St. Fergal’s Newsletter
THE DEEP END
The Good Shepherd
In Jesus’s time, being a shepherd was not a pleasant job. Sheep got lost and the shepherd’s job was to guide them back to safety. There were many dangers and the sheep were totally dependent on the shepherd. Shepherds would round up their sheep in the evening and guide them into their pen. But it had no gate so the shepherd would have to lie across the space in case the sheep were attacked in the night. The shepherds literally laid down their lives for their flock. John compares the sacrifice of the shepherd to the ‘hired hand’ who is not really committed to the flock. He does what he has to but flees at the first sign of trouble.
This Good Shepherd Sunday, the gospel describes Jesus as the ‘genuine’ Shepherd who wants a personal relationship with each one of us and who would lay down his life for us. The gospel emphasises the importance of relationships as the shepherd knows his flock and cares for them. They ‘follow him’ and it is not a Facebook or Twitter type of following, rather it is a genuine relationship. Everyone matters to the Good Shepherd regardless of their situations. We are told ‘I know my own and my own know me.’ We are called today to follow Jesus in a more personal, more intimate way. Even when we stray off the path and get lost, it is then – especially – that the Good Shepherd comes looking for us.
‘We think we are fleeing from God, but in fact we are running into His arms. (Meister Eckhart)
Jane Mellett
mellett@gmail.com
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MASS INTENTIONS
Saturday Vigil Mass 21st April 2018
7.00pm Joan Matthews (Rem.)
Sunday 22nd April 2018
8.00 am Eugene Breen (Anniv.)
10.30am John Tymlin (Rec.Dec.)
Sylvia Healy (Rec. Dec.)
Rebecca Gatchalian (Rec. Dec.)
Margaret Rogers (Rec Dec)
Sally Ryan (Rec Dec)
Jack Sterling (Anniv.)
May & Joseph Crinnion (Anniv.)
Hugh O’ Neill (Anniv.
Tom & Kitty Shortt (Anniv.)
Delia Egan (Anniv.)
Geraldine Manny (Get Well Int.)
We are also asked to remember in our prayers:- Kathleen Kirby & Michael May
Those who die in grace go no further from us than God and God is very near.
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LAST WEEKEND’S COLLECTIONS
Last weekend the Family Offering Collection amounted to: €685.00
The Share Collection amounted to:€905.00
Thank you for your generosity
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BAPTISMS
We welcome into our community and pray God’s blessing on
Ella Billie Mc Grane
Chloe Alex Mason
Isaac Andrew Walsh Earls
Conor Ronan White
who were baptised in the Church on Saturday 21st April 2018.
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Fourth Sunday of Easter
Day of Prayer for Vocations
Sometimes we can lose our sense of direction, we become the prey of empty fears and false pleasures. Today we are reminded that in Jesus we have someone who will always guide us right and protect us. If we listen to him and follow him we will have the fullest possible life.
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EASTER FLOWERS
If you would like to make a donation towards the cost of the Easter Flowers in the Church please use the ‘Easter Flowers’ donation envelopes which are available at the back of the Church. Thank you.
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Diocesan Collection THIS Weekend
THIS weekend 21st/22nd of April the annual collection in support of the Dublin Diocesan Students
preparing for ordination to the priesthood will take place.
It will replace the usual
Share Collection.
Your support would be very much appreciated.
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Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
On Friday’s from 10.00a.m. – 1.00p.m.
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Novena to St Anthony
On Tuesday Mornings during the
9.30am Mass.
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Loreto Convent Bray
Class of 1978
Were you in in the Leaving Cert Class in 1978? We are planning a 40 Year school reunion in the Martello Bray on Saturday 13th October 2018, keep the date free! If you would like more information please text 087 2400863 to be included in the ‘What’s App’ Group.
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40 Days and Nights of Adoration
You may be aware that, starting on the 17th April and continuing until 26th May,2018, there will be 40 days and nights of Adoration on top of Croagh Patrick in devotion to the nation.
