RECENT BAPTISM Michael Denis Foley, Mishells, Bandon.

Glenview Gardens Charity Day

at David and Mary Tanner's Desert, Enniskeane.  Donations in aid of St Mary's Church, Desertserges. 10am - 6pm, Sunday 6th July, 2008. refreshments and raffle.  All Welcome.

A Special Collection

will be taken up at all masses this weekend for the upkeep of the cemetry.

Thank You

Trocaire wishes to thank the people of this parish for their wonderful response to the 2008 campaign.  Total contribution from Bandon.  C15,087

Cemetery Mass

Mass will be celebrated at St. Mary's cemetery, Spring Lane on Monday 7th July at 7.30 p.m. for all those buried there during the Great Famine and all who have been interred there since.

Pathways:       A new oppotfunity for adults interested in exploring their faitb.

This course, beginning in Cork city in September 2008, offers you a chance to explore questions related to faith, church and life in general one night a week over the course of the year.  Open to adults of all ages.  No exams or wntten assignments required, simply an openness to leaming with and from others.  More information on church notice board.  For a brochure, call Fr.  Sean O' Sullivan, Adult Religious Education Office at 021. 4357765 or email are@corkandross.org. Places limited.  Closing date for applications 31st July 2008.

www.catholic.com What a website this is and I ensured I set aside plenty of time to explore this wonderful bank of information.  Suited for the adult audience, it delves into meaning behind the many things we undergo as Catholics.  Colour is evident but the website is very text based.  It is highly informative and gives the reader a total insight into various stages of Catholicism throughout your life and history of various catholic organisations.

Today our newspapers, television and radio stations are full of negative news about recession, the poor performance of the economy, the rise in unemployment and so on.  None of this talk does much to lift our spirits or keep us positive about the future.  In our Gospel Jesus indicates that life can burdensome and can weary our spirits.  At times life can leave us without joy. just think of the many small and large demands that build up in the course of each day, the thousand and one demands - daily life can cut deep into our spirits.  At times we can feel more driven than been in charge.  Life has a way of breaking us all.  The question for each of us is how can we remain strong?  How can we keep on going when giving up would be so easy?

Jesus tells us "Come to me all you who are weary and find life difficult, and I will give you strength.  Jesus gives us the strength to face today and tomorrow, love lightens the burden of life.  Without love every molehill becomes a mountain, every inconvenience a great suffering, problems remain just problems and not possibilities.  With love we can all face life with confidence.  St. Paul assures us that the spirit of Jesus is dwelling within each of us.

Coming to Jesus with all our burdens should not be misunderstood.  Jesus does not offer us a free pass or exemption from life's burdens.  He came to preach the good news and not a fairytale.  He does not magically remove our burdens and crosses.  What Jesus does promise is that He will be our companion along the journey, the one who understands.  Burdens are removed by being accepted, and transformed by love and grace.  We are invited to come to jesus in today's Eucharist where we will find rest from our labours and burdens, as humble children of our loving eternal father let us with courage place our problems in God's hands.                Fr.  Paul