SIXTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR (C)
GOD’S WORD FOR US TODAY
Reading 1: Jeremiah 17: 5-8 (Real and lasting happiness comes only from God)
Life has taught Jeremiah that to trust only in human beings and in ‘things’ is potentially destructive. By contrast, to trust in God is to be rooted in a love that sustains us through everything; and to trust in God’s way is to walk a path that leads to deep down happiness. Reflect: To what extent do people and things bring real deep down happiness?
Resp to Psalm: How joyful are the hearts of all who trust in the Lord.
Reading 2: 1 Cor 15: 12, 16-20 (The resurrection of Jesus is the guarantee of our resurrection)
Paul is addressing those people in Corinth who don’t believe in the resurrection of the dead. He points to the person of Jesus, whose resurrection was the corner stone of Christianity; and he says that what happened to Jesus will also happen to us. Resurrection is our fulfilment!
Gospel Acc: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for revealing the mystery of the kingdom to children. Alleluia . . . .
Gospel : Lk 6: 17, 20-26 (The kingdom of heaven belongs to the poor, hungry etc)
Three weeks ago, Jesus announced his programme of bringing the good news about God to the poor, the hungry, the sorrowful—the rejects of his society. Today he announces that the Kingdom is for these people, and he warns against the potentially destructive nature of wealth etc. Reflect: In what sense is wealth, prosperity and fame potentially destructive? To what extent are they important to me?
LITURGICAL CELEBRATIONS and INFORMATION
Monday Feb 14 9:30 am Funeral Mass: John Paul McAlear
Tuesday Feb 15 9:30 am Sixth Tuesday of Year
Funeral Mass: Agnes McMahon
Thursday Feb 17 9:30 am Sixth Thursday of Year
P5 children will be at Mass.
Friday Feb 18 6:00 pm Reception of remains of Patrick Lawson.
Saturday Feb 19 9:30 am Sixth Saturday of the Year
Funeral Mass: Patrick Lawson, RIP
Sunday Feb 20 10:00 am Seventh Sunday of Liturgical Year C. LITURGY OF THE WORD FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN
FROM THE ARCHDIOCESE:
SUNDAY OBLIGATION
The Sunday obligation will be restored on the First Sunday of Lent, March 6th. This does not apply to the sick or their carers, nor to those who are more vulnerable to the virus. The Bishops wish to thank all involved in keeping everyone safe, particularly the volunteers.
LESS STRINGENT COVID RESTRICTIONS
Track and trace is optional and pew sanitising may be less frequent. However, we are asked to be distance-aware by avoiding crowding and by spreading out across the Church; to wear masks and keep the Church well ventilated; to take regular Lateral Flow tests and isolate, if the test is positive or if we have covid symptoms; to continue with hand sanitising and to refrain from touching statues. In the meantime, communion will continue to be under one kind.
FROM THE PARISH
CHILDREN and the LITURGY
We ask parents to bring their children’s Mass Booklets to Mass, and to help the children use them, so that they become familiar with the structure and prayers of the Mass.
THE SICK AND DECEASED
We pray for our sick and housebound parishioners, relatives and friends, and we remember those who have died recently, particularly Joseph Wilkinson and Agnes McMahon; and those whose anniversaries occur at this time, especially Eddie Deighan, Kathleen Butler and Bernard Woods. May God grant them eternal rest.
BAPTISMS
We welcome into the Parish Family of St. Jude and St. John Ogilvie our newly baptised children: Shekinah Isioma Agiam, Suleman Destiny Musa and Kajetan Swiercz. We look forward to sharing their faith journey with them.
JUSTICE AND PEACE GROUP
The Justice and Peace Group met on Wednesday, Feb 9th, and began thinking about Lent in the Parish. All agreed that our common humanity calls us to do something about the dire situation in Afghanistan, where 1 million children are at risk of dying from malnutrition; 95% of people do not have enough food to eat; only 9.1% of the population is fully vaccinated against Covid-19; winter temperatures of minus 12 degrees threaten the survival of displaced families; Health Services lack medicines and supplies.
We hope to have some ideas soon.
WELCOME HOME to Fr. Francis who returns to the parish on Wednesday, February 16th.
INCOME Feb 6th, 2022
Gift Aid £135.22
Collection £220.00
Justice and Peace Café £21.18