Fourth Sunday of Lent
Laetare Sunday
The simple fact is that Jesus healed the blind man. Someone who previously could not see was blessed with the gift of sight. What happens after that in today’s Gospel is a sharp warning against following the letter of the law but forgetting why we are following it in the first place. It’s true: what Jesus did would have been seen as contentious, and not only by Scribes and Pharisees. The religious laws and actions that the people of that culture followed were incredibly specific. Even now, for some modern-day religions, the punishments for what may seem like very small omissions are punishable by real and lasting violence, not least by being shunned by your own community, let alone physical violence. It was even worse then, though. So, what Jesus did was extraordinary. He knew this. He understood that the repercussions of healing someone on the Sabbath would have led to hot and dangerous debate in the community. He didn’t back down. The real blindness that Jesus is trying to heal is that of the Pharisees and Scribes. And this can invite us to question ourselves. Can our personal understanding of God, of Jesus, make us blind? Can the way that we might bend the Gospel so that we follow it in a more comfortable way undermine our status as Christians? Can we be pleasant to some but unpleasant to others, welcoming to some but dismissive of others? After all, what is a Christian but someone who follows Christ and tries to be his ambassador? Lent is a wonderful opportunity to realign ourselves with Christ. How are we going to do this today? Mount St Joseph Abbey
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Anniversaries This Weekend 15th March 2026
Borris-in-Ossory Sunday Mass 11.00 a.m.
Joe Egan,
Richard Kelly,
Michael, Gretta and Gráinne Hyland,
Seamus and Kathleen Quinlan,
Killasmeestia Sunday Mass 9.30 a.m.
Bridget and Michael Bowe,
Peter and Mary O’ Connor
Anniversaries Next Weekend 22nd March 2026
Borris-in-Ossory Sunday Mass 11.00 a.m.
Lilly Sheeran
Margaret and Michael Houlihan
Finty Kealy
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Many thanks for your Lenten Offering envelopes – If you forgot to send it in please do so during the week or bring it to Mass next weekend.
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St Patrick’s Day
Tuesday A Holy Day of Obligation Feast of St. Patrick Mass at 11.00 a.m. in Borris-in-Ossory
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Daffodil Day
Daffodil Day, in aid of the Irish Cancer Society, takes place on Friday 20th March. Daffodils will be on sale in Borris-in-Ossory at the Daybreak shop, Inver Petrol Station and Drennans Butchers. Please support this worthy cause.
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Social Dancing
Killasmeestia Social Dancing will take place in Killasmeestia Community Hall on Saturday 21st March from 9.00 p.m. to 12.00 p.m. Music by Michael Sexton. Refreshments served, all are welcome.
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Killasmeestia Tidy Towns AGM
The AGM for the Tidy Towns will take place on Wednesday March 25th at 8 p.m. in Killasmeestia Community Centre. All more than welcome!!! Every little helps!
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First Confessions
First Confessions St. Joseph’s School
Wednesday 25th March
(Borris-in-Ossory Church 7.30 p.m.)
First Confessions Killadooley School
Thursday 26th March
(Killasmeestia Church 7.30 p.m.)
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Eucharistic Ministers Next Weekend 22nd March 2026
Borris-in-Ossory SUNDAY 11.00 a.m.
Sheila Phelan,
Mary Sheeran,
Eileen Sweeney,
Margaret Breen
Knockaroo SUNDAY 9.30 a.m.
Jacqui Kealy and Liam Campion
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Church Readers Next Weekend 22nd March 2026
Borris-in-Ossory Mass Sunday 11 a.m.
ST PATRICKS DAY Hazel Luskin
SUNDAY 22nd Margaret Burke
Knockaroo Mass SUNDAY 9.30 a.m.
Josephine Campion
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Thought for the Day
‘Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring.’ St Catherine of Siena. ‘Do you wish your prayer to fly toward God? Make for it two wings: fasting and almsgiving.’ St Augustine of Hippo ‘My whole strength lies in prayer and sacrifice; these are my invincible arms; they can move hearts far better than words, I know it by experience.’ St Thérèse of Lisieux ‘Men lose all the material things they leave behind them in this world, but they carry with them the reward of their charity and the alms they give.’ Saint Francis of Assisi
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HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY
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