Fourth Sunday of Easter
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 THIS WEEK
Ovens: Monday 7.30pm.
9.30am: Tuesday to Friday.
(All weekday Masses Via Webcam)
PARISH OFFICE OPENING HOURS
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.
TRÓCAIRE BOXES
Sincere thanks to all of you who returned your Trócaire Boxes and envelopes. So far a total of €4,200 has been lodged to the Trócaire Lenten Appeal Fund.
Any remaining boxes or envelopes may be handed in to either Ovens or Farran Churches as soon as possible please.
Your donations are very much appreciated
TAX BACK SYSTEM
The Tax-Back System is still open to new members for 2020/2021, who are tax payers, and have contributed an average of at least €5 per week (€250 for a year).
Contact: Fr. Liam for details.
Revenue has informed the parish of a Tax-back refund of €4,078.
Sincere thanks to all who contribute in whatever way you do.
VOCATIONS SUNDAY 2021
Message from Fr. Cian O’Sullivan, Vocations Director, Diocese of Cork and Ross.
In his message for Vocations Sunday 2021 Pope Francis speaks of three words that mark the journey of St. Joseph and Vocation: dream, service and fidelity. Indeed, the first words that Joseph hears from the Lord in a dream are ”Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid”.
As we prepare for Vocations Sunday on the Fourth Sunday of Easter we are renewed by these hopeful words from Pope Francis and the hope of Easter season. In this time we are reminded that every one of us is called by God in a special way because of our Baptism. God calls us all in different ways to help others in our world.
Vocations Sunday is a time when we pray for those considering a vocation to the Diocesan Priesthood or Religious Life. The Diocese of Cork and Ross continues to promote and support those considering a vocation to the Priesthood as a positive way of life.
Do not hesitate to contact Fr. Cian if you need any more information.
Fr. Cian O’Sullivan is Vocations Director for the Diocese of Cork and Ross and is living and working as a Priest in Ballincollig Parish.
Contact Email: cianosullivan@corkandross.org. You may also contact Monsignor Kevin or Fr. Liam.
PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS
God Our Father, send workers into your harvest.
May the Spirit we received in Baptism touch the hearts of many
To offer themselves in Priesthood, Religious life and other forms of service.
Give the parents and families of our diocese the wisdom and courage to support young people in searching for and following the call of God in their lives.
We ask this through Christ Our Lord .
Amen
SR. LOUISE HORGAN
In November 2020 Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland named Sr. Louise Horgan as a recipient of a 2020 Presidential Distinguished Service Award. The award recognises the contribution of members of the Irish abroad in diverse fields such as sport, the arts, as well as those working to make the world a better place.
Sr. Louise is from Newcestown Parish. She is sister of Tommy Horgan and the late Mary Lehane and aunt of Anne Kelleher, Roovesmore, Farran, with whom she resides when home on vacation over the years.
Sr. Louise joined the Good Shepherd Sisters and trained as a nurse and Missionary Sister. She was posted to Sri Lanka in 1958 and worked with single mothers and abandoned children. But the political situation there forced the Sisters to leave, so they came to Bangkok, Thailand in 1965. Since then she has worked with dedication and care with children and teenagers who needed to be rescued and cared for. They began this work from scratch and had to learn a new language. She realized that the Thai people are artistic and skillful. In 1978, with other Sisters, she became a founder member of the Fatima Centre. They started off in a shed beside the local Church. Education and skills training was their main objective for young girls who were very open to exploitation in many ways. They took in 70 to 80 young women at a time providing residential care, adult education & skills development. This has continued since & hundreds of women have been helped, moving on to dignified work and employment. Numbers have increased over the years & before the Covid crisis began up to 300 refugees and children were coming to the centre every day. The women also learn sewing, cooking and computer skills.
The pandemic has increased the risk to vulnerable women in Thailand & has added to and interrupted their work but Sr. Louise hopes that the coming year will enable the centre to get this outreach back on track. She hopes the Presidential Award will raise the profile of the Fatima Centre & bring its products to the attention of new supporters who will place orders for its crafts. These items include children’s dresses, educational toys and beautiful smocked dresses. These find a market in shops and schools in Thailand as well as to many countries. Indeed, some of our beautiful Mass vestments and altar linen, which we use in Ovens & Farran Churches, have been supplied by Sr. Louise over the years.
Asked if at 86 she has any plans to retire, Sr. Louise said “once a Sister always a Sister. The Mission is part of who I am and the women are central to this. As long as I am able I will continue”.
We congratulate Sr. Louise, her community and family and look forward to her next visit home and to have her with us at Mass in Ovens and Farran.
Copies of a full account of Sr. Louise’s work and mission are available in Ovens & Farran Churches. Please collect one.
RECENT DEATH
Maura O’Keeffe, Farran
May she Rest in Peace.