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:

Tom Stack and Agnes & Willie Russell

Rose Martin & Seamus Rowley

Mary McGuinness

Patrick Joseph Ryan

Josephine Dunphy and deceased members of the Dunphy family

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

Tommy McDonnell, Mosney Road (MM)

Tom Lynch (2^nd Ann)

Stephen Gamble

Ellie & Anthony Haran

RIP

Your prayers are requested for the repose of the soul of Kathleen Eagers whose funeral took place in Julianstown 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

It’s not just a box! Our Lenten support is vital to the year-round differences Trócaire makes to those less fortunate than us in the developing world. Times are tough here right now, but imagine not having running water? Or any of the many luxuries we often take for granted? Please support Trócaire as best you can during Lent 2021.

Trócaire Boxes are available in both churches.  Please take one and contribute as often as you can. What we give will make a huge difference to the poor and disadvantaged.   Please be as generous as you can in Trócaire’s collection this year.

We continue our “Begin Again” programme

We invite 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 webcam or Facebook.

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.

Today’s Gospel

Why is Jesus angry? Religion has come down to ritual, and the center is missing. Jesus was not much at home in the temple. He went there sometimes, and always caused trouble. Jesus is more at home at the table – the loaves at the lake, the fish on the beach, the last supper in a home. This is where he is most himself. The falsity of the occasion was the using of the temple to be entrapped by riches. The poor were being overcharged to pay for the materials for sacrifices. This caused the anger of Jesus. The temple has disappeared. We are God’s building. If we do not make God’s presence real in our area, then maybe we should knock down the church! Only if God is alive in us all the time, will he be alive in the building. If God is not alive all week in us, God will not be alive on Sunday. If he is not alive in our hearts – well, maybe that’s sometimes why religion can be so boring – it’s religion only from the neck up. The forty-six years are over, and the three days of the rebuilding have been going on for years, in the hearts of all who are faithful to God’s love. The building continues still and we are the living stones. Think of what is most central to your life. Lord, keep me close to all you love and value in life.

St. Patrick’s Day 2021

Due to Government restrictions, and for the second year in a row, we will be unable to have our Patron Day Mass in Stamullen as normal.  However, Mass will be celebrated for St. Patrick’s Day on our YouTube channel and it will be offered for those who are buried in Stamullen Cemetery.  Graves will be blessed afterwards.

Lenten Reflection:   Lent – Springtime of the Spirit

Each year, the trees give us a lesson in renewal. First the bud, then the blossom and finally the shoot. Spring dresses the trees in a new robe and makes them young again. But this is possible only because in autumn, they let go of their old leaves and in between, endured a period of nakedness and vulnerability. Lent is the springtime of the Spirit.

Lord, help us not to be afraid to let go of old habits and to face our spiritual poverty in order that you may renew us and so, at Easter we will feel young again in our discipleship.

Lenten Meditation

Lord Jesus, when I am sad and depressed Help me think of you praying in the garden.

Lord Jesus, when I am fearful help me to think of you being taken prisoner.

Lord Jesus, when I am ill help me to think of you being scourged at the pillar.

Lord Jesus, when I have a headache help me to think of you wearing the crown of thorns.

Lord Jesus, when I am tired help me to think of you carrying the cross for love of me.

Lord Jesus, when I am humiliated help me to think of you being stripped of your garments.

Lord Jesus, when I am in pain help me to think of you being nailed to the cross.

Lord Jesus, when I am dying Help me to think of you dying on the cross for love of me.

Lord Jesus, help me to remember how much you suffered for love of me and help me to love you more and more.  Amen.

Prayer as we continue through 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

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. 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.

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 give button in the red box.
• 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.

St. Patricks GFHC Lotto

Jackpot. €9,500.  No Jackpot Winner. Drawn on:  2^nd March 2021.  Numbers Drwan:  15, 25, 26, 30.

Lucky Dip Numbers:    15, 25, 30.  Two Winners: (1) €50 – Deborah Gordan and (2) €50 – Brian Arnold

Next Week’s Jackpot: €9,600.  Thank you to all our loyal supporters.

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 quickly as possible, but please allow at least a week for replies).