| Please hold
Telephoning any facility today can be a frustrating experience. Some have music and an occasional reassuring ‘your call is important to us please hold’ approach, while others adopt a more technical approach with bewildering options, ‘If you want X, Y, Z press 1, 2, 3.’ Meanwhile you wonder – oh for the sound of a human voice. How many callers persist through this hedge of electronics we will never know.
Experts tell us that in contacting an organisation, the first 5 to 15 seconds are crucial in giving a first impression. The aim is to create a telephone handshake. You literally don’t get a second chance to make a first impression. Style of greeting, manner, what you say and how you say it will all create and count towards this impression.
Frightening isn’t it? Which makes you wonder – what a personality Jesus must have had to win over four cagey fishermen in the Gospel. Suppose they had said ‘I’ll get back to you’ or ‘not now, I’m too busy’? When you want to say ‘no’ any excuse will do. But they didn’t. They responded immediately and the rest is history. They had no idea that this was a life-changing move, an adventure in faith. First impressions count. What impression do we make on people?
Fr Tom Cox (Reflection taken from Intercom magazine)
Feast Days
Mon 24th: St Francis de Sales, born 1567; bishop of Geneva at the time of Calvin. He worked with gentleness to rebuild faith. His Introduction to the Devout Life became a classic of the spiritual life. He died in 1622, and is patron saint of writers, editors and journalists.
Tue 25th: The Conversion of St Paul. His experience on the Damascus Road and its lasting effect on his life became a force for the preaching of the gospel to the gentile world. Once a persecutor of Christians, Paul became a fervent apostle of Jesus Christ. (End of Christian unity week)
Wed 26th: Sts Timothy and Titus. Disciples and co-workers of St Paul, both were leaders in the early Christian community.
Thurs 27th: St Angela Merici, founder of the Ursulines.
Fri 28th: St Thomas Aquinas, Priest and Doctor of the Church. The famous Dominican saint and theologian lived in the 13th century. His Summa Theologica is regarded as a foundational work in theology. He is patron of scholars, universities, and booksellers.
 First Holy Communion – Parish Mass
Children preparing for First Holy Communion from the parish, attending various schools, will take part in their special Mass today, Sunday, @ 12.30pm. In preparation for the next Mass (6 th Feb) parents who volunteered to help out are invited to meet on Wednesday 2 nd at 8pm.
Drug Abuse
Have you been affected by drug use? Did you ever wonder why some families are affected by drug use while their neighbours are not?
Ballyfermot S.T.A.R. would appreciate your help.
We are carrying out a major survey of families affected by drug use in the Ballyfermot area. We are asking people who have lived with drug use and have not accessed services to come forward and talk about their experience in the strictest of confidence.
We would like also to talk to families from Ballyfermot who have been able to remain drug free. What do you think made the difference?
In the interests of confidentiality, all the interviews will be carried out by a professional researcher who is not based in the Ballyfermot area.
If you are interested in taking part in this survey, please contact Ballyfermot STAR, 7 Drumfinn Pk or telephone 6238002 to find out more or to arrange an appointment.
Holy ghost Missions
Next weekend we will have a Spiritian (Holy Ghost) priest preaching on The Missions at all Masses. |
St Louise’s School (Second Class)
School Enrolment for 1 st Penance & 1 st Holy Communion next Sun @ 10.30 Mass. |
Rosary with a difference
Continues on this Tuesday @ 7-8 pm in Caritas College. Join Sr. Maura and others sharing a scriptural rosary. Open invitation to all. |
Divine Mercy Prayer Group
Meets every Wednesday after 7.30pm Mass. Includes Eucharistic Adoration, Rosary & Chaplet. All are welcome. |
Saint Pio Devotions
“Saint Pio of Pietrelcina” devotions will take place on Friday in connection with the Evening Mass at 7.30 finishing with Benediction. (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament is on all day Friday) |
Exposition of Blessed Sacrament
Every Friday in Blessed Sacrament Chapel: 10.30 – 7.30. Do come along even if it’s for a couple of minutes. |
Pastoral Council Meeting
Takes place in the Parish Centre @ 8pm on Thursday. |
Altar servers:
Meet this Tuesday evening @ 6.45pm. |
Accord
The special collection to be taken up in aid of Accord in St. Matthew’s parish will take place on the 5 th/6 th of Feb. This is postponed because of the Holy Ghost Missionaries preaching next weekend. Also on the 5 th/6 th of Feb special prayers will be said for the sick. This is linked in with the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes which is world day of the sick. (Feb 11 th). |
Website of the week
www.ireland.anglican.org/home.html - Visit another Christian denomination for Church Unity week. |
Please
pray for those who have died
Eileen Foley, Blackditch Rd
(Removal Mon 5.30/ Mass Tue 10)
Tommy Purcell, Spiddal Rd
Stephen O Connor, Decies Rd
Elizabeth O Reilly , Claddagh Rd
Mary Murphy, Rossmore Rd
Denis Fahey, Tipperary
Mass Intentions This Week
 Mass Intentions
This Week
Sun : (Sat 6.30: Joseph Fox)
9.00 Esther & Augustus Gracey
10.30 For the people of the Parish
11.30 James Russell 12.30 Bobby Bruton
6.30 John Williams
Mon : Michael Daly/ James Adamson
Tue : Ann & Joe Gillen/ Patrick & Mary Murphy
Wed : Tony King/ Carey Family
Thurs : Derek Hoare/ Matthew McDonagh
Fri : Free/ Thomas Higgins
Sat : Free/ James Gleeson
Next Sun: (30 th)
9.00 Dooley Family; (Convent 9.30 Pro Populo) 10.30 Olive Smith; 11.30 Patrick & Maria Stokes & Edward Wogan; 12.30 Billy & May Allen; 6.30 David Baker.
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