spent in the virtual world might be replaced with face to face contact with family and friends in ‘real’ life, in the same way as money saved from avoiding chocolate, alcohol or cigarettes may be given as alms to charity. Also, becoming more popular today is the idea of doing good deeds for Lent. The concept here is that instead of giving something up (and perhaps being miserable) doing a good deed a day is a better way of spending Lent. While this does not fully take the place of the traditional prayer fasting and almsgiving, it can be a good way to focus the mind and either complement or encourage these acts. Despite our best efforts it is likely that we come up short of idealistic goals we have set ourselves. To fail is human. The key is to not give up but to try and start again. Yes, if we have been too optimistic in our goals, we might adjust back to something more manageable. The important thing is not to give up. And at the end you will feel a little better. “Through the clouds, the sun shines. Through the trials of life a person matures. Through the way of the cross comes the crown of glory.” (Old Irish Reflection)

The hidden tiger within

A young lad was passing a sculptor's yard somewhere in Italy. He was on his way to school. He noticed a huge block of marble in the middle of the yard. For the following few months, as he passed by, the front doors were closed, but he could hear the sculptor chipping away. After several months passed by, one day he saw that the front doors were open. He stood transfixed in amazement. Where the block of marble had been, stood a giant sculptured tiger. It was so life-like, with powerful muscles, and a real sense of aggressive movements. He stood looking at it for a while, and then he approached the sculptor. He tugged his coat, looked up into his face with awe, as he whispered:
'Excuse me, sir, but how did you know there was a tiger in there?'

Different people saw different aspects of Jesus and when he looks at each of us, and he sees our great possibilities.

He cannot begin to draw them out, however, without our

openness and goodwill ...

 Let your face shine on us, Lord
and we shall be safe,
safe now and safe forever.
Let your face shine on us, Lord
and we will care for others
what we freely receive
we will  freely share with others,
and then we shall all be safe,
safe now and safe forever.
Amen.

Ash Wednesday

Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. It is also a day of Fast( reducing the amount of food we eat) and Abstinence (refraining from meat). Ashes will be blessed and distributed during the 9:30 mass in Carrick and 8:00 pm mass in Ballynarry.

Lord, As we begin the journey of Lent,
may this season of prayer, repentance and  compassion open our eyes to our own

sinfulness, our Church's, our society's and our need to forgive ourselves and others their sins. I ask this in Jesus name. Amen 

 GAA Fixtures 19Feb— 26Feb

Senior Men:-League start this Sun 19th Feb in Baileborough at 2:00pm.

Next Sun 26th they play Shercock at 2:00 pm in Sheelin Park.

Minors:- play St Joseph’s on Sat 25th Feb in Killeshandra at 2:00 pm.

Under 12 Boys: Play Mountnugent in Mountnugent at 12:00pm in The Spring League on Sat 25th Feb.

NOTICES

Death We remember in our prayers, Kit O’Keeffe, mother of Con O’Keeffe, Lossett, whose funeral took place in Clonaslee on Saturday 11th Feb. Mass will be offered for her in Ballynarry on Wednesday 22nd Feb at 8:00pm. May she rest in peace.  I.C.A. “Dancing for Pleasure” classes with Lila resume on every Wed night 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm. All welcome to join the fun while exercising! We need more members to keep the class going so please come along.  Cancer Research Virginia Pumpkin Festival are holding a Strictly Come Dancing event in The Hotel Kilmore next Sat 25th Feb at 8:00 pm. The winning couple  receive €1000 towards their chosen charity. Local lady Noeleen Kiernan, is taking part and her chosen charity is Cancer Research. Please come along and support her, tickets are €20 and available from Noeleen and the ticket office at 087 0540971. Baptism We welcome into the Christian Community Charlie Peter Mulligan, son of Natasha Fegan and Jonathan Mulligan, Clonlohan whose Baptism took place in Ballynarry on Sat 11th Feb.

Parish Pastoral Council There will be a meeting of the Pastoral council in the Parochial House on Mon at 9:00 pm. 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 Parents Association The parents Association, staff and Pupils of Ballynarry N.S. would like to thank everyone why contributed in any way to the Ladies Chat and Exchange night that was held in Kiernan’s pub on the 3rd of Feb. which was so successful. Total raised on the night €1194.20. Well done to everyone involved. Safetalk - Suicide Alertness Training 3 hour certified training that prepares the participant to identify persons with thoughts of suicide and connect them to suicide first aid resources. This training will take place in Ballyjamesduff, on Monday 5th March, at 6 pm - 9 pm. Venue to be confirmed. For more information or to book your place please call 049 4336070.