Newsletter
25 February 2001

Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time


Wednesday is ASH WEDNESDAY and is a Day of Fast and Abstinence.

OH NO, NOT LENT

This might be your thoughts as the month of February draws to a close and the season of Lent begins. Those childhood memories of how difficult it was seem to be renewed each year. Yes, we made great efforts as children as did our parents. How society and Lent have changed. Many will recall the early mornings to attend daily Mass at 7.30a.m. before breakfast and school. How the priest distributed Holy Communion at the start of Mass for those who could not stay for all of the Mass due to getting to work. Then there were the many visits to the Church during the Holy Season not to mention the long Holy Week with even longer Ceremonies that lay ahead. We always thought the whole week was spent in the Church. Those of us who were Altar Boys looked forward to being chosen for the ceremonies. As for giving up sweets, in the first place we didn’t get sweets everyday anyway. Any we did buy or receive during Lent were carefully stored in a shoe box for Easter. Some might have stored more than others. Our parents on the other hand made their own sacrifice and abstained from perhaps something ‘harder’ than sweets. All in all the whole family were ‘doing something for Lent’. What are your family ‘doing’ this Lent?

Ash Wednesday was not always the first day of Lent. In the 6th century and possibly even earlier Lent began with the first Sunday and lasted until Easter Day, a period of 36 days. Later however it was decided to include the four preceding days thus making it a 40 day fast. The reason possibly being because Moses and Elias both kept a 40 day fast as did Jesus in the wilderness. By about 820, a liturgy for Ash Wednesday was in use which was very similar to the one we have today. But it was not for everyone. The imposition of Ashes was only for those who had committed the mortal sin of murder, adultery or idolatry. These were required to appear at the country church door on Ash Wednesday dressed in sackcloth, unwashed and with heads shaved, their feet bare. They were given a penance, sometimes of great severity and entailing considerable hardship. Weeping, they were led into Church by a deacon and knelt before the bishop. He sprinkled their heads with ashes intoning “Remember man that thou art dust and to dust thou shalt return”. With great solemnity he then declared them excluded from the church and the sacraments for a varying length of time; sometimes as short as a few weeks but occasionally as long as 15 years. After the allotted time the penitent was allowed to make a solemn public confession, was absolved and admitted again to the sacraments.

Ash Wednesday is a Day of Fast and Abstinence.

Ashes will be blessed and distributed during the morning Mass at 9.30a.m. and after the evening Mass at 7.30p.m.

Blessed Ashes will also be left available in the Church throughout the day.

Please make a special effort to keep this day special.

PILGRIMAGES 2001

As expected names and deposits did come rolling in during the week for our pilgrimages. Already over half the places available have been booked and secured with a deposit. So remember for both pilgrimages places will ONLY be reserved with a deposit of Ł60 (refundable) per person. So this year ‘don’t give me your name without a deposit’. Those who wish can make payment by instalments during the months ahead.

LOU

LOURDES 13th – 18th AUGUST

Five nights in the Hotel Solitude full board. This takes in the Feast of the Assumption and the French National Pilgrimage. This hotel has been used every year by our group, is convenient to the Grotto and most comfortable and satisfactory. Day Flights. Total Price Ł425. Single Room supplement extra and only if available. Deposit Ł60 to secure a place.

FATIMA 13th – 20th OCTOBER
This will be our first Pilgrimage to Fatima and a good interest has been expressed. Flying to Lisbon a 90 minute coach trip takes you to Fatima. The 7 night stay allows free time for excursions to other places while not neglecting the spiritual. Staying at the Hotel Santo Amaro full board the total price is only Ł432. Single Room supplement extra only if available. Deposit of Ł60 to secure a place.

SENIOR PARISHIONERS

Our sincere thanks to all our ‘senior’ members who attended our Mass and Social on Friday 16th. There was a great attendance and enjoyed by all. Thanks to all who donated prizes for our raffle especially ‘Youth Fun’ who once again are supporting their elders. A very special ‘thank you’ to the members of Templerainey ICA who excelled themselves in the quantity and variety of their catering expertise. It was enjoyed by all. Thanks also to our musicians Dinny, Jim and John. The appreciation expressed by those who attended makes such efforts very worthwhile. Perhaps we should have the more often! To one and all I say ‘Thank You’.

TEM

TEMPLERAINEY YOUTH FUN

We are happy at this early stage to announce the proposed dates for Youth Fun 2001. Our Annual fortnight will be held from Monday 9th to Friday 20th July. Enrolment Forms will be available after Easter. So keep these dates free and watch this space.

SAC

SACRED SPACE

As Lent approaches why not re-make a ‘Sacred Space’ if yours has become cluttered? Remember how in Advent over 400 families took a candle to make such a space. So with a Crucifix, a Candle or something religious please make your ‘space’ this Lent.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

To Valerie Keogh who was 6 years old on 21st February.

Lots of Love from Mammy, Daddy, William, P.J., Andrew & Auntie Betty.

THE NON–VOLUNTEERS

In this International Year of the Volunteer may I take the opportunity of thanking all who in a voluntary capacity give of themselves in many different ways within our community. Those who ‘volunteer’ both children and adults for care of and ministry of our church and liturgies. Those who ‘volunteer’ in services to the young, the elderly, the housebound and the less well off within our community. To one and all a ‘BIG THANK YOU’. In thanking you here is a reflection for perhaps the ‘Non – Volunteers’.

They do not lie;
They just neglect to tell the truth.
They do not take;
They simply cannot bring themselves to give.
They do not steal;
They scavenge.
They will not rock the boat;
But did you ever see them pull an oar?
They will not pull you down;
They’ll simply let you pull them up,
And let that pull you down.
They do not hurt you;
They merely will not help you.
They do not hate you;
They merely cannot love you.
They will not burn you;
They’ll only fiddle while you burn.
They are the nothing people;
The sins of omission folk;
The neither good nor bad and therefore worse.
Because the good, at least keep busy trying,
And the bad just try as hard.
Both have that character that comes from caring,
Action and conviction.
So give me every time an honest sinner or even a Saint.
But God protect me from the nothing people.

THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK

You’re either a part of the solution or a part of the problem.

The windmill never strays in search of the wind.

Those who wish to transform the world must be able to transform themselves.

There is no saint without a past and no sinner without a future.

To ease another’s heartbreak is to forget one’s own.

If you only knock long enough you are sure to wake up someone.

Always forgive your enemies, nothing annoys them so much.

CHURCH CLEANERS

Church Cleaners this week are Group G.

IN REMEMBRANCE

Our Masses next weekend 3rd/4th March will be offered in remembrance of-

Saturday 7p.m. - Sandy Dunne Anniv.

Sunday 9a.m. - Pat Kinsella Anniv.

Sunday 11.30a.m. - Maureen Quinn Month's Mind.

SPIRITUAL READING

Why not pick up some spiritual reading or prayer booklet from the book stands to help you make the journey of Lent. Only a small price to pay!

NOVENA OF GRACE

Prayers for the Novena of Grace in honour of St. Francis Xavier will be offered at our Masses from 4th to 12th March starting on the Sunday. Leaflets will be available at the door.

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