2nd Sunday of Lent

Sunday, 28th February 2010

 

AN UNQUENCHABLE LONGING

All of us can experience moments of great joy
because in his goodness God allows us to taste on earth
the joys of the world to come.
However, moments of joy, no matter how wonderful,
will never satisfy the human heart.
What we long for is a permanent state of happiness.
But that is unattainable here.
So what must we do? Like desert travellers,
we must go forward from one oasis to another,
with the conviction that God has a homeland
prepared for us at the end of our journey.
This conviction will make it possible for us to travel onwards
with an ache in our heart and an unquenchable longing in our soul

 

 

FIRST FRIDAY – Friday next is the First Friday of the Month. Confessions will be available in St. Mel’s College Chapel on Thursday from 12.00 – 1.00 p.m. and from 7.00 – 8.00 p.m.

 

 

GOSPEL OF LUKE – Sr Anna Burke & Fr Padraig Kelliher continue to look at the Gospel of Luke at the Diocesan Pastoral Centre, St. Mel’s College for the next two Monday nights at 8.00pm – Mar 1 and Mar 8. Please feel free to still come along.

 

ST. JOSEPH’S YOUNG PRIESTS’ SOCIETY: Monthly meeting will take place on Wed. 3 March at 3pm in the Family Centre, Longford. New members always welcome. HOLY HOUR on Thurs. 4 March commencing at 3pm in St. Mel’s College Chapel. Please come along and join us in prayer especially for vocations.

GROW COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH MOVEMENT meets every Tuesday evening at 7.30 pm in the Family Centre. Further info: 087 8225797.

 

 

 

LONGFORD PRAYER GROUP hold their monthly Mass this Monday at 8.00 pm in St. Joseph’s Hospital. All are welcome to our Mass with singing and personal petitions.

 

 

LONGFORD BRANCH OF CHILDREN OF CHERNOBYL are currently recruiting families to host children during the month of July. For more information please contact Joan at 043 3345021 or 085 8372144. AGM on Mon. 8th March at 8pm in the Family Centre, All welcome.

 

 

PARISH WEBSITE - WWW.LONGFORDPARISH.COM – More photos taken recently by Tiernan Dolan from inside the Cathedral with close-ups of remaining statues such as that of St. Mel and Our Lady which amazingly survived the fire. Please click on the “Images after the fire” gallery which can be found at the bottom of the parish website homepage.

 

 

YOGA FOR HEALTH – Gentle Yoga Therapy course planned for Mar 4th at 8pm in St. Joseph’s Hospital, cost €60 for 6 lessons in Yogic postures, breath work, relaxation and meditation techniques. All abilities welcome. Groups: M.S,. Arthritis, Pregnancy and Age Active facilitated. Booking Nurse Mary Henry, Yoga Therapist 043 6675061 or 087 1404200

 

 

PARISH MOVES TO ST. MEL’S COLLEGE

New Sunday Mass Venue: We are delighted with the adaptation of St. Mel’s College Sports Hall into our new Sunday Mass Venue. For the purposes for the parish we will call the building St. Mel’s Cathedral Centre. Last week the centre underwent a wonderful transformation from functional sports utility into a beautiful prayerful space. We are fortunate to have people with great talent and generosity of time and goodwill with the interests of our parish at heart. To the many people who were involved in the planning and completion of this work we are deeply grateful.

The task of converting the facility every weekend remains a challenge and once more we are very grateful to all who have assisted with such goodwill and enthusiasm. We also record our gratitude to the Principal and staff of St. Mel's for their generosity and co-operation at all times.

Car Parking - A short term policy has been put in place which is as follows:

Inevitably there may be teething problems in these arrangements and we would appreciate your patience. We would encourage as many as possible to park outside of the college grounds and make their way to the college on foot. The walk down the avenue is very beautiful!

Mon 1 to Fri 5 March 8am, 10am, 7.30pm St. Mel’s College Chapel

Sat 6 March 8am, 10am, St. Mel’s College Chapel

7.30pm Vigil, St. Mel’s College Sports Centre

Sun 7 March 8am St. Mel’s College Chapel

10am, 11.30pm, 1pm St. Mel’s College Sports Centre

*There is also Mass every day, except Saturdays, at 11am in St. Joseph’s Hospital Chapel.

Confessions on Saturdays 10.30am - 1pm and 6.30 - 7.30pm at St. Mel’s College Chapel.

No Smoking Regulations – Please note that because St. Mel’s College Chapel and Sports Centre are on School grounds it is illegal to smoke in the area. We would ask all parishioners to observe this rule out of courtesy to the College staff and students.

 

AFTER MASS CUP OF TEA - The Parish hosts a Friday morning cup of tea in the Pastoral Centre at St. Mel’s College on each Friday morning. We are always pleased to see people come along and share a cuppa and a chat after morning mass. St. Mel’s College have kindly offered all Mass goers an invitation to the John Gerety Hall after 10am Mass for tea or coffee each day.

 

STATION MASSES: The time has now come to have the Spring Station Masses in our Parish. It’s a lovely tradition to host a Station Mass in your home and to pray and share hospitality with neighbours and friends. If you would like to volunteer, the priest of your area would be delighted to hear from you.

The following Station Masses have been booked:
Fri. 5th March 8.00 p.m. Michael and Maureen Dunne Cloncoose
Fri. 12th March 8.00 p.m. Alan Kenny Viewmount

 

 

CRY OF THE EARTH – The Bishops’ Conference issued a Pastoral Reflection “The Cry of the Earth” urging us to respond to the distress of our planet. A series of talks is being held at the Diocesan Pastoral Centre, St. Mel’s College. The next speakers are Mary Kate Hagan RSM and Hugh Hanley on Tues 2nd & 9th March at 8.00pm. All are welcome

 

 

TROCAIRE – This year’s Fast encourages people to ‘Give it up for Trocaire’ on 4th/5th Mar in support of people in the world who go to bed hungry at night. What you give up for a day is up to you – food, your phone, coffee, TV or a bad habit – and ask family, friends and colleagues to sponsor you. To order your Fast Pack, log on to www.trocaire.org/fast

 

 

CONSOLE support the Suicide Bereaved as well as those people who are suicidal. Console, along with the 3T’s, have launched a 24 hour Suicide Prevention Helpline entitled 1Life on 1800 247 100: this compliments Console’s existing Postvention Service. Dunnes Stores have generously offered Console Sat. 20th March for National Bag Pack Day. Volunteers urgently needed at local level. If you could volunteer alone or as part of a group you could please contact Ciaran Tighe on 01 6102638 or email ciaran@console.ie.

 

 

LONGFORD TOASTMASTERS - Would you like to improve your communication skills and learn to speak with ease and confidence? We at L.T. offer a proven and enjoyable manner in which to practice and perfect speaking, listening and communication skills. Visitors are welcome with no obligation to join. Venue: Longford Arms Hotel. Time 8-20pm. Next Meeting, Thurs 4 March. For further details contact John 086 8346559 or Eddy 085 1456832.

 

 

MAUREEN FARRELL IRISH DANCING CLASSES – will commence for children of all ages in Longford Sports & Leisure Complex, The Mall on Sat 6th March. Children under 7 years at 1pm & over 7 years at 2pm. Info: Maureen 086 3702719 or 043 3349541.

 

 

We welcomed the following children into our Christian Community:

Katie Stokes, Ardeevan

Paddy & Emma Garland, Battery Rd.

Savannah Rhianna Green, Farnagh

Please pray for our departed parishioners:

Daniel McNamara, Foynes Court

Pauline Reid, Dublin & formerly Park Road