ST JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH PARISH NEWSLETTER

14th June 2020

After the 10 a.m. Mass on Sat and after the 10 a.m Mass on the Thurs before the First Friday

St John the Baptist Mon - Sat :10.00 am Sundays: 10.00 am.

Parish Office 833 4606

Fr Martin Hogan 8338575 087 9721213 Fr. John Callanan S.J. 087 2296894 Parish Centre: 805 3033 Bethany Bereavement Support Bernadette 087 6445309

On the 2nd Sunday of each month at 11.00 am and the 3rd Saturday of each

Sun: 10.00 am Paul Dolan (Rec Dec) Mon:10.00 am Noel Fitzgerald (Rec Dec) Tues:10.00 am Special Intention Wed: 10.00 am Ellen Crowley (Anniv) Thur:10.00 am Fíl Ní Bradaígh (Rec Dec) Fri: 10.00 am Bob Reid (Anniv) Sat: 10.00 am Eileen Kane (Anniv)

Earlier opening of church We were all glad to hear that the reopening of places of worship has been brought forward from 20th July to 29th June. When we re-open for public Mass we will have to limit our numbers for each Mass to allow for social distancing, especially if the scaffolding remains in place, which is possible. We will not need as many Ministers of the Eucharist but we will be needing stewards at each Mass to help with social distancing, to direct people to seats and to help limit our numbers. If you are willing to volunteer to be a steward at one of the three Sunday Masses you might let me know or give your name to the parish office, Fr Martin

Quote from Pope Francis’ Encyclical on the Environment, Laudato Si ‘Rest opens our eyes to the larger picture and gives us renewed sensitivity to the rights of others. And so the day of rest, centred on the Eucharist, sheds its light on the whole week, and motivates us to greater concern for nature and the poor’ (Par. 237).

MASSES

Website www.stjohnsclontarf.ie

Email sjtbclontarf@eircom.net

Parish Office Opening Hours

9.00 am—1.00 pm

Monday to Friday

CONFESSIONS

BAPTISMS

CONTACTS

Feast of the Week Friday, 19th June is the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is well represented in our parish church, both on one of our side altars, which is dedicated to the Sacred Heart, and in the lovely stained glass window over the altar. Devotion to Jesus under the image of his sacred heart has been very strong in the Irish church. There was a time when it was quite common to see a picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus with a light before it in people’s homes. I remember very well that image with the light before it in my grandparent’s kitchen here in Clontarf. There was something about that image and the little light which spoke powerfully to people. It spoke of the Lord’s loving presence at the very heart of their lives. Here was the Lord present in people’s homes, in their kitchens, conveying a sense of his personal love for them, inviting them to trust in his love and his care for them. That remains the essence of today’s feast. It is a feast of love, of the Lord’s love for us and of our love for him in response.

Rosary Priest Film to be released in October A new film about one of Ireland’s most famous priests, Fr Patrick Peyton, is due to be released in October this year. The film documentary Pray tells the story of the man who became known as “The Rosary Priest” and who coined the phrase “the family that prays together stays together.” The national director of Family Theatre Productions, Fr David Guffey, says: “We have created a moving film that depicts the power of prayer, but Pray is more than a movie — it’s a prayer movement.”

Work on the church The inside stone of the widows on the east of the church (Vernon Avenue side) are now ready to be steam cleaned. The church will need to close on the days when this is happening due to dust. Good notice will be given in advance. We apologize for any inconvenience to our parishioners.

Donate Button and Envelopes for first and second collection Thank you to everyone who has sent in Easter Offerings. Your generosity is deeply appreciated and has been a great help. There is now a Donate button on our Parish Website for the Easter Offerings and for the First and Second Collections at Sunday Mass. The first collection and the Easter Offerings go into the Common Fund of the Diocese from which the salaries of priests are paid. Again, many thanks to all who are availing of this facility. If you wish to contribute to the usual two Sunday collections, there are now

Corona Virus and the existence of God ‘In regard to the current coronavirus pandemic, God permits humans the dignity of coming together and acting in such a way that they can deal with this crisis. This is manifest not only in the turning to God that is occurring all over the world, but also in the turning to one’s neighbour to ensure his or her good. Indeed, the turn to both God and neighbour is illustrative of the primary and secondary commandments that Christ places on his disciples: to love God with all your heart and to love your neighbour as yourself. Accordingly, far from being a situation in which the presence of God in the world is cast into significant doubt, the current crisis continues to reveal to humanity the goodness and dignity with which God graces humanity in coming through this crisis’. Dr. Gaven Kerr, Philosophy Lecturer Maynooth

Talks from Fr Brian Grogan SJ Fr Brian Grogan’s talks have been gratefully appreciated by all who tuned in to see and hear him on our parish webcam. Next Tuesday, 16th June, he will speak on Finding God in a Leaf: the Mysticism of Laudato Si and on Thursday, 18th June, he will speak on Will All be Saved? And Should I Care?

Message from the local conference of Saint Vincent de Paul Society The Society of St Vincent De Paul in

Clontarf would like to remind people who have been affected by unemployment or any other issues associated with the current Covid 19 pandemic that they are available to assist people. If you would like to get in contact with them, please phone Kieran or Padraic at 083-3843741 to discuss in strictest confidence how they can help with utility bills or other domestic expenses.