Parish Bulletin 19th February 2012
Priest on Duty: Fr. Gerry
Cemetery Sunday is on Sunday 20th May 2012
Congratulations to David and Tiago Lindsay Alves (Somerville) Cyann Brennan (Woodlands) who were baptised during the week
Next Sunday is a blue envelope offering day
Next weekend we welcome the boys and girls of Sixth Class who are preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in March to their final preparation Mass. We welcome too their parents who have supported them in their faith journey this year.
A meeting of the Board of Management of Ratoath Senior National School will take place on Monday evening 20th February at 8.00pm in the Parish Pastoral Centre.
The Parents Association of Rathbeggan National School is holding a Table quiz on Friday 24th February in the County Club, Dunshaughlin at 8:30pm. This is a fundraiser for ongoing school projects and we would welcome your support. €40for table of 4
The National Parish Youth Conference is aimed at 12 - 18 year olds on 25th February in Tullamore. An outline of the event and a registration form is available at www.tullamoreparish.ie.
Lent: This great season of Grace is your gift to your people to renew us in Spirit.
Lent in Christian tradition, is a period of the liturgical year leading up to Easter. The purpose of
Lent is the preparation of the believer, through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving for the annual commemoration during Holy week of the death and resurrection of Christ, which recalls the events linked to the passion of Christ and culminates in Easter, the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The period of Lent, 40 days, represents the time that Jesus spent in the wilderness before the beginning of his public ministry, where he endured temptation by Satan.
Lent begins on Wednesday next. The morning Mass on Ash Wednesday will be at the usual time of 9.45am and the evening Mass will be at 7. 30pm. The blessing and distribution of ashes will take place at both Masses.
Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
First Sunday of Lent
Brian Gahan
Vigil 7.00pm
Margaret Hynes
Aisling O' Farrell (Months Mind)
Elizabeth & John Ryan
Paddy & Detta Colfer
Nuala Callaghan & Denis Farrell
& Eamon & Margaret Tonge
Laura O'Connor
& Jimmy Brady
Monday     Eugene Eiffe                                   Tuesday     Emily Kirwan
Ash Wednesday Masses 9.45 and 7.30pm         Friday        Margaret Hynes
Saturday    11.00 Mass in Ratoath Nursing Home
Bishops' Council for Justice and Peace launches Caring for Health in Ireland
Caring for Health in Ireland was launched today in the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital in Dublin by the Council for Justice and Peace of the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference. The document is a response to the health care reform outlined in the current Programme for Government
Caring for Healthcare in Ireland analyses the current public health consultation, the proposed Universal Health Insurance scheme and related changes to the structure of the hospital system; mental health services; disability; older people; and palliative care. According to the Bishop Raymond Field, chairman of the Council for Justice and Peace of the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference, "The issue of health care and justice has been a long-standing concern of the Council for Justice and Peace. Lead author Professor Tony Fahey has brought valuable insights to this paper and was the driving force behind this response to the proposals for reform outlined in the Programme for Government. "Caring for Health in Ireland was developed following a consultation with religious congregations involved in health care provision. Today we offer our thanks to the religious congregations involved in health care provision, some of whom are represented here. In producing this document we wanted not only to draw on your experience, but also to honour your selfless contribution to the care of some of the most vulnerable people in our society. That example has created an important legacy which needs to be remembered and valued."
Bishop Field continued, "A message that we want to convey strongly today is that our understanding of health has to be wider than health care and health services. A multi-dimensional approach is needed: for instance, one of the things we have highlighted in our document is the impact of education on the choices people make in relation to their health." Speaking at the launch Professor Tony Fahey said, "We have a massively inequitable and inefficient health services system. The plans for reform contained in the Programme for Government make a welcome attempt to tackle many of the worst features of the system. We support the general thrust of these plans, though their real merit will become evident only as the details of how the plans will be implemented are worked out." "However, the Council for Justice and Peace is concerned that the Government's thinking pays too little attention to the social factors which affect health and focuses instead on a narrow health services view of health policy. Medical services are only one of the factors that will help improve the health of our population in the years ahead. We need a balanced approach that will give due attention to medical services but will also give proper weight to other factors such as educational disadvantage that also influence health. What we need, therefore, is a health policy, not just a health services policy," Professor Fahey said.
************************************************************************************* How to book for the 50th International Eucharistic Congress (IEC2012)
There are three ways to book for the Congress: 1) Telephone the IEC2012 Booking offices on 01 2981122. 2) Book Online on the Congress website www.iec2012.ie/registration 3) Download a paper booking form from the Congress website www.iec2012.ie/registration and send the completed form to CSSL, 3rd Floor, Paradigm House, Dundrum Office Park, Dundrum, Dublin 14. Advance bookings are open until the 9th of May 2012. After that date all bookings are onsite the RDS. BOOK NOW!
A Day of Meditation on Saturday 25th February, 2012.  10am - 4pm in Mount St. Anne's Retreat Centre, Killenard, Portarlingtion. Facilitated by Sr. Róisín Gannon. Cost: €25 (please bring packed lunch - Tea/Coffee provided.
The Experience of the Eucharist: All Hollows College on 27th-28th February. In this year of the International Eucharistic Congress, All Hallows hosts a special developing parish seminar, Empowering Creativity in the Body of Christ with Liam Lawton
See web site www.allhallows.ie/developing-parish-2012-semiar-with-liam-lawton.html
Ratoath GAA Lotto Results for 13th February. 1,9,22,28.  No jackpot winner €50 winners:
Ruth Waters, Ashbourne  and Joe Mockler, Ratoath. Jackpot next week is: €3,000.00