Parish of Lismore and Ballysaggart
We are still deeply traumatised by the violent death of Ashling Murphy RIP. Both here in Lismore and in Ballysaggart large groups of people stood in silence, in prayer in solidarity with the Murphy family and with her school community. We can only hope and pray that persons will develop a changed mindset re violence against the person.
No matter what laws and restrictions politicans may try to bring in they are quite helpless unless persons develop the capacity to love rather than to hate. Maybe here lazy journalists who stigmatise whole sections of society would start to reclaim the noble art of professional journalism. The work of creating public attitudes which are enduring is an ongoing skill. We saw from the ongoing reporting of the terrorist violence in the North a growing tiredness by the general public. As a parish we need to call those who are listening to ongoing conversion. Simply repeating the 5th Commandment and saying what is commanded and what is forbidden by the Commandment is not enough. That does not mean that we can become casual in speaking of the 5th Commandment.
We are so glad that Covid-19 community restrictions are being slowly relaxed. We will have Mass at 4pm on Sat 12th Feb in St Carthage’s Church for the children and families of those preparing for First Eucharist and Reconciliation. We are thankful to St Antoinette Dillworth, Diocesan Direction of Religous Education at Primary level. Parents received as very good grounding in what we about as a faith community. We have to celebrate this extra weekend Mass for Sun as we cannot displace those good people who have been so loyal to the parish all through the pandemic. We will do the same for the families and children preparing for the sacrament of confirmation.
Do not let us forget the problem of children as practicing Christians being bullied. Talk about that hidden evil. Bullying is found at all levels of society that leave such a trail of persona destruction.
We come in on the middle of Catholic schools week, today Wed. This is Grandparents Day. Parents who teach their children to truly love their grandparents give them a great blessing. Sadly it can happen that parents for their own reasons isolate their children from grandparents and so give to the grandparents the gift of loneliness and heartbreak. This hardens the hearts of the grandchildren and limits their capacity for empathy through their wounded lives. With Thur time is given to ‘Living Life in Wonder and Awe’. ‘Wisdom begins in Wonder’. Imagination is our greatest human quality. With Fri ‘Living Life and Facing the Future’. Here so many present issues in the light of the gospel are learned for we create the future by what we settle for in the present.