12th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Feast of the Sacred Heart
On Friday last, 19th June we celebrated the Feast of the Sacred Heart.
The feast of the Sacred Heart is a movable feast, celebrated after the Octave of Corpus Christi.
Although it is now celebrated in June the first liturgical Feast of the Sacred Heart was celebrated on the 31st August 1670 in Rennes, France through the efforts of St. John Eudes. It was from Rennes that the devotion spread, but it only became universal after St. Margaret Mary Alacoque received visions. In one of her visions, the Sacred Heart of Jesus appeared during the Octave of Corpus Christi and Christ asked Margaret Mary to request that the feast of the Sacred Heart be celebrated after the Octave of Corpus Christi.
The church had doubts about Margaret Mary’s visions and she had to face many trials to prove that they were genuine. It wasn’t until 1765, 75 years after her death that the devotion was made official and celebrated throughout France. In 1856, Pope Pius the IX extended the feast to the universal Church.
Since 2002, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is also a special Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests.
Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
O most Sacred Heart of Jesus, fountain of every blessing, I adore You, I love You and with lively sorrow for my sins, I offer You this poor heart of mine. Make me humble, patient, pure and wholly obedient to your will. Grant, Good Jesus, that I may live in you and for You. Protect me in the midst of danger. Comfort me in my afflictions. Give me health of body, assistance in my temporal needs, your blessing on all that I do and the grace of a holy death. Amen.
Guidelines for Mass and Other Liturgies in Church
Diocese of Cork and Ross
From Monday, 29th June, weekday Masses will resume in our Churches and from 4th/5th July we will have our weekend Masses.
The following are the guidelines for Masses set out by the Diocese of Cork and Ross.
Each time you visit:
• Be guided by signage and stewards.
• Sanitise hands at entrance and exit.
• Follow the one way path.
• Maintain social distancing.
Seating:
• Pews where people may sit are marked with a green tick.
• People living in the same household may share a pew.
The Sign of Peace is suspended,
Holy Communion to be received in the hand only.
Collections will be taken up as you leave.
Please take your Mass leaflet home with you.
The capacity of churches decreases with social distancing. During the Covid-19 pandemic and until further notice, we encourage parishioners, where possible, to join us at one of our weekday Masses. Some parishioners, especially the vulnerable, may choose to join in prayer from home.
Sunday Mass Collection & Dues
Sincere thanks to those who have dropped in what would have been the weekly Sunday Mass Offertory Collection. This is most appreciated and the same is also true of the Easter Dues of course. Again, many thanks.