PARISH OF LISMORE AND BALLYSAGGART NEWS
We must keep hoping and praying that we may be able to gather for Holy Week in our churches. We will be guided by public service guidelines. It is noticeable that no mention is made of places of public worship in these news briefings while other important venues are mentioned.
For us it is a time when we realise that being a Christian is much more than attending Mass but attending Mass is part of the experience of community. Without a commitment to a community our faith would be little more than a self help programme.
As the churches are not open for public worship the footfall in the churches is limited. To reach as many as we can with the Lenten Trocaire boxes the following outlets in our town will have Trocaire boxes where you can pick up your one. You will see them at Lismore Post Office, Mari Mina Pharmacy, Lismore Credit Union office, Lissie Brien’s, Michael McGrath’s, Allied Irish Bank, Wine Vault, Bank of Ireland and Meagher’s in Ballysaggart. Please support your local shops and services. That is how a small town will stay alive. Sincere thanks to the management of all these locations for taking on this service to the people of South Sudan via Trocaire.
It is so good to see children and students begin to return to their classrooms. School is so much more than information giving. Covid restrictions is shouting at us that we are social beings. May we learn these taken for granted lessons into the future. We wish the children, students and teachers and all the school staffs under the direction of Mr Prendergast and Mr Ring every blessing and success.
I wonder how many adults have actually read the Irish Constitution, Bunreact na hEirin. I mention this as next Sunday we will reflect on the 10 commandments. The Irish Constitution is a vision of how we as a nation can hold together without fragmentation. Social degeneration is never far from those whose loyalty to the constitution is weak or indifferent.
The 10 Commandments can been seen as the original constitution of God’s chosen people. It creates a vision of a nation that is held together by very wise and foundational laws. They are not to be seen as ten hurdles to the negotiated over. They are there to preserve our personal and community freedom. Take away an one of the ten and see what freedoms are lost. Good law is about protecting and ensuring freedom. The ten commandments protects the rights of every single person. I am so taken with the mighty tomes of laws today when the ten commandments cover everything.
Continue to tune into our Sunday morning radio Mass on 103.9FM or on Facebook St Mary’s Sunday Morning Mass Ballysaggart at 9.30am. Thanks to all who form the faithful remnant community for these Masses. There is so much useful Faith material on line and accessible.
We continue to wish all in the Health Service doing the Covid-19 vaccanation progamm as well as those caring for those affected by the virus. Lord give success to the work of their hands.