This document contains a schedule of masses, readings, and ministries for St. John's Church in Carraroe, Ireland for several dates in March. It also includes announcements about various parish events like First Confessions, baptisms, youth activities, and reflections.

1. 5th
March 7:30pm
6th
March 9:30am
11:30am
12th
March 7:30pm
13th
March 9:30am
11:30am
17th
March 9:30am
11:00am
Eucharistic Ministries
Kitty Doyle &
Gerry price
Catherine Lynch
Brid Blake &
Leo Marren
Maura Marren &
Vincent Dunbar
Pauline Jordan
Mary Murphy&
Ann Hickey
Margaret Feeney&
Frances Kelly
Mary Rose Casey&
Maureen Casey
Readers
Gerry Quinn
Mary McGoldrick
Carraroe N.S
Carraroe N.S.
Verona Ryan
Eamonn Boylan
Carraroe N.S.
Mary Keegan
Altar S
6th
March
Frances
Kelly
Emile
Feehily
13th
March
Mary
Dunbar
Mary T
Scanlon
Mary
Kivlehan
Collectors
P Gorman
E Moran
J Keegan
R Henry
B Murphy
P Gorman
E Moran
J Keegan
R Henry
B Murphy
The Sick and Housebound: Mass is on 107FM.
Just tune your radio before Mass. Reflective music played after the
9.30am Sunday Mass.
Rosary for the month of March Jimmy Keegan
Mass Times & Intentions
Sat 7:30pm Liam & Mamie Scanlon (Annis)
Sun 9:30am Michael & Bridget Long (Annis)
Sun 11:30am Sean Gillen (Anni)
Mon/Tue No Morning Mass
Tue 7:00pm Adoration with Prayers
Wed 10:00am Joe Feeney (Anni)
Thur 10:00am
Thur 7:00pm First Confessions
Fri 10:00am
Sat 7:30pm Tom Gilmartin and Bea Ryan (Annis)
Sun 9:30am Tommy Keely (Anni)
Sun 11:30am Ellen & John Loughlin (Annis)
Bookstand
Are You a Crystal Ball or a Rubber Ball? - Understanding and working
with hurt feelings
Africa - Journey to diaconate/ Ken Saro-Wiwa and more
Pioneer Magazine - Reports and views from around Ireland
The Rosary - Reflection on the Rosary
St John’s Church Carraroe
Parish Newsletter
Sunday 6Th
March 2016
Mass Times: Saturday 7:30pm Sunday 9:30am & 11:30am
Holidays 10:00am & 7:30pm
Priest: Fr Jim Murray, Email: carraroe@holywellsligo.com
Phone: 071-9162136 Mobile: 087-8198466
Websites: www.carraroechurchsligo.com www.holywellsligo.com
Parish Baptisms
Congratulation to Brian and Daire Mc Ternan, Cairns Hill and we
welcome Peadar Diarmuid into the Christian Community.
God Parents were Gareth Keaveney and Rahmona Dowdican.
Baptisms should be booked by contacting the Parish Office. Please note the Baptism
course must be completed before the Baptism can take place.
Youth Events
Encounter - Weekend retreat from Friday 22nd -24th April in Rossnowlagh, Co.
Donegal. Cost €60 full Board. Weekend includes faith, fun and learning to surf with
new friends. Contact the diocesan youth officer, Frank at 087-9880690.
Croagh Patrick Pilgrimage - Saturday 14th May. Transport provided. Also, contact
Frank at 087-9880690 for further information.
First Confession
First Confession in our parish takes place on Thursday at 7pm. Please remember the
boys and girls in your prayers.
Holy Hill Hermitage
The centre is open for visitors this Sunday 6th March. Tea/Coffee Served. All welcome
Confessions in Cathedral during Lent - Sligo - For the Cluster
As part of our celebration of the Year of Mercy there will be an increased opportunity
to avail of the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the Saturdays of Lent in our
Cathedral. Confessions will be from 11am to 5pm on these Saturdays. We are grateful
to the priests of the local area for their help and support. Please avail of
this special opportunity to receive God’s Mercy.

2. Vocations Discernment Workshop - "IF not You! - Who?"
A Vocations Discernment Workshop for men considering Diocesan Priesthood will
take place on 8th
– 9th
April in the Star of the Sea Retreat Centre, Mullaghmore.
Further information from Rev Jim Murray, Carraroe, Sligo at 071-9162136 or Rev
John Coughlan, Boyle, Co. Roscommon at 071-9662012 or email
vocations@elphindiocese.ie Booking forms available at the Church Bookstand.
