Newsletter 23rd March 2014

 

3rd Sunday of Lent Year A 23rd March 2014

TODAY – 23rd MARCH 2014
THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT
When Jesus asked the woman of Samaria for water to drink he had already prepared her for the gift of faith. In his thirst to receive her faith he awakened in her heart the first of God’s love. We pray for those who are preparing for this baptism.

LENT 2014
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
The Way of Gentleness
Tuesdays 8 P.M.
Stations of the Cross
After the 10.30 a.m. Mass every Friday of Lent.

LENTEN SUGGESTION
Please remember the world’s poor and collect a Trócaire box from either the Sacristy or Cathedral entrance. Thank you.

SLIGO PARISHES CLUSTER
LENTEN PROGRAMME 2014

Mondays 8:00 P.M.
The Way of Gentleness
St Patrick’s Church, Strandhill

Wednesdays 10:30 A.M.
(March 26, and April 2) 45 Minutes
A Lenten Journey with Pope Francis
St Joseph’s Parish Centre

Wednesdays 3:00 P.M.
(March 26, and April 2) 45 Minutes
A Lenten Journey with Pope Francis
St Anne’s Day Chapel

Wednesdays 7:00 P.M.
Reflective Prayer
Trust, Surrender, Receive
Carraroe Parish Church

Thursdays 1:00 P.M.
(March 27 and April 3) 20 Minutes
Lunchtime with Pope Francis
St Bernadette’s Chapel

Thursdays 8:00 P.M.
(March 27 and April 3) 45 Minutes
A Lent Journey with Pope Francis
St Michael’s Family Life Centre

DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME
Mass for those preparing for First Holy Communion in our Parish takes today,  Sunday 23rd, at 10.30am. All are encouraged to attend.

FEAST OF THE ANNUNCIATION
Tuesday 25th March Mass for Life will be celebrated at 7 pm in our Cathedral with a short talk by Patrick McCrystal of Human Life International. Veneration of a relic from the house of Loretto will follow. All welcome.

MOTHERS DAY – SUNDAY NEXT
Sunday next, March 30th will be celebrated as MOTHER’S DAY.  Prayerful wishes to all Mothers, Grandmothers and Great-Grandmothers of this parish as we celebrate this special occasion.

URSULINE ASSOCIATES
Next meeting will be held on Weds 26th March in the Convent (opp Cathedral entrance) at 7pm. All welcome.

AFTERNOONS OF REFLECTION FOR EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF THE EUCHARIST
Saturday April 5
th    Saturday 12th    Saturday 26th

In the Star of the Sea Convent in Mullaghmore. The afternoons commence at 3 p.m. & end with supper at 6 pm. Please let us know as soon as possible which of the above dates suit you on 916 2670. Thank you.

GOOD FRIDAY PASSION PLAY
You can still join the cast of “The Folly of God”, a dramatic presentation forming part of the 3pm Liturgy in our Cathedral on Good Friday. Rehearsals continue Monday March 24th at 8pm in the Cathedral Sacristy

CHARITY TAX FORMS – REMINDER
Sincere thanks to all who have so far returned their charity tax form.  The closing date has been extended to April 5th.  Please return your form before this date if you have not already done so. This is a vital source of income for us in these difficult economic times. Thank you.

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK
Lord, you gave me the gift of freedom of spirit. Fill my spirit with Your peace and joy.  Amen.

READINGS FOR SUNDAY NEXT MARCH 30th
1st: Sam. 16.1 6-7. 10-13;
2nd: Eph. 5: 8-14;
Gospel: Jn. 9:1-41.

REST IN PEACE
Your prayers are asked for the repose of the soul of:
KEVIN KELLY, Tonaphubble.
May God grant him eternal; rest and comfort and console his bereaved family and friends.

Anniversaries  Remembrances From Monday 23rd March 2014

CATHEDRAL PARISH – 2200 FAMILIES
THANK YOU for your contribution: SUNDAY 16th & MONDAY 17th March
PARISH ENV
3,212 PL/STAND.ORD 2,268
ST MARY’S PRESBYTERY
Tel: 071 916 2670 SACRISTY Tel: 071 916 1261
E-mail us at info@sligocathedral.ie We welcome your comments. Thank you.

BINGO – GILLOOLY HALL – TONIGHT AT 9PM
TONIGHT’S JACKPOT €2,400!!
Raffle at interval with refreshments.  All welcome!

WEDDINGS
Congratulations and best wishes to
IAN ROSSITER & LORRETTA KEARNS and
JONATHAN FITZPATRICK & GEORGINA STALLARD
who were married recently in our Cathedral.

BAPTISMS
We welcome into God’s family
ZOE & SOPHIA RAMOS;
MYIAH HALLAHAN;
JOSEPH MURTAGH;
ADAM GILLESPIE;
JACK O’ MALLEY;
ELLIOT BOWES and
KATIE FLYNN
recently baptised in our Cathedral.

