Lent  Week 4  - Bright sadness is the true message and gift of Lent.  Little by little we begin to understand or rather to feel, that the sadness of Lent is indeed “bright”, that a mysterious transformation is about to take place in us.  It is as if we were reaching a place to which the noises and the fuss of life, of the street, of all that which usually fills our days and even nights, have no access – a place where they have no power.  All that which seemed so tremendously important to us as to fill our mind, that state of anxiety which has virtually become our second nature, disappear somewhere and we begin to feel free, light and happy.  It is not the noisy and superficial happiness which comes and goes twenty times a day and is so fragile and fugitive; it is a deep happiness which comes not from single and particular reason but from our soul having, in the words of Dostoyevsky, touched “another world”.  And that which it has touched is made up of light and peace and joy, of an inexpressible trust.

Due to the ongoing situation with COVID-19

Information regarding Mass at St John’s Cathedral from 18^th March to 21^st March 2020

9.30am to 10.30am                      Adoration

5.45pm Mass                             - this will be transmitted via the internet. (no congregation)

Sat 21^st March 6pm Vigil          - this will be transmitted via the internet. (no congregation)

Sun 22^nd March 10.30 am         - this will be transmitted via the internet (no congregation)

                           12 noon           - this will be transmitted via the internet (no congregation)

Live service at www.limerickcathedral.com

Church will remain open from 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Saturday for the foreseeable future.

This may change at short notice.

The Parish Office may be contacted by phone at 061 414624 or via email admin@stjohnscathedrallimerick.com

Thanking you for your co-operation.

Third Sunday of Lent -The living water of the Spirit

Today’s Gospel reading was a favourite one of my mother.  She was very taken by the fact that Jesus first revealed himself as the Messiah to a woman.  We all have our own favourite Gospel passages.  It is worthwhile to note carefully which particular Gospel passages speak most strongly to us.  We can keep on returning to them for spiritual nourishment.  Such passages are like the well in today’s Gospel reading, they are the place where we meet the Lord and where the Lord quenches our deepest thirst.

Most of the time our Christian life is to be spent sharing in the joys and sorrows of our brothers and sisters.  We are to be the salt of the earth, the leaven in the dough, the candle on the lamp stand, helping people to know, understand and experience the love of their God for them.

Lent Week 1 - Father, through our observance of Lent, help us to understand the meaning of your Son’s death and resurrection and teach us to reflect it in our lives.”