Sunday April 1st 2007

Passion Sunday (Palm Sunday) Vol.13 No.12

Living life with a goal

Early travellers journeyed by the stars, in a sense they still do with Satellite Navigation (SatNav) technology. But mistakes are still possible. One hapless ambulance crew on a routine 8 mile journey with a patient realised several hours and 200 miles later that their SatNav had unerringly brought them to a hospital of the same name but in a different city.
With far less high tech, this Passion Sunday finds Jesus and his companions reach unerringly the goal of His journey - Jerusalem. It was the goal of his journey. Nothing would deter him from it, several times we are told 'his face was set for Jerusalem.'
Jesus knew what he was about, but do we? Are we meandering around in life or have we a goal and a purpose. One writer says it can be done, based on S.E.C.R.E.T.S. (1) Sense of purpose - write down your goals in life (2) Excellence - strive for the best (3)Contribution - give it your best (4) Responsibility- take responsibility for your actions (5) Effort - it takes work (6) Time - manage it, as it's precious (7) Stick with it.
Holy Week shows us in all the experiences of His life; triumph, leave-taking, betrayal, abandonment, helplessness and simply waiting that He has mapped the road out for us. Even seeming dead-ends like death are now just another stop on the road to glory. No SatNav needed. Intercom

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The Season of Lent closes with Holy Week. We live the hour of Jesus, that Hour at once dark and glorious for which He said He had come. We follow his every footstep, from the triumphal entry into Jerusalem acclaimed by the crowd of his followers, to the loneliness of Golgotha where He is abandoned by almost everyone, even those whom He Himself had chosen and for whom He gives his life.


Gospel Ref: Luke 19:28-40
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

Jesus went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. Now when he was near Bethphage and Bethany, close by the Mount of Olives as it is called, he sent two of the disciples, telling them, "Go off to the village opposite, and as you enter it you will find a tethered colt that no one has yet ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, "Why are you untying it?" you are to say this, "The Master needs it." The messengers went off and found everything just as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owner said, "Why are you untying that colt?" and they answered, "The Master needs it." So they took the colt to Jesus, and throwing their garments over its back they helped Jesus on to it. As he moved off, people spread their cloaks in the road, and now, as he was approaching the downward slope of the Mount of Olive, the whole group of disciples joyfully began to praise God at the top of their voices for all the miracles they had seen. They cried out: "Blessings on the King who comes, in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven And glory in the highest heavens!" Some Pharisees in the crowd said to him, "Master, check you disciples", but he answered, "I tell you, if these keep silence the stones will cry out!"
This is the Gospel of the Lord

First Reading Ref: Isaiah 50:4-7

A reading from the prophet Isaiah

The second part of Isaiah has four famous descriptions of a mysterious "Servant of the Lord". The Servant doing God's will is beaten and abused but shows great courage in God. This is a Messianic passage that reminds us of Our Lord during his Passion.
The Lord Yahweh has given me a disciples tongue. So that I may know how to reply to the wearied he provides me with speech. Each morning he wakes me to hear, to listen like a disciple. The Lord Yahweh has opened my ear. For my part, I made no resistance, neither did I turn away. I offered my back to those who struck me, my cheeks to those who tore at my beard; I did not cover my face against insult and spittle. The Lord Yahweh comes to my help, so that I am untouched by the insults. So, too, I set my face like flint; I know I shall not be shamed. This is the word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm

The Psalm is the prayer of a man under attack: a famous Psalm of the Suffering Messiah.

(R) My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

All who see me deride me.
They curl their lips, they toss their heads.
"He trusted in the Lord, let him save him;
let him release him if this is his friend." (R)

Many dogs have surrounded me,
a band of the wicked beset me.
They tear holes in my hands and my feet. I can count every one of my bones. (R)

They divide my clothing among them.
They cast lots for my robe.
O Lord, do not leave me alone,
my strength, make haste to help me! (R)
I will tell of your name to my brethren
and praise you where they are
assembled.
"You who fear the Lord give him praise;
all sons of Jacob, give him glory.
Revere him, Israel's sons. (R)

Second Reading Ref: Ph 2:6-11
A reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Philippians

The Son of God emptied Himself of divine trappings and humbled Himself to accept even an ignominious death on a cross. In amazement we exalt and honour Him.

