Posted
in Announcements
We welcome the latest update from Government that “religious services can proceed without capacity limits but with all other protective measures remaining in place.”
The update from Government also provides the following commentary:
“This is a very positive measure, however it is imperative that all other Covid-19 protective measures remain in place in order to protect all members of our communities/congregations.
Premises should be well ventilated, hand sanitiser should be provided, Places of Worship should continue to use separate entry and exit routes, and face masks should be worn. Congregations should be encouraged to spread out as much as possible when attending Places of Worship and those experiencing any Covid-19 symptoms should be discouraged from attending.”
We will continue to follow the safe practices detailed here:
Church Notice - Holy Trinity
As before, anyone who can attend Mass during the week is requested to make one of those days their ‘Sunday’ and so free up space at the weekend for those working Monday to Friday.
Click here for details of Mass Times.
With immediate effect, funerals will return to the normal weekday Mass time of 10am.
Posted
in Ceremonies
Parents of children due to receive the Sacrament of First Communion or Confirmation here in Holy Trinity Church in 2022 are invited to read this letter from Fr. Gerry:
Letter to Parents
(Please note Confirmation Enrolment Mass date in letter is incorrect. It has changed from 7th to 28th November)
Read the rest of this post »
Posted 27th November 2021 in Pastor's Desk
With the arrival of the First Sunday of Advent we begin our journey through this special season of preparation before Christmas and mark the first Sunday of the church’s liturgical New Year. At mass today, we light the first purple candle on our Advent wreath to symbolise that our journey has begun in earnest.
For many weeks already, the commercial world has been bombarding us with advertisements on television, radio and in print media trying to convince us that we need to buy their products in order to be prepared for their idea of the true celebration of Christmas.
But rather than get caught up on the commercial worlds notion of what’s needed for us to have a ‘Happy Christmas’ we need to focus on what Advent actually means to us as Christians and then use these days to take stock and reflect on our lives and maybe the direction we are going. Perhaps to ask the question ‘what do I really need to have a happy Christmas’? Is it the number of gifts I will give or receive or is it more importantly about family coming together to celebrate the Holy feast of the Nativity of The Lord?
Advent challenges us to waken up and shake off the routineness of our usual daily living and let Christ come alive in our lives once more.
Fr. Gerry
Posted 20th November 2021 in Pastor's Desk
Today we celebrate the solemnity of Christ the King. It was introduced by Pope Pius XI in 1925 because he felt that a rise in secularism at that time was a denial of Christ’s authority in the world.
When you think of a King the first image or thought that may come to mind is one of someone in fine clothes who lives in a beautiful building and whose every need is taken care of by their servants perhaps. They have no financial worries and only have to request something and it will be granted in no time.
But in contrast to modern day kings Jesus was one who came to serve and not be served. Pilate tries to catch him out in today’s gospel, perhaps because he had recognised something in Jesus himself and sensed his ‘kingship’. For someone like Pilate, a person’s kingship or power was judged by the might of his army, their success in battle and how feared they were by their subjects. Maybe he felt threatened by Jesus with his example of self-giving love and respect for his fellow human beings.
As the modern day followers or disciples of Jesus that example of self-giving love is what we must all aspire to each day.
Today, each of us is invited to make him King of our hearts and our lives.
Fr. Gerry
Posted 15th November 2021 in Pastor's Desk
How often have you witnessed or read about a significant event in the world and said to yourself that ‘it is a sign of the times we live in’? For example we might say that in reference to something that has happened to bring about a change in society that we may not necessarily agree with.
But there are always two ways of looking at most life events. Today’s gospel is an example of that. For some of us the text may sound like a warning of some threatening doom and for another it may appear to give hope and promise for the future.
Sometimes it’s very difficult to read the signs of the times and be able to discern what the Lord is saying to us in a given situation. That’s often because we can have a very narrow view of the world due to our limited understanding of Gods plan for humanity and society in general. This is where Faith helps us. Because faith helps to discern what God may be saying to us in challenging times where the signs may not be so clear and uncertainty can cloud our discernment.
Lord give us the gift of greater clarity so that we can understand better the signs of our times and the grace to stay awake and keep watch.
Fr. Gerry.
Posted 6th November 2021 in Pastor's Desk
Today Jesus talks about the scribes who wore their long robes and took up the front seats in the synagogue and how they expected to be greeted ‘obsequiously’ in the market square. In other words, they wanted to be seen and treated differently that their fellow women and men. They expected to be given places of honour while at the same time they took financial advantage of those who were less well-off. They engaged perhaps in the daily prayer rituals so that others would regard them to be good Men and worthy of God’s favour.
