Lenten SundaysHealing the Hurt

Our Lady of Lourdes Churchat 7pm.

Guest Speaker Katie Ascough, (former student union president of DCU).

Loving Life Even When It HurtsWe welcome all parishioners to come along.

********Masses for St. Patrick’s Day

St. Peter’s ChurchFriday 16th March 6.15pm VigilSaturday 17th March 8.00am & 11.00am (as Gaeilge)No evening Mass on Saturday 17th in St. Peter’s ChurchOur Lady of Lourdes ChurchFriday 16th March 7.30pm VigilSaturday 17th March 9.30am, 10.30am & 12noonThere will be a collection at all Masses to support the

pastoral care of Irish emigrants abroad.Baptismal & Confirmation Certificates may be obtainedby contacting:• St. Peter’s Church Sacristy, 041-9845355

weekdays from 9am to12.30pm.• Email: stpeterschurch@saintpetersdrogheda.ie Spring Dues, for the support of the priests of the parish,will be collected between now and St. Patrick’s week-end. We are especially grateful to our loyal dues collec-tors. Dues envelopes will also be available in bothchurches.

Pope Francis’ message for Lent is available atwww.vatican.va

St. Pio Devotions will be held in St. Mary’s Church on Thursday 15th March.Rosary at 7.05pm, Mass at 7.30pm. All are welcome to attend.

The Parish Team wishes to invite married couples with significant anniver-saries occurring this year to get in touch. As part of our Parish preparation forthe World Meeting of Families, married couples celebrating the important mile-

stones of 10, 25, 40, 50 & 60 years anniversaries in 2018, are invited to give their de-tails into either sacristy or to any of the priests. We hope to arrange a Mass ofcelebration to mark these special milestones. We encourage parishioners to notify usof upcoming anniversaries within their families.Help us to Help Others. The opportunity to give blood will arise at St. Mary’s PrimarySchool, Crossroute, Bryanstown on Sunday 11th March 11.30am – 3pm, Monday 12th, Tues-day 13th, Wednesday 14th & Thursday 15th March from 5pm - 8.30pm. For further infor-mation contact our local voluntary organizer, Ann-Marie Beirth on 041-9831689.Rosary at the Mass Rocks and ancient Monastic Sites, Sunday 18th March at 2.30pm.For more information or to sign up a location visit www.coastalrosaryireland.ie..Catechesis to rediscover the riches of your Baptism continues every Monday andThursday until 25th March at 8pm in Our Lady of Lourdes Church (crying room).

Meeting of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference 6th March StatementOur Common Humanity

As pastors we are aware that the conversation about unborn life is sensitive, delicateand, indeed painful for many. We offer our reflections with the greatest of respectfor everyone while wishing to make some points clearly and unambiguously.Fundamental Right. Everyone of us has a right to our life.Life begins at conception.Are we allowing ourselves to be desensitised?Choose Life.Two lives, one love.A declaration of equality. Article 40.3.3 is a declaration of equality and respect forhuman life.We invite people of faith to pray earnestly that Ireland will “choose life” and thatthe lives of women and their unborn children will always be loved, valued,wel-comed and respected in this country.Full text available on www.catholicbishops.ie

Archdeacon J. Carroll PPSt. Peter’s Parochial House

041-9838537Fr. Paul Murphy CCSt. Peter’s Presbytery

041-9838239.

Canon P. McDonnellFr. Maciej Zacharek CCFr. Barry Matthews CC

Our Lady of Lourdes Presbytery 041-9831899

Deacon David DurriganDeacon John Taaffe

THE BARBICAN, St. Peter’s Parish Centre. Phone 041 - 9807416.

St. Peter's Parish NewsletterYear B of the Sunday Cycle. : www.saintpetersdrogheda.ie

Sunday 11th March 2018Sunday Masses:

St Peter’s Church:- Saturday Vigil 6.15pm; Sunday 8.00am; 11.00am;12.15pmOur Lady of Lourdes:- Saturday Vigil 7.30pm; Sunday 9.30am;10.30am; 12 noon.

First Confession DatesSt. Oliver’s NS 7th March St. Peter’s ChurchSt. Brigid’s NS 13th March Our Lady of Lourdes ChurchSt. Patrick’s NS 21st March Our Lady of Lourdes ChurchScoil Aonghusa 22nd March Lenten Sundays

Armagh Diocesan Pastoral CentreOne to One Bereavement Support, confidentiality assured. Appointment not neces-sary, no cost involved. Thursday mornings from 10.30am.-12.30pm. Venue ArmaghDiocesan Pastoral Centre, The Magnet, The Demesne, Dundalk. Enquiries from 10am– 2pm on 042-9336393Pastoral Parents Family Programme will continue on Friday mornings from 10.30am– 12noon. For information contact John 086-8611531. Separated or widowed? Beginning Experience helps people work through their grief,to be healed and free to live again. The next weekend programme is scheduled for20th – 22nd April. Enquiries/ registration contact Aiden 089-2123833 or 042-9336393.You are invited to come along to an Easter Bake Sale in St. Oliver’s NS, Ballymakenny Road on Friday 23rd March at 10am. Adults €2, childrenfree. Drop in for a cuppa.