His state was divine, yet he did not cling to his equality with God
but emptied himself to assume the condition of a slave, and became as men are; and being as all men are, he was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross. But God raised him high and gave him the name which is above all other names so that all beings in the heavens, on the earth and in the underworld, should bend the knee at the name of Jesus and that every tongue should acclaim Jesus Christ as Lord, to the glory of the Father. This is the word of the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation
R. 'Praise to You, O Christ, King of eternal glory!'
V. Christ was humbler yet,
Even to accepting death,
Death on a cross
But God raised Him high
And gave Him a name which is above all names.
R. Praise to You, O Christ, King of eternal glory!
Gospel Ref: Luke 22:14-23
The passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke

Luke's account is similar to that of Matthew and Mark. But Luke mentions personal details - the Lord's merciful forgiveness of others, the role of women at Calvary, the individual relationship between Christ and others in this story of our redemption.

Palm Sun. @ 8 p.m.
Parish Penitential Service in Cloughduv, with extra priests for Confession.

HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE

Mon. Tues. & Wed.
Cloughduv Church Morning Mass at 10am

Holy Thurs.
Canovee: at 6.30pm Mass of the Lord's Supper with Exposition for one hour afterwards.

Cloughduv: at 7.30pm Mass of the Lord's Supper followed by Exposition until 10.30 p.m. Last hour will be a Holy Hour.

Kilmurry: at 8.30pm Mass of the Lord's Supper followed by Exposition until 10.30 p.m. Last hour will be a Holy Hour.

Good Friday:
Canovee: 12 Noon, Celebration of the Lord's Passion, Veneration of the Cross & Holy Communion.

Kilmurry: 3 pm . Celebration of the Lord's Passion, Veneration of Cross & Holy Communion
8pm Stations of the Cross
Cloughduv: 12 noon, Stations of the Cross.
3pm Celebration of the Lord's Passion, Veneration of Cross & Holy Communion

Collection for Holy Places: in all 3 Churches on Good Fri.

Holy Sat.
Canovee: at 6.30pm Easter Vigil Ceremonies and Mass.

Cloughduv: at 7.30pm Easter Vigil Ceremonies and Mass. Confessions: 11am to noon.

Kilmurry: at 8.30pm Easter Vigil Ceremonies and Mass. Confessions: 11am to noon.

Collection for Support of Priests:
The only collection in church on Holy Sat. night and on Easter Sunday is for the support of the priests. For the rest of the year all collections are for parish maintenance.

Resurrection Rock
Everybody is encouraged to come along to any or all of the Churches in the Parish over the coming days to support the young people in their musical presentation of the story of Easter. The schedule is as follows:

Mon. April 2nd: Canovee @ 8.00 p.m.
Tues. April 3rd: Cloughduv @ 8.00 p.m.
Wed. April 4th: Kilmurry @ 8.00 p.m.

At the end of the pageant and, for anybody who wishes, there will be an opportunity to give a voluntary donation, at the Church door, for the Aids project in South Africa in which Mairead Kingston from Farnanes is participating this Summer. Mairead is the organist in Cloughduv Church.Best of luck to all involved in this production. We eagerly look forward to it.

Trocaire Boxes
Since Holy Thursday marks the end of Lent, we would ask you to please bring your boxes to the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Thursday evening next. It would also be very helpful to have it counted and converted into notes.

Station this week
Tim & Sheila O'Callaghan for
Curraclough on Mon. April 2nd at 11am.

Recent Death
Denis O'Callaghan, Newcestown

Anniversaries
Paddy Collins, Crookstown
Mai Fitzgerald, Lissarda
Jeremiah & Mary O'Connor, Curragh
Mary Collins, Clearagh

Kilmurry GAA Lotto: Nos. 3,14,20. €3,600 in S. Chestnut Mon 2nd Mid Cork 21 'A' Semi-Final Kilmurry v Inniscarra in Carrigadrohid this Sun 1st at 5pm.

Canovee GAA Lotto: Nos. 11, 26, 37. This week €5,850 in Sportsman's.

Canovee Choir practice Tues 7 - 8pm

Bord na Nog Cill Mhuire Second annual Easter coaching course on 11th & 12th Apr in Kilmurry GAA pitch. Open to all boys aged 8-16yrs. Qualified coaches will attend. Free club jacket & football for all who attend. For your place in the group contact Ed Warren 087 2648446, John Hinchion 086 8549393, Derry Casey 086 2661955.

Canovee ICA meeting in Canovee Hall on Wed April 4th at 8pm

Prayer Thought
'The King Who Comes in the Name of the Lord'
Today marks the last lap of our journey with Christ through suffering to glory. We hail Him as our King, who through death and resurrection will establish his Kingdom as the hope of our salvation.