Weekly Bulletin 29th March 2020

Posted on Gardiner Street ParishPosted in Weekly Bulletin

Easter Greetings

Easter Greetings to all, in the hope that, while our current situation is likely to get worse, it will eventually improve and bring us closer together again.

My hope is that we understand what’s going on at a deeper level and find the footprints of God in this COVID -19 crisis. I’m trying to remain rooted in real experience but find some spiritual meaning in it. One of the activities we have  managed to keep going is our book club. Over 10 members are meeting over the internet and we’re reading Rabbi Jonathan Sacks challenging book Morality. He has some helpful advice about being grateful:

“Studies have shown that on days when individuals focus on and express thankfulness, they experience more positive emotions. Gratitude encourages the savouring of positive experiences. It bolsters feelings of self-worth. It helps people cope with stress. It inhibits invidious comparisons with others. It encourages moral behaviour – grateful people are more likely to help others. It tends to dissipate negative emotions such as anger. And it counteracts the hedonistic treadmill. Gratitude is the opposite of the mindset of a market-led, consumer society. It is about satisfaction with what we have, not hunger for what we do not have.”

Don’t hesitate to call us at the parish office with any queries or requests.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Gerry Clarke SJ

URBI ET ORBI

FRIDAY, 27 MARCH, at 5.00pm Irish time

Pope Francis will preside over an extraordinary global celebration (Statio orbis) of prayer.  RTÉ, will facilitate the live broadcast of Pope Francis’ extraordinary Urbi et Orbi blessing on the RTE News Now Channel. RTÉ News Now can be received on Saorview channel 21; Virgin Media 200; Sky 521; Eir 500 and on the RTÉ News Now App.       

A SPIRITUALITY FOR STRANGE TIMES

Brendan McManus SJ draws on the wisdom of St Ignatius, the founder of the Jesuits, to formulate his ten tips for dealing with the Covid-19 crisis.

Brendan is the author of a number of books including Finding God in the Mess, and Deeper in the Mess, both co-authored with Jim Deeds. They share a down-to-earth approach to spirituality that follows the example of Ignatius who urged his fellow companions and the people of his time to ‘find God in all things’.

https://www.jesuit.ie/news/a-spirituality-for-strange-times/

COVID-19. GARDINER STREET PARISH PASTORAL ARRANGEMENTS

  • The Parish Office is open Mon-Fri 9.30am to 5.00pm. Parish Office is closed on the weekend. Telephone 01 836 3411
  • The Church is opened after the 11am Mass and remains open until around 4.30pm
  • Our website is: gardinerstparish.ie
  • Mass is available daily at 11am via webcam (Click on the Webcam Tab on top right of Home Page and then click Play or click on the screen itself. Thankfully we got to the root of our technical problems and the webcam is fully functional again.
  • Our revised Holy week and Easter Programme is as follows:

Revised Holy Week and Easter Programme

All activities are over webcam behind closed doors and may be accessed via our website www.gardinerstparish.ie

 Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion 5th April

Mass 11.00am.

 Holy Thursday (9th April)

7.30pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper and Adoration

8.30pm Watch & Pray

Good Friday (10th April)

  • 12:00 Stations of the Cross
  • 3pm Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion
  • 4pm Prayer around the Cross

Holy Saturday (11th April)

9pm Easter Vigil

Easter Sunday

  • Mass 11am

RESOURCES

“The outbreak of COVID-19 will pose additional challenges for older people who may already be vulnerable and particularly those who struggle with health difficulties, loneliness, and other issues,” concluded Moynihan. “To the friends and family of older people who may have concerns, we are encouraging them to continue to support older people in the community as they have always done, while ensuring they are taking the same protective measures.”

Contact ALONE on 0818 222 024 if you have concerns about your own wellbeing, or the wellbeing of an older person you know. Further information can be found on www.alone.ie.

VOLUNTEERS FOR THE COVID-19 RESPONSE FOR OLDER PEOPLE

Would you like to help Alone to deliver groceries, prescriptions, fuel or provide telephone support for older people?

Visit https://alone.ie/                           

Age Action has reconfigured it’s supports and service to ensure older people in Ireland are prioritised, protected, informed and supported during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information visit https://www.ageaction.ie/connect-inform-and-support-age-actions-covid-19-emergency-response

A PRAYER IN THE TIME OF THE CORONAVIRUS

Almighty and All–loving God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
we pray to you through Christ the Healer
for those who suffer from the Coronavirus Covid–19
in Ireland and across the world.

We pray too for all who reach out to those who mourn the loss
of each and every person who has died as a result of contracting the disease. 

Give wisdom to policymakers,
skill to healthcare professionals and researchers,
comfort to everyone in distress
and a sense of calm to us all in these days of uncertainty and distress.

This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord
who showed compassion to the outcast,
acceptance to the rejected
and love to those to whom no love was shown.

Amen.    

Archbishop Michael Jackson
Dublin & Glendalough