| Castlemaine Parish 4th Sunday of Easter Good Shepherd Sunday 24th /25th April 2021 |
On the Fourth Sunday of Easter, called Good Shepherd Sunday, we continue to reflect on the meaning of the Resurrection. This is also the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Today, we celebrate the risen Lord as the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep. The priest in charge of a parish is called pastor because “pastor” means shepherd. As shepherd, he leads, feeds, nurtures, comforts, corrects, and protects Christ’s sheep, the people of the parish. The earliest Christians saw Jesus as the fulfilment of the ancient Jewish dream of a Good Shepherd. They also wished to include the Gentiles as part of God’s flock.
Everyone who is entrusted with the care of others is a shepherd. Hence priests, parents, teachers, doctors, nurses, government officials, bosses, and politicians are all shepherds. We become good shepherds by loving those entrusted to us, praying for them, spending our time, talents, health, and wealth for their welfare, and guarding them from physical and spiritual dangers.
There is the story of a particular census taker who went to the home of a rather poor family in the mountains of West Virginia to gather information. He asked the mother how many dependents she had. She began, “Well, there is Rosie, and Billy, and Lewella, Susie, Harry, and Jeffrey. There’s Johnny, and Harvey, and our dog, Willie.” It was then that the census taker interrupted her and said: “No, ma’am, that’s not necessary. I only need the humans.” “Ah,” she said. “Well, there is Rosie, and Billy, and Lewella, Susie, Harry, and Jeffrey, Johnny, and Harvey, and….” But there once again, the census taker interrupted her.
Fr. Danny Broderick 087 9061255
Parish Residence: 18 Ballyoughtragh Heights, Milltown
Parish mobile: 087 6326989
Parish Office: open Wed. & Fri 9:30-12:30 066-9767312
Email: castlemaine@dioceseofkerry.ie
Website: www.castlemaineparish.com
Safeguarding Children: Contact No (087) 6362780
| Masses & Intentions – All Masses are celebrated online | ||
| Sat. Apr. 24th | 7:30 p.m. | Donal & Joan Corocoran, Dublin & formerly of Boolteens Broadcast from Keel |
| Sun. Apr. 25th | 10:00 a.m. | Mary O’Sullivan, Knockbrack – 1st Anniversary Broadcast from Kiltallagh |
| Tue. Apr. 27th | 7:00 p.m. | Broadcast from Listry |
| Wed. Apr. 28th | 9:00 a.m. | Broadcast from Milltown |
| Fri. Apr. 30th | 7.00 p.m. | Broadcast from Milltown |
| Sat. May 1st | 7:30 p.m. | Liam Heffernan, Keel Broadcast from Keel Church |
| Sun. May 2nd | 10:00 am | Brigid & James Mallon, Knockbrack & their family Broadcast from Kiltallagh Church |
Reminder
All Masses will be celebrated without a congregation due to Covid-19 Government Restrictions.
Masses will be streamed online via our new webcam system:
- Log into www.castlemaineparish.com
- Scroll down to the bottom of page to where it says Live Streams.
- Click St. Gobnait’s, Keel for Mass in Keel
- Click on ► to play
- Click St. Carthage’s for Mass in Kiltallagh
- Click on ► to play
Overseas Volunteers Training Course September 2021 – Open to all!
Viatores Christi, a faith-based development organisation has specialised in the recruitment, training and deployment of overseas volunteers since 1960. VC runs an online volunteer preparation course covering Community Development, Health, Global Awareness, Mission, etc. This is open to all! Once completed, participants can be considered for volunteer roles through VC EU Aid Volunteers #EUAVI programmes. If you want further information, please visit the News section of our website www.vcvolunteers.ie or email info@viatoreschristi.com
The Parish Office: will remain closed whilst we are at Level 5. We will continue to work behind closed doors, so please feel free to contact the office by phone during the hours of 9.30am – 12.30pm on Wednesday & Fridays.
ALONE: manage a national support line and additional supports for older people who have concerns or are facing difficulties relating to COVID-19. Professional staff are available to answer queries and give advice and reassurance. The support line is open seven days a week, 8am – 8pm, by calling 0818 222 024.
Samaritans: Freephone 116 123 The Samaritans are available 24/7 to offer non-judgemental emotional support to people experiencing difficulties or times of crisis in their lives.
MABS The Money Advice and Budgeting Service: is the State’s money advice service which has guided people through dealing with problem debt since it was set-up 20 years ago. It offers a free, confidential, independent & non-judgemental service to all kinds of people, with all kinds of debt. Though MABS offices are closed to the public at present, work is continuing remotely. Contact the helpline, 0761 07 2000, Monday to Friday, 9:00a.m.-8:00p.m. Contact Kerry MABS, (087) 4101355, kerry@mabs.ie
Recovery Haven: Cancer Support House continues to offer emotional support and practical help to those affected by cancer. Phone support, counselling and a range of online classes are being offered. If you or someone you know needs support, contact (066) 7192122, reception@recoveryhavenkerry.com
Slightly exasperated, he said, “No, ma’am, you don’t seem to understand. I don’t need their names; I just need the numbers.” To which the old woman replied, “But I don’t know them by numbers. I only know them by name.” — In today’s Gospel Jesus, the Good Shepherd, says that he knows his sheep by name.
Let us pray for vocations to the priesthood, the diaconate, and the consecrated life, religious and lay so that we may have more holy, Spirit-filled shepherds to lead, feed, and protect the Catholic community, and more responsive, loving, cooperative sheep. Christian thinking on vocation has been summarized in one profound saying: “All are priests, some are priests, but only one is the Priest.” Christ Jesus is the Priest in the full sense because he is the one mediator between God and humanity who offered Himself as a unique sacrifice on the cross. The universal priesthood of all believers, the sharing of all the baptized in the priesthood of Christ, has received special emphasis since Vatican II. Those who are called to make a lifelong commitment to serve as ordained ministers share the ministerial priesthood of Jesus. On this World Day of Prayer for Vocations we are asked to encourage and pray for our youth to respond to God’s call to serve His Church in the ministerial priesthood.
O God
Shepherd of all your people
deliver us from all troubles,
worries and cares that assail us,
that we may always do
what is pleasing in your sight,
and remain safe
In the care of our Good Shepherd;
Jesus Christ our Lord
Amen
Priest on Duty:Fr. Kevin Sullivan (087) 6277638