Parish of Lismore and Ballysaggart news report

Welcome back to Mass to all who have been away for so long due to Covid-19. Sincere thanks to you who have kept the parish Mass when restrictions were in place. You had love and you had courage. We will continue to wear face masks in Church though we will use every pew.

We need each other. At Mass there are no privileges for anyone. The influential are not entitled to any preference when occasionally they turn up at Church. Of course they are most welcome. I mention Sunday Mass as we begin our Lenten journey to Easter. Just recall that Easter marks the victory of Jesus through death into new life and our Baptism is our experience of this new life.

We all have a shared task to grow daily in Christian maturity. For as long as the good Lord leaves us in the world we are given daily graces or blessings in our maturing. We need then to be so patient with the young in their often untidy growing for no two young people grow at the same pace. But as social beings we do help each other. Being a person is being related and connected to others.

The same moral code is being violated by those who see nothing wrong with abortion and with the savage cruel war in Ukraine. We cannot do evil to do good. When that foundational civilising principle is ignored then we are in a growing dark place. What can we as parish do in the face of this overwhelming suffering of the people of Ukraine. It seems that finance to agency like the Red Cross seems most effective. You may wish to bring your contribution to Mass next Sunday and every one donations will be forwarded. We did the same last year when ‘get a vaccine, give a vaccine’ was being advertised. That we sent to Unicef’.

Lent is associated with Trocaire and family fast boxes are available in the Church. Trocaire has a long history associated with the last great council of the Church when a directive was given that each diocese should organise a practical response to world hunger and associated needs. It makes us feel good when we hear the name of Trocaire working with people in developing lands. Locals are often employed to provide the specialist training. You may return them to the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Thursday, April 14th. This action will do instead of the ‘washing of the feet’.

Thanks to Tina our application forms for 6th Pastoral Council are being handed out over the next two weeks. It is your parish and you have your Baptismal vocation to mind and support the parish. Remember in the past the Catholic Church was in the majority but now it is very much in the minority. I wonder is the CSO forms intent on seeking truths starting with negatives!