Reflections on the Daily Readings 11th April 2022

Webmaster • April 9, 2022

Monday 11th April


Monday Of Holy Week

What’s your pet project? 


Everyone knows Saint Francis of Assisi loved animals—but so did many other saints. Saint Basil the Great urged Christians to see animals as our brothers. Saint Cuthbert made friends with birds. Saint Giles was a vegetarian. And Saint Gertrude of Nivelles, the patron saint of cats, is known for feeding and loving the strays around her monastery. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that “God surrounds animals with His providential care” and Catholic moral theology and ecology have always insisted that it is an act of cruelty to abuse an animal. Today is National Pet Day, a chance to thank God for all creatures—as well as advocate for their welfare.


Today's readings: Isaiah 42:1-7; John 12:1-11

“You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”




Tuesday 12th April


Tuesday Of Holy Week

Reoiled and ready to serve


During this Holy Week your diocese will celebrate its annual Chrism Mass. Diocesan priests join their bishop as he mixes and blesses a year’s supply of sacred oils to be used across the diocese for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (Oil of Catechumens), the Anointing of the Sick (Oil of the Infirm), and the sanctification of those who receive Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders (Holy Chrism). We are anointed for a noble purpose and receive a healing balm. Give glory to God who seals us with inherent dignity and makes us whole.


Today's readings: Isaiah 49:1-6; John 13:21-33, 36- 38

“Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.”



Wednesday 13th April


Wednesday Of Holy Week

Cinema that inspires 


On this day in 1964, Sidney Poitier became the first African American to win the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in Lilies of the Field. The moment was also notable in that Poitier was an immigrant from the Bahamas and a black Catholic—bringing two marginalized groups together in one historic personage. His role was also unique, that of a handyman who helps a group of nuns—immigrants themselves—with their aging farm property. With its vision of interracial harmony and positive portrait of the church, the film attained legendary status. May we all aspire to live out the call of unity.


Today's readings: Isaiah 50:4-9a; Matthew 26:14-25

“I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame.”


Thursday 14th April


Holy Thursday; Evening Mass Of The Lord's Supper

Lean into the Real Presence 


Do we ever plumb the depths of what the Eucharist means in our lives? Christ present. Blood poured out for the world. Unifying meal. The many ways to understand what Jesus gave to us on Holy Thursday may take more than a lifetime to truly grasp. Some of the deepest truths of faith are those that we cannot completely unlock intellectually. Perhaps today is a moment to let go and just relax into Jesus as we receive him at Mass. “He is present for your happiness,” Saint Francis de Sales tells us. “Welcome Him as warmly as possible, and behave outwardly in such a way that your actions may give proof to all of His Presence.”


Today's readings: Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-15

“This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”


Friday 15th April


Friday Of The Lord's Passion (Good Friday);

You were there for the long haul


Good Friday, called “Long Friday” in some cultures, marks the close of the long fast of Lent. The word Lent, itself, derives from Old Germanic words for long, or lengthening, days, likely referring to spring. Regardless of what we call this day or the season that brought us here, it has indeed been a long fast. Have you spent these 40 days the way you had intended? Or did you perhaps pass the cup of self-sacrifice early on? Not to worry. In the end, it is more about quality than quantity. As Doctor of the Church Saint John Chrysostom says, “No matter how much time you spend fasting, no matter how much you sleep on a hard floor and eat ashes and sigh continually, if you do no good to others, you do nothing great.”


Today's readings:Isaiah 52:13—53:12; Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9; John 18:1—19:42

“See, my servant shall prosper, he shall be raised high and greatly exalted.”



Saturday 16th April


Holy Saturday; Easter Vigil

Experience the real absence


Today the church is silent, the altar is bare, the tabernacle is empty. Holy Saturday is observed without ceremony of any kind. The Easter Vigil does not start until the sun goes down. Before the kindling of the Easter fire, Holy Saturday remains a blank spot in the church’s calendar signifying the real death of Jesus. Perhaps it is a good time to visit your church and experience our lifeless Lord. If you get there before the hubbub of Easter preparation begins, you can keep vigil in the quietude of a church reflecting on its beloved Christ, crucified.


Today's readings: Vigil: Genesis 1:1—2:2; Genesis 22:1-18; Exodus 14:15—15:1; Exodus 15:1-2, 3-4, 5- 6, 17-18; Isaiah 54:5-14; Isaiah 55:1-11; Baruch 3:9- 15, 32—4:4; Ezekiel 36:16-17a, 18-28; Romans 6:3- 11; Mark 16:1-7

“Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?”

Prayers for the Sick

By Webmaster • April 20, 2025
Please pray for Our Sick : Ellen Blair, Margaret Callaghan Doreen Cleary, Michael Ritchie, Neil Boyle, John Rielly Molly Strang, Baby Elliot (15 month old) Joan Hart, James Clark, Fr. Michael McLaughlin, Patricia Henderson, Joanna Maier (Connecticut USA), Therese Gilgunn Tressy Callaghan, Suzanne McMurray, Mary Coyle, Lesley Watson (Spain) Maureen McHugh, Margaret Burke, Marie White, Kathleen Daly, John McGuire, and all our sick.

