Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Sunday, 31st January 2021

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:

Jim Lenihan (1st Ann)
Rose McQuillan (40th Ann)
Peter, Annie & Robert White, Sarah & Richard Thorne and deceased family members
John Curtis and Kay & Sean McCann
Frank & Nancy Langan

Sunday, 7th February – Next Weekend’s Mass will be offered for:

Gabriel (Gaybo) Howard and Pat & Annie Howard
Maureen Murray

RIP
Your prayers are requested for the repose of the souls of Vera Black and Anne Despard whose funerals took place during the week and Maura Tiernan whose funeral takes place this weekend. We remember the bereaved in our prayers.

Tuesday, 2nd February – Feast of the Presentationof the Lord
Next Tuesday, mass to celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord will be available on Youtube from 10 am.

Candlemas – Sunday, 7th
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”. Many thanks to everybody for their support and generosity in the New Year.

February First Friday Calls
Due to Covid 19 Restrictions there will be no First Friday calls in February. We will review restrictions in March and contact all on the list.

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 www.sjparish.ie and click the Donate button.

Spring awakens and enlivens us in a way no other season can.
We remember what new life looks like, we remember what possibilities are just around the corner, and we remember that beauty comes in small packages. It’s a great time for meditation as we grow ourselves – and with spring in mind, here are five reflections on how our minds, hearts, and spirits and healed during the flowery months.
1. New life and new beginnings are all around us. Each waking flower is a symbol for something new taking shape within us.
2. Everything blooms in its own time. In our lives, just as in nature, patience forms the most beautiful things we experience.
3. Color and light are vital to life. Spring feels good because it reminds us how deeply we need variety and vividness in our surroundings.
4. Great things are waiting beneath the surface. Only when the flowers bloom do we realise the potential that existed beneath our feet all this time.
5.The important things are the simple things. Grass, rainfall, sunlight, a single flower – the smallest things matter still, because no one else can experience them for us.

Today’s Gospel -The Power of Evil
Jesus was very aware of the power of evil that can be around us. Jesus named the spirit. This gave him power over the spirit. He knew evil when he met it and he overcame it, with love, power and with kindness for this man. In Jesus, the good and the evil of the world met.

One big evil in us is the ‘it’s mine’. We learn it from childhood. We take the plate of cakes or a packet of sweets and say “all mine”. We normally get over this but not always. We need the conversion from it’s mine to it’s ours. That is the christian way.

The environment is not ours, but for us. We have no right to kill off livelihood all over the world for our paper, our oil and our greed. Any abuse of people is the ‘you are mine’ syndrome. Nobody owns anyone in this earth, and we belong only to God in a free way. Evil will never win out to the end. It has been conquered on the Cross, with love. Somehow this man was possessed. Evil came into him and maybe it was not his fault. He left clean and whole, with a kindness in his heart he would never forget. The people were amazed not just at Jesus but at the change in the man who had been possessed. What are evil desires in myself? For control of others, for greed, for whatever leads me away from love. Imagine the light of God filling the darkness in me. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes commences on Wednesday next.
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. 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.