I tell you solemnly: unless a wheat of grain falls on the ground and dies, it remains

only a single grain; but if it dies, it yields a rich harvest.”

PARISH NEWSLETTER

18th March, 2018.

Christ be with me.....Fifth Sunday of Lent.

There are Cathedrals, Churches, Convents, Colleges, Clubs, Monasteries, Schools,

Streets, Roads, Estates, Holy Wells and Football Teams that are all named after St.

Patrick. Lough Derg, is often referred to as St. Patrick’s Purgatory and we have Croagh

Patrick, named after the Saint himself!! Just as Mount Brandon in Kerry is called after

St. Brendan and Skellig Mhichíl is called after St. Michael. We also have from

St. Patrick two works: his Confessions, a spiritual autobiography, and a very angry

Letter to the soldiers of the pirate Coroticus who had kidnapped and murdered some of

Patrick’s Christians. In his Confessions we have a key to Patrick’s spirituality, what he

calls the “desire of his life” which he wants others to know.

He has fallen in love with God, he wanted nothing but what God wanted. God’s will

was expressed for him in the very concrete terms of a mission in exile – so nothing else

mattered. People today are searching for spirituality. Some find a value and a meaning

for their lives which continues to sustain them. Others try on spiritualities like new

clothes and abandon them when they become tired of them. St. Patrick shows us a

spirituality that is practical, yet profound and prayerful. He is loved, blessed and called

by God and he responds. Croagh Patrick, his holy mountain has many lessons for us.

We can see its majestic summit from a distance. But as we begin to climb, the summit

vanishes and all we can see is the intervening slope. The summit is often clouded by

mist and covered by fog. It is a difficult climb and demands determination to get to the

top. St. Patrick can lead us to ascend life’s mountain where, like Moses, we meet the

living God. St. Patrick died at Saul on Strangford Lough about 461. At Saul there is a

grave reputed to be that of St. Patrick and also of St. Brigid and St. Columba ( also

known as St. Columcille). The three saints are said to have been brought there by John

De Courcy in the twelfth century, thereby fulfilling the old legend that they should be in

the same place united together in death.

John Cullen

Mass Intentions for the coming Week.

8:00 am 10:00 am

Monday: Jim Connaughton & Seamus Duignan

deceased family

Tuesday: Martin & Elizabeth Beirne Deceased members of the Gillen

& Cope families

Wednesday: Mike Ward & deceased members Henry, Masie & Joe McDermott

of the Ward family

Thursday: Special Intention Hannah & Francie Hannon

Friday: Deceased of Dolan & Michael Mulry

Armstrong families

10:00 am 7:00 pm

Saturday: Mick Hoare & Kevin Hoare Dolores McManus

(Month’s Mind)

Sunday: 10:30 am Margaret (Peggy Fagan) (Month’s Mind)

12:15 pm Bernie Ward (1st Anniversary)

RECENT DEATHS: Please pray for the happy repose of the souls of -

Edwin (Ted) Farmer, Riverside Ave, Circular Road.

Tommy Doran, Golf Links Road.

We offer sincere sympathy and the assurance of our prayers to their bereaved families.

ROSARY: During the month of March fifteen decades of the Rosary will be recited on

Wednesday mornings at 8.50 am for the Pope's Intention. Pope's Intention - Evangelisation:

Formation in Spiritual Discernment. That the Church may appreciate the urgency of formation in

spiritual discernment, both on the personal and communitarian levels.

ICON: THE HOLY FAMILY NAME OF FAMILY - Bill & Susan Staunton

WEEK: 17th March - 24th March.

Recent Baptisms: We welcome into the Christian family:- Richard William Harry Johnson & Rhys Wilmott.

ANNUAL PASSION PLAY - on Tuesday 27th March at 9 pm in Ballintubber Abbey. Admission Free. Open air event. EASTER ENVELOPES - are now ready for distribution and are available in the Sacristy

before/after all Masses this weekend or from the Parish Office during the

week. Please collect by Friday at the latest. Many thanks to all who help in the

distribution of envelopes.

Ark of Divine Mercy, Athlone. Annual Pilgrimage to Medjugorje will depart from Dublin

Airport on Thursday 24th of May 2018 for 7 Nights with J.W.T. Spiritual Director Fr Jim Candon. Cost €719.Full details from Kathleen O’Connor or Paul Woods on 087 7828283.

ALLIANCE OF THE TWO HEARTS FAMILY LENTEN RETREAT: - Two Hearts Retreat on 24th & 25th March, in the Firgrove Hotel, Mitchelstown, Co. Cork. Spiritual Director Fr. Edgardo Arellano (Fr. Bing). Come for a peace the world cannot give. Experience a wonderful weekend of spiritual healing. For further information contact Marian on 086 806 8259. Very reasonable accommodation - See poster in Church Porch with more phone numbers and details.

LENTEN TRÓCAIRE ENVELOPES: For use during Lent are available in the Porch of the Church. Please take one and use it as a family during Lent. More info., see trocaire.org

APPEAL FOR FRESH DAFFODILS FOR DAFFODIL DAY 2018: Friday 23rd March is Daffodil Day. As fresh Daffodils contribute greatly to the success of Daffodil Day in Roscommon Town, the volunteers/local organisers of Daffodil Day in Roscommon Town are appealing to the public to donate fresh daffodils again this year. Volunteers will be available to receive daffodils on Thursday the 22nd March, at the Daffodil Day Depot in Harrison Centre, Roscommon, the Shop Unit beside Spirit Clothing Shop, from 10.30 am to 6.30pm. We appeal again for volunteers to join with us on Daffodil Day for street selling. Phone : CallSave 1850 60 60 60.

