St. Oliver Plunketts

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Mass Times

Saturday: 5:30pm
Sunday: 9:00am

about St. Oliver Plunketts

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

THE COUPLE THAT PRAYS TOGETHER STAYS TOGETHER.

 Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R.

June 27th – 3rd July 2021

Jesus the Lord who gives life

Jesus said: “Why all this commotion and crying? The child is not dead, but asleep.” But they laughed at him. A lovely feature of our Catholic tradition is that we can have a good sense of humour even about the most sacred things. However, what we see in the Gospel today is not humour but ridicule. And there is a lot of that today about what we hold sacred. There are a lot of good jokes about the marriage relationship, for example. But there is also a lot of ridicule about it today which we should not tolerate. Young people find it difficult today to admit to going to Mass because their peers make fun of them for it. We need to find the ways of encouraging them to keep going. Our society will tolerate anything but people who treasure their faith. We need to stand by one another and let Christ be present as saviour for the world.

Morning Prayer, when together

Father, you call your children

to walk in the light of Christ.

Free us from darkness and keep us, as a married couple,

in the radiance of your truth.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

 

During the day, when apart

Lord God, through your sacraments

you give us the power of your grace.

May our sacrament of marriage

help us to serve you faithfully.

We ask this through Christ Our Lord.

 

Evening/Night Prayer together

Lord, may our love for one another in marriage

give us a share in your life

and help us bring your love to the world.

We ask this through Christ Our Lord.

 

Questions for Action for the week

For your marriage: How do you ‘give life’ to each other? Plan to make a special time for one another this week.

For others: Think about and pray for some group that promotes life. As a couple, find a way of helping them this week.

 

www.continuousprayer.net

 


Couple Prayer:           How to use it

 

  • ·         See it as a little weekly programme for living and growing your marriage

 

  • ·         On Friday evening or Saturday, take a half hour or so to talk together about your marriage in the light of the Scripture reflection. This is always taken from the Sunday Mass, so it is also a couple preparation for this celebration of the Eucharist.

 

  • ·         During this half hour spend some time answering the two questions at the bottom of the sheet, firstly by writing your own personal response to them and then, as appropriate, sharing your answers with each other

 

  • ·         From Sunday to Saturday practice the short prayer for your marriage, Morning and Evening when together, and during the day when you are on your own. These prayers are based on the prayers that are special to each Sunday Mass

 

  • ·         If possible, meet occasionally with other married couples to share your reflections and to support one another

 

Consider the following statistics as quoted in For Better & For Ever p.130 by Fr. Robert A. Ruhnke, C.Ss.R.

 

  • ·         The current divorce rate in the U.S. is about 50%
  • ·         Of those couples who worship together each Sunday, the divorce rate is 3.3%
  • ·         Of those couples who also pray regularly together in their home, the divorce rate is 0.3%

This is well worth thinking about!