The Parish of Lismore and Ballysaggart news
Hope you picked up Easter water from one of the churches to be used in your sacred space at home? It can be a symbol of your Baptism. The tradition of having blessed water at the door that enables those who either enter or leave your home to use is very noble. It is good that those who enter bring with them a spoken blessing, as well as those who leave do so with a blessing.
It is good that family members bless one another as it comes more easy to some to fight with one another without embarrassment. We should not be apologetic in expressing our Faith before those we are committed to.
I would encourage you to check in to the Diocesan webpage; waterfordlismore.ie as you will see what the different offices in the diocese are offering in regards to Faith and catechesis. It is a full strength diocesan office.
Parents of the children who wish to celebrate First Penance, First Eucharist, Confirmation have their own chance to prepare with the children. Fathers are the persons who ought take the lead in following the example of St Joseph for it was he who educated Jesus in the ways of the Faith tradition of his people.
St Joseph did a very good job, for Jesus often borrowed examples from what Joseph would have taught him. Do remember how Jesus was teaching about the Kingdom of God when he used an image from a man ploughing. Jesus would have made ploughs.
Joseph would have told him how it would be very dangerous to be looking back when ploughing. Find out why he may have given that good advice
We do hope that the children and the schools will function well on the full return after the Easter holidays. For Leaving Cert students time is now a premium. Yet students need to be fair to their efforts as they put the finishing touches to their courses but also think about the possible career options they are also choosing. We continue to pray for them, their families and their teachers.
The confusion about right and wrong has not left us. By tuning into Mass either on the radio 103.9fm or on Facebook St Mary’s Ballysaggart Mass live stream or Lismore Ballysaggart Mass live stream on Saturday or Sunday you will learn of the moral confusion that led to the rejection and crucifixion of Jesus. Today is no different. I see where the atheists are in great difficulty as they cannot find a basis for a basic moral code for people without belief in God. There is still hope for us all. Divine mercy and forgiveness is there.
As yet there is no clear path to the reopening of our churches for public worship. The incidence of coronavirus infection is still high. But it would be good that the secular powers who are in charge would reference places of worship. It will not burn their lips even if it seems too hot for them. We pray for our secular leaders as St Paul encouraged the Christians to do.