POPE FRANCIS …. FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS ELECTION. Two of the best known images of Pope Francis are "the Church as a field hospital" and "spiritual

Alzheimers", a condition that renders some people incapable of remembering God's love and mercy

for them and unable then to show mercy to others. In his World Day Peace Message for 2018, Pope

Francis calls for compassion toward the 250 million refugees and migrants in the world. He serves the

Church with a Gospel Mercy that reflects the love of God for all people. It is regrettable that he is

harshly criticised by some people, even within the Church, whose much vaunted criticism and rigid

resistance to pastoral reforms is corrosive and negative. Pope Francis is the only voice that was raised

in concern for the persecuted Rohingya people who have been driven from their homeland and are

victims of genocide in Myanmar. Pope Francis embodies Christian love, mercy, forgiveness and an

abundance of sheer goodness. We thank God for his unique service and witness in our Church. May

we all remember to celebrate God's love and mercy in our lives and share it with one another in the

murky messiness that is the reality of our lives today. (John Cullen)

Roscommon branch of the Guild of Catholic Nurses are hosting a public meeting

"A perspective from the frontline - abortion is not healthcare" on Tuesday, 27th March at

8.00 pm in Hannon`s hotel, Roscommon. Speakers:- Dr Judy Ceannt, GP, Carrick-on-Shannon, Mary

Fitzgibbons, Lecturer of Nursing & Healthcare Studies, Tralee IT, Bernadette Goulding, Rachel`s

Vineyard - an outreach organisation for women hurt by abortion. All welcome.

Roscommon Tidy Towns Association Invite you to come to their recycling workshop and get

your bin sorted. This free event is taking place on Saturday, 24th March at 11am in conjunction

with the Recycling Ambassador Programme. VOICE. This event is hosted by Roscommon

County Council in the branch Library. The rescheduled Tidy Towns walk will take place

directly after the talk. Everyone is welcome to attend.

GOOD FRIDAY NATIONAL HOLY FACE PUBLIC PRAYER VIGIL Will be held in

Roscommon on Good Friday 30th March at 12 noon in Supervalu/Tesco Car Park.

All welcome to pray for our Country.

ALTAR SOCIETY: Group i is scheduled for the coming week. A Clean-up for Easter: All members are requested to meet in the Church on Wednesday 21st March at 2.30 pm. DONATIONS of daffodils for Easter can be left at St. Joseph’s Altar on Wednesday 28th March. Thank you.

TRACTOR RUN - in aid of Roscommon Cancer Support Centre will take place from

Roscommon Mart on Bank Holiday Monday March 19th. Registration from 12.30 and run at

2 pm. €20 per tractor. Refreshments and a raffle after in the Mart canteen. Please support.

GARDEN CLUB —NEXT MEETING MONDAY 26TH MARCH 8 PM IN ABBEY HOTEL. EASTER FLORAL

PRESENTATION GIVEN BY YVONNE MILAND.

Thank you – Greenfields Childcare & Montessori, Lisnamult wish to thank all who contributed to

their recent Church Gate Collection. Thanks also to all volunteers who helped out with the collection.

A total of €1,070 was raised.

RHS Home Care is now recruiting new Healthcare Assistants in your area and would love to hear

from you. Potential applicants must have the required Fetac/QQI level 5 (two modules completed care

skills and care of the older person). Email CV to jobs@rhshomecare.ie or call Aoife on 090 66 25988.

Big Brother Big Sister Programme (Foróige) Volunteers needed for Youth Programme Foróige is currently seeking adult volunteers both male and female, to participate in the community Big Brother Big Sister youth mentoring programme which is operated by Foroige (National Youth Organisation). Volunteers are asked to give just 1 hour per week, at a time that suits them, which aims to build confidence, develop life skills and provide additional support to a young person aged 10 – 18 years. Volunteers are required to participate in a screening process and receive training prior to matching. Further Information, please contact Caroline Cronin, Project Officer on Tel: 086 853 1641 E-mail: Web: www.foroige.ie/bbbs

Ronan McCormack Charity Challenge has been rescheduled to Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th of March. All details in relation to the event remain the same, just the date change. (due to the weather). IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE.....Online registration has re-opened at Active.com/Ronan McCormack IF YOU ARE A COMPANY/BUSINESS/SERVICE PROVIDER....Contact me to see how this event can help showcase you, your product and your service. Proceeds from this year's event will go to Pieta House, Roscommon Special Olympics and Children's Special Needs Services Galway. If you have already registered or supported us in any way.

N61 Ballymurray to Knockcroghery Road Project. CONSTRAINTS PUBLIC

CONSULTATION Roscommon County Council, in conjunction with Transport Infrastructure Ireland

(TII) is promoting a project to improve the N61 National Secondary Route between Ballymurray and

Knockcroghery. Roscommon National Roads Regional Office has identified an initial Constraints

Study Area for the Project and this is now being presented for public consultation. This Consultation

will take place on Tuesday 20th March 2018 in Knockcroghery Community Centre (Old School)

between the hours of 12noon and 7:30 p.m. Members of the public are invited to attend this public

consultation to express their views and impart their local knowledge. Members of Roscommon

National Roads Regional Office will be in attendance.

Book Launch - Dysart Rural Men's group book launch has been rescheduled for Monday 26th March

at 7.45pm in Dysart Community Centre. Refreshments served afterwards. All welcome.

Last Sunday’s Offertory Collection: €3,249.00

Family Circle: Receipts: €260.00: Prizes: €200

Thank You