Sharing theme for parish mission

THE Shannon Parish Mission is starting this Sunday with the theme of Sharing the Good News.
Sister Briege McKenna OSC will lead the parish mission. Sister Briege was born in Armagh and entered the Sisters of St Clare at the age of 15.

She transferred to her community in Tampa with the hope that the warmer climate would help ease the pain of her rheumatoid arthritis.

At the age of 24, she was miraculously healed during the celebration of the Eucharist and sometime later received, in prayer, the gift of healing for which she has become widely known.

In 1974, again during prayer, she was given a deep spiritual insight into the mystery of the call to priesthood.

Since then, Bishops and priests in many parts of the world have asked her to speak and minister at their retreats and conferences. Her book Miracles Do Happen has been translated into many languages throughout the world.

Father Kevin Scallon is also taking part in the retreat. A priest of the Vincentian Community, he was born in Fermanagh. He started the ‘Intercession for Priests’ in Dublin in 1976. This is a month-long retreat where priests could come to pray for the spiritual renewal of the priesthood and in 1985 he began full time ministry to priests along with Sr Briege.

Included in the mission team is Revered Vincent Sherlock, PP Kilmovee, Mayo, a native of Gurteen, County Sligo, who gives generously of himself to parishes and communities in retreats, missions and talks. Also involved will be Revered Brendan Quinlivan PP Scariff, Feakle and Flagmount/Killanena. He is a native of Newmarket on Fergus and a priest of the Killaloe diocese for the last 20 years.

At the start of this month Bishop Kieran O’Reilly commissioned 72 parishioners to visit all 3,500 homes in the parish with an invitation to the Mission and complementary copies of the Gospel of St Luke. It is expected that hundreds will attend the three sessions each day.

The mission will be introduced at all masses next Sunday.

Parish Priest Father Tom Ryan said that there has been a lot of preparation done. “Most parishes have a mission every five to seven years and its six years since the last one here, so we’re looking forward to it very much.

“The preparation has been very intense. It started on Easter Sunday with a 50-day prayer campaign for the success of it. After that Bishop Kieran commissioned volunteers to go to every house in the parish to invite people to come to it and to give a gift of a copy of the Gospel of St Luke. The reaction they received was very positive and encouraging.”

He said that one of the highlights would be a special mass on the Tuesday at 2.30pm at Ss John and Paul Church for healing and the anointing of the sick. Also, after every morning mission there will be a cup of tea or coffee in the funeral home by the church.

Mission week
Pentecost Sunday, May 19: introduction at all masses.
Monday, May 20: 7am morning mass in Ss John and Paul Church; 10am mission mass and talk in Ss John and Paul Church; 7.30pm service of reconciliation and mission talk in Mary Immaculate Church.
Tuesday, May 21: 7am morning mass in Ss John and Paul Church; 10am mission mass and talk in Ss John and Paul Church; 7.30pm mission mass and eucharistic healing service in Mary Immaculate Church.
Wednesday, May 22: 7am morning mass in Ss John and Paul Church; 10am mission mass and talk in Ss John and Paul Church; 7.30pm mass and mission talk in Mary Immaculate Church.
Thursday, May 23: 7am morning mass in Ss John and Paul Church; 10am mission mass and talk in Ss John and Paul Church; 7.30pm evening mission in Mary Immaculate Church.
Friday, May 24: 7am morning mass in Ss John and Paul Church; 10am mission mass in Ss John and Paul Church; 7.30pm close of mission and commissioning in Mary Immaculate Church.
Special event during the mission on Tuesday, May 21: 2.30pm mass and anointing of the sick for those too ill to attend the mission in Ss John and Paul Church.