These Masses will be celebrated in private due to the

 coronavirus restrictions , but are on Facebook at Achonry Mullinabreena Church.

Sixth Sunday of Easter

Sat 16^th 8:00 pm Private Intention (M)

Sun 17^th                 10:00 am              Seamus Conlon (M)

Mon 18^th               St John I (pope & martyr)

10:00 am        Peter & Ellen Murtagh

& Mary Walsh, Carniara (M)

Tues 19^th               10:00 am              John & Mary Lee, & dec’d of

Lee & Redican families (M)

Wed 20^th               St Bernardine of Siena (priest)

10:00 am        Sr Mary Margaret Marren (M)

Thurs 21^st             Ss Christopher Magallánes & Companions

10:00 am        Private Intention (M)

Fri          22^nd         St Rita of Cascia (religious)

10:00 am        Private Intention (M)

Sat 23^rd                  10:00 am              Patrick Henry, Strandhill & Carrowmore (M)

The Ascension of the Lord

Sat 23rd                8:00 pm Private Intention (M)

Sun 24^th                 10:00 am              Brendan Connolly & dec’d family (M)

6^th Sunday of Easter 17^th May: Focus: If we do not speak & act for Christ, who will? – St Teresa of Avila once wrote that Christ has no body on earth but ours. This 16^th-century mystic understood what Jesus meant when he said, If you love me, you will keep my commandments. She believed we meet Jesus’ expectation by becoming a voice for the voiceless, as Philip did in Samaria – where his preaching, signs, & deeds brought great joy.

Readers of the Word

Saturday 23^rd May 8pm: …… (M)

Sunday 24^th May 10am: …… (A)

1^st Reading Acts 1:1-11. Psalm Ps 46.

2^nd Reading Eph 1:17-23. Gospel Mt 28:16-20.

Mass will be celebrated every day in private. If you have a Mass booked this week it will be offered in private (a public Mass can be arranged for later). 

SYMPATHY: We remember in our prayers at this time: Anne Gorman, Carrowcarragh, Tommy Gilligan, USA & Dohern, (brother of Oliver Gilligan, Dohern).

May the Souls of the faithful departed rest in peace

6^th Sunday of Easter 17^th May

Liturgy of the Word - In the first reading, Philip proclaims the Gospel in Samaria & many people are cured. Peter & John follow & lay hands on the newly baptized there, & they received the Holy Spirit. In the second reading, Peter encourages the community to always be ready to give reason for their hope, & be willing to suffer for doing good. In the Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples that those who love him will follow his commandments.   

Trócaire Lenten Campaign

Trócaire is anxious to complete this year’s Lenten campaign and are encouraging people to make their donations on-line or return their Tróciare boxes to parishes over the last weekend of this month. I encourage the on-line option for our parishioners. For those who are unable to make their donation on-line, I suggest that, in so far as possible, coin be converted to notes prior to handing in donations to the parish. Any donations handed in to the parish will be forwarded to the Diocesan Office in the usual way.

Masses with a congregation

The guidelines as they stand indicate that Sunday & weekday Masses with a congregation will be possible after July 20^th, provided that social distancing, hand hygiene & proper sanitisation are observed. Social distancing will have to be adhered to in seating, in the Communion procession & in people entering & exiting churches. Hand sanitisation will be provided & seats & surfaces wiped down after each Mass. These are important issues that need to be considered carefully.

Funerals

Currently, attendance at Funeral Masses is limited to immediate family & no more than ten can be present in the church. This restriction remains for the moment & clarification is being sought on how that may change in future phases of emergence from restrictions.

Cemetery Masses

The advice is that in current circumstances, cemetery Masses scheduled for May, June or July should be postponed due to a number of issues, not least people travelling from different parts of the country to attend. It may be possible to hold cemetery Masses in August or September. We await further clarification on this.

Baptisms

The government guidelines seem to indicate that Baptisms cannot be celebrated until after July 20^th. It seems likely that even then, numbers attending will be limited to possibly parents, godparents & siblings of the child being baptised. There may be further clarification on baptisms before July 20^th.

STAY WITH US LORD

The six Western Dioceses (the Tuam Province) have planned a new initiative as part of the ongoing response to the pastoral challenge presented by COVID-19. One of the important Gospel stories of these Easter days is the account of how the two disciples met the Risen Jesus on the road to Emmaus and how they asked him: “Stay With Us Lord; it is almost Evening”. With this in mind, we are inviting you to join us for a 20 min reflection, each Sunday at 6.30 pm between now and Pentecost. Each reflection will be given by a different guest presenter & will be broadcast on webcam from a different location in the West. Sunday Prayer Time 6.30 p.m. The reflection can be accessed this week at churchservices.tv/ballina or achonrydiocese.org/staywithuslord

ACHONRY DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO KNOCK SHRINE

Sunday 17^th May is traditionally the day for the Achonry Diocesan Pilgrimage to Knock Shrine. The Pilgrimage Mass will be online from Knock Basilica on Sunday at 3pm. There will be a special welcome for the pilgrimage groups that traditionally travel to our National Marian Shrine for their own celebrations.

Pilgrims are welcome to join the afternoon ceremonies from their homes. The schedule for the afternoon will include the praying of the Rosary at 2.30pm, followed by Mass & Benediction at 3pm. The celebrant will be Fr. Richard Gibbons, PP, Rector at Knock Shrine.

In advance of the day, pilgrims may place their petitions online on the Knock Shrine website & these will be placed on the altar for the Mass. Many pilgrims light candles for loved ones & their intentions during their visit to Knock & this service is also available online. A candle will be lit at the outdoor candelabra for each request received. See knockshrine.i.e.

Covid 19: The number of deaths worldwide is now over 310,000, & Republic of Ireland deaths at 1,520.

COVID-19 Support Line for Older People: ALONE has launched a national support line & additional supports for older people who have concerns or are facing difficulties relating to the outbreak of COVID-19. Professional staff are available to answer queries & give advice & reassurance where necessary. The support line is open seven days a week, 8am - 8pm, 0818 222 024.

In the light of the Taoiseach's statement on Friday evening

As of now the restrictions on attending Mass will be lifted on 20^th July (if the lifting of restrictions on 8^th & 29^th of June are working successfully) but people will still have to maintain social distance.