THE DEEP END

 ‘It may bear fruit next year’

Today’s Gospel brings a thorny question for Jesus, as the people ask why a number of Galileans were killed by the Romans as they made sacrifices to God.  The basic question is why do bad things happen to certain people?  Some Jewish leaders at the time viewed the Galileans as second-class Jews, and so they are raising more than a question about meaningless suffering here.   They want to know if the Galileans suffered because they were not really ‘Jewish enough.’   Jesus responds with a sharp question about a recent tragedy involving those killed whey the tower of Siloam fell on them.   Were they worse offenders than others in Jerusalem? No.  Jesus responds further by focusing on those who are still living.   In the parable of the fig tree we hear that the tree is not producing any fruit probably should be cut down.   However, the owner of the vineyard agrees to one more year, during which it is given special attention.

Jesus’s response to the difficult question on suffering is to focus on the living.   We are still alive and therefore should be producing much fruit.   Perhaps those who are questioning Jesus need, like a fig tree, much fertiliser, nourishment, and growth, so that they can focus on producing fruit for the world.   The fig tree is blessed, and has received much grace in terms of time and care.  The parable is a reminder to all of us of the nourishment and time we have been given; it is a call to examine the fruits that we produce in this world, in our communities, our families and in our church.        

Jane Mellett

mellettj@gmail.com

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MASS INTENTIONS

Saturday Vigil Mass 23rd Mar 2019

7.00pm. Philomena (Phil) Keogh

             (Month’s Mind)

             Dermot Flood (Anniv)

             Special Intention             

Sunday 24th Mar 2019

8.00 am  Simon & Rena Heffernan(Anniv)      

10.30am  Johnny Lester (Rec Dec)

               Molina Nagle (Rec Dec)

               Kitty Noble ( Rec Dec)

               Anne Byrne (Rec Dec)

              Adrian Gaskin (Rec Dec)

               Kathleen & Patrick Duignan

              (Anniv)

              Patricia Keaty (Rem)

               Special Intention

We are also asked to remember in our prayers:- Daniel Joseph O’Donovan, Cormac O’Donoghue and Nancy Cleary.

Those who die in grace go no further from us than to God, and God is always very near.

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LAST WEEKEND’S COLLECTIONS

Last weekend Family Offering Collection amounted to: €550.00

The Share Collection amounted to €925.00

 Thank you for your generosity.

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The Annual Mass for the Past Pupils of Presentation College Bray

Will take place in the College on Sunday 31st March at 11am. All PastPupils and their families are welcome.  The Mass will be celebrated by past pupil, Fr.Eddie Creamer, and lightrefreshments will be served afterwards.

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Third Sunday of Lent.

Today’s gospel is a reminder of the need for conversion – for a change of direction in our lives.   We cannot presume forever on the mercy of God.

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CAN YOU PLAY THE ORGAN ?

If so, would you be willing to come along to the 10.30am Mass on Sunday mornings and play the Organ for our Church Choir ?  The Choir sings on three Sundays in the Month from October through to May -June, July, and August is our summer break.   We would be really grateful if there is anyone in our congregation who would be willing to help. !

Many Thanks.

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EASTER MASS BOUQUET CARDS

Are now available from the Parish Office, or from the Sacristy.  The intentions of those who receive these cards will be remembered at the 9.30am Mass on Monday 22nd April 2019.

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Church Cleaners

Would you have a couple of hours to spare on Monday or Tuesday Afternoons ?   If so, our regular Church Cleaning Team are urgently in need of your help.   Please leave your name and contact details at the parish office. Many Thanks

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Order of the Knights of St Columbanus

The Bray Members of the Knights off St Columbanus will be distributing Information Leaflets on their work in the parish at the back of the Church next weekend 30th /31st of March.

The Bray Knights of St Columbanus celebrate 44 years of service to the Parish this year.  Further information on their activities will be available from the leaflets which they will be distributing next weekend.

Many Thanks

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Old Dublin Society

Rosemary Raughter will speak on ‘Home Rule is casting may a shadow now’ ! Southern women and the Ulster Declaration of 1912 at 6.00pm on Wednesday March 27th in the Conference Room of The Dublin City Library & Archive, 138/144 Pearse Street, Dublin 2.   All are Welcome 

Admission Free.

