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Weekly Bulletin
(normally updated on a Saturday for the following week,
sometimes includes more than the paper bulletin which can be limited for space)

St David's Dalkeith
41 Eskbank Road
Dalkeith
EH22 3BH
Tel. No. 0131-663-4286
Mobile No. 07850 227025
E-mail allan.chambers1@btinternet.com

PARISH PRIEST - Very Rev. Mgr. Allan T. Chambers

3rd Sunday in Lent
Sunday 7th March 2010
Cycle C

Celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
This Sacrament is celebrated at the following times,

St. Luke & St. Anne’s, Mayfield :-
Wednesday and Saturday mornings after Mass.
St. David’s, Dalkeith :-
Saturday, 5.00 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. prior to the Vigil Mass.

Any suitable time at either parish on request.

Praying for the Sick and Housebound.
‘The economy is sick, the car is sick, the boiler is sick.’
Sometimes we use the phrase to try and describe something that is inanimate as to why it is not working. Truthfully the word sick can only be accurately used to describe the human condition when our health begins to fail us, when we become more and more dependent.

Five years ago we watched on television the painful last few days in the life of the much loved late Pope John Paul II.
Anyone who saw him in the last few weeks of his life no doubt would have recalled the fit, young, vigorous Pontiff who appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica on the night of his election the 16th of October 1978.

As his own life drew to a close he continued to teach us that illness, pain, suffering and dependency, all the things that go hand in hand with sickness, should not be hidden away, but rather brought to the fore so we can respond appropriately.

We pray then for all connected to our parish who find themselves in a similar situation commending them to Christ the Divine Healer.

Third Sunday in Lent.
During Advent, a similar colour in the Liturgical season but a different emphasis, we focus on the Crib. We see, as Advent concludes, the crib being erected in church, the various figures in the crib, and of course the empty manger. It is a warm expectant time of hope and excitement.

During Lent our focus is very different.
Almost everything is stripped from the Sanctuary, no flowers, no alleluias, pared down music, a sense of bleakness and indeed harshness. The focus increasingly as Lent moves on is the Cross. Not something given to provide warm comforting images.

The powerful meditations of the Way of the Cross, in whatever form, focus on the Cross too, as Christ makes his painful way toward Calvary.

Yes this is a bleak season, self denial, ashes and penance, this indeed may sound negative and we may as others do question why we do it. However we remember that this is all done to remind us of the necessity of turning back to God, in prayer, in penance and in almsgiving.

The Cross then must be our focus, the season is bleak and stark and harsh. It is necessary to go through this so that we better celebrate the Joy and Hope of the Easter Season.

Happy Third Week of Lent.

Parish News and Events.

Deanery Station Mass, Sacred Heart, Penicuik.
Many thanks to the large group who travelled up to a cold and snowy Penicuik on Wednesday for the Deanery Station Mass. I am sure you, like me, found the welcome from Father McInnes and his people to be warm and most hospitable.

At the Mass itself two of the elect, those preparing to enter into full membership of the Roman Catholic Church, received copies of the Creed from the Cardinal as a final step prior to their reception into the Church at the Easter Vigil in their own parishes.

Throughout the Archdiocese, 103 people will be taking this important step in their lives as the Easter Vigil approaches.

Please pray for them and their sponsors at this time. Thank You.

Parish Lenten Services.
Again, a reminder as outlined previously of our own parish Lenten journey especially on Wednesdays.

Thanks again to those making the effort to attend the early morning Mass. This coming Wednesday sees us reach the half way stage, so as they used to say,
‘I’ve started so I’ll finish !!

After the break for last week’s Deanery Station Mass, Exposition and the Way of the Cross resume again this coming Wednesday.

Lenten Reflections.
As I have offered in the past, so I offer again this year two evenings reflecting on some aspect of this season of Lent and Holy Week.

The first will take place on Monday March 22nd
beginning at 7.30 p.m. in the parish hall, concluding at 9.00 p.m., with a break in the middle for tea and coffee. This session will look at the four Gospels and how they approach the Passion of the Lord.

The second on Monday March 29th
will be slightly different. The time will be the same, 7.30 p.m. to 9.00 p.m., however the format will be that of a mini retreat or reflection with a talk, a period of reflection, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, and the opportunity of celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Please note the dates in your diary and if possible do try and come along. Thanks.

Saturday 20th March - St. Patrick's Night Dance.
Tickets at £5 will be on sale at the back of church on Saturday and Sunday.
Tickets includes Pie and Beans, Irish Dancers. Cheap booze on the night.

Parish Spring Magazine.
We plan to publish a Spring Magazine in May and to this end, will be grateful to receive all your articles, news, stories, history, photos, jokes, whatever you have and think suitable for inclusion.

Please give your items for inclusion to Winifred, Brian or Julian by the end of March or at the latest just after Easter. This gives us enough time to construct and refine the magazine prior to its publication and distribution.

The magazine committee is looking for a fourth member. Please contact one of the above if you are interested.

Piety Stall.
Mass Cards and cards for special occasions, books, rosaries, candles, etc., are on sale at the back of the church. Orders can be taken if items not on display.

Royal Infirmary Edinburgh.
Again may I remind you that as we currently do not have a Catholic Priest appointed as Chaplain at the Royal, it is important that if you or a member of your family is to be admitted and require the Sacrament of the Sick to please let me know as soon as possible.

As far as I am able I try to visit my own parishioners who are in hospital and anoint those who request it. Thanks.

Looking ahead....

Sunday 7th March - Bacon rolls.

Sunday 14th March - Pro-Life Teas & Coffees.

Saturday 20th March -  St Patrick’s night dance.

Sunday 21st March - Pro-Life Teas & Coffees.

Monday 22nd March 7.30 p.m. in the Hall.
First Lenten Reflection.

Sunday 28th March - Mary’s Meals Teas & Coffees.

Monday 29th March 7.30 p.m..
Second Lenten Reflection.

Friday 2nd April - Good Friday.

Saturday 3rd April - Holy Saturday.

Sunday 4th April - Easter Sunday.

Saturday 10th April 7.30 p.m. - Parish Spring Dance (Eternity are playing again).
Tickets £5 buffet included.   Tickets will be on sale shortly.

Saturday 1st May - Monthly Hop.

Sunday 2nd May - Bacon rolls. 

Sunday 9th May 11.00 a.m., St. Luke & St. Anne's.
Celebration of First Holy Communion and Confirmation 11.00 a.m. Mass
(Mass St. David's 9.30 a.m. this Sunday only.)

Sunday 23rd May 11.00 a.m., St. David's Dalkeith.
Celebration of First Holy Communion and Confirmation 11.00am Mass.

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