St
Mary’s Church Bocan
29th April 2007—No 21
Fourth Sunday of Easter,
Year C
A Day of Prayer for Vocations
Responsorial
Psalm
We are his people, the sheep of his
flock.
The Old Woman
Joseph Campbell [1879-1944]
As a white candle
In a holy place,
So is the beauty
Of an aged face.
As the spent radiance
Of the winter sun,
So is a woman
With her travail done.
Her brood gone
from her,
And her thoughts are still
As the waters
Under a ruined mill.
Collections
Weekly Offering €1,605;
Development Collection, €1,015.
Thank you for your generosity.
Today’s
Readings
1st Paul and Barnabas
boldly proclaim the gospel despite
growing opposition;
2nd A vision of heaven
is presented, where the redeemed are
gathered in victory around the Throne
of the Lamb;
Gospel Jesus speaks
of himself as the Good Shepherd.
Confirmation
Thursday, 10th May at 6 pm by Bishop
Seamus Hegarty.
P.S. It is proposed
that the parents of the 5th Class
pupils from both schools would prepare
the post-confirmation refreshments.
Those parents please come to a short
meeting in Bocan Hall on Monday, 7th
May at 8 pm.
1st Confessions
Monday, 6.45 pm in St Mary’s
Church, Bocan. Parents please bring
Baptismal Candles.
Liturgy Group
There will be a short meeting of the
Liturgy Group on Wednesday, 2nd May
at 8pm in the Parochial House.
PTAA
The recent church-gate collection
for the PTAA realised €320. Thanks
to all those who contributed and to
those who collected.
Culdaff Care of the Aged
Meeting on Tuesday, 1st May at 8.30
pm in Bocan Old School. All members
please attend.
New Year's Day Swim
€4,450 was raised for our Development
Fund. Our grateful thanks to all those
who organised the event and to all
those who took part. It was a marvellous
achievement by all.
Pilgrimage to Knock 2007
Bishop Hegarty will lead the Diocesan
Pilgrimage to Knock on Sunday, 3rd
June. The ceremonies will begin at
2.30 pm with the Blessing of the Sick.
Hospitalite Cards
The Annual Lourdes Hospitalite Collection
takes place on 12th/13th May. This
fund is used solely for the purpose
of providing medical care and support
to people of the Diocese who are sick
and wish to go to Lourdes .
Serenity
House
Weekend Break to Scotland
- A trip is being organised to the
Highland Shows and to Edinburgh from
22nd – 24th June 2007. Price
per person sharing is £150.
£50 deposit is required to secure
a seat. Price includes coach, ferry
and 2 nights B&B n Glasgow City
Centre Hotel. For more details contact
9382116 / 9382619 or 087 2799269.
Cancer Support Group –
Meeting on Monday, 30th April at 7
.30 pm. Everyone welcome.
Reflexology – Names
are being taken for Reflexology classes
commencing Monday, 30th April at 10.30
am and an Aromatherapy class commencing
Thursday, 3rd May at 7 pm. All are
welcome. For more information contact
9382945.
Trip to Killarney –
Serenity House are organising a 5-Day
Trip to Killarney on 14th October
2007. For further information contact
Serenity House on 9382945. Book early
to secure a place.
Carmelite Retreat
Centre
Monthly Devotions in Honour of our
Lady on Tuesday, 1st May at 7.30 pm,
followed by Rosary and Mass. All are
welcome to attend.
Termonbacca Community Fun
Day
Sunday, 27th May. We are now collecting
items /donations for Bric-a-Brac stalls
and other areas. If you can help contact
04871265212 [during office hours].
RTE Nationwide
- Friday, 4th May at 7 pm
The Nationwide Programme contains
brief clips of the 6th Class children
from Scoil Mhuire, Gleneely and Scoil
Naomh Buadain, Culdaff while they
were participating in their Confirmation
Retreat at Loreto House, Linsfort.
Counting sheep
The notion of unity in diversity is
quite popular today – at least
as a slogan. The new Ireland may well
be one of many nationalities, but
in real terms we are struggling to
make out of this cultural mix- one
people. Let’s be honest, while
Irish people are generally quite friendly,
we are extraordinarily clannish and
slow to admit people into our circle
of friends. We all tend to associate
with people with whom we share racial,
cultural, economic and religious characteristics
and values.
It’s just as well then that
Paul and Barnabas had no Hibernian
genes. They move the fledgling church
into the realm of the Gentiles, not
without opposition and struggle mind
you. But it’s a mission accomplished
with an innumerable multitude impossible
to count [second reading].
The Good Shepherd of the Gospel has
an interesting flock. We have genuine
differences but these are only distinctions
not separations. They add to the colour
and texture of the community of believers;
they do not alienate or marginalise.
There is no dominant or superior group
in this flock. We are all God’s
people, ‘the flock he tends.’
From our limited knowledge of sheep,
we may know that they smell, stray
and are often parasite-ridden. Which
only goes to show what an extraordinary
love and care Jesus has for us. Something
to literally baaaaa-sk in!
Fr Tom
Cox
|
