Weekly Bulletin 23rd & 24th February

Big News
Next Sunday the Sacrament of the Sick (anointing) will be administered during the 11.30 Mass. We try to do this annually, on a Sunday near the feast of ‘Our Lady of Lourdes’.
Many people will remember the ‘Sacrament of the Sick’ as ‘Extreme Uncion’ the last anointing. The norm was that the sacrament was given only to people who were in Danger of death due to Illness or old Age.

New norms were promulgated after the Second Vatican Council with final norms being published in 1972. The present day norms suggest that “those whose health is seriously impaired by sickness or old age receive this sacrament”

There is a reference to psychological health too. You don’t have to be brought in on a stretcher to present for the Sacrament! And don’t forget, as with all sacraments, those who receive them are required to respond/co-operate with God’s grace. A bit of preparation is a good idea too. What form of healing am I looking for? What can I do to co-operate with the sacrament i.e. bring about my own healing. It might be going to bed earlier and eating my 5 portion of fruit and veg a day. If I’m looking for healing of memories, then in what way am I willing to try to heal my own history.

Maybe there’s a neighbour who would like a lift, could you offer to bring them?

Two weeks ago we had a collection after Masses for the Mary Aikenhead Day Centre, Donnybrook (lots of healing/caring going on there!). The collection amounted to €8426.47, magnificent amount. Sr Marie wrote to say ‘thank you’.

So let’s prepare for the Sacrament of healing for next week.

Fr. Philip Adm

Thank you for the €1,491 which you donated to last Sunday’s collection for the Support of Priests of the Parish (& Dioceses) and for the Share Collection which amounted to €1074.

Condolences to the families and friends of the late Bridget Freeman and Maurice Colman. We also offer our condolences to the family and friends of the late Margaret McCrea whose funeral Mass took place here during the last week.

DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME PROGRAMME:
Today’s 10am Mass is part of the ‘Do this in Memory of Me’ programme for children who will be receiving their First Holy Communion in May. We welcome the children and their parents.

There are copies of a booklet for children called ‘Day by Day, Junior, Lent 2013’ available on the Parish book stand. This publication is suitable for children and could be a useful resource in helping children to understand Lent and prepare for Easter.

RECRUITMENT OF CHURCH CLEANERS -
We urgently need some additional volunteers to help with the weekly cleaning of our church. If you have an hour or two to spare during the week perhaps you could consider joining this ministry. Please give your name to Fr. Philip if you are interested in joining this group of parish helpers.

PRAYER WITH SCRIPTURE:
This Parish Group continues to meet during Lent at 8pm on Tuesday evenings in the Parish Pastoral Centre. They extend an open invitation to anyone who wishes to join them.

Trocaire boxes are available at the back of the church. Please collect one on your way out.

LENTEN LECTURES IN MILLTOWN :
What has happened to Vatican II? This Wednesday’s lecture is ‘Christian Faith Encountering the World of Science’. The lecturer is Dr. Joe Egan from the Milltown institute. Further details on this series of talks are on our Parish Notice Boards.

MINISTERS OF THE WORD:
A meeting for all Ministers of the Word will take place at 8pm on this Thursday evening, Feb. 28th. This meeting will take place in the Parish Church and in the Parish Pastoral Centre.

FIRST FRIDAY:
Next Friday, March 1st, is the first Friday of the month. The 10am Mass on the day will be offered for all who are recently deceased and those whose names are on the Parish Altar list of the Dead

FAMILY LITURGY GROUP:
Parents of young children are invited to attend a meeting after the 10am Mass on next Sunday, Mar. 3rd..We will be continuing our discussion on a Parish Family Mass/ Children’s Liturgy of the Word.

ANOITING OF THE SICK (for those of the faithful whose health is seriously impaired by sickness or old age) will take place in this Parish on next Sunday, March 3rd.

NOVENA OF GRACE will commence in Milltown Parish and our twinned Parish of Clonskeagh on Monday March 4th and will continue until Tuesday, March 12th.

BUILDING STRONGER & MORE VIBRANT COMMUNITIES;
The Community development Section of Dublin City Council are having an informal meeting on this topic in our Parish Pastoral Centre at 7pm on this Thursday evening, Feb. 28th. Further details of this meeting are on the Parish Notice Boards.

MILLTOWN PARISH BRIDGE CLUB
Parishioners are invited to apply for membership of the Bridge Club. There are a limited number of places now available. Players of all standard are welcome. Play night is Wednesday of each week from 7.30 p.m. to 10.30 p.m. approximately. Unfortunately there are no lessons available for beginners.

TRUST: this social and health service which helps people who are homeless thank parishioners for their recent clothing and financial donations.

ALONE is currently looking for befriending volunteers in your area. If you have an hour a week to spare and would like to visit a isolated older person, to provide friendship and companionship please email deirdre.m@alone.ie or call 01 679 1032.

Lenten Talks in Rathmines Parish
‘St Paul and his letters’ a series of Lenten talks by Sean Freyne will continue in St Mary’s Community Centre, Richmond Hill Rathmines on Wednesday evenings, 13th & 20th March starting 7.30pm all are welcome.

YEARLY RETREAT:
Spend one Saturday of Lent in prayer in the Faith and Family Centre, Dal Riada House, Avoca Avenue, Blackrock, Co. Dublin. A Lenten Day Retreat For Men will take place on Saturday March 2nd and a Lenten Day Retreat For Women will take place on Saturday March 9th. Each \retreat commences at 10am and continues until 5pm. It costs €15.00 to attend. Lunch, tea & coffee will be provided. Attendance is by reservation only. For more information or to book the place contact: Faith and Family Centre, Tel: 01 288 9317; email: faithandfamilycentre@arcol.org