4th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Parish Phone Nos. (021) 4871180.
Emergency No: 087 0956190
Monsignor Kevin O’Callaghan: (021) 7336053
Parish Centre/Sacristy: (021) 4289768
Ring for bookings: Baptisms & Marriages etc
WEEKEND MASSES
Ovens:
Vigil: 7.30pm.
Sunday: 9.30am & 11.30am.
Masses on the Webcam from Ovens Church. churchservices.tv/ovens
WEEKDAY MASSES
Ovens: Monday 7.30pm.
9.30am: Tues to Friday. (Via Webcam)
A PRAYER FOR THIS TIME
May the God of Love bless you.
May God’s care for you ease all that is troubling you and reassure you in times of adversity.
May you be encouraged by the whisper of God’s love for you in the centre of your being and may you rest securely in the arms of the one who will never let you go.
May you extend the hand of care to those around you who are in need of the same reassurance.
May the God of love comfort you. Amen.
LÁ FHÉILE NAOMH BRÍD
Monday is the beautiful Feast of Naomh Bríd, St. Brigid, Muire na nGael, 1st February. It is also the first day of Spring.
Spring, an tEarrach, is a time of hope and new beginnings and of longer days and more sunlight. For these reasons and many more we look forward to Spring and new life. It inspired the poet of the roads, Antaine Raifteirí, to write:
“Anois teacht an earraigh beidh an lá ag dul chun sineadh, Is tar éis Lá Fhéile Bríde ardóidh mé mo sheol”.
Naomh Bríd, St. Brigid is known as Muire na nGael. One significant feature about her which outshone all others was her generosity. When it came to serving the poor, words attributed to her are: “If I had the power to give away the whole of Leinster, I would willingly give it to God’s poor”. This is also signified by the simplicity of the St. Brigid’s Cross, made from the simplicity of rushes.
PRAYER TO ST. BRIGID
Saint Brigid, you were a woman of peace.
You brought harmony where there was conflict.
You brought light to the darkness.
You brought hope to the downcast.
May the mantle of your peace cover those who are troubled and anxious, and may peace be firmly rooted in our hearts and in our world. Amen
CANDLEMAS DAY
On this Tuesday, 2nd February we celebrate the Feast of Candlemas. It occurs 40 days after Christmas Day. This Feast is also known as the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple & the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Candlemas commemorates the presentation of Jesus as a baby in the temple. It is based on the account of the Presentation of Jesus in St. Luke’s Gospel, when they met Simeon and Anna who spent a lot of time praying in the temple.
“Candlemas” (meaning Candle Mass) refers to the practice of the blessing of candles by the Priest during the Mass for use during the year in the Church and in the homes of the faithful.
As in other years, candles may be handed into either Farran or Ovens Church before Tuesday. They will be blessed at Ovens Mass on Tuesday morning. Candles will also be available in the Church.
DAY FOR CONSECRATED LIFE 2021
The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord was chosen by the late Pope Saint John Paul for the celebration of Consecrated Life. Last year over 200 religious, were able to join in a celebration in the Cathedral at the invitation of Bishop Fintan. However, this year Bishop Fintan has invited the religious to join with him virtually on Tues 2nd Feb at 5pm for the celebration of Vespers in the Poor Clare Monastery, College Road.
The Celebration of Vespers on that evening will also be made available on the Diocesan Website for people throughout the Diocese to participate.
FEAST OF ST. BLAISE
This Wednesday, 3rd February we celebrate the Feast of St. Blaise.
According to tradition, Blaise was of noble birth and after being educated in the Christian faith, was made Bishop of Sebastia. It is said that before he became a Bishop he was a physician possessed of wonderful healing power. Numerous miracles were attributed to him. He was venerated as the patron of sufferers from throat diseases.
On this Feast Day over the years we would have had the Blessing of Throats. However, this cannot take place in person this year due to Covid 19 Restrictions.
We will, however, be able to do so virtually, without a congregation, on Webcam. The Blessing will be given at the end of the 9.30am Mass on Wednesday.
CANON MICHAEL CROWLEY. RIP
Canon Michael Crowley retired Parish Priest of Ballinlough died on Wednesday last. Canon Crowley is from this parish, Fergus. He was ordained in the Church of the Assumption, Ballyphehane in 1956, almost 65 years ago. He worked in several parishes in the Diocese: Schull, The Cathedral, Balllinlough as C. C. Douglas, Blackpool & Ballinlough as P.P. He also worked in England and in Peru (1967—1973).
We extend our sympathy to his family, the Crowley Family, Fergus and the Kelleher family, Aglish.
I measc na Naoimh go raibh sé.
NOTICE FROM ÉIRE ÓG
Tickets for the Cork GAA Rebels Bounty Draw are now available to purchase. Tickets cost €100, and can be paid for in full or monthly Via Direct Debit. Check https://gaacork.ie/rebelsbounty/ for details.
30 great prizes to be won each month.
As a club we have always invested in our facilities and we have some exciting projects over the next few years and all money raised from this draw will be used on these projects. Please purchase a ticket to support Éire Óg GAA.
If interested please contact: Niamh Lehane 087 8229978 or Michael Lordan 086 6088475 or any club official.
HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY
Thursday last, 27th January was Holocaust Remembrance Day, a day to remember the devastating tragedies of the 2nd World War, among them over six million Jewish men, women and children were murdered by Nazi forces between the years 1941 and 1945. Martin Niemoller’s lines are a powerful reminder that we must speak up and stand up for others and not just for ourselves and that we must never let these horrors happen again:
“First they came for the Jews and I did not
speak out, because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for communists but I did not speak out because I was not a communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me,
and there was no one left to speak out for me”.
THANK YOU FOR PARISH CONTRIBUTIONS
Sincere thanks to the Ovens/Farran parishioners for the support they have given for the upkeep of the parish services during a most difficult time. Thanks to all who dropped in envelopes, even though no Masses with congregations were taking place. Also, for the contributions received using the on-line and direct debit system & for contributions from the shrines, crib and, of course, the tax-back system. The Tax-Back System is still open to new members for 2020 & 2021, who are tax payers & have contributed an average of at least €5 per week (€250 for a year). Contact; Fr. Liam for details.