Newsletter 18th April 2021

What in this weeks newsletter?

  • Reflections for 3rd Sunday of Easter
  • Diaconate Ordination of John McEneaney
  • Prayer for Vocations
  • Recent deaths and anniversaries in our parish
  • Mass Booking Update
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Holy Cross Church Mass Times

Because of the re-imposition of the government restrictions, there will be no public masses in any of our churches until further notice.
The only exceptions are funerals and weddings, where there is only limited congregation allowed.

Masses will be streamed from Holy Cross church each week day at 10.00am, Sundays and Holy days at 10.30am.

Visit the parish website www.tramoreparish.ie Click on “Live Stream” on the homepage when the services are on.

For anyone who does not have access to online services:

Tramore Parish Radio Services are broadcast From Holy Cross Church, Tramore at 10.am from Monday to Sat and 10.30am on Sunday on your radio 105.4FM

The Church will be open for private prayer on Mon to Sat: 11.00am-4pm (except Thurs 11.00am -5pm)
Sunday: 11.30am-4pm. EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT on Thurs from 11am until 5pm. Sunday opening 11.30am-4pm.

PRIEST ON DUTY
086-6004384

Diaconate Ordination of John McEneaney

Next Sunday (April 25th) is Good Shepherd Sunday, and we are eagerly looking forward to the ordination of our own John McEneaney as deacon on that day. Bishop Cullinan will celebrate the ordination Mass at the usual Sunday time of 10.30am. It will be available via live streaming and parish radio (105.4fm). Being ordained a transitional deacon is the last stage before ordination to priesthood, and is a significant ministry in its own right. The deacon is configured to Christ the Servant, who came not to be served but to serve. He exercises his ministry in three key ways: (1) Service at the Liturgy, i.e. assisting the Bishop/Priest at the altar during Mass, officiating at Baptisms, wedding and funeral celebrations without Mass, (2) Proclamation of the Word of God, through preaching, and (3) service through charity, by visiting the sick and housebound and bringing them Holy Communion.
As we prepare for this great day, when John will begin his ministry of service as deacon, we are delighted to share with you an excerpt of John’s personal vocation story, which he has kindly agreed to share with us. It will help give an insight into how God is still calling men to be his shepherds on earth in the world of today. The second part of John’s story will follow next week.

My Vocation Story (John McEneaney)
Reflecting on my vocational journey, I recognise the gentleness of God, never forcing His way on us, pushing us or demanding us to do anything that we are not ready for. God is always there for us, watching over and caring for us, waiting for us to be united with Him. I recognise that it is only by following Him, that I can find my true purpose in life, that plan that God has placed deep within our hearts. I think the saying ‘God writes straight on crooked lines’ applies to me and my journey, as despite me turning away from Him at different times, He never ceased in calling me back.
As children we prayed the rosary and attended Mass together. My parents weren’t overly strict, but without it being said, we knew never to miss Sunday Mass. My Grandmother was a strong witness of faith for me, and some of my earliest memories are sitting at her feet reading the children’s bible. I enjoyed serving as an altar boy in my local parish of Tramore and had from this early age some slight sense of a possible calling to serving at the altar as priest. These were happy days.
From my mid-teens, my focus was on making friends rather than developing a relationship with God. I tried to fit in where maybe I didn’t belong, to be someone I wasn’t and to be accepted by others. Drinking, and whatever my friends were doing became part of my life. This continued for a number of years. At this time I had no sense of direction in my life. Sunday mornings were often a time of recovery from the night-before, rather than attending Mass. I was unhappy and somewhat depressed living this life, from one weekend to the next, trying to keep in with others and seeking happiness and meaning where it was not to be found.
There was no particular moment that helped me find some light and direction in my life again. Gradually I became involved with a number of different clubs and sports, and weekends were now spent racing triathlons or climbing mountains. With all these activities some discipline returned to my life, but it wasn’t until the death of my grandmother that my commitment to regular Sunday Mass was restored. ‘Love Jesus with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength’ were her last words to me, as she repeated them over and over again in her hospital bed.
In my late twenties I returned to attending daily early morning Mass for lent, something I did as a child with my family, but this time just my father and I. We supported and encouraged one another. Knowing he would be there helped me out of the bed those dark mornings. However, one lent, due to poor health, he stopped attending, and continuing on alone I questioned my own faith and why I was there. By asking these questions I began to discover the beauty, depth, and richness of our Catholic Faith. I got myself a weekday missal and began preparing the readings for each day. I developed a prayer life and came to know more of ‘Who’ was at the centre of our Catholic Faith. I began to encounter Jesus Christ in a deeper and more personal way, coming to know Him who cared for me, who knew me personally, and wanted to pour out His peace and love into my heart. This changed my life, bringing a great peace, joy and meaning. A restlessness, worry or unhappiness that I had for years was replaced by a trust, knowing that I had a God who cared and wanted what was best for me. At the end of previous Lenten periods I had a sense of a possible calling to the priesthood but had never given it a chance to grow by maintaining a good prayer life. However, this Lent I had received a taste of ‘union with God’ and now wanted ‘none other’.