James Scannell Hon PRO

The Old Dublin Society

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TRÓCAIRE – 2019

Trócaire boxes are now available for collection at the back of the Church.  Please take a box, and during Lent contribute whatever you can. Many thanks

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LENT- 2019

Masses during Lent,

Masses will be at 7.30am and 9.30am  No Mass on Saturday Morning’s Prayer Service at 9.30am.

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Parish Cake Sales – 2019

The third of our monthly Cake Sale’s for 2019

will take place THIS Weekend the 23rd & 24th of March.

We really are in need of some extra volunteer bakers, so, if you can help, we would be most grateful.

Thank you for your support and generosity throughout the year

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Prayer of Thomas Merton

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.

I do not see the road ahead of me.

Nor do I really know myself.

And the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean I am actually doing so.

But, I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.

And I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.

And I know that if I do this, you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it.

Therefore I trust you always.

Though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death, I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my struggles alone.

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READINGS AND INTENTIONS

Mon 25th Sat 30th March 2019

Monday 25th Mar

Annunciation of the Lord

7.30am Margaret(Peggy) Kennedy                     

(Mass Bouq )

9.30am.  Norah Rafferty (Rec Dec)

Is 7:10-14, 8:10. Ps 39:7-11, R/ vv 8, 9.

Heb 10:4-10. Lk 1:26-38.

Tuesday 26th Mar

7.30am  Special Intention

9.30am. Vera Kiernan (Rec Dec)

Dn 3:25, 34-43. Ps 24:1-9, R/ v 6.

Mt 18:21-35.

Wednesday 27th Mar

7.30am Shane Moraghan Rec Dec)

9.30am Zanka McHugh (Get Well Int)

Deut 4:1, 5-9. Ps 147:12-13, 15-16,

19-20, R/ v 12.

Thursday 28th Mar

7.30am  Trevor Brennan (Rec Dec)

9.30am  Leo Fennell (Rec Dec)

Jer 7:23-28. Ps 94:1-2, 6-9, R/ v 8.

Lk 11:14-23.

Friday 29th Mar

7.30am   Doreen Roe (Rec Dec)

9.30am: Leo Fennell (Rec Dec)

Hos 14:2-10. Ps 80:6, 8-11, 14, 17,

R/ vv 9, Mk 12:28-34.

Saturday 30th Mar

9.30 am: Prayer Service

Hos 5:15-6:6. Ps 50:3-4, 18-21, R/ cf

Hos 6:6. Lk 18:9-14.

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Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

On Friday Mornings from 10.00am to 1.00pm

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Novena to St Anthony

On Tuesday Mornings, during the 9.30am Mass.

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PRAYER

Patient and insistent God, knock again on the door our hearts. We are never really ready—a sign perhaps of our everyday need of you. Help us under- take again to dig around and manure, so that under your grace, we may bear fruit, fruit that will last.    Amen.

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ROTAS FOR NEXT WEEKEND

Ministers of the Eucharist:

30th & 31st March 2019

7:00pm      Eamon O’Dowd, Anne Kiely

                   Averryl Lyons

 8.00am     Monica Cornejo

                   Peter Growney

10:30am    Margaret Ryan, Margaret Foley,                            

                   Marie Kelly,  Goretti Maxwell,

                   Marian Growney.

Nursing Home Rota:

                  Nuala Doyle

                  Mary Breen

                  Margaret Broderick

Ministers of the Word

7.00pm   Marie Hegarty

8.00am   John Heywood

10.30am Betty Prenter

Altar Servers Rota

7.00p.m.

10.30a.m.

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ST FERGAL’S PARISH

Moderator, V. Rev Larry Behan

The Parochial House, St. Fergal’s, Killarney Road, Bray.

Sacristy: Tel. 2768194 

Parish Office: Mon, Wed, & Thurs 10.00am-3.00pm, 

Tuesday 10.00am-5.00pm

Friday:- CLOSED Tel: 2860980

Email:info@stfergalsbray.ie  Web:www.stfergalsbray.ie

Masses:Sundays – Saturday 7.00p.m. Sunday 8.00a.m. & 10.30a.m. Holy Days – Vigil 7.00p.m., Holy Day 8.00a.m. & 10.30a.m. Weekdays – 9.30a.m.

Baptisms: 1st & 3rd Saturday of each month at 12.00Noon.  Three weeks notice before the preparation meeting is required. Preparation meeting is normally held on the Monday before the first Saturday Sacrament.

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