Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sunday, 31st January 2010

Cross of St Brigid

who received the veil from St. Mel at Ardagh

FEAST DAY MONDAY 1ST FEBRUARY

PRAYER TO ST. BRIGID

St Brigid, Mary of the Gael,
Ask for us all today,
The courage to do God’s bidding
Whatever the world may say
The grace to be strong and valiant
The grace to be firm and true
The grace to be faithful always
To God, God’s mother and you.

 

WEEKDAY MASSES now take place at 8.00am and 10.00am at St. Mel’s College Chapel. Please park at the front of the main building. This week there will be some extra Masses on Tuesday and Wednesday only. Please note the following changes from the normal schedule - 3 Masses on Tuesday, 4 Masses on Wednesday:

Tuesday Feb 2nd – Feast of the Presentation – Blessing of Candles
Masses: 8.00am, 10.00am, 7.30pm

Wednesday Feb 3rd – Feast of St. Blaise – Blessing of Throats
Masses: 8.00am, 10.00am, 1.00pm, 7.30pm

 

ST. MEL’S COLLEGE CHAPEL – Sincere thanks to all who helped transform the College Chapel into our new weekday home. Thanks to the College Principal and Staff, the builders, the Pastoral Council and all the parish staff and volunteers who made the renovation happen at such speed. The first Mass was celebrated there last Monday, exactly one month on from the Christmas Day Fire at St. Mel’s. The Chapel is open every day from 7.30am – 8.00pm and you are invited to spend time there in prayer at any time during the day.

PERPETUAL ADORATION – each day at St. Mel’s College Chapel from 8.30am – 8.00pm. In the evening times only adoration takes place in the oratory at the presbytery from 8.00pm – 12 midnight and also from 6.00am – 8.00 am each morning.

	CONFESSIONS will be available from 10.30am to 1.00pm on Saturdays at St. Mel’s College Chapel.
LONGFORD PRAYER GROUP – the Monthly Mass takes place this Monday at 8.00 pm in St. Joseph’s Hospital. All are welcome.

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. The Priests will do their usual communion calls to the sick and elderly of the Parish.

 

FAMILY CENTRE - will reopen on Monday week, 8th February after our temporary closure. We will be delighted to welcome back from that date all the groups that avail of the Family Centre for their activities.

THE RAINBOWS PROGRAMME will recommence on Tuesday, 9th Feb. at 6.00 p.m. in the Family Centre.

 

CATHEDRAL TO FEATURE ON RTE- A new TV programme called 'Spirit Level', presented by Joe Duffy, is broadcast on RTE Television every Sunday at 5.00 pm. This Sunday, 31st Jan. it will have a seven minute feature on the fire and it's effects at St. Mel's Cathedral. This feature was originally meant to have been shown last Sunday but was postponed late on by RTE.

 

LONGFORDPARISH.COM – Please check our website www.longfordparish.com for further details on all that’s happening in our parish and updates on the work of the Friends of St. Mel’s Cathedral.

 

HAITI APPEAL – Bishop Colm has asked all parishes to hold a special collection to assist the people of Haiti. Proceeds will go towards supporting TROCAIRE in their emergency work in Haiti. The collection will be taken up after Communion on Sunday Feb 7th.

 

GOSPEL OF LUKE – Sr Anna Burke & Fr Padraig Kelliher will lead five sessions on the Gospel of Luke at the Pastoral Centre, St. Mel’s College starting at 8.00 pm each Monday from Feb 8th. The five nights are Monday Feb 8th, Feb 15th, Feb 22nd, March 1st and March 8th. The Gospel readings each Sunday are largely taken from the Gospel of Luke this year, so it is an ideal time to become more familiar with this Gospel.

 

GROW COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH MOVEMENT meet every Tues. at 7.30 pm in the Community Mental Health Centre, Dublin Road, Longford. Further information: 087 8225797.

PORTIUNCULA HOSPITAL, BALLINASLOE, Pastoral Care Dept. are holding a Remembrance Service Tues. 2nd Feb. 7.30 pm in the Hospital Chapel for bereaved parents who have lost a child through death, miscarriage or stillbirth.

 

LONGFORD INDOOR MARKET & CAR BOOT SALE – Every Saturday at Mastertech Business Park, Athlone Road, Longford. For stall bookings please contact 086 6427226.

 

AA MEETINGS will be held in ACORN C.D.P. 51a Main Street Longford (at back of Bernie Crossan) on Tuesdays & Friday from 1.00 – 2.00 p.m. and in St. Joseph’s Health Care Centre, Dublin Road, Longford on Sundays from 11.30 a.m. – 1.30 p.m.

 

LONGFORD FAMILY LEARNING – Parents, grandparents, carers would you like to help your child or grandchild to develop to the best of their ability? Start back in education, gain a qualification, start a career in childcare, return to the workforces, change careers, improve your reading, writing and spelling skills, learn in a supportive, friendly atmosphere, meet new people, have fun. Call Grainne/Angela 043 3345609. Programmes are free and start in January 2010.

BIODANZA – The Dance of Life.

BIODANZA – ‘The Dance of Life’ Classes. As a child we experienced the joy and freedom of our own movement and dancing. Biodanza is a dance form designed to restore and enhance this experience in us now as adults, enabling us to access that untapped potential within each and every one of us. There are no steps to learn. Classes held every Thurs. evening at 7.30 pm (sharp) in the Longford Arms Hotel for a total of six classes only. First class commences on Feb. 4th. Pre-registration required. Enquiries to Catherine on 071 9138515/08779983056 or Kathleen on 086 3194662 (website: www biodanzawest.com).

 

CATHEDRAL CIRCLE

The time has come once more to renew Annual Membership of the Cathedral Circle. Membership ensures a place in the weekly draw for the coming year. Annual membership is now €50. We are grateful to all who support our weekly draw in any way and we say a particular thank you to all our promoters.

 

We welcomed the following child into our Christian Community recently:

Abbie May Nulty, Rugby View

 

We pray for those whose funerals took place during the week ending
Sunday 31st January, 2010

Brendan Gill, Foynes Court
Michael (Mattie) Jeffries, St. Mel’s Court
Mary McBride (nee Kiernan), Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal & late of Great Water Street
Annie Gilchrist, Trillick-a-Curry