| Sunday
5th April 2009
Palm
Sunday of Lord's Passion
My
God, why have you forsaken me?
Jesus said:
"I am the resurrection and the
life. Do you believe this?"
The central reality of our faith as
Christians is that Christ has risen
from the dead and that he lives among
us. Holy Week is the celebration of
Christ's journey into this new life;
a journey that we are also invited
to travel, knowing that he has gone
before us, and that he travels with
us. It is important to make this week
a special time of prayer and reflection.
This is done in the frequent gatherings
in Church. But we need to take time
at a family level and also at a personal
level to get in touch with the most
inspiring and life-giving love story
ever told. Talk to each other this
week about all the good things the
Lord has done for you. If you are
a parent, let each of your family
know what she/he means to you. And
take a full part in the parish Liturgy.
Fr. Johnny
Doherty, C.Ss.R.
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My
God, my God, why have you forsaken
me?
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Sunday 5th
April 2009
Palm Sunday
of the Lord’s Passion
First Reading
Isaiah 50: 4-7
The prophet suffers in carrying out
his mission, but is sustained by the
firm belief that God will not abandon
him. We think of Jesus as we listen
to this Reading.
Second Reading
Philippians 2: 6-11
Because Jesus took on himself our
human condition and accepted death
on a cross, the Father has raised
Him up and made Him Lord of heaven
and earth.
Gospel Mark
14: 1-15:47 ~ The Passion of Jesus
Christ
St Mark stresses the crude trial and
shocking details of Jesus’ suffering.
MASS
TIMES
Monday,
Tuesday [Anniversary
Mass Margaret Doherty, Claggan],
Wednesday, 10 am.
Holy Thursday: 8 pm
Good Friday, 3 pm;
Holy Saturday 8 pm
Saturday, Vigil, 8
pm;
Sunday, 8.30 am &
11 am.
Confessions
Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday, after
10 am Mass;
Monday: 7 pm—8 pm;Wednesday,
9 pm—10 pm;
Thursday: after Ceremonies;
Friday: after Ceremonies & 7 pm—8
pm; Saturday: 12—1 pm.
Anniversary
Mass
Sunday, 11 am: Michael
McDermott,Drumley
Next Sunday
Easter Sunday, 11 am: James Doherty
Weekly Offering:
€1,580; Development Collection:
€870. Thank you for your generosity.
Pioneer Total
Abstinence Assoc.
The recent Church-gate collection
realised €376.39. Thanks to all
those who contributed and to those
who collected.
Readers: Meeting
on Monday night at 8 pm in the Church.
All readers please attend to prepare
for the Holy week Ceremonies.
Liturgy Group Meeting on
Monday night at 8.30 pm in the Parochial
House.
All the sick
of the parish will be attended on
Wednesday & Thursday at the usual
times.
Whist
1st: Brian Diver, Moville
2nd Dolores O’Donnell, Carn
3rd Margaret McGilloway, Malin &
Carrie McLaughlin, Culdaff
Tickets: Eamon Donaghy, James McConalogue,
Dolores O'Donnell & Philip McCool..
Other Winners:
Vera Deeny, James McLaughlin, Eamon
Donaghy, Seamus Harkin .
No Whist on Good Friday . Snowball
on 17th April €90 for 184 or
more
Bocan Community
Playgroup
A Fun Day is being organised for Easter
Sunday. If anyone would like to donate
home baking or a prize for the raffle,
then contact
Edward Doherty 9379974 or Norah McGrenaghan
on 9379820 /0876839714. We look forward
to seeing you there.
Car Boot Sale
Sunday, 7th June at Bocan Hall from
2 pm – 6 pm. To book a table
or a car contact Angela on 0879028930
or Caroline on 0868872073.
Central Statistics
Office
The CSO are conducting a survey for
the next couple of weeks [beginning
6th April]in the Dunross and Ballbane
areas.
Serenity
House
Active Retirement Association
are organizing a six day trip to Tullamore
on 17 May. For further information
contact Serenity House on 9382945.
Seats will be allocated on a first
come, first serve basis, so book early
to avoid disappointment.
Serenity Active Retirement
are holding an evening of
dancing in Caiseal Mara Hotel, Moville
on Friday 3 April from 9pm to 12 midnight,
music by Ed Sweeney. Raffle and spot
prizes galore, everyone welcome and
admission 5 euro.
Chiropodist
Deirdre Britton will be in attendance
at Serenity House on the last Friday
of the month, 1 May at 9.30am Appointments
only. If you wish to make an appointment
to attend the chiropodist contact
0860666538 or 074 9360363.
Note change
of date. The women’s
bible study will be held in Serenity
House, Moville on Monday 6 April at
10.30pm. All women are very welcome.
The
Deep End – As You Like It
Why fast-forward Jesus’ suffering
and death to Palm Sunday? Why can’t
we wait for God Friday? Today’s
celebration is joyous, even triumphal.
Why spoil it by anticipating Jesus’
suffering and death? Strange that
Christianity, a religion of joy, can’t
celebrate today’s joyous event
without insisting on a long reading
of Jesus’ suffering and death
[Mk 14:1-15:47] in its liturgy.
Today’s First Reading [Isa 50:4-7]
says, ‘the Lord has opened my
ear’ [v.5] – and I hear
a question: Why not allow Jesus his
moment of glory, and us our moment
of joy? For a moment only it is. The
triumph doesn’t last long. We
know that. Time enough to focus on
suffering when Good Friday comes.
Then it would have even greater impact
as we moved from the exuberance of
Palm Sunday and the cosiness of Holy
Thursday to the horror of Good Friday,
then soar to the elation of Easter
Sunday.
Too quickly focusing on suffering,
perhaps thinking it God-willed, presents
a false image of god. Anyone inclined
to so should recall God’s words
to the prophet Ezekiel, ‘Say
to them, “All I live,”
says the Lord God, “I have no
pleasure in the death of the wicked
but that the wicked turn from their
ways and live…” [Ezek
33:11]. Neither, does God take pleasure
in the sinner’s suffering. And
most definitely, not in his Son’s.
It’s important that we be people
of joy, even when faced with suffering.
Let us celebrate joy exclusively when
the occasion merits it. Palm Sunday
is one such occasion.
Fr Tom Cahill, SVD
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