HAVE YOU A RELATIVE OR FRIEND IN ST JOHN’S HOSPITAL?
Would you consider arranging your visit to coincide with Mass on Sunday mornings at 10.45am? Many of the wheelchair bound patients are unable to attend Mass as they cannot wheel themselves to & from the Chapel. Your help, even once in a while, would be most gratefully received. Thank you.

LA VERNA RETREAT CENTRE
The Friary, Rossnowlagh. An Introduction to Centering Prayer Retreat 28th – 30th March. Looking at the Issue of Suicide Tues 1st April 10.45am-4.30pm Fr James Sweeney. Holy Week – Preached Retreat with Fr Tom Russell Wed 16th-Sun 20th April. Please phone to book 071 985 2572.

DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES 2014
AUGUST 28 to SEPTEMBER 2, 2014. For Booking Forms please contact the Parish Office or Joe Walsh Tours. Tel: 01 241 0800.

CO. SLIGO GOLF CLUB Male Voice Choir & Sligo Academy of Music host their Annual Spring Concert with Guests in the Radisson, Ballincar on Fri 4th Apr at 8pm. Tickets €15 from Liber Bookshop – tel. 914 2219. All proceeds to Sligo Regional Hospital Cardiac Services.

THANKS
Sligo Scout Group wish to thank our Cathedral parish for the support of their Church gate collection last weekend; €694 was raised. Youth Membership is now open with Adult Volunteers also welcome. For more call 087 206 7474 or visit www.sligoscouts.com

CELEBRATION OF EASTER HOPE
Presented by Sligo Churches Together on Sunday 6th April, at 7.30pm in St John’s Cathedral, Sligo. Featuring: Gospel pianist Huntley Brown, Chicago; Soprano Eunjoo Goh, South Korea, Gospel singer James Kilbane, Achill & Sligo Gospel Choir. Adm. free.  Offering taken in support of North West Hospice.

DATES TO REMEMBER

MERCY COLLEGE SLIGO FASHION SHOW And afternoon tea in the Radisson Hotel, Ballincar today, Sunday 23rd March from 3pm to 5pm.

LATIN PRAYERS DURING LENT 3 x 30 minute sessions starting Tues. 1st of April at 7pm in Columbanus House, Church Hill. No experience of Latin required. To book a place ring 087 148 0448. All welcome.

NORTH WEST STROKE GROUP next meeting Wednesday 26th at 8pm at the Irish Wheelchair Association premises in Abbeyville, Sligo.

DAFFODIL DAY Help Wanted for 28th March. Donate Wrap or Sell? Contact Rhoda at 096 47148 or Mary 085 744 4282.

IDEASTHESIA Art Exhibition Cork based artist John Kent is exhibiting at the Yeats Memorial Building, Sligo from Tues 25th Mar – Sat Apr 5th.

ST MARY’S COMMUNITY GARDEN Is starting up again on Fridays, from 2-4 pm. New members welcome. Contact Natasha on 086 378 2920.

GAELIC FOR GIRLS 12 week programme for ages 8-12. From Thursday March 27th in Kent Park from 6.15-7.15pm. €8 per girl Contact Pauline Brennan on 087 977 5654.

ANAM CARA
Anam Cara, the national organisation that provides support services to bereaved parents and families is hosting a Bereavement Information Evening in the Ballybane Enterprise Centre, Galway on Wednesday 2nd April from 19:30 – 21:30.  This event gives parents an opportunity to hear an experienced bereavement professional talk about the many challenges families have to face into after the death of their son or daughter.
Please note this event is open to all bereaved parents, regardless of the age of their child or the circumstances of their death.
For the bereavement Information Evening on Wednesday 2nd April, Anam Cara’s guest speaker is Dr Helen Greally and the topic for the evening is “Coping as a Bereaved Parent”.
Helen is a Clinical Psychologist and she works as Director of Psychology and Support Services at Cancer Care West. She has given many workshops on the area of coping with major life events throughout the life cycle. Topics include the psychological aspects of serious physical illnesses including cancer, relationships, stress and coping, and issues of loss. She has worked with people of all ages. For the past four years she has been a key participant in the Irish Hospice Foundation’s Diploma/Masters in Bereavement Studies
Anam Cara provides a range of support services which include website, private message forums for parents and adult siblings, Professional Bereavement talks, family social and remembrance events. 
All Anam Cara Services are provided free of charge to parents. Anam Cara Galway hold their Parent Evening’s on the 1st Wednesday of each month between September and June. To find out more please visit www.anamcara.ie
Anam Cara will need to confirm numbers for room set up, we would appreciate if you could RSVP to info@anamcara.ie  before Monday, 31st March 2014 or call us 01 4045378.