Monday 7th April

Readings for Monday 7 April 2014 (5th Week of Lent)   
Dn 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62. Ps 22, R/ v 4. Jn 8:1-11. www.catholicbishops.ie/readings.

Today we remember Saint John Baptist de la Salle (1651-17-19), who devoted his life to the care of the education of poor children and to the training of teachers. He is patron of teachers.

Pope Francis on Twitter
Pope on Twitter

“In the Gospel we can hear Jesus speaking to us every day: may we always carry with us a small copy of the Gospel!”

Follow Pope Francis on Twitter @Pontifex.

Excerpt from Evangelii Gaudium The Joy of the Gospel 

Evangelii Gaudium

“The family is experiencing a profound cultural crisis, as are all communities and social bonds. In the case of the family, the weakening of these bonds is particularly serious because the family is the fundamental cell of society, where we learn to live with others despite our differences and to belong to one another; it is also the place where parents pass on the faith to their children. Marriage now tends to be viewed as a form of mere emotional satisfaction that can be constructed in any way or modified at will. But the indispensible contribution of marriage to society transcends the feelings and momentary needs of the couple. As the French bishops have taught, it is not born “of loving sentiment, ephemeral by definition, but from the depth of the obligation assumed by the spouses who accept to enter a total communion of life.” – Evangelii Gaudium 66.

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Pope Francis’ Prayer Intentions for April 2014 

Pope Francis’ universal prayer intention for April is: “That governments may foster the protection of creation and the just distribution of natural resources”.

His intention for evangelisation is: “That the Risen Lord may fill with hope the hearts of those who are being tested by pain and sickness”.

Trócaire Fast ….. Can you help to make a difference this Lent?

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Take part in Trócaire’s 24 hour Fast on Friday 18th April 2014! Ask your family and friends to sponsor you. If you don’t want to give up food for the day, you can give up anything else you want.. as long as it’s a challenge! Try giving up your phone or social media.

For more information please click here.

Bishop Donal McKeown on Lent

25 Feb 2014 appointment of Bishop Donal McKeown as Bishop of derry

Bishop Donal McKeown reflects on our Lenten scripture companions.

Click here to view video.

Holy Family Parish Belfast Lenten Talks 2014 

Reminder that the final talk in this series takes place next Monday 14 April with Father Peter McVerry.

Daily Lenten PrayerBelfast Lenten Talks 2014

(i) We pray for all in need; 
may we, as God’s people,
show care by responding to the needs of those
who are less fortunate.

(ii) We pray for the Church;
may it lead people to worship the Lord our god
and serve him alone.

prayer

Resources on the Vatican website for Lent 2014 
The Vatican is collating all the resources for Lent 2014 on a special link on the home page of www.vatican.va. It includes the catechesis, addresses and homilies of the Holy Father, information on liturgical events and video and other multimedia content. Click here to access it.

The Meaning of Lent
The English word ‘Lent’ comes from the Anglo-Saxon word Lencten, meaning ‘Spring’. In other languages the word comes from the Latin, Quadragesima – a period of 40 days.  In the Christian tradition the forty days is understood to refer to a time of intense prayer and preparation; we remember the biblical stories of Noah and the flood of 40 days, the forty years the Israelites spent wandering in the wilderness and Christ’s forty day fast in the desert in preparation for his earthly ministry.