Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - 12 July 2020
Rich Soil
Today’s
Gospel is in three parts: the parable Jesus taught, an explanation on how to listen,
and an explanation of the parable Jesus taught. The parable itself is well known
and concerns seeds, where they land, and what happens to them. We might take note
of the seeds as representing God’s Word and the effect it has, or does not have,
on us. What makes the difference in the parable is the type of soil the seed lands
on and how suitable it is for growth to take place. Let us consider our own hearts
as the soil: how open are we to receiving seeds that may be planted there? What
condition is our ‘soil’ in?
Any decent
gardener will know that good soil is key in order to cultivate anything. Soil needs
to be weathered, broken down; it can be too acidic, or it can be too alkaline. Good
soil needs organic matter such as compost or manure. It needs lots of air and water;
it needs to be tended and prepared.
We too are
weathered down by various forces in our lives, and at times have manure thrown at
us. This can either close us down and harden our hearts, or it can open us up to
help us to grow, ready to receive the seeds that are scattered. Like the soil, we
must take care of our bodies, hearts, and minds, adopt a holistic approach to our
well-being.
The lesson
on ‘hearing’ in the Gospel today is also important. How do we listen? Do we listen
or read God’s word while being distracted by many things, or are we fully attentive,
even for a few minutes each day? How do we listen to one another? Fully attentive
or with one eye on our phone? There is a great richness in the text today, spend
time with it. Perhaps think about how you might prepare better the soil for planting.
‘The soil is the great connector of lives, the
source and destination of all. It is the healer and restorer and resurrector, by
which disease passes into health, age into youth, death into life. Without proper
care for it we can have no community, because without proper care for it we can
have no life.’ (Wendell Berry) Jane Mellett
Announcements
Last week’s collection amounted to £3250.00. Thank you.
Those who
pay to the weekly collection or any special collections, including Priest’s Collection,
by cheque are asked that all cheques should be made payable to ‘Melmount Parish’.
Parishioners
can still leave their contributions in the Parish Office during this time of uncertainty.
Contributions can be made by cheque made payable to Melmount Parish or cash. If
the Office is closed please use the letterbox.
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will take place on Monday 13 July from 10.30am until 4.30pm.
We welcome into God’s Family through the Sacrament of Baptism:
Ralph Ryan
Friel
May they Rest in Peace
Deaths
Eamon McGarrigle, 24 Newtown Street
Anniversaries
Tina Doherty,
James Duffy, Molly McDaid
Mary Boyle,
Mary Connolly, Francis Moss
Joe McElroy,
Nellie McKinney, John Ellis
Tobias Molloy,
Charlie Boyle, Kathleen Boyle
John Tracey,
Paddy O’Connor, David McDaid
Harry McCrossan,
Robbie Campbell, Hugh O’Donnell
Church Opening Times
The Church
will open on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Sunday at 9.30am and close
at 5.00pm. On Tuesday and Saturday the church will open at 11.00am & close at
7.30pm. This is to facilitate cleaning and sanitizing.
Baptisms: To arrange
Baptisms please telephone the Parish Office on 028 71383777.
Bulletin Notices and Anniversaries
All anniversaries
and notices for the bulletin should be left at the Parish Office by 10.00am on a
Wednesday for inclusion in that weekend’s bulletin.
For your
safety the main sacristy will be closed before and after masses. If you wish to
leave an anniversary during these times please leave the details on the table at
the entrance to the altar servers’ sacristy
Cleaning of the Church: For your safety the church is cleaned and santised everyday.
There may be times when you will be in the church when the fogging machine is being
used to disinfect the seats etc. The product used is called ‘DEW’ and is non-toxic,
hypoallergenic, ph skin friendly and FREE from alcohol, aldehydes, parabens, dyes
and scents. It will not harm you or your clothes. We appreciate your understanding
in this matter and apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Collection Counters: For your safety and in line with guidelines during this
period of uncertainty it will not be possible to have our collection counters return
at this point in time. We thank you for all you help in the past and will keep you
updated over the coming weeks and look forward to your return.
Church Envelope Contributions by Standing Order
If you would
like to make your church envelope contribution by Standing Order please contact
the parish office on 71383777 for more information.
Church contributions via a Donate button on the parish
website.
We have
now added a Donate facility to our Website which allows you to pay your envelope
contribution by debit or credit card. If you have any difficulties in using this
please contact the parish Office 71383777.
Melmount Parish Webcam: The Webcam can be viewed by logging onto Melmount Parish
Website and selecting view the webcam or by logging onto Churchmedia.tv and selecting
Melmount Church from the list available. It is no longer available through MCN Media.
Confirmation for P.7 Classes 2019/2020.
Confirmation
will take place as follows:
P7A - Saturday
5 September at 11.30am; P7B - Saturday 5 September at 3.00pm;
P7C - Sunday
6 September at 3.00pm
First Holy Communion for P.4 Classes 2019/2020
First Holy
Communion will take place as follows:
P4A - Saturday
12 September at 11.30am; P4B - Saturday 12 September at 3.00pm;
P4C - Sunday
13 September at 3.00pm.
Further
information will be available in due course.
Parish Draw
The Parish
Draws for July and August took place on Thursday 9 July. The winners are as follows:
July Draw
£500: 1319 Claire
McNamee – Michelle Cairns
£250: 1375 Jean
Conway – Sheelagh McKelvey
£250: 1133 Clare
Gallagher – Elizabeth O’Hare
£250: 1180 Christina
O’Shea – Dolores Houston
£150: 1413 Adrian
Moore – Michelle Langan
£150: 1598 Declan
Duffy – Emma McGonagle
£150: 1659 Aideen
Devine – Ann Donaghey
£100: 1564 Joan
Crossle – Emma McGonagle
£100: 1392 Donna
Tracey – Elizabeth O’Hare
£100: 1042 Tony
& Frances Devlin – Maureen Hegarty
August Draw
£500: 1446 Joan
Liversidge – Sheelagh McKelvey
£250: 1226 Damian
Neeson – Elizabeth O’Hare
£250: 1512 Kath
Duffy – Mar Hagan
£250: 1567 Catherine
Keating – Emma McGonagle
£150: 1018 Dolores
Houston – Dolores Houston
£150: 1508 Brian
McLaughlin – Elizabeth O’Hare
£150: 1239 Brian
Murray – Pauline Wilson
£100: 1312 Eugene
Mullen – Michelle Cairns
£100: 1496 Annette
McGarrigle – Mar Hagan
£100: 1177 Siobhan
McGee – Bosco McCready