Our Lady Queen of Peace, Bray will dedicate 40 days and nights of prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament to coincide with the Vigil on
Croagh Patrick. We wish to extend a warm welcome and invitation to all parishioners in our diocese to come and join us in Our Lady Queen of Peace, Putland Road, Bray, starting Tuesday 17th April at 3pm until Saturday 26th May. Please Join us in prayer for the nation and Protection of Life.
Thank you.
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Ewe Thina:- We Walk God’s Way
Join other young adults (20’s & 30’s)] for reflective hikes around Dublin Area, Monthly Event.
The next hike will be Sunday 29th April on the Howth ‘Cliff Walk’.
We will meet outside the parish Church in Howth at 12.30pm.
Contact st.pauls@dublindiocese.ie and www.facebook.com/wewalkgodsway
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ORDER OF MALTA COLLECTION
Next Weekend 28th/29th April the Church gate collection will be in aid of our local Order of Malta Ambulance and First Response Service, the proceeds raised will be used to bring the sick and infirm to Lourdes on the annual Order of Malta Pilgrimage in May 2018.
Your support would be much appreciated.
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ALONE:
The First 40 Years is a new book
by author and journalist Valerie Cox. It tells the inspiring story of ALONE, the charity that supports older people to age at home, from Willie Bermingham’s selfless dedication in the early years to the new challenges and issues faced by the charity today.
ALONE: The First 40 Years is available to purchase from all Veritas bookshops and their website www.veritasbooksonline.com and selected Easons stores nationwide and their website www.easons.com. Priced at €15.00, all proceeds will go directly to ALONE’s services.
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Bray Cualann Historical Society
The next Old Dublin Society lecture takes place at 6pm on Wednesday April 25th in Dublin City Library & Archive, 138-144 Pearse Street, Dublin 2, at which Dr. Michael Pegum will present his lecture ‘Baggot Street Hospital 60 Years Ago’ – all are welcome, admission free. This is the final lecture in the Spring programme.
James Scannell Hon PRO
The Old Dublin Society
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TROCAIRE
Please return your Trócaire boxes to the
Church or the Parish Office.
Many Thanks.
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READINGS AND INTENTIONS
Mon 23rd – Sat 28th April 2018.
Monday, 23rd April
9.30 am Mary Smalley (Rec. Dec.)
Acts 11: 1-18. Pss 41: 2-3, 42: 3-4,
R/ cf Ps 41: 3. Jn 10: 1-10.
Tuesday, 24th April
9.30 am Lily Roe (Rec.Dec.)
Acts 11.19-26. Ps 86: 1-7, R/ Ps 116: 1.
Jn 10: 22-30.
Wednesday, 25th April
9.30 am Sally Ryan (Rec.Dec.)
Thursday, 26th April
St Mark, Evangelist
9.30 am Sally Ryan (Rec. Dec.)
1 Pet 5: 5-14. Ps 88: 2-3, 6-7, 16-17,
R/ cf v 2. Mk 16: 15-20.
Friday, 27th April
9.30 am Jim Clancy (Rec. Dec.)
Acts 13: 26-33. Ps 2: 6-11, R/ v 7. Jn 14:1-6.
Saturday, 28th April
9.30 am Prayer Service.
Acts 13: 44-52. Ps 97: 1-4, R/ v 3. Jn 14: 7-14
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PRAYER
Jesus our shepherd, we know your care for us was costly as you laid down your life and took it up again.
Help us to know again “the great events that gave us new life” in you, that we may hear you and follow you in all we do.
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ROTAS FOR NEXT WEEKEND
28th & 29th April 2018.
Ministers of the Eucharist:
7:00 pm Mary Keegan
Brendan Fisher,
Eileen O’Donnell.
8.00 a.m. Bridget Waters &
Mary Bolger.
10:30 am Michael Lyons, Eileen Fox,
Mary Breen, Margaret Broderick,
Carin Geografo.
Nursing Home Rota:
Mary Breen, Nuala Doyle
Margaret Broderick
Ministers of the Word
7.00pm Maire Therese Keenan-O’Dowd
8.00am John Heywood
10.30am Paula Carthy
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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