THE NOVENA OF GRACE
continues until the 12th March. Our preacher this year is Fr. Dermot Preston SJ.
Mass times:
Mon-Sat: 11 am, 1 pm &6 pm
Sunday 11 am, 12.30 pm & 3.30 pm
THE UNIVERSITY CHORALE OF BOSTON COLLEGE
under the direction of John Finney will be accompanying the Novena Mass in St. Francis Xavier’s Church on Wednesday 8th March at 6 pm. All welcome.
FAITH AND FLOWERS
A Lenten Journey
We are inviting you to journey through Lent this year by choosing to take up something new. Come join us as we explore different approaches to prayer while also tapping into our God-given creative gifts through the art of flower arranging!
When: Tuesdays 11.30 am-1 pm
(14, 21, 28 March & 4 April)
Facilitators: Ann Smyth & Christine Halloran.
Suggested Donation: €5-€10 per weekly session
Sign up at reception or at the website: https://tinyurl.com/LentSignUp
LOYOLA LENTEN LECTURE SERIES.
In 1950 the Dominican theologian Yves Congar wrote ‘True and False Reform in the Church’. In three lectures we will explore Congar’s thought, and explore how this classic text can help us today in our synodal journey.
Tuesday March 14th, ‘Is Reform Possible? Conditions for Authentic Reform’ (Dr Fáinche Ryan);
Tuesday March 28th, ‘True and False Reform Today’ (Dr Gemma Simmonds)
Lectures are free and all are welcome. Venue Loyola Institute, Trinity College Dublin at 7.30pm.
SYRIA NEEDS YOU
Irish Jesuits International has launched an appeal to help those impacted by the devastating earthquakes in Syria on Monday, 6 February 2023. You can phone
+353 1 8366509 or visit Donate Now – Irish Jesuits International (iji.ie) to donate.
Irish Jesuit Tony O’Riordan SJ reports:
“The situation here in Aleppo and Syria remains indescribably grim. Images and words cannot capture the depths of pain and misery. Words also fail to capture, how alongside this darkness, grace is also at work. I noticed with many of the JRS Aleppo team today, that with some help and now one week on, there was light back in their eyes. One father of two young children who said last week he could never go home out of fear- has gone back to his home tonight. But the journey is long. Even those with light in their eyes once more confess that they cannot sleep at night. They have nightmares. They remain fearful and they face all the struggles that pre-existed the earthquake to make ends meet. They grieve – one of our team has lost 15 members of his family!”
BOOK OF THE WEEK
In the week of the 150th anniversary of the birth of the Servant of God, Fr. Willie Doyle SJ, we recommend “To Raise the Fallen” A selection of his war letters, prayers and spiritual writings compiled and edited by Patrick Kenny. Available in the Parish Shop.
THE LETTER: A MESSAGE FOR OUR EARTH
This special screening of Pope Francis’ film about environment will be followed by a panel discussion with Dr. Kevin Hargaden and Dr. Ciara Murphy of the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice about their new book “The Parish as Oasis- An Introduction to Practical Environmental Care. Wednesday, 22nd March at 6 pm. Jesuit Centre, 54-72 Gardiner Street, Dublin. Contact sfx@jesuit.ie for details. All welcome!
2023 ECOLOGY LENTEN CALENDAR
During this season of let, the Jesuit Irish Province invites us to reflect and act on what may be the ultimate challenge of humankind. It will be a response to Pope Francis’ call in his encyclical Laudato Sí, on the care for our common home. The calendar is a resource for tracking our ecological actions throughout the season of lent. Included in the calendar are some suggestions, such as:
Meat free or meat and fish free days
Swapping the car for active or public transport
Avoid plastic drinks bottles
Plant native trees, flowers or seed for food
Reducing food waste
Take a copy of the calendar at the back of the church.
POPE FRANCIS PRAYER INTENTION FOR MARCH
For victims of abuse
We pray for those who have suffered harm from members of the Church; may they find within the Church herself a concrete response to their pain and suffering.
20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CHILD SAFEGUARDING AND PROTECTION SERVICE.
CSPS reaches a significant milestone in 2023. The service will be 20 years old. Cardinal Desmond Connell established the Child Protection Service in 2003. He did so in response to a recommendation of the diocesan Advisory Panel on Child Protection
In the early days of the service, it was focused on dealing with allegations; however, the remit of the service has expanded, most significantly into the area of the creation and maintenance of safe environments for children and vulnerable persons.
Should you want to learn more about the CSPS, please read their February 2023 Newsletter at https://csps.dublindiocese.ie/safeguarding-newsletter-february-2023/
Some copies will be available today at the back of the Church.
OUR RECENTLY DECEASED
We remember in prayer those who have died recently:
Kevin Hanney (Portland Place)
May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen.
LAST WEEK COLLECTION
Church: € 978 Share: 171
IDonate & card readers: € 206
Thanks!
The blue bag is for the Church Collection (St Francis Xavier’s), The red bag is for Share.
ST PATRICK’S TESTIMONY
A new modern version of St Patrick’s wonderful Confession has been launched. The word Confession has been changed to Testimony, which more accurately reflects what St Patrick meant in writing it. 100 of these pamphlets can be bought for €60 plus postage. Email info@evancat.org to order. It can also be downloaded from http://www.evancat.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/st-patricks-testimony-pdf-1.pdf.