Trócaire Boxes are available at the back of both Churches.Light the Fire! St. Patrick’s Day 2018.You are invited to a special prayer event onthe Hill of Slane ,where St. Patrick lit the Easter Fire, at 5pm on 17th March. BishopMichael Smith will celebrate Mass at 5.30pm followed by Adoration of the BlessedSacrament. This is an outdoor event so please dress warmly. For more informationcontact the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal 041-9830441.Dietitian led X-PERT course for Type 2 Diabetes will start in St. Peter’s C.o.I. Hall,Peter Street, Drogheda on Friday 13th April 2018. This is a free course that runs for6 weeks. If you are interested in attending please contact Ger Nolan on 041-6850675for more information.Time for a New ChallengeAre you interested in becoming a Facilitator with ACCORD Catholic Marriage Care Service, Ireland’s leading provider of marriagepreparation courses? Would you like to share your positive married experience withengaged couples preparing for their married life together? ACCORD is a voluntaryCatholic organization that aims to promote a deeper understanding of Christian mar-riage and to offer people the means to safeguard and nourish their marriage and familyrelationships. Professional training is provided – Certificate in Marriage Education,ac-credited by Pontifical University, Maynooth. Please contact ACCORD Armagh Cen-tre, 028 38334781 or www.accord.ieDrogheda & District Floral Art Group invites you to a Table Quiz on Tuesday 13th Marchat 8pm in the Holy Family Community Centre, Ballsgrove. Everyone welcome.Armagh Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes 12th – 17th May 2018. Cost €720 perperson sharing, full board. Contact Canon P McDonnell, Our Lady of Lourdes Pres-bytery, 041-9831899.A Holy Hour with music and reflections will be held in St. Mary’s Church, JamesStreet on Wednesday 14th March at 8pm. All welcome.

We welcome into the Christian communityPenny Rose Dunne, Trinity GardensOdin Emmanuel James Garry, Boyle O’Reilly Terrace

Baptism Due to the need to plan ahead, our Baptism Team requests that parents give 4 weeks advancenotice to a priest of the parish at either presbytery. Congratulations to all parents blessed with a newbaby. We will endeavour to help you celebrate the sacrament of Baptism with joy.

We pray for the repose of the souls ofMary Reynolds, Laurence’s DriveRoseleen Sherry, North RoadSr. Veronica Tarpey MMM, BeechgroveLouise Johnson, Glenmore DriveMay they rest in peace. Amen

Bereavement Counselling on a one-to-one basis is available at the Drogheda Community ServicesCentre, Scarlet Crescent, Drogheda. There is no charge for this service and a panel of trained counsellorsis available during the day and evenings to see clients on an individual basis. For more informationcontact the Centre on 041-9836084Mass at 10.00am. including Novena to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Our Lady of LourdesChurch on Monday mornings.Tuesday: Novena in honour of St. Anthony at 10.30.am. and 7.30.pm. in St. Peter’s Church.The Novena to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal is recited on Wednesday mornings after the 10.30am Mass in St. Peter’s Church.

Monday 19th March is the Feast of St. Joseph.St. Joseph’s Young Priests’ Society invites parishioners to join them in praying for voca-tions through the intercession of St. Joseph in the days leading up to the Feast. The SJYPSprayer for vocations will be recited at Masses next weekend.

Church collection for the weekend 3rd / 4th March 2018Loose €1,405 Envelopes € 1,355 Total €2,760

The Rosary for Vocations is recited daily after the 10 o’clock Mass in Our Lady of Lour-des Church and after the 10.30am Mass in St. Peter’s Church for world peace and the pro-tection of the unborn.

Eucharistic AdorationAdorers are required for the following times:

Sunday 4 – 5pm, Tuesday 1 – 2pm & Saturday 2 – 3pmFor further information or to volunteer phone Anna at 9836661 or Breda at 9836896.Information for those discerning the call to priesthood may be found on www.armagh-priest.com or by contacting any of the priests of the parish.A Healing Mass with anointing of the sick will be celebrated by Fr. Declan Brennan onMonday 12th March in the Augustinian Church, Shop St., at 7.30pm. The Mass is organ-ised by the Drogheda Drugs & Alcohol Forum in conjunction with the Holy Family PrayerGroup. Light refreshments will be served afterwards.

Baptisms

Deaths