The widow on the other hand is willing to share the little she has with those in her community. Jesus is quick to point this out and commends the Woman for her generosity and humility while he criticises the Scribes for their hypocrisy.
We can all be like the scribes from time to time. Ok, we may not take financial advantage of those less fortunate than us, but we need to be aware of the ability of the human heart to want to be affirmed and recognised for all the good we may do for all the wrong reasons.
In God’s eyes we are all equal. When the Lord calls each one of us to our eternal home it won’t matter if we are a widow, beggar, priest. We will be judged on whether we loved God and our neighbour as we loved ourselves.
Fr. Gerry
Posted 29th October 2021 in Ceremonies
On Monday 1st November we will celebrate the Feast of All Saints, a Holy Day of Obligation when we honour all Christian saints, known and unknown. The Feast is celebrated by all Christian churches. Mass will be at 10.00am on Monday morning.
Tuesday 2nd November is the Feast of All Souls, with morning Mass at 10.00am as usual. At 7.30pm we will celebrate our Annual Remembrance Mass for all parishioners who died and were buried from the parish this year.
Posted 29th October 2021 in Pastor's Desk
When one of the scribes comes up to Jesus and puts the question to him ‘Which is the first of all the commandments?’ Jesus does not delay and spells out clearly the guidelines for good Christian living. He says that God’s commandments can be reduced to two: love of God and love of our neighbour. We are to love God with all we’ve got and, as if that is not enough, we are to love our neighbour as ourselves.
So, Jesus is essentially telling us that the core message of the gospel is love of God and of all others. Our love of God is so interwoven with love of our neighbour that it’s often difficult to strike the right balance. Living out this commandment to love is not easy and is very challenging at the best of times. If we were to take our home life as an example we can get into the habit of taking others for granted and fail to respect them as individuals. Sometimes we can choose to ignore each other and fail to recognise those who desperately need our love. When we are strengthened by the Spirit we are able to live in love and transform ourselves and the lives of others.
As we draw Mission Month to a conclusion today may this Mission of Love be in our hearts today and always.
Fr. Gerry
Posted 22nd October 2021 in Pastor's Desk
Today over one billion Catholics throughout the world will celebrate World Mission Sunday. Every year since it was first instituted in 1926 by Pope Pius XI the church has used the month of October to reflect and pray for the work of the missions. Today we are asked to support our Holy Father, Pope Francis’, appeal to support overseas mission and missionaries. This collection takes place in every single parish worldwide where the church is present.
The theme this year is ‘We cannot remain silent – We cannot but speak about what we have seen and heard’ (Acts 4:20). This message is twofold. Firstly, it is a message of hope: a recognition that Jesus Christ is risen, and we cannot keep his love, compassion, and mercy to ourselves. It also challenges us to stand up and speak out on behalf of those who are weaker. Pope Francis reminds us ‘All too often, the voices that need to be heard are not the loudest, for them, we cannot remain silent’.
In many of the poorer parts of Africa, Asia, and Latin America, it is missionaries who are providing this prophetic voice. Nearer to home groups like Crosscare, Brother Kevin, the Peter Mc Verry Trust, Focus Ireland speak out on behalf of the homeless and marginalised in Irish Society. They all need our help to carry out this work.
In today’s Gospel we hear how Bartimaeus had his sight restored when he encountered Jesus. We pray that our eyes will always be open to the plight of those who are less fortunate that us and that we will have the courage to speak out and not remain silent.
Fr. Gerry
Posted 18th October 2021 in Pastor's Desk
As a society we can never get away from the problems posed by status and rank. It was no different in the time of Jesus.
We also have a natural desire for the people in our lives to love us, care for us, and admire us. Like most children I remember asking my parents and grandparents from time to time if the loved me or my sister best. That old struggle about who is the greatest surfaces once again among the apostles. We hear that James and John are requesting favoured treatment from Jesus. Of course, this request was greeted with indignation by the other ten apostles.
Jesus tries to calm the situation by spelling out what he regards to be the new standard for greatness and status. While He makes it abundantly clear that success in his kingdom is not measured by worldly standards. There is no place in his community for anyone who is power hungry and motivated primarily by self-interest. He declares that ‘the Son of Man himself did not come to be served but to serve’.
We serve God best by helping and serving one another. Christ lived what he preached. His whole life from working as a carpenter in Nazareth, to dying on the cross at Calvary set an example for such service
Perhaps today we should all ask ourselves what is the stronger desire in my life? The need for recognition or power or the need to serve others? The choice is ours.
Fr. Gerry
