Pentecost Sunday
Pentecost Sunday
It is hard to believe that Pentecost Sunday is upon us. Our great landmarks like St. Patrick’s Day, Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday all passed on without making their usual impact. However, the Coronavirus distracted us in so many ways and understandably so. It is all the more important for us then to celebrate Pentecost when Jesus sent the Holy Spirit. Because now, more than ever, we need the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit through its GIFTS & FRUITS.
GIFTS: Wisdom: That we may have the Wisdom of the Psalmist who prayed “Lord, that we might know the shortness of life, so that we may gain wisdom of heart”
Understanding: Holy Spirit, that we may understand the Gospel and each other.
Counsel: Holy Spirit, advise us in difficult moments.
Fortitude: We ask the Holy Spirit to give us courage in bad times and in good in trying to deal with the coronavirus.
Knowledge: We remember St. Augustine’s Prayer, ”Lord, that I may know you and that I may know myself”.
Holiness: We pray that we may be Holy ourselves and sources of holiness for others.
Wonder & Awe in God’s Presence: Wonder at God’s creation and in the beauty of the month of May, Our Lady’s month.
We also ask the Holy Spirit to send us its FRUITS, Love, Joy, Peace, Patience. We think especially of Joy. While we must not be gloomy or downhearted we must admit that the coronavirus has deprived us of many joys, like Holy Communion, and in many cases Confirmation, Weddings, sport, contact with our people and family and many of the simple joys of life. We pray in hope that we will enjoy these another day please God.
We must also consider Patience. Various restrictions have been placed on us due to the virus. It is new to us all. We have never experienced anything like it before. So let us be patient with each other and ourselves too.
“Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle within us the fire of your love”.
A Time to be Slow
This is the time to be slow,
Lie low to the wall until the bitter weather passes.
Try as best you can not to let the wire brush of doubt scrape from your heart all sense of yourself and your hesitant light.
If you remain generous, time will become good.
And you will find your feet again in fresh pastures of promise.
John O’Donoghue.
Reopening of Churches for Personal Prayer
Thanks to all those who have been taking part in the monitoring of our Churches following their reopening for private prayer on Monday, 18th May.
This has been a very positive experience. During the week we received an email from Bishop Fintan, stating, now that a system has been established we may move from a position of supervision/stewarding to one of occasional monitoring. This may allow greater flexibility for Churches to be open for a longer time.
From this Monday, 1st June Ovens Church will open from 10am to 4pm, and Farran Church from 4pm to 8pm.
It is important that all who come to pray observe social distancing and sanitise hands on entering and leaving the Church. A one way system is in place whereby you enter through the main door and exit at the side door near the parish centre.
Thanks to all for your co-operation and prayer.
Sunday Mass from Ovens/Farran Parish
From 10.30am onwards, Mass available via Ovens/Farran Facebook Page and the Parish Website: www.ovensparish.com
Anyone who sent a request for the Mass link to Roger O’Sullivan, 087 2297491, will be sent the new link today from 10.30am.
Mass can be distributed via Facebook, Emails, WhatsApp, Viber and standard text messaging.
Thanks to Roger for his work in this and in setting up the Parish Facebook Page.
Message from Trócaire
Every year Trócaire asks for your help during Lent to fund lifesaving programmes around the world. This year, of course, it was not possible to return Trócaire boxes through schools or Churches in the usual way. This is the worst possible timing coming just as the world’s poorest people need us most. Therefore, Trócaire are appealing to you to return your Lenten donation. Simply count or estimate what is in your box and donate in the following ways.
- Online at www.trocaire.org
- By phone: 1850 408408
- By post to Trócaire, Maynooth, Co. Kildare.
- Or to the Churches or Parochial House. Ovens Church now open from 10am to 4pm each day. Farran Church open 4pm to 8pm each day.
The contents of each and every Trócaire box, no matter how small, come together to make a significant difference. This virus knows no borders, but neither does our compassion.
COMMUNITY CALL
Éire Óg has joined up with other groups e.g. Gardaí, An Post, Civil Defence, Cork County Council to help the vulnerable or isolated in our community, if needed at this time of the Coronavirus pandemic.
If anyone needs help or knows of anyone who does, please phone 1800 805819 or locally John Hourihan 086 3178214, Éire Óg Co-ordinator.