Dear Parishioner,
I hope you are keeping well during these strange and worrying times. We are fast approaching the end of 2020. Sadly, it will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. This time last year we never heard of COVID -19. Wearing face masks and maintaining social distance was unthinkable. The idea that people would be working and studying from home was inconceivable. Little did we think that our Churches would be closed for a prolonged period of time. Yes, we are living in very strange times.
There is an old Chinese proverb that states “It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.” The adage speaks about the purpose of our lives. To live in such a way as to bring light into places of darkness and not just sit back and complain and blame. We are where we are. We must work together and support each other. Above all we must not lose hope.
Václav Havel, former President of Czechoslovakia, once said: “Hope is a state of mind, not a state of the world”. St. Paul stated. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
The next few weeks will not be easy for all of us. We will survive whatever comes our way
if we “Seek the Lord and His strength; seek his face continually” (1 Chronicles 16:11)
Stay Safe,
Fr. Tom Fogarty
Fr. George Bourke
PARISH CHURCHES:
Our churches will remain closed for public Masses until the first week of December. They will remain open for private prayer each day. Please feel free to come and pray.
Masses will be streamed live from St. Kevin’s Church in Littleton daily:
Monday – Friday at 9am; Saturday at 7.30pm and Sunday at 12 noon.
The link is: https://www.churchservices.tv/littleton.
PARISH OFFICE:
Due to the Coronavirus, the Parish Office will remain closed until further notice. If you have any queries please email mblparish@gmail.com
MASSES FOR THE HOLY SOULS:
On Sunday November 1 at 3.00pm (Feast of all the Saints) the bishops and priests of Ireland will lead a prayer service to dedicate the month of November to ‘Remembrance of the Dead and Prayer for the Bereaved’.
On Tuesday, November 2nd Mass will be offered for the Holy Souls in St. Kevin’s Church at 9am. Both ceremonies will be streamed live.
During the month of November, we will pray daily for the Holy Souls. Due to the current pandemic we are not permitted to distribute envelopes. Please use your own envelop and insert the names of those you would like to be remembered at our Masses. Thirty (30) Masses will be celebrated for the Holy Souls.
It is traditional to recite the rosary every Sunday during the month of November and bless the graves. Fr. George and I will bless the graves. Unfortunately, we cannot have the same celebration and gatherings that we had in the past. This year we are asking families to make a private visit and pray for their loved ones.
A special Mass for all those who died during the last twelve months will be streamed live from St. Kevin’s Church in Littleton on Thursday, November 12th at 7.30pm.
Communion calls to the sick and housebound will not take place until further notice.
CONTACT DETAILS FOR PARISH CLERGY:
Fr. Tom Fogarty: Phone: 086-2425425. Email: tfogarty71@gmail.com
Fr. George Bourke: Phone: 087-4182900. Email: bourkegeo19@gmail.com
A CORONAVIRUS PRAYER:
Loving and healing God, we turn to you in prayer, confident that you are with us and with all people in every moment. We stand before you as people of hope, trusting in your care and protection. May your faithful love support us and soothe the anxiety of our hearts.
Generous God, fill us with compassion and concern for others, young and old, that we may look after one another in these challenging days. Bring healing to those who are sick with the virus and be with their families. May those who have died rest in your eternal embrace.
Comfort their family and friends. Strengthen and protect all medical professionals caring for the sick and all who work in our medical facilities. Give wisdom to leaders in healthcare and governance that they may make the right decisions for the well-being of people. We pray in gratitude for all those in our country who will continue to work in the days ahead in so many fields of life for the sake of us all. Bless them and keep them safe.
O God of creation and life, we place ourselves in your protection. May the mantle of your peace enfold us this day and tomorrow.
St Peter, pray for us.
St James, pray for us.
St Kevin, pray for us.
May all the saints of God, pray for us. Amen.