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:

Gabriel (Gaybo) Howard and Pat & Annie Howard

Maureen Murray

Sunday, 14^th February – Next Weekend’s Mass will be offered for:

Seamus Kennedy

Paddy Matthews, Keenogue (4^th Ann)

RIP

Your prayers are requested for the repose of the souls of Jim (James) Woods and Patrick Joseph (Jodie) O ‘Neill whose funerals took place this week.  We remember the bereaved in our prayers.

Candlemas – Sunday, 7^th

February Offering – Candlemas is the support of the Priests.  Offerings can be given in the special envelope from your box of envelopes or in an ordinary envelope marked “Priest Offerings”.  Sincere thanks to all for your continued support.

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.

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.

Thursday-World Day of Prayer for the sick: Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.

Special prayers will be offered this week for all who are sick and housebound, and all doctors, nurses, carers and family who care for the sick.

Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes: Ever Immaculate Virgin,

Mother of Mercy, we call upon you as Health of the Sick, Refuge of Sinners, and Comfort of the Afflicted. You know my wants, my troubles, my sufferings. Deign to cast upon me a look of mercy. By appearing in the Grotto of Lourdes, you were pleased to make it a sanctuary whence you dispense your favors, and already many sufferers have obtained the cure of their infirmities, both spiritual and physical. I come, therefore, with the most unbounded confidence to implore your maternal intercession.  Obtain, O loving Mother, the granting of my requests (mention them here). Through gratitude for favors, I will endeavor to imitate your virtues that I may one day share your glory.

Extract  from Homily of Bishop Dermot Farrell at Mass of Thanksgiving on the Occasion of his Installation as Archbishop of Dublin.

Hearing what the Spirit is saying to the churches is no easy matter. There is no infallible way.  But there is a clear way, a tried and trusted way. That way is a way with each other – slí le chéile.  The Church of the future, the living Church of the future, will have to be a synodal church, or it will not be at all. We will have to be “a Church that listens to the faithful people of God, the priest, the bishop, the Holy Father; all listening to each other; all listening to the Holy Spirit. It is an illusion to envisage a plan of evangelization which is carried out only by clergy while the rest of the faithful are merely onlookers. The mission of the Church, the work of God, is not the responsibility of a group of professionals; it is the call and responsibility of every baptised person whose active participation in the mission of the Church is to be considered indispensable and necessary. In this light, the active participation of the laity becomes essential. They constitute the vast majority of the people of God. In this light, leadership in the Church is not about telling people what to do; rather it is about promoting co-responsibility and overcoming the mindset which runs the risk of relegating the baptised to a subordinate role, effectively keeping them on the edges of Church life. That is what we mean by a synodal Church – a church on the way with each other. The very first place synodality is expressed is at parish level. If it doesn’t happen in the parish, it will not happen at all!

Today’s Gospel -Darkness and Light:

The first reading is tough to hear and we admire Job.  Job is the example and the hero of depression.  All had gone wrong and he felt no good, no hope, no meaning.  His family collapsed, his wealth disappeared, and he cursed the day he was born. He went through all of the depressions people have, but somehow kept that glimmer of light alive.  He never totally lost God, and God never lost him. Depression is a huge illness. Many suffer; many are affected. Treatment can be of help, and the listening times of friends as well as therapy is healing. There is the help also of faith and prayer at times. And the help of someone who, listens, sympathises, doesn’t judge nor give easy cures. Love from God never ends even though it may not    appear near just now. This is the Jesus of the gospel – bringing the grace of healing, of freeing from any evil, of constant love. Imagine a time of darkness in life; picture it in its colour and imagine the bright light of Jesus penetrate that darkness. Ask for help and give thanks for help. Give light, Good Lord, to all who live in the valley of darkness and the shadow of doubt.

Spring: President Michael D Higgins

The dark days of the pandemic will continue to challenge us for some time, and while lockdown fatigue is very real and palpable for so many, we must continue our journey within and muster up courage. Moving through such moments of darkness, it is important to celebrate the light that comes from our common determination to see out the challenge. Just as the seasons change, this crisis, too, will pass.

As an old Caribbean song puts it ‘time heals everything’. How long it will take, and how high the price is that we will pay for it, depends, to a large extent, on how we react today, and in the weeks ahead. Spring and springtime offer rebirth, rejuvenation, renewal, resurrection and regrowth. May we all find it. So, as we move closer to the Spring Equinox, let us hold firm in solidarity and take solace in the transformations that Spring will bring and the joys of Summer which, although we still have some distance to travel to them, are surely awaiting us.

Monday:

Day of Prayer against Human Trafficking.

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.