(John’s story will conclude in next weekend’s newsletter.)

Prayer for Vocations


Third Sunday of Easter
For an increased awareness among our young people, of the closeness of the Lord in their vocation discernment and their responsibility to recognize and follow Him. We pray to the Lord.
“We can be sure we know God only by keeping his commandments” Jesus makes Himself known to you through the vocation He chose for you. Do you hear a call to the priesthood or consecrated life? Speak to your local priest or Diocesan Vocations Director, or email the National Vocations Office: email: info@vocations.ie

 


The Parish Office

The Parish office is closed to the public due to Government Covid 19 restrictions but you may ring the office between 9.30 am-4pm Monday Wed, Thurs. Tuesday 9.30am-1pm. & Friday 9.30am-3.30pm for any inquiries.
Contact : 051-386477

Mass Bookings Update

Due to government restrictions the Mass books for April to September were not opened as per normal six months in advance.

Mass booking for June and July has now opened

Booking will take place by phone: 051-386477
(Mass Books for Aug & Sept will not open for the moment. Date will be confirmed later).

Recent Deaths

Please remember those who died recently, John (Timothy) Gordon, Sue Ellingsen (nee Breen),Yasmin Kirby, Reenie Purcell née Murray Waterford/Tramore

 

We pray for John Harte-Lodge, Mai & Denis Leamy, John Leamy Jnr & Michael Jnr, Michael Sullivan (1st Anniversary),Dick Rockett, Mary Power, Denis James Doolin ,Kathleen Hartley, Tom Phelan (Rocklands) whose anniversaries occur about this time.

Reflection for 3rd Sunday of Easter –

‘You are Witnesses of these things’


Today’s Gospel is one of the resurrection accounts from St Luke’s Gospel. It begins with the disciples recalling their experience on the road to Emmaus and how they recognised Jesus in the breaking of the bread. The Gospel continues into another account of the Risen Jesus with his disciples. Jesus interrupts the disciple’s story and greets them with ‘Peace’ (Shalom) yet, in this account, they are terrified by this. Jesus shows them his wounds and Luke tells us that they are full of joy, but they still can’t believe it and think it is a ghost. Jesus shows them that he is no ghost as he asks for food and eats fish with them. Jesus then journeys with them back through the scriptures in order to open their minds. He speaks to them compassionately, trying to relieve their anxiety and fear.
Jesus tells the disciples that ‘you are witnesses of these things’. Luke wants to establish an important point, that these disciples are witnesses to the Resurrection, they ate with Jesus after his death and he opened their minds. The Resurrection accounts in the Gospels are not fantasy; they are the actual experiences of Jesus’ disciples. So often in Luke’s Gospel Jesus conveys his message through food and banquets, moments of celebration. The Risen Christ brings compassion and joy into difficult spaces. Today let us share with Jesus the situations in our lives which need an injection of compassion and Easter joy.
‘Every year the dull and dead in us meets our Easter challenge: to be open to the unexpected, to believe beyond our security, to welcome God in every form, and trust in our own greening.’ (Joyce Rupp)
Jane Mellett