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Weekly Connect From: Dermot Cowhey dermot.cowhey@limerickdiocese.org 4th April, 2022: Dear Chaplains/RE Teachers, I will be contacting you in the coming days to arrange the remainder of the school visits. This facilitates a discussion on support needs for the next academic year plus it is a great opportunity to catch up with one another over coffee! I wish you a restful and regenerative holiday and the blessings of Easter. Jesuit Refugee Service Appeal: "The war in Ukraine has led to the largest forced displacement of people in Europe since the Second World War. It is estimated more than 10.5million men, women and children have been forced to flee their homes. 6.5million are internally displaced within Ukraine and four million refugees have crossed borders in search of safety and protection. In Ukraine, Jesuits are hosting people who are fleeing their homes in the Jesuit Refugee house in Lviv (6.5 million internally displaced). In Poland, JRS is providing basic supplies, and organising legal, administrative, and psychological support (2.4 million refugees). In Romania, JRS is supporting people arriving at reception centres along the border and providing shelter (0.6 million refugees). In Hungary, JRS is providing food and medicines, as well as organising longer-term accommodation support (0.39 million refugees). In Limerick the numbers of Ukrainian refugees that are in State accommodation is in excess of 300 and rising. Arriving refugees have voiced concerns about the remoteness of accommodation offered in Ardagh and Foynes, which are long distances from support services and employment opportunities. In the Midwest region, JRS Ireland have been providing information and advice for recently arrived Ukrainian and responding to immediate requests for support including children arriving with special needs to access education and sadly to provide advice about funeral arrangements for one Ukrainian lady who passed away in Shannon days after her arrival. Everyday new challenges and needs are presenting that require a coordinated response from service providers across the Midwest (Limerick and Clare). JRS Ireland is working with a range of partners, including West Limerick Resources, Doras, the Clare Immigrant Support Centre and HSE Social Inclusion, in assessing needs and coordinating responses to ensure funds raised are directed toward the most urgent needs on the ground among recent Ukrainian arrivals in Limerick and Clare. Donations can be made at Ukraine emergency: providing continuous response as humanitarian needs increase - JRS Europe
Lent 2022: The diocese continues its opportunities which you might like to avail of to nourish and inspire you as you journey through Lent. ‘Live, Love, Lent’ Campaign We continue to invite you to our ongoing journey with us this Lent. The pastoral outreach team (Fr Chris, Aoife, Rose, Dermot, Michael along with Sr Betty, Sr Phyllis and Sharon) have put together a programme to support you throughout Lent, this includes daily thoughts, images, reflections and prayers with a different theme each week. These are posted daily on our Diocesan Facebook page; I want to reassure you that you do not need to have a Facebook account to access these resources. Our Facebook page is set up so that it is accessible to people who are not on Facebook; you can access our Facebook page on this link: https://www.facebook.com/dioceseoflimerick. Be sure to check in every day. We will have an introductory video at the start of each week explaining the theme, each day at 7am we will post an image with prayers, food for thought and/or ideas for action. Fr Chris will then host a review of the week each Sunday evening at 8:30pm live on Facebook where we can chat and share our experiences and learning. Again, to remind you, you do not need to subscribe to Facebook to be able to access these resources and events. Fr Chris explains everything in this video if you would like to know more: https://fb.watch/bwt2KoKwbU/ The Pope's Monthly Intentions for April, 2022: For health care workers … We pray for health care workers who serve the sick and the elderly, especially in the poorest countries; may they be adequately supported by governments and local communities. https://www.popesprayer.va/popes-prayer-intentions To watch the Pope Video - https://youtu.be/aJpxgGQywX8 Lenten Thought for the Day: We publish a Lenten ‘thought for the day’ every morning at 7am on the Diocesan Facebook page. Sr. Betty Baker introduces this week’s Lenten theme of our relationship with the natural world and caring for our environment. Today’s thought … ‘The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn.’ https://www.facebook.com/dioceseoflimerick Liturgical Calendar 7th April: John Baptist de la Salle 10th April: Psalm Sunday 13th April: Spy Wednesday 14th April: Holy Thursday 15th April: Good Friday 16th April: Holy Saturday 17th April: Easter Sunday 18th April: Easter Monday. Today is the anniversary of the episcopal ordination of Most Rev. Donal Murray, 18th April, 1982 24th April: Second Sunday of Easter A separate email for the April liturgical calendar with resources was sent on Thursday last. If you did not receive this, please contact me. As always, we are deeply grateful to Colette O’Doherty, DA Diocese of Ferns, for her generosity in sharing these resources. Stations of the Cross Resource Pack: The Stations of the Cross can be viewed on the Diocese of Waterford & Lismore YouTube Channel. Based on "Mary's Way of the Cross" by Richard G Furey C.Ss.R., dramatised by Holy Family Mission www.holyfamilymission.ie., filmed & Produced by the Servant Sisters of the Home of the Mother www.homeofthemother.org. Resource Pack produced by Ascend: Waterford & Lismore Youth Ministry youthministry@waterfordlismore.ie / Facebook / Instagram. See Attachment 1 for full pack. Prayer Spaces: From Colette O’Doherty in Ferns … ‘Definitely worth checking out Prayer Spaces Website that is laden with wonderful ideas and resources to assist you in organising themed prayer spaces. The Lesson Plans are all prepared and link in with liturgical events as well as events in the world. Worth keeping an eye on. You can find it here: https://prayerspacesinschools.com/product-category/prayer-activity/ Attachments –
If you are accessing this from the diocese website and would like to have these resources, please email dermot.cowhey@limerickdiocese.org Some more Easter resources will be send over the coming days. To conclude … As we approach Easter, we pause to consider the meaning of the resurrection for poet and priest Gerard Manley Hopkins … ‘ … the Resurrection, A heart’s clarion! Away grief’s gasping, joyless days, dejection. Across my floundering deck shone A beacon, an eternal beam. Flesh fade, and mortal trash Fall to the residuary worm; world’s wildfires, leave but ash; In a flash, at a trumpet crash, I am all at once what Christ is, since he was what I am, and This Jack, joke, poor potsherd, patch, matchwood, immortal diamond, Is immortal diamond.’ (‘That Nature is a Heraclitean fire’ G.M. Hopkins)
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