Weekly Connect from Dermot Cowhey, Diocesan Advisor at dermot.cowhey@limerickdiocese.org

8^th March, 2021:

Dear RE Teachers/Chaplains,

The Pope's Monthly Intentions for March, 2021:

‘The call to experience Lent as a journey of conversion, prayer and sharing of our goods, helps us – as communities and as individuals – to revive the faith that comes from the living Christ, the hope inspired by the breath of the Holy Spirit and the love flowing from the merciful heart of the Father.’

Thought for the Day: We publish a ‘thought for the day’ every morning at 7am on the Diocesan Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/dioceseoflimerick

‘Water your roots so that the soul can blossom.’

Liturgical calendar

17^th March – Feast Day of St. Patrick

19^th March – Feast Day of St. Joseph

21^st March – International day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

21^st March – World Down Syndrome Day

25^th March – Feast of the Annunciation

February 17th to April 1^st, 2021 Lent

Attachments –

1. Material for St. Patrick’s Day courtesy of the Pastoral Outreach Team in the diocese.
2. Resources provided by the Council for Liturgy of the Irish Bishops’ Conference to help prepare for the celebration of Holy Week and the Easter Triduum this year. All of the material will also be posted on www.liturgy-ireland.ie , the website of the National Centre for Liturgy.
3. The Council for Justice and Peace supports the Bishops’ Conference in promoting the social teaching of the church. Attached is the Lenten reflection ‘The Crisis for People Seeking Refuge’.
4. Reflection Video for use online (3.20 Mins)
5. Attachment containing the usual links and resources. If you can add to this list, please forward all information to me.

For those accessing this on the website, please contact dermot.cowhey@limerickdiocese.org for any materials.

Ten Tips for Living with Covid can be found on https://www.limerickdiocese.org.

Watch out for the video where people share their experience of each of these tips.

To conclude,

The man whispered, ‘God, speak to me.’ And a meadow lark sang but the man did not hear.

So, the man yelled, ‘God speak to me.’ And the thunder rolled across the sky but the man did not listen.

And the man shouted, ‘God, show me a miracle.’ A life was born but the man did not know.

The man looked around and said, ‘God let me see you.’ And the star shone brightly but the man did not notice.

So the man cried out in despair, ‘Touch me God and let me know you are here.’ Whereupon God reached down and touched the man. But the man brushed the butterfly away … and walked on …