FIRST HOLY COMMUNION AND CONFIRMATION LETTER - 27 APRIL 2020

 

1st June 2020

 

Dear Parents, Girls, and Boys,

 

I am writing to you because I will not be able to see most of you before our school closes at the end of June.

 

I know you all have made many great sacrifices to keep the rules to stop the spread of the coronavirus.  It has been very hard to stay at home for so long.  We all missed school and work, meeting friends, and visiting relatives.  However, our sacrifices have saved many lives.  Please God, scientists will soon discover a vaccine to protect the people of the world.

 

I hope that later in the year preparations will resume for the celebration of First Confession and First Holy Communion.

 

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin will appoint someone to administer the Sacrament of Confirmation later in the year.  Ms. Margaret Martyn will help me contact your parents about preparations for the Service of Light and the Confirmation.  We all need the gifts of the Holy Spirit to help us live as faithful followers of our Lord Jesus Christ.  We need the grace of the Holy Spirit to work with Jesus and to continue his mission in the world today.

 

Our church is still closed.  However, Mass is celebrated every weekday at 10 am, and on Sundays at 9 am and 10.30 am and transmitted on the parish webcam.

 

On Sunday 21st June I shall celebrate Mass at 10.30 am for you all, and for our teachers, assistants and staff.  I will pray especially for the girls and boys who will leave our school and go to new schools in September.

 

Please join in the prayers on your computers, iPad or smartphone.  Click on https://www.mcnmedia.tv/camera/holy-family-parish-1

 

Please pray at home every day for yourselves and for our country.  Mary, Queen of Ireland, St. Joseph, St. Patrick and St. Brigid. Pray for us.

 

May God bless us all, keep us safe, and give us his peace.

 John Killeen

Fr. John D. Killeen C.C. 

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Message from Archbishop Diarmuid Martin

The Month of May: Pope Francis has asked that, during the month of May, the Rosary should be recited in the Church right across the World in the context of the coronavirus and its effects.    One decade of the Rosary will be recited immediately before Mass (if there is no Funeral) Monday to Friday inclusive.  Pope Francis also composed two special prayers for the occasion. The second of these prayers, which I add below, could also be useful in the preparation of Prayers of the Faithful during the month of May.   Parishes might consider, in so far as possible, transmitting the recitation of the Rosary on line each evening, at a convenient time and to conclude with one of the Pope’s Prayers.

The month of May is dedicated to the intercessory prayer of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Rosary is the Special Prayer to her.

In the present tragic situation, when the whole world is prey to suffering and anxiety, we fly to you, Mother of God and our Mother and seek refuge under your protection.

 Virgin Mary, turn your merciful eyes towards us amid this coronavirus pandemic. Comfort those who are distraught and mourn their loved ones who have died, and at times are buried in a way that grieves them deeply. Be close to those who are concerned for their loved ones who are sick and who, in order to prevent the spread of the disease, cannot be close to them. Fill with hope those who are troubled by the uncertainty of the future and the consequences for the economy and employment.

 Mother of God and our Mother, pray for us to God, the Father of mercies, that this great suffering may end and that hope and peace may dawn anew. Plead with your divine Son, as you did at Cana, so that the families of the sick and the victims be comforted, and their hearts be opened to confidence and trust.

 Protect those doctors, nurses, health workers and volunteers who are on the frontline of this emergency, and are risking their lives to save others. Support their heroic effort and grant them strength, generosity and continued health.

 Be close to those who assist the sick night and day, and to priests who, in their pastoral concern and fidelity to the Gospel, are trying to help and support everyone.

Blessed Virgin, illumine the minds of men and women engaged in scientific research, that they may find effective solutions to overcome this virus.

 Support national leaders, that with wisdom, solicitude and generosity, that they may come to the aid of those lacking the basic necessities of life and may devise social and economic solutions inspired by farsightedness and solidarity.

 Mary Most Holy, stir our consciences, so that the enormous funds invested in developing and stockpiling arms will instead be spent on  promoting effective research on how to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.

 Beloved Mother, help us realise that we are all members of one great family and to recognise the bond that unites us, so that, in a spirit of fraternity and solidarity, we can help to alleviate countless situations of poverty and need. Make us strong in faith, persevering in service, constant in prayer.

 Mary, Consolation of the afflicted, embrace all your children in distress and pray that God will stretch out his all-powerful hand and free us from this terrible pandemic, so that life can serenely resume its normal   course.

 To you, who shine on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope do we entrust ourselves, O Clement, O Loving, O Sweet Virgin Mary. Amen.

“We fly to your protection, O Holy Mother of God”.

 

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Bring Flowers of the Rarest

Bring flow'rs of the fairest,
Bring flow'rs of the rarest,
From garden and woodland
And hillside and vale;
Our full hearts are swelling,
Our Glad voices telling
The praise of the loveliest
Rose of the vale.

O Mary! we crown thee with blossoms today,
Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May,
O Mary! we crown thee with blossoms today,
Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May.


Our voices ascending,
In harmony blending,
Oh! Thus may our hearts turn
Dear Mother, to thee;
Oh! Thus shall we prove thee
How truly we love thee,
How dark without Mary
Life's journey would be.

O Mary! we crown thee with blossoms today,
Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May,
O Mary! we crown thee with blossoms today,
Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May.

O Virgin most tender,
Our homage we render,
Thy love and protection,
Sweet Mother, to win;
In danger defend us,
In sorrow befriend us,
And shield our hearts
From contagion and sin.

 O Mary! we crown thee with blossoms today,
Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May,
O Mary! we crown thee with blossoms today,
Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May.



Of Mothers the dearest,
Oh, wilt thou be nearest,
When life with temptation
Is darkly replete?
Forsake us, O never!
Our hearts be they ever
As Pure as the lilies
We lay at thy feet.

O Mary! we crown thee with blossoms today,
Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May,
O Mary! we crown thee with blossoms today,
Queen of the Angels, Queen of the May.