Times of Holy Week ceremonies/confessions in the Three Patrons...

PALM SUNDAY Sincere thanks to all our Primary Four children in our various schools who led the ‘Do this in Memory of Me’ Masses in the Parish today, celebrating the Lord’s entry into Jerusalem before his Passion...and thanks to Nelly the donkey for coming to Carnhill! https://livingspace.sacredspace.ie/lc061/

** Youth Alpha Cancelled Tonight** We are very sorry but due to unfortunate circumstances the Youth Alpha group at St Patrick's Church, Pennyburn tonight is cancelled. Please contact Kathryn at St Patrick's Parochial House for information on when the group will resume..02871 262360. Thank you for your understanding.

5th Sunday of Lent (Year B) Gospel John 12:20-33 If a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies, it yields a rich harvest Among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. These approached Philip, who came from Bethsaida in Galilee, and put this request to him, ‘Sir, we should like to see Jesus.’ Philip went to tell Andrew, and Andrew and Philip together went to tell Jesus. Jesus replied to them: ‘Now the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you, most solemnly, unless a wheat grain falls on the ground and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies, it yields a rich harvest. Anyone who loves his life loses it; anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it for the eternal life. If a man serves me, he must follow me, wherever I am, my servant will be there too. If anyone serves me, my Father will honour him. Now my soul is troubled. What shall I say: Father, save me from this hour? But it was for this very reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name!’ A voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.’ People standing by, who heard this, said it was a clap of thunder; others said, ‘It was an angel speaking to him.’ Jesus answered, ‘It was not for my sake that this voice came, but for yours. ‘Now sentence is being passed on this world; now the prince of this world is to be overthrown. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I shall draw all men to myself.’ By these words he indicated the kind of death he would die. Reflection Our mysterious Greek friends came from a place where many gods were worshipped and many people were into all sorts of immoral behaviour. Were they fed up with it? They may have heard of everything Jesus had done; He has just raised Lazarus from the dead; crowds are flocking to see him in Jerusalem - so it’s no wonder why they’re are curious…they wanted to meet him face to face: ‘We should like to see Jesus’, they said… We don’t know if the Greeks got their wish but when Andrew and Philip went to tell Jesus, they found a Man preparing to meet his death: They were watching the one they loved prepare for death and they heard him say how He felt: ‘My soul is troubled’. Is this the Jesus we want to see? But what if there is someone feeling the same as Jesus felt today, saying ‘my soul is troubled’? Perhaps we’ve been told that for someone close to us it’s just a matter of time. Maybe you are here today with something that is worrying you and causing you to really fret...maybe you feel let down by someone or something and you’re deeply hurt...maybe you’re suffering in silence and you’re looking for some way out? Perhaps your mind is full of doubts and you are wondering what life is all about? Maybe you just miss your father or mother, a son or daughter, sister or brother and you’re lonely without them? Maybe you’re just looking for something that will bring you a bit of acceptance, a bit of peace in the daily routine of your life. If there is a troubled soul here today, Jesus is gently saying I am with you in this; I’ve been there. Jesus gently reminds us today that took it all on himself when he was lifted up on the cross, as he said he would. He is the wheat grain that falls on the ground and dies to bring the rich harvest of eternal life! And so we can make that line from the letter to the Hebrews our own over the next few days that are left of Lent...like Jesus during his life, we can also offer up our prayer, ‘aloud and in silent tears, to the One who has the power to save’. So friends, perhaps the hour has come, just as it came for Jesus to face head on whatever it is that might be causing our souls to be troubled. And like that seed that has to die first before it shoots into new life, may the rest of Lent give us the grace to let our selfish sides die, to not lose our life with the passing things of this world, but like our Greek friends, yearn to 'see Jesus', so that we keep our lives for eternity - to get to know him better and grow in friendship with him; to see Him and receive Him often in the sacred host at Mass, to hear his forgiving words of healing in Confession, to let him speak to us in the scriptures. He loves to see us!

Thanks to the St Colmcille Pipe Band for the festive music after 10.30am Mass in Carnhill today!