Prodigal Love and The Year of Mercy - A Reflection
The first three verses of our Gospel provide a context for the parable of the Prodigal
Son. The tax collectors and the sinners come to ‘hear’ what Jesus has to say, the
Pharisees and the scribes come to ‘complain’. The two parables that follow, before our
Gospel, illustrate joy in heaven that parallels joy on earth at the finding of the lost
sheep and the lost coin. The young son ‘comes to his senses’ and begins his
journey home. He hopes to be treated as a ‘hired worker’ (μίσθιος – ‘misthios’). He is
careful to use the
words ‘father’ and ‘son’ in his well-rehearsed speech. The reaction of his father who
sees him from afar, and runs to meet him, is beautifully expressed in the Greek verb
σπλαγχνίζομαι – ‘splagchnizomai’ which literally means ‘to be moved as to one’s
bowels’. No time for speeches. With dizzying speed we have robe, sandals, ring and
fatted calf. Abundant mercy and love flow. The older son calls himself a slave (δο_λος
– ‘doulos’). He has loyally served but has never really entered into the love of his
father. He may have never left home, but his heart has always been far from home. He
looks down on his brother and, for the first time in the text, suggests his consorting
with women – similar to what the Pharisees and the scribes were saying about Jesus.
Twice the father comes out – once to each son. Twice he offers love. The son who has
lost all is open but the one who has it all cannot see what he has. The Pharisees and the
scribes see themselves not so much as sons but as slaves. That other people might be
freely included in God’s love is deeply resented. Instead of entering into the rejoicing
and the singing at the finding of what was lost, they remain outside. (cf Lk 13:28-30).
They ‘complain’ while tax collectors and sinners ‘hear’. As a follow on from last week,
this Gospel could hardly be more appropriate in the context of the Jubilee Year of
Mercy.
Lent 2016
Trocaire boxes are available at the back and side of the Church.
Please take a pack home and uses the box provided over Lent or make a once off
contribution towards those in need in our world. Please note boxes in our parish are
distributed through the school and returned to same after Lent. They are also
available at the Church back and side door. No one should call to your house offering
a Trocaire box or offering to collect it after Lent.
Eucharistic Ministers/Readers
Have you considered helping out as a Eucharistic Minister or a Reader in our Parish?
We are always looking for new faces to join both of these ministries. Training for both
will be coming up shortly. Please contact Fr. Jim at the Presbytery during the week.
Time for New Friends - New Challenges
Are you interested in becoming a Facilitator with ACCORD Catholic Marriage
Care Service? ACCORD is looking for couples/individuals to train as pre-
marriage course facilitators for Sligo. Full details are available on the ACCORD
website, www.accord.ie or from ACCORD, Sligo, Tel: 9145641 OR email
accordsligo@eircom.net. The course is accredited by Pontifical University, St
Patrick’s College Maynooth. Closing Date for applications is 29th
April, 2016.
Come and hang out with the Girls!
The Irish Girl Guides are recruiting volunteer leaders for our units in Carraroe, Sligo.
We hope to open a new Ladybird Unit in in April (for girls aged 5-7 years). We also
have an existing Brownies unit (for girls aged 7-10 years).The Ladybird and Brownie
programmes encourage girls to develop many life skills through fun activities, crafts,
games, badge work and songs For more information please contact the Irish Girl
Guides, North West Regional Development Officer, Karina Dingerkus, on 087
3283587 or by email: nwrdo@irishgirlguides.ie
Defibrillator
The code to open both defibrillator protectors is 2014 followed by pressing the correct
(✔ ) key.
Night of Nostalgia
Carraroe Social Centre with Dancing to Brose Walsh Band on Saturday 2nd
April -
9pm to 12pm Doors open at 8pm with dancing to Tony Marren .Tickets €10.
Available from Toolans Ballisodare ,Cannings House and Garden Pearse Rd, Kellys
Barber Teeling St, McCormacks Mace Carraroe, or Telephone: 0863998925,
0872222835 , 0876669533,0879303540
Greenfort Residents Association:
The AGM of Greenfort Residents Association will take place in the Embassy
(Residents Lounge), JFK Parade, Sligo, on Tuesday 8th March at 8pm sharp.
Residents are asked to make a special effort to attend
Tobernalt Holy Well
This year of mercy is a special time to go back to the roots of our faith.
Tobernalt celebrates, honours and remembers this journey with its history
surrounded by St. Patrick, penal Ireland and more. This week visit, say a
prayer and light a candle.
St. John's GAA - Gaelic football training commences for U8 and U10 boys next
Saturday, 12th March at 10am. and Girls U12 (age 8-12) from 11.40 -12.40am. in
Gleveragh GAA pitch. All Welcome. Test 087-6760277 for any queries.
Church Collections - We would remind those collection outside the Church to
please follow the directives on your permit. Also note the Church directives on
our Notice Board.