Prayers for the recently dead, months, mind and Anniversaries

By Webmaster • April 20, 2025
Our Recently Dead: Ann Blair, Gina Sinclair, Liz McAtamney, Janie Maloney, John Lavery, Eileen Sweeney, Mary Johnston, Kathleen Corrigan, Kathleen Croser Month Minds & Anniversaries Archie Findlater, Jane McKenna, The McLean Family, The Moran Family The McLaughlin Family The Leary Family, Hugh Rodgers, Annie Rodgers, Winifred O'Hare, Susan McLaren Jamieson, Eva De Marco, Agnes Longrigg

Fr. Frank's 60th Birthday

By Webmaster • April 11, 2025
Carrigan’s - Friday 11 July If you wish to add your name to the list you can give your details to Chrissy or Anne at the door after 4pm mass, or you can email Chrissy at: chrissyrooneyis@gmail.com Deposits not required but payment of £17:50 for the meal requires to be paid no later than 4 July.

Fr. Frank's 30th Anniversary of Priesthood

By Webmaster • April 11, 2025
Anniversary Mass will take place on Thursday 26th June at 7pm. There will be refreshments in the hall afterwards

Palm Sunday

By Webmaster • April 11, 2025
Palm Sunday is celebrated on the Sunday before Easter each year and marks the start of Holy Week. But what is the actual significance of this Holy Day, and how does it play a part in the greater story of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection? The Palm Sunday Account Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem with His disciples to celebrate Passover. When they reached the Mount of Olives, He sent two of the disciples to retrieve a donkey colt for Him to ride. He instructed them to untie it, and if anyone asked them why they were doing so, to tell them that the Master has need of it. They did as He instructed, and brought the colt to Him, laying their cloaks over it for Him to sit on it. As He rode into the city, people spread their cloaks and palm branches in the road, proclaiming, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” The spectacle attracted the attention of those in the city, and many wondered who He was. The entry into Jerusalem is documented in all four gospels, with slight variations in each account.  Today, the celebration of Palm Sunday opens Holy Week. The priest blesses palms and distributes them to the congregation. The palms are either kept and used as a reminder of Christ’s victory throughout the year, or are burned and used as the ashes for the next year’s Ash Wednesday service.

Powerpoint Remote Control:

By Webmaster • April 11, 2025
I am looking for Volunteers to move the power-points on during the Sunday Masses, Vigil 4pm, 9.30am & 11am. It is very easy to operate, if we get enough volunteers for each Mass we would put a wee rota together. It would take a wee bit of pressure off me.

Pope Francis Lent Fast

By Webmaster • April 11, 2025
Fast from hurting words and say kind words. Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude. Fast from anger and be filled with patience. Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope. Fast from worries and have trust in God. Fast from complaints; contemplate simplicity. Fast from pressures and be prayerful. Fast from bitterness; fill your hearts with joy. Fast from selfishness and be compassionate. Fast from grudges and be reconciled. Fast from words be silent and listen.

Gift Aid Envelopes

By Webmaster • April 5, 2025
1. They are different, they come in a box. It will be easier to use for everyone. 2. Look for your name not necessarily your number.  3. They will be available this weekend. Thank you for your patience. If you wish to sign up for Gift Aid. It is a great way to help the parish financially, costing you absolutely nothing. If you wish to sign up contact myself or Doreen Lee and we will give you the form and hand it back as you can and we can get it organised. As I said it costs you nothing, but helps the parish so much.

Covering of the Statues Fifth Sunday of Lent

By Webmaster • April 5, 2025
We begin the fifth week of lent this weekend it is a new stage in the Lenten Season we will cover the statues and take down all the pictures in the Church. The reason we do this is: The practice of veiling images alerts us that something is different, it can be startling at first, but the last two weeks of Lent are a time of immediate preparation for the celebration of the Sacred Triduum. The veils are hard to miss and they serve as a reminder to get ready! The veiled images build within us a longing for Easter Sunday. The veils seem out of place, and even counterintuitive. It can seem strange that the crucifix is covered up during Passiontide. Through this absence of images, our senses are heightened and we become more aware of what is missing. Similarly, the suppression of the Alleluia during Lent effectively demonstrates that we are in exile from our true Home, where the angels sing Alleluia without ceasing. When images are unveiled before the Easter Vigil, we are reminded that we, in a sense, live in a veiled world. It is through our own death that we are able to see our true home, and the veil is lifted. Christ lifts the veil through His Resurrection. Jesus told her, “ I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die . John 11:25-26

Novenas to St. Anthony and Mary Un-doer of the Knots

By Webmaster • March 28, 2025
The reason the Novenas stopped because if a Funeral fell on a Tuesday & Wednesday the Novenas had to be cancelled. Therefore, I am looking for volunteers to lead the Novenas. If you are interested in leading the Novenas contact myself and hopefully then the Novenas can resume.
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