Advent Prayer by Henri Nouwen
Lord Jesus, Master of both the light and the darkness,
send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas.
We who have so much to do seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day. We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us. We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom. We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your presence.
We are your people,
walking in darkness,
yet seeking the light.
To you we say, “Come Lord Jesus!”  

 "In the evening of life, we shall be judged on love."

St John of the Cross

Extracts from Living Our Faith In a Time of COVID-19 (Bishop Leahy)

Slow down and Look Deeper: Everything is connected, everyone is connected! COVID-19 invites us to slow down, contemplate nature and care for the planet.  But it also invites us to open our eyes to those suffering in other parts of the world, to live for universal fraternity and social friendship.

As we approach the seasons of Advent and Christmas, in these different times, we hope these resources will help you, your family and our community to pray and reflect as we prepare to celebrate the birth of the Christ Child.

We will never forget 2020! A Spring lockdown, churches closed, Easter by webcam; children whose collective memory will be defined by this virus; Confirmation and First Communion ceremonies postponed, Leaving Cert students facing bewildering changes; people losing their jobs or fearing loss of work and our older generation very restricted in their activities. Funerals that had to be celebrated without the customary supports and gatherings of people. Over the summer we followed government roadmaps and longed to return to normality, or at least to something that resembled a familiar way of life. 

Extracts from Living our Faith in a time of COVID-19 (Bishop Leahy)

*   Believe in Love. First things first! Remember God who is Love. We can heed St Peter’s advice to the First Christians: “Cast all your anxiety onto God, because he cares for you”.

*    Build up your family as a “domestic church”. Everyone belongs to the family. Each of us can build up our family as a community of love for one another, a community of sharing and mercy. We can always start again to care for one another, every time we fail.

Online Remembrance Prayer Service Wednesday 4th November at 3 pm

www.stjohnscathedrallimerick.com

Sr Betty Baker & Phyllis Moynihan will lead online Remembrance Service here in St John's Cathedral for the deceased Priests & Nuns from the diocese who passed away during the year.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions members of the public cannot attend but can join online at 

www.stjohnscathedrallimerick.com

November a month of Prayer and Remembrance for the dead and the bereaved.