Dear Friends,
Today is theFourth Sunday of Lent – known as ‘Laetare Sunday’. ‘Laetare’ means ‘to rejoice’ maybe because we are half way through Lent!
Lenten Reflection Time
We began our first ‘Lenten Morning Reflection’ with some music, scripture, poetry and prayer in the John Sullivan Room from 11.30 – 12.00 last Friday. Our next sessions will be on Friday, 4th April, Thursday, 10th April and Good Friday, 18th April. Please note that the third session will be on a Thursday. All are welcome!
Fr. Brendan
Saint of the Week – Saint Henry Walpole, S.J. (1558-1595)
Henry was bornin Norfolk. He went to Cambridge University to study law. He witnessed the execution of St. Edmund Campion, S.J. and resolved to become a priest himself. He went to the English College in Rome and then entered the Jesuits in 1584. He was ordained in Paris in 1588. He was sent to teach in the English seminaries in Seville and Valladolid. It was not until 1593 that his desire to return to England was granted.
Immediately on his arrival in York, he was resting one night in an inn. He was betrayed by a Scottish supposed ‘friend’. He never had a chance to exercise his priestly ministry in England. He was imprisoned in York. He was then transferred to London. He was racked with unbelievable brutality and often suspended by thewrists for hours at a time. He was returned to York prison.
His judges demanded that he take the Oath of Supremacy acknowledging Queen Elizabeth
to be the supreme head of the Church. Since he would not do this, he was convicted of high treason. He was hanged, drawn and quartered – one of the Forty English Martyrs of the time. Henry Walpole
was canonized by Pope Paul VI on October 25, 1970.
JESUIT CENTREFOR FAITH AND JUSTICE (JCFJ) ANNUAL LECTURE
Who’s a Good Local? A Theology of Naming and Finding our Place, by Rev. Dr. Hannah Malcon. Tuesday April 8th at 7 pm. St. Francis Xavier’s Church. Tickets via Eventbrite or email info@jcfj.ie
ALL THINGS NEW
Jesuit Young Adult Retreat (18-35 years old) in Gonzaga College SJ, Dublin, from Saturday,28th to Sunday, 29th June. The cost is €50 for students, €70 for other tickets. Register now at "All Things New 2025" on Eventbrite.ie
Prayer of Thomas Merton – American Trappist Monk & Writer (+1968)
Lord, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does, in fact, please you. And I hope that I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore, will I trust you always through I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are with me, and will not leave me to face my perils alone.
CONCERT AT ST ANDREW’S
A date for your diary. Songs of Inspiration and Hope with Celine Byrne at St Andrew’s, Westland Row. Sunday, May 11, 6.30pm to 8pm.
BACH’S ST JOHN PASSION- PALM SUNDAY AT 3.30PM
On April 13,Palm Sunday, Dublin Bach Singers will sing Bach’s dramatic and moving St John Passion. This year they will perform this work in the beautiful period church St Ann’s, Dawson Street whose initial construction in the 1720s coincided with Bach’s composition of the St John Passion for Good Friday Vespers in the Thomaskirche in Leipzig in 1724.
Tickets available on Eventbrite.
ADORATIONPILGRIMAGE
National Eucharistic Adoration Pilgrimage to Knock on Sunday, April 6 (weekend of 5thSunday of Lent). Please call 087 2208714 to enquire or book a seat. Full bus details at www.eucharisticadoration.ie.
LAST WEEK COLLECTION
Church: € 763
Share collection: € 135
Card reader: €265