Dear Friends,
Today is the Second Sunday after Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday.
Mass for the late Pope Francis
There will be a special Mass for the happy repose of the soul of Pope Francis at 11.00am on Saturday, 3rd May. I apologise that we could not have the Mass earlier but I was away giving a retreat to would-be deacons at Mount St. Mary’s Retreat Centre, near Portarlington. Margaret will come to sing at the Mass. We will also be praying that the Holy Spirit will guide the cardinals in their choice of a new pope.
Fr. Brendan
Saint of the Week – St. Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) – Tuesday 29th April
Caterina di Benincasa was the 24thof 25 children of her parents! She became a Third Order Dominican. She walked the streets of Siena, serving the poor and dying. Catherine strove to heal the divisions within the Church of the time. The popes lived in Avignon in France but there was also a counter-pope in Rome. Catherine walked from Siena to Avignon to demand of Pope Gregory XI (1370-8) that he return to Rome! It was unheard of at the time for a woman to show such courage. Pope Gregory was completely enthralled by Catherine and did return to Rome. Sadly, divisions continued within the church with one pope in Rome (Urban VI) and another in Avignon (Clement VII). Catherine’s major book, The Dialogue was a dialogue between the Jesus and herself. It was among one of the first books to come off the printing press in Italy. Catherine died on 29th April, 1380. She was canonised by Pope Pius II in 1461; declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Paul VI in 1970 and Co-patroness of Europe by Pope John Paul II in 1999.
In The Dialogue, Catherine hears the Lord telling her:
There is no one who can judge the hidden heart of another person…
You must respond only with holy compassion.
Your neighbours are the channel through which your virtues are tested and come to birth.
OUR RECENTLY DECEASED
We remember in prayer those who have died recently:
John Doran
Patsy Moloney
John and Patsy volunteered at the Church for many years. John passed away on 11th April and his funeral was held at Gardiner Street Church on Spy Wednesday. Patsy passed away last Thursday, and her funeral will take place tomorrow at 11 am in Gardiner Street.
May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen
LAST WEEK COLLECTION
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