Children, parents, grandparents, and other interested adults, are invited along to meetings in Bearna and Furbo this week to make our weekend Masses more family-orientated.

Bearna-Na Forbacha has always had a great tradition of community-integration in the local church, through choirs and other participation. Fr Michael Brennan has issued a public invitation to anyone who would like to help give the Saturday evening Mass in Bearna, and the 10am Mass in Furbo a ‘family focus’ to come along to meetings tonight (Monday) and on Thursday.

“There was a lovely practice in the parish of children involved in the Saturday evening Mass during the winter months. At a meeting with the adult leaders involved, I suggested that we might give this mass a family-focus, with children from all classes, their parents, and grandparents welcome to participate,” Fr Michael said this week.

“My suggestion is coming from a strong belief that children come to have a precious and lasting awareness of God present in their lives, principally through the love, care, and prayer life in the home. This is where I first came to an awareness of God, even though my parents would claim they were not particularly religious. The home is where the goodness of God is felt in so many loving and caring ways.

“The thought of having family Masses came to me around the time of the World Meeting of Families. The relics of St Therese, and her parents, Sts Louis and Zéile Martin, were brought to Galway Cathedral, and we also had a lovely ceremony here in Bearna. Following from that, a shrine to St Therese and her family is now in the Church beside the shrine to Our Lady Immaculate Queen. Scanning the internet, such Masses are regular in certain parishes around the country.”

Fr Michael has organised meetings for parents of children in Bearna and Buaile Beag schools in the Cillín, Bearna Church, tonight (Monday) at 8pm.

For those connected with SN Na bhForbacha, the meeting will take place on Thursday in Séipéal Réalt na Mara at 8pm.

If you cannot make either meeting, but would like to contribute your time, talents, energy - whatever - please email Fr Michael: miclbrennan@eircom.net.