Dear Friends,
Today is the17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Front Office is open Monday to Friday from 9.30am – 1.00pm and 1.30pm – 4.30pm.
Saturday from 10.00am – 2.00pm; Sunday 9.30am – 12.30pm.
Thursday, 31stJuly is an important day for the Jesuit community. It is the Feast of St. Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuits. There will be a concelebrated Mass at11.00am. I have asked Margaret (our cantor) and Seamus (our organist) to be with us to help us celebrate the feast more prayerfully.
Saint of the Week – Saint Ignatius Loyola (1491-1556)
Born in Loyola in the Basque region of Spain, Ignatius was the youngest son of a Basque nobleman. As a young man he was a soldier, wounded at the Battle of Pamplona. During his long convalescence he read the Life of Christ and the Lives of the Saints. He was determined to give his life to Christ. He lived for nine months in seclusion in Manresa. He spent some time in Jerusalem but eventually went to Paris to study. In Paris, he became the inspiration for a group of seven students (among them Saint Francis Xavier and Saint Pierre Favre). In 1537,this group now numbered ten. After ordination in Venice, they offered their services to Pope Paul III in any capacity. They became a religious order in1540 with the usual three vows and an extra vow of being at the pope’s disposal for mission. For the remaining fifteen years of his life Ignatius directed the new Order from Rome. He saw the small group grow from ten to over 1,000 members spreading throughout Europe and into the East. In 1547, the Jesuits began their work in schools and universities.
Ignatius was a man of compelling personality with a notable gift for friendship. He was a man of deep prayer. He left one famous book, the Spiritual Exercises which was published in 1548. The influence of this work in the past five hundred years has been incalculable, and not confined to Roman Catholics. We still have about7,000 of Ignatius’ letters. Ignatius died in Rome on 31 July 1556 and was canonised along with St. Francis Xavier in 1622.
New Readers& Choir members.
During these summer months, you might like to think if you would like to be part of the ministry of reading at Mass or joining the choir under the excellent guidance of Margaret and Seamus. Please give it a thought. You would be very welcome. We are always looking for volunteers!
Fr. Brendan
For more on St. Ignatius and Ignatian spirituality, we suggest reading:
The Pilgrim’s Story
Brendan Comerford SJ presents an introduction to the life and spirituality of St. Ignatius Loyola. Written from a pastoral perspective, this book reflects on Ignatius’s description of himself as a pilgrim and is divided into two parts, the first half reflecting on the life of Ignatius and the second dealing specifically with his spirituality. Available in our shop.
Ignatius Loyola: Christian Mystic
Drawing on his own familiarity with the sources, Brian O’Leary SJ gives a clear and accessible account of what we now know about Ignatius as a mystic, offering a truly transforming reading experience. Available on https://www.messenger.ie/
OUR RECENTLY DECEASED
We remember in prayer those who have died recently:
Mary McDermott
May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen
WORLD DAY FOR GRANDPARENTS AND THE ELDERLY
In recent years the Sunday closest to the Feast of Ss Joachim and Anne has been designated World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly This year that Sunday falls on July 27.
This is the fifth World Day, and the theme is ‘Blessed are those who have not lost hope’ (Sir 14:2). Grandparents and the Elderly are central components of the life of every parish. Pope Leo XIV reminds us “embracing the elderly helps us to understand that life is more than just the present moment”. He calls one very parish/diocese/movement to become a “protagonist in a ‘revolution’ of gratitude and care”.
30th JULY - WORLD DAY AGAINSTTRAFFICKING IN PERSONS
Human trafficking is a crime that exploits women, children and men for numerous purposes including forced labour and sex. In order to raise awareness of the situation of victims of human trafficking and for the promotion and protection of their rights, July 30 was proclaimed by United Nations as the World Day against Trafficking in Persons.
FRONT OFFICE OPENING HOURS(CORRECTION)
From Tuesday 5th to Monday 18th August, the front office will open Monday to Friday, 11 am–1 pm.
MANRESA RETREATS
Looking to pause and reconnect with God? Manresa Jesuit Centre of Spirituality (Clontarf, Dublin) is offering the following retreats:
Oasis Day. Saturday, 16 August. Take time to pause with an Oasis Day – a gentle, one-day retreat of reflection and guided prayer, offering quiet space for prayer, rest, and renewal.
8-day Directed Retreat. Tuesday-Thursday, 29 July-7 August. A directed retreat offers time for personal prayer, silence, and reflection, with daily guidance from a spiritual director – a chance to deepen your relationship with God and discover His personal call to you.
What Star Wars Teaches Us About Our Spiritual Journeys .Friday-Sunday, 5-7 September. Join Eric A. Clayton – author of My Life with the Jedi: The Spirituality of Star Wars – for a unique weekend retreat exploring how the beloved saga can illuminate our own spiritual path. Through guided talks, reflection, and prayer, discover how storytelling, imagination, and Ignatian spirituality invite us to recognise the light within and follow the path God has for us. Eric A. Clayton is the deputy director of communication sat the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States. He manages the award-winning Now Discern This column and creates digital content on Ignatian spirituality.
Visit www.manresa.ie for more details.
YOUTH 2000 SUMMER FESTIVAL
Join young people between 16 and 35 at the Youth 2000 Summer Festival. The festival takes place in Dominican College, Newbridge, Co Kildare, from Thursday, August7, to Sunday, August 10. The festival includes inspiring talks, music, prayer, concert, workshops, dramas, share groups, reconciliation and healing service and Mass. The event is donation only and we have free buses going from all over Ireland. For more information and to book your place go to www.youth2000.ie.
VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT ANNOUNCEMENTFROM ST. JAMES’S HOSPITAL
St James’s hospital launched anew hospital wide Patient Volunteer Service in September 2024.
The service provides personal andpractical support to patients and visitors attending St James’s Hospital.
Ifyou know anyone who would be interested in volunteering please ask them to contact the Patient Volunteer Services Lead for a friendly chat on 087 499 5792or email: teamvolunteer@stjames.ie
LAST WEEK COLLECTION
Church: €934; Share collection: € 165. Card reader: € 383.