Due to Covid restrictions we will continue to upload Mass from the Parish on the YouTube channel at 10 am on Sunday.

Parishioners can go to the Parish website: www.sjparish.ie and scroll down to the bottom left- hand side of the screen.  Click into the YouTube channel.

This Sunday’s Mass will be offered for:

Imelda Mooney and deceased members of the Mooney Family

Sunday, 28^th February – Next Weekend’s Mass will be offered for:

Maura Tiernan (MM)

RIP

Your prayers are requested for the repose of the soul of Thomas J. (Tommy) McDonnell whose funeral took place this week.  We remember the bereaved in our prayers.

Lenten Mass

• Mass is available every Wednesday on the YouTube channel at 10 am. This mass can be accessed any time from then.

Trócaire

A limited number of Trócaire boxes and envelopes are available in both churches.

During Lent we are asked to support Trócaire’s campaign which benefits those living in Third world and poorer countries and help to provide them with the basic neccessities of life that they need, and the provision of catechists, teachers, agricultural advisors, doctors, nurses that will help educate the world’s poorest in using better their own resources.  Please be as generous as you can in Trócaire’s collection this year.

For Lent

We are proposing a programme called “Begin Again” It invites everybody to start something new for Lent and if you miss a day or a few days to, Begin Again!

Sunday:  Tune in to weekend Mass on-line via the YouTube channel. (Website: SJparish.ie)

Monday:  Reach out to someone via text or phone call who may need your support.

Tuesday:  Cook something nice for yourself or family and enjoy.

Wednesday:  Contribute some monies to Trócaire and helping the poor and needy.

Thursday:  Pray privately and remember three things to be thankful to God for.

Friday:  Abstain from meat.

Saturday:  Do some physical exercise on your own or with family if you can.

Each Day: Offer Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be, for family, our sick and departed. Do you want to fast this Lent? Fast from hurting words and say kind words. Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude. Fast from anger and be filled with patience. Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope. Fast from worries and trust in God. Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity. Fast from pressures and be prayerful. Fast from bitterness and fill your heart with joy. Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others. Fast from grudges and be reconciled. Fast from words and be silent so you can listen. Pope Francis

Lent

Lent is never about adding to the difficulty of what we are experiencing – far from it. Rather, Lent presents us with the most powerful reminder that, in the face of the turmoil and pain, the tremendous suffering of this world, the Lord is with us. By His Cross we have been healed, by His Cross we have been saved and by His Cross we have hope. The risen Lord walks with us and calls us to rediscover and share with others the grace and joy of a life lived with Him. Pope Francis reminds us, that Lent is a time to choose what matters and what passes away, a time to separate what is necessary from what is not. The past year has taught us an awful lot about priorities. If Lent is about getting our priorities right, about getting our life back on track, if it is about returning to God with all our heart, I ask you, what might that mean for you in real and concrete ways this Lent, what choices are you being called to? Bishop Denis Nulty

Prayer as we begin Lent

“Loving Jesus, As I place on my forehead the sign of your saving cross You say to me, repent and believe in the Gospel. Walking into Lent My heart is set on you. May my fasting fill me with hunger for you.  May my prayer draw me deeper into your presence. May my acts of charity bring your love to my home and community. Lord of life, Grant that by turning back to you in these forty days I will re-awaken the joy of my Easter faith; For you raise me up from fear and despair and call me to hope and trust in God who is with me always. With you, I will rise again. Amen

Sleeping St. Joseph

While asleep, St. Joseph received messages from God, who warned him about the danger posed by King Herod and entrusted him with loving and protecting Mary and the Baby Jesus. It was in a dream when Joseph accepted his role as Father of Jesus and of all humankind, a figure of protector, defender, and consoler. Joseph is the attentive and tender guardian of the Family, as he willingly chose to accept and protect Mary and the child Jesus.  Pope Francis has special devotion to St. Joseph Sleeping and he has the habit of placing under the statue of the saint a list containing the petitions, and prayers of the faithful. It’s as if he were inviting Saint Joseph to “sleep on it,” and perhaps to put a good word in before God to solve difficult situations and to help those in need.  He’s a truly special saint, who protects and helps us even while he sleeps!

This year has been designated as the Year of St. Joseph. His Feast Day is on 19^th March.

Prayer:

O Saint Joseph, you are a man greatly favored by the Most High. The angel of the Lord appeared to you in dreams, while you slept, to warn you and guide you as you cared for the Holy Family. You were both silent and strong, a loyal and courageous protector.

Dear Saint Joseph, as you rest in the Lord, confident of His absolute power and goodness, look upon me. Please take my need into your heart, dream of it, and present it to your Son (mention your request). Help me then, good Saint Joseph, to hear the voice of God, to arise, and act with love. I praise and thank God with joy.  Saint Joseph, I love you. Amen

Envelopes

Thank you to all who continue to drop weekly envelopes to the church/parochial house.  Your support is very much appreciated.

• Cheques: If you prefer to send cheques – please make them payable to Stamullen Julianstown Parish.

• If you wish to contribute to the church by bank transfer, you can e-mail your request to the parish at secretary@sjparish.ie and we will contact you.
• Parishioners can also donate through the parish website sjparish.ie and click the Donate button.
• We would like to advise Parishioners, that should they wish to place envelopes in the Postbox at the Parish House, please be assured this box is monitored and overlooked by a security camera so it is very safe.

We are grateful to all who support our Parish especially in these difficult times when there is no Offertory Collection at Mass.

Despite Churches not being open, they still need to be maintained. Each parish also supports our Diocese as regards to expenses for Marriage Tribunal, Catechetical support at Primary and Post Primary level, contribution towards the Irish Episcopal Conference as well as the general expenses of running the Diocese.

Act of Spiritual Communion

My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You, Amen.

COVID-19 Support Line for Older People

ALONE manage a national support line and additional supports for older people who have concerns or are facing difficulties relating to COVID-19. Professional staff are available to answer queries and give advice and reassurance where necessary. The support line is open seven days a week, 8am – 8pm, by calling 0818 222024.

Parish Office

The parish office remains closed.  You can contact Fr. Declan on 01-8412647.

Parishioners are also invited to e-mail requests or queries to the Parish Office:  secretary@sjparish.ie.  We are checking e-mails regularly and will respond as soon as possible.