Parish Newsletter- 27th March 2022

Adoration of the Blessed Eucharist
Jesus says ‘Come to me all you who labour and are burdened and I will give you rest.’
Monday & Friday – 5.00-6.00pm
Tuesday & Wednesday – after 7.30pm Mass to 9.00pm.
All are welcome!

Repentance – Another Chance!
God’s Love is a Free Gift! In today’s gospel, like many a parable, the story makes its point in a way that seems to be unfair: the spendthrift son is rewarded, and the elder son is left hurt and angry. People often empathise with him. Neither son understood the nature of love. The younger son did not recognise what a treasure he had at home and walked out on it. Then he ‘came to himself’ and returned home. Where and when have you experienced a homecoming by becoming aware of love you had previously not recognised? What helped you to come to yourself and make that journey home? The older son resented the party given to the younger son after his wandering and dissolute life – forgetting that all the father had was his. He is a symbol of us when we set ourselves up to decide when and how others should show their love, affection, and gratitude. Such expectations fail to respect the freedom of others and make us vulnerable to the pain of unmet expectations. These can be fertile ground for hurt and resentment. Love is a free gift, not something we earn by our goodness.

We continue to keep the people of Ukraine in our prayers and we pray for all who have died in this needless war.
Loving God, we pray for all those suffering or afraid, that you will be close to them and protect them. We pray for world leaders for compassion, strength, and wisdom to guide their choices. We pray for the world; that in this moment of crisis, we may reach out in solidarity to our brothers and sisters in need. May we walk in your ways so that peace and justice become a reality for the people of Ukraine and for all the world.
Our Lady, Queen of Peace, pray for us! Our Lady of Kyiv, pray for us!

Towards the Universal Synod of 2023.
During the past weeks of Lent, the Diocese of Meath has engaged in a synodal process in response to the invitation of Pope Francis to discern what it is that God is asking of the Church at this time. A ceremony of thanksgiving will be held in Kilbeggan Church, this Tuesday March 29th @ 8.00pm. Parishioners are encouraged to attend this ceremony to give thanks for this time of listening and discernment and to ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the task of discerning God's will in the responses that will be received. Please return your completed questionnaire before Easter to any of the following places: by hand or post to Clara Parish Office, by post to: Diocesan Offices, Dublin Road, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath (mark envelope “Synod Questionnaire”); by email to  The questionnaire can also be downloaded from the Synod page on www.dioceseofmeath.ie
Please pray the following prayer for the success of this process: 
The Universal Synod Prayer
We stand before You, Holy Spirit, as we gather together in Your name. With You alone to guide us, make Yourself at home in our hearts; Teach us the way we must go and how we are to pursue it. We are weak and sinful; Do not let us promote disorder. Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path nor partiality influence our actions. Let us find in You our unity so that we may journey together to eternal life and not stray from the way of truth and what is right. All this we ask of You, who are at work in every place and time, in the communion of the Father and the Son, forever and ever. Amen

There is a YouTube video available that explains the Synod and its purpose. To view it, follow this link: www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=I5lAktuejwo

“Our Lenten pilgrimage this year will have the added element of the Synodal Pathway. I echo the invitation of Pope Francis to each member of the Christian community in the Diocese of Meath to join in this moment of listening as we prayerfully discern together what the Spirit of God is saying to the Church in this diocese at this time. It is important that we have this discussion about the local church or what we call parish. This discernment must be relevant to our local parishes and influence our local parishes. This discernment must be practical, not theoretical, and must influence what we do in the years ahead. It will be a discernment guided by the Holy Spirit and rooted in faith. May the ashes that will mark our foreheads on Ash Wednesday mark us out as the People of God on a journey, pilgrims seeking to discern God’s will. And may Mary, Mother of the Church and St. Finian, our teacher of the faith, guide our steps in the way of faith, hope, and love.”
Extract from Bishop Deenihan’s Letter for Lent. You can read the full letter here on our website by following this link: Lenten Letter re:Synod

Collections for 19^th/20^th March:
Development Fund: €1,445; Plate: €330; Ukraine Appeal: €540; Oblate Mission: €885.
Thank You!