TO DONATE: Bank of Ireland, Ennistymon, Lisdoonvarna Churches, IBAN: IE40 BOFI 9042 2930 184883

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THANK YOU FOR LAST WEEK’S COLLECTION: €1615.

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LIGHT THE FIRE: a lovely faith-filled summer day out at Ballintubber Abbey on Sunday, August 4th with Dana, Archbishop Francis Duffy,and Deacon John Taaffe. You will remember Deacon John and Deacon Pat from the parish mission healing session. This event begins at 1:15pm with Our Lady’s Rosary, followed by Mass and a healing service.

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LAY MINISTRY TRAINING: we had another great diocesan meeting of our deanery parish pastoral councils and finance committees in The Falls hotel last Monday night. One of the questions we were asked was: “do you feel called to be here?” A rather deep question which took some thought to answer.

One lady said that yes, she felt something calling her and even pushing her to get involved in the service of her parish to do her bit to keep the faith alive in this, the most beautiful part of the diocese! We also observed that we were there because someone else noticed a giftedness in us that we didn’t see ourselves, called it out of us, as it were. The very word vocation comes from the Latin term vocare, meaning to call. As we set out on the road of a renewed, more synodal Church, we also recalled Abraham and Sarah being called from the safe and the familiar by the Lord who said: follow me to a place that I will show you, the Lord who says, “trust me.”  

I have no doubt that the One behind all this calling is the Holy Spirit, Who resides in our souls as in a temple, since our Baptism. He is our own interior “Google Maps.” With this in mind, have you considered that the Holy Spirit could be calling you to serve as a lay minister in our diocese? The Greek Biblical word “kairos” can mean a crisis, or an opportunity, depending on how you look at it. Jesus is alive, Jesus is risen, Jesus is Lord, and when we look at life through His lenses, it’s always with courage and hope in the God Who says “behold, I am doing something new, can you not see it?” So, would you consider the ministry of catechist, teaching and explaining our faith to young people and others? Would you think about getting involved as a funeral minister, leading prayers and offering the consolation and hope of the Lord? Would you be open to leading a Service of Holy Communion, when a priest is not available? Would you consider youth ministry? Think about it, pray about it! You might say: not me! The Holy Spirit might reply: why not you?

We are informed that from the autumn, the diocese will be offering ministry training in the above areas. Please let me know if you are interested.

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RALLY FOR LIFE 2024: Saturday, July 6^th, 1:30pm,Parnell Square, Dublin. More details on 01 8730465, or log on torallyforlife.net.

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PROVIDING COMPASSIONATE CARE AT THE END OF LIFE: in response to this issue, the Irish Bishops have published Freedom to live fully, until death comes, and a video, Through the Valley, featuring personal stories of people with terminal illness and their carers. Every person possesses inherent, infinite dignity that remains intact, regardless of their circumstances. The Bishops oppose the Oireachtas Committee’s proposal to Government to legislate for assisted suicide, and support healthcare workers who stand for life. Catholicbishops.ie