3rd March 2013 - 3rd Sunday of Lent (Year C) - Trocaire and Limerick Diocese

On this weeks programme Lorraine and John are joined by Noirin Lynch from Limerick Diocesan Pastoral Centre and Maeve Smith of Trocaire to discuss what is happening in the diocese over the next few weeks and also about Trocaires 2013 Lenten Campagin. We have our regular reflection on the Sunday gospel as well as some liturgical odds and ends.

This weeks programme is available as a podcast here.

Limerick Diocese Update with Noirin Lynch

Noirin reminds us of the facility and services offered by the Limerick Diocesan Pastoral Centre.
 
You can find the details of the various items Noirin highlighted on the Limerick diocese website and also in the weekly newsletter.
 
Eolas - the semi-annual brochure from the LDPC.

The Witness - A musical
 

"The Witness", is the story of Jesus, told and sung for you by Peter - The Witness -and the other men and women who knew the Master best. These first disciples were no different from the men and women who have been following Jesus ever since, plain people, most of them, with jobs, families and responsibilities. In "The Witness" we hear from Peter, the fisherman who made so many mistakes and yet became an apostle; from his wife, who suddenly discovers she's married to a travelling man; Mary, the mother of Jesus, who shares the secret of finding favour with God; James and John, who begin to understand what the kingdom of God is really all about; their mother, who watches out for the welfare of her boys; and from the tormented Judas as he realises that he has sold his own soul. We go with these people through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, and we learn with them how this mans life brought God's salvation to the world. This is the best news you will ever hear. It may just change your life!

"The Witness", a musical, will be presented by the Diocese of Limerick, in the Lime Tree Theatre, Mary Immaculate College, on Friday 8th and Saturday 9th March @ 8pm.

Tickets are €15 and are available from the ticket office on 061 774774 or www.limetreetheatre.ie.

This production, which is being staged just before the feast of Easter, is an ideal opportunity for parishes and parish groups, as well as individuals to participate in a meaningful and relevant way in the Year of Faith and to enter into the spirit of the season in preparation for the events of Holy Week.
 
Trocaire Lenten Campaign 2013 - Celebrating 40 years

 

Maeve Smyth joins us on the programme to speak about this years Lenten campaign which is highlighting the work done with communities around the world. This years campaign is focused on a community in eastern India highlightighting the poverty and disadvantage of the community where the average income for families is 28c a day. 



This is Ambika – the girl on this year’s Trócaire box. Your support is helping the people of her village in India rebuild their community. But many other communities like them need your help.

You can get involved in supporting the 2013 Lenten campaign in 5 ways to help communities this Lent.



You can see more videos around this years campaign here.
 

 
These teenage girls in Odisha, India have a brighter future to look forward to thanks to your fundraising and donations.Your generosity is changing their world!

You can listen to the interview with Maeve and Noirin excerpted from the main programme here.

Gospel - Luke 13:1-9



The vine dresser and the fig tree - James Tissot, French, 1836-1902

Reflection from Fr Michael de Verteuil:

Lord, there was a time when we felt very vulnerable:
• one of our children had let us down;
• we were without a job;
• we realised that we were getting old.
We felt useless, as if someone had come to look at us looking for fruit,
and had found none;
as if we were merely taking up ground,
and the only thing we deserved was to be cut down and thrown away.
We thank you, Lord, that at such moments you send us friends,
not wishy-washy people who flatter us and pretend that we are without blame,
but real friends like Jesus:
they tell us that indeed we deserve to be cut down,
but that it is not too late, and we can still bear fruit in the future,
and they promise to care for us and help us so that we can make a new start.
Other reflections on this weeks gospel:

Word on Fire
Sunday Reflection
English Dominicans
Centre for Liturgy
Irish Dominicans
Blue Eyed Ennis

Liturgical odds and ends

Divine Office - Week 3

Saints of the Week

March 4th - St Casimir
March 5th - St Kieran
March 6th - St Patrick of Malaga
March 7th - Ss Perpetua & Felicity (virgins)
March 8th - St Senan of Scattery also St John of God (First Friday)
March 9th - St Frances of Rome

Papal Intentions for March 2013

Obviously, the Pope's Intentions are set out at the beginning of each year which was in advance of the papal abdication of Benedict XVI. However, we can still join in the Apostleship of Prayer by remembering the intention for this month below but also by making our own contribution to the Conclave in Rome by praying for the intercession of the Holy Spirit for the election of the new Pope.

General Intention - Respect for Nature - That respect for nature will grow with the awareness that all creation is the work of God entrusted to human responsibility.

Mission Intention - Bishops, priests and deacons - That bishops, priests and deacons may be tireless proclaimers of the Gospel to the ends of the earth.