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May 2008 Newsletter
It’s not that long since we had ‘vocational schools’, where young people were trained for different ‘vocations’. Not that long either since people like parents, nurses, teachers, civil servants and others would have been comfortable with thinking of their work as a ‘vocation’. But not any more. Today it’s a job or a profession, but not a vocation. Vocation is associated with priests and religious only. Added to that, we imagine vocation as a mysterious ‘call’, a strange occurrence that happens infrequently. It’s almost something that any normal person would steer clear of. Compare, then, these words of John Paul II; ‘From eternity God has thought of us and has loved us as unique individuals. Every one of us he called by name. The Lord calls at every hour of life.’ Could it be that there is more waiting to be discovered about ‘vocation’? Could it be that it is about me? Could it be both quite ordinary and very special in my life? The Irish Church has proclaimed the coming twelve months a ‘Year of Vocation’. Note the singular – not ‘vocations’ but ‘vocation’. The aim of the year is ‘that as wide an audience as possible will be challenged to discern and explore their own specific vocation in life’. Are you ready to explore? Over the coming months the newsletter will carry a series of reflections delving into the meaning of the vocation in our ordinary everyday lives. We will think about questions like the following:-
What does it
mean that ‘vocation’ is about me? Let’s begin with another question; can you think of another word for ‘vocation’? Can you think of another word that would help you feel more at home with it as a familiar and precious part of your own life? (You might even email or send your word to the Editor, so we can share and compare!) Some of us try to come to Mass every day, others come once a week on Saturday or Sunday, others come less frequently. But many of us have got so used to the Mass that we may not always fully remember what it is. After all it is the central act of worship of the Catholic Church, and therefore more important than any other act of worship or devotion we might practise. This brief note will try to remind us why this is so and what difference it should make when we come to Mass. First, the Mass is a TRUE SACRIFICE. As the Council of Trent defined it, “The same Christ who offered himself once in a bloody manner on the altar of the cross, is present and offered in an unbloody manner”. The Mass cannot therefore be understood apart from the offering Jesus made on Calvary. It has the same value since once again Jesus offers himself - as really as he did on the cross. This means that its value is infinite since, on the cross, Jesus won for the world all the graces it needs for salvation and sanctification. And just as the Father could not refuse the offering his son made on Calvary, so He cannot refuse the offering he makes during Mass. It is this that makes the Mass more valuable than any other type of prayer. It is worth always being aware of this when we come to Mass and join our offerings with that of Christ. Our offering includes everything we have and are: our lives, our work, our families, our problems, our pains. These we should offer during the Offertory when the priest presents the bread and wine. Then, at the Consecration, they are changed into the Body and Blood of Christ and offered to the Father who cannot refuse them. The Mass is also what might be described as a sacred banquet or paschal meal. It commemorates the Last Supper at which Jesus gave himself to his Apostles. The Father returns the offering we made to him by offering to us the Body and Blood of his Son in the Eucharist. We should therefore always seek to receive Holy Communion when we come to Mass, for this is to take part fully in the sacrament of the Eucharist, and not just in our prayers. We always ask God to forgive our sins at the beginning of the Mass, when we make an act of contrition together but of course if there is a problem of very serious sin, we should try to confess it. . The word “Mass” comes from the Latin “mittere” which means to send, and this is what the priest does at the end. He sends the people away with words such as “The Mass is ended. Go in peace to love and serve the Lord”. The measure of its value also depends on the extent to which I put it into practice in my daily life on leaving the church. This is what “living the Mass” means.
NEWSNOTES
Dundrum is growing fast. Every day we see new buildings going up, shops, offices and homes. Go away on your holidays and when you arrive back, your next door neighbour’s garden has suddenly grown a new house! This also means there has been an increase of new people into our parish. The Fáilte group is a new team set up to welcome these newcomers to our parish of Holy Cross. Our goal is to reach out in fellowship so that people will feel welcome. We are not looking for anything, merely making contact. Over the summer months we will be carrying out home visitations to both new and established parishioners, taking advantage of our long hot evenings! Keep an eye out for us. If you would like to learn more or to be part of the Fáilte Group, you can leave your name into the Sacristy / Parish Office. You will be very welcome!
The Christian Community welcomes with great joy
DEATHS Suaimhneas sioraí dá n-anamnacha and sincere sympathy to all the bereaved
We congratulate the following couples who were married recently
There used to be a lovely tradition of children making and decorating a May Altar for our home to mark this special month of Our Lady. It seems to be dying out as we become more ‘sophisticated’ or could it be, cynical! How about reviving it, ideally with the help of the children, in your home – now, this month? It can be as simple or as elaborate as you wish. First, find a statue or a picture of Our Lady. You do have one or other, don’t you? They used to be displayed in the kitchen, living room or bedroom. Nowadays we are shy about making faith statements, and more often, if we have one at all, it is kept in a drawer - pity. Any way, find one – Granny probably has one to spare. Then get a small table or clear a space on a shelf or sideboard. Stand the statue or picture on a white or light blue cloth – a carefully ironed clean hanky will do nicely! There are lots of spring flowers round now which the kids can use to make a little posy in a small vase or pickle / jam jar. It can be to one side with a Votive candle or one of Mummy’s aromatic candles on the other. No need to keep them lighting, just when a Hail Mary or other short prayer is said at a suitable time each day. Someone needs to be given the job of keeping the flowers and water fresh! Tell us how you got on! By the way, don’t put the statue back in the drawer – please!
The next newsletter will be issued on 31st May / 1st June. The deadline for submission of material for the June newsletter is 11th May. You may email the Parish Office at: parishofficedundrum@eircom.net Parish Office is open weekdays 9.30a.m. to 12.30p.m. Phone 2983494
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