Trinity Sunday
This Sunday, 7th June we celebrate Trinity Sunday, it falls on the first Sunday after Pentecost. The word ‘Trinity’ comes from the Latin word trinitas, which means “three” or “triad”. There is one God and in this one God there are three Divine Persons: The Father is God, the Son is God and the Holy Spirit is God. Yet there are not three Gods, but one, eternal, incomprehensible God.
The feast of the Most Holy Trinity may well be regarded as the Te Deum of gratitude over all the blessings of the Christmas and Easter seasons. Every Sunday we should recall in a spirit of gratitude the gifts which the Blessed Trinity is bestowing on us. The Father created and predestined us, the Son redeemed us and the Holy Spirit sanctified us.
Each time we bless ourselves “In the name of the Father and of the Son ad of the Holy Spirit” we pray to the Holy Trinity and, of course, when we recite the prayer “Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be world without end”. Amen.
June, the month of The Sacred Heart
The month of June is dedicated in a special way to the Sacred Heart, not just on the feast day, which this year falls on Friday June 19th, but every day.
In his general audience address on the 6th June, 2018, Pope Francis said ‘I invite you to pray to the Heart of Jesus during the month of June and to support your Priests with closeness and affection, so that they are the image of this Heart full of merciful love’.
In the same audience, Pope Francis also addressed the young people, the sick and the elderly, telling them “Draw from the Heart of Jesus the spiritual food and drink for your life, so that, nourished by Christ, you are new persons, transformed in depth by this divine love”.
“Most sweet and merciful Heart of Jesus, grant us peace. Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto thine. Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You”.
At one time every family had their home consecrated to the Sacred Heart, with a picture of the Sacred Heart in a prominent place and a little lamp burning before the picture.
First Friday Devotion to the Sacred Heart
For nine consecutive first Fridays of the month you attend Mass, receive Holy Communion and recite the Act of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Our Lord promised St. Margaret Mary that all who practice this devotion “shall not die in my disgrace nor without receiving the Sacraments; my divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in that last moment “.
St. Anthony of Padua
Next Saturday, 13th of June we celebrate the feast of St. Anthony of Padua. He is the Patron Saint of lost and stolen items and he also has healing powers. He is usually portrayed holding the child Jesus, or a lily, or a book, or all three in his arms.
Message from the Parish Finance committee
Ovens/Farran Parish
It is now ten weeks since the last Church Mass and while expenses continue, income has reduced substantially, as has the income of many of the parish families.
We gratefully acknowledge the offerings that have continued to be dropped in, we would like to ask parishioners who can help, that weekly Mass offerings can be returned through the letter box in the parish house in Ovens, using either any ordinary envelope or the Mass Offertory Collection envelopes.
These offerings meet the ongoing parish expenses, which are analysed and published on the newsletter at the end of the year.
Thanking you all and hoping for a return to Mass and the Sacraments as soon as it is safe to do so.
Reopening of Churches for Personal Prayer
This has been a very positive experience. From this Sunday, 7th June Ovens Church will be open from 10am to 6pm and Farran Church from 12noon 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 and to those who make it possible to do so.
Message from Trócaire
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 6pm each day. Farran Church open from 12noon 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.
Sunday Mass from Ovens/Farran Parish
From 10.30am onwards, Mass available via Ovens/Farran Facebook Page and the Parish Website: www.ovensparish.com
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.
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.