Second Sunday of Lent
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, followed by the Rosary.
9.30am: Tuesday to Friday.
(All weekday Masses Via Webcam)
PARISH OFFICE
No Office Hours until further notice.
If you need to make contact for any reason ring
021 4289768 and we will return your call as soon as possible.
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SECOND WEEK OF LENT
This Sunday, the Second Sunday of Lent, we listen in today’s Gospel to St. Mark’s account of the Transfiguration. “Jesus took Peter, James and John and led them up a high mountain by themselves and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun and His clothes became white as light”. The three Apostles witness a small glimpse of his eternal glory. They are stunned, amazed and filled with the greatest joy.
Why do we reflect upon this scene in the beginning of Lent?
Lent is a time to examine our lives and to see our sins most clearly. It’s a time we are given each year to pause from the confusion of life & to re-examine the road we are on.
The Transfiguration is an event given to these three Apostles to give them hope as they prepare to face the suffering and death of Jesus. We too, need to see the Transfiguration as the end and goal of our lives. We need to know that the Father desires to transform us into the whitest light, lifting all sin and bestowing upon us the great dignity of being a true son or daughter of Him.
God has created me to do Him some definite service.
He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another.
I have my mission.
I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next.
I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons.
He has not created me for naught.
St. John Henry Newman (1801-1890)
STATIONS OF THE CROSS
For the remaining four Fridays of Lent Monsignor Kevin O’Callaghan will give a reflection on the Stations of the Cross, after the Gospel, at the 9.30am Mass. This will begin on Friday next, the First Friday of March, with the Reflections on the first four Stations:
- Jesus is condemned to Death.
- Jesus takes up the cross.
- Jesus falls the first time.
- Jesus meets His Mother.
ROSARY FOR LENT
The Rosary will be recited on the five remaining Mondays of Lent after the 7.30pm Mass. If you are joining on the webcam for the Mass please “Remain On” to pray the Rosary together. It would be good also to have your Rosary Beads with you as we pray.
THE MONTH OF MARCH
This Monday is the first day of March. The name March comes from Martius. Named after Mars, the Roman god of war and an ancestor of the Roman people through his sons Romulus and Remus.
It is said that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. The first three days in March were once considered bad luck. They called them the blind days. No one would plant, enter into an agreement or go on a journey during these days. March is also known for its borrowing days. The month is no stranger to bad weather. The last three days in March were said to be borrowed from April.
In March we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, the Feast of St. Joseph on the 19th March, Mother’s Day this year is on the 14th March and we have the Spring Equinox on the 21st March. The hour goes forward at the end of March, giving us much longer, brighter days.
One of the flowers most associated with March is the narcissus (wild daffodil), named after the boy in Greek Mythology who was changed into a flower.
March is the month of spring and with it comes a lot of activity in nature. Birds migrate, farmers are busy on the land, plants begin to grow. Even the full moon gets involved. The full moon in March is called the Worm Moon. It earns this name because of all the insects beginning to hatch.
In England the daffodil inspired, amongst others, the poet William Wordsworth to write his famous poem “Daffodils”.
“I wandered lonely as a cloud that floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd, a host, of golden daffodils.
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.”
CORK SCRIPTURE GROUP
Home Study Module – Lent 2021
A Series of presentations and notes, designed for home study, exploring a different biblical perspective on hope each week.
The Presentation this Monday, 1st March is “Barren and Budding: Growing Hope-the Fig Tree Parables” presented by Lorna Downey
AN INVITATION FROM BISHOP FINTAN
The parishioners of the Diocese of Cork and Ross are invited to join in a series of short reflections each Wednesday afternoon during Lent at 1.30pm.
They will be live streamed on both the Diocesan Facebook and You Tube channels. Details of links to join in this short reflection are available on the Diocesan Website
IN THIS CHURCH
In this Church all is still, but for the clock’s tick.
The seats are waiting for people in prayer and the casual visitor passing by.
The windows send threads of sun rays illuminating the aisle edges and a hushed silence to be filled.
Then something happens:
Is it the presence of God?
Or is it my racing imagination slowing to the pace of reflected memories?
In the space, in the silence, in the need,
In the push, in the wondering, in the waiting,
There is room for God.
MATT TALBOT
Novena Prayers in honour of Matt Talbot will be taking place online via http://www.churchservices.tv/togher at 6.30pm on the Mondays of Lent.
THANK YOU FOR PARISH CONTRIBUTIONS
Sincere thanks to the Ovens and 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. To enable the parish to meet unavoidable expenses we are also grateful 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 and 2021, who are tax payers, and have contributed an average of at least €5 per week (€250 for a year). Contact; Fr. Liam for details.
Again, thanks to all who have helped in any way and who contribute in whatever way you do.
KNOCK SHRINE
Exploring the Word of God through Prayer.
Knock Shrine will show a series of online night prayer with reflections on Scripture at 9pm each Tuesday night. Students from St. Louis Community School, Kiltimagh, Co. Mayo will deliver this series of talks inspired by Scripture. You can join us online for this new series at www.knockshrine.ie/watch-live
“Awaiting a New Dawn ” Living Christian Faith, Lenten Conversations each Thursday night at 8.30pm.