Twelfth Sunday of the Year

Today’s Second Reading ‘If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see everything has become new’ reminds me of something St Augustine said. This verse seems to refer to a sudden transformation rather than a gradual evolution. God’s Spirit operates to an urgency that nature doesn’t. There’s urgency as the Spirit hears nature’s labour pains and our inward groaning as we await adoption, the redemption of our bodies (Rom 8:23). Do we feel that urgency ourselves? Well, that depends on how we look at things. Take, for examples, the plans we make whatever they may be. We’re hoping for something better be it home improvement, or job improvement, even self-improvement; or be it planning a holiday, buying a car, or something for the kids. There’s a constant ‘wanting’ in us for something new that we might blame consumerism for. Compulsive buying might be the outcome of the ‘wanting’ but at source it’s something deep and profound. It’s nothing other than the yearning for the redemption of our bodies of which Paul speaks. It’s our craving not just for better things, but for the best possible of all things: new creation being transformed into the liberated children of God. St Augustine put if famously: ‘You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.’ Resting in God is not guaranteed to happen automatically. It’s a journey we must make. And as we don’t know how long we have to make the journey, every minute counts.

Copyright: Fr. Tom Cahill (Intercom)

Daily Readings

You can access the daily readings on the parish website:

Year of the Priest

The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI has dedicated a
‘Year of the Priest’
from 19th June 2009 - 19th June 2010
to encourage Spiritual perfection in priests.

Gardening Club

St Brigid’s Parish Trip to Poland 22-29 September

With visits to Krakow, Warsaw, Auschwitz, Sanctuary of St Faustina the home place of Pope John Paul, the famous Salt Mines and other places of interest. Cost: single room approx £795, double £690 - to include 7 nights bed breakfast and meal. Spiritual Director Fr Eugene O’Neill. If interested please contact parish office at St Brigid’s 028 9066 5409

Clonard Novena

The Clonard Novena will begin on Wednesday 17th June to Thursday 25th June. If any Eucharistic Ministers would like to help out at the novena please contact Clonard Monastery to register 9044 5950.

Youth 2000 Summer Festival

Youth 2000 Summer Festival, Clonmacnois, Co Offaly, Thursday 13th – Sunday 16th August 2009. For young people age 16-35, an opportunity not to be missed to experience the Catholic faith and meet many new friends. Bishop Frank Caggiano, vicar of Evangelisation in the Diocese of Brooklyn will be the main speaker. For more information 07929 095820 or www.youth2000.ie

Friday’s Mass

This Friday 26th June there will be no 7.30pm Mass
instead the Mass will be at 10am.

Adoption

Could you make a child happy again
after a difficult start in life?

Family Care Society is presently seeking adoptive families for children aged between 2 – 6 years and who need the love and attention of a caring and understanding family.
Could this be you?

St Brigid’s Parish Trip to Poland 22-29 September

With visits to Krakow, Warsaw, Auschwitz, Sanctuary of St Faustina the home place of Pope John Paul, the famous Salt Mines and other places of interest. Cost: single room approx £795, double £690 - to include 7 nights bed breakfast and meal. Spiritual Director Fr Eugene O’Neill.

If interested please contact parish office at St Brigid’s 02890 665409.

Day Of Private Reflection – Sunday 21st June 2009

Healing Through Remembering (HTR) is again promoting a Day of Private

Reflection on Sunday 21st June 2009 following similar initiatives in 2007 and 2008. The Day of Reflection is a day for personal and private reflection on the conflict in and about Northern Ireland; a day to acknowledge the deep hurt and pain caused by the conflict, to reflect on our own attitudes, on what more we might have done or might still do, and to make a personal commitment that such loss should never be allowed to happen again. It provides a voluntary opportunity for everyone in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Great Britain and further afield to reflect upon the conflict in and about Northern Ireland and the future that is before us. HTR values the contribution of groups, organisations and individuals throughout

these islands and beyond in making the Day of Private Reflection happen – and we hope that once again, this year, we can work together to create a time and space to reflect, on Sunday 21st June 2009.

Gift Aid

Those who signed the Gift Aid Scheme and who no longer pay tax due to retirement would they please inform the parish office as soon as possible as we will be applying to the tax office for your returns.

Tax Payers

The parish would also like to appeal to anyone who is paying tax and would like to join the Gift Aid Scheme. The parish can claim 28 pence from every one pound you pay in tax without any loss to yourself. If you would be interested please contact the parish office to fill out the form.