Brother Damian from the Moyross Community, Limerick spoke on Tuesday night at the Prayer Meeting. He said we are in “a season of pruning” at present. Suffering is part of the conversation journey. He asked all to pray that we may all be conformed to the will and love of Jesus.

On the charisms, he quoted the Catholic Catechism Canons No. 799,780, which state “charisms are to be accepted with gratitude by the person and by the members of the Church”. He spoke about the “wildness” of God, the “wildness of the Spirit”. Some are led to do extraordinary things through the call of God and the wildness of the Spirit. The charisms contribute to the vitality of the Church and to holiness. They lead us from maintenance to mission. [Read more…]

Further advice of the Irish Bishops in response to the Covid-19 Coronavirus:

The following instructions take into consideration the new norms issued by the Irish Government. Bishops were asked to promulgate these instructions in their diocese as soon as possible.

The instructions complement the advice issued on Thursday last by the Irish Episcopal Conference and remain in place until 29^th March. It is likely that these restrictions will continue for some time after that, and instructions regarding the celebration of Holy Week will be issued in due course.

The motivation for these new restrictive measures is a sense of care for the common good and especially for those most vulnerable. Each Christian community should be acutely aware of the responsibility to care for those who are most at risk. For example, even where it may not be appropriate to visit the elderly, a simple telephone call to enquire about their needs could mean so much to them.

NORMS:

All non-essential pastoral gatherings and meetings such as formation gatherings, retreats and seminars are cancelled.

All Confirmations are postponed until further notice.

Every Catholic is entitled to a dignified Christian burial. Attendance at Funeral Service and Masses should be limited to close relatives and must not exceed 100 attendees within the Church building.

Similarly, Church weddings and baptisms may be celebrated on condition that the attendance in Church does not exceed 100 people.

In these difficult and uncertain times, people find strength, consolation and hope in prayer. Churches should remain open for prayer each day.

In the current emergency situation . all are dispensed from the obligation to physically attend Sunday Mass. Parishes should inform parishioners of the local possibilities to participate in Mass via radio and on line. It may be possible for some parishes to facilitate attendance at Mass while still observing the health authority’s limit of 100 people.

This is an occasion for all of us –especially in families – to pray more intensely for each other and especially for those who have succumbed to illness. We should pray also for those in the frontlines – especially doctors, nurses and medical staff and other carers, including clergy – that the Lord will protect them as they place their own wellbeing at risk in the service of all.

Charleville Parish Office will remain closed on Tuesday next for St. Patrick’s Day. It will re-open on Thursday 19th March at 9.30p.m.

The Irish Cancer Society’s Daffodil Centres (Cork University Hospital & the Bon Secours) are currently looking for volunteers to support patients and their families. Duties to include:- welcoming enquirers to the centre by talking, listening and identifying their needs. Then signposting them to appropriate sources of information and support. Training provided. For more information please contact: Deirdre Murphy 01-2310564 or dmurphy@irishcancer.ie

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The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs announced that the remaining sections of the Children First Act 2015 would commence on [Read more…]