LECTIO DEVINA on Mondays from 8pm to 9pm at Presentation Convent.  "He raised us up and gave us a place in heaven" (St.Paul)

RECENT BAPTISMS Lukas Salonavicius 31A Oliver Plunkett St. Lucy Ellen 0 Shea 58 Radharc an Bhaile, Knockbrogan.

Station Mass for Gurteen, Mishelis Behagh and Little Silver on Friday 27th March 8pm at Finbarr & Lucy Lunch's.  Derrycool & Carhue South on sat. 28th March at 10.30am at Michael & Maria Cadogan's.

St.  Brogan's College Parents Association will hold a meeting in the school on Monday 23rd March 8pm.  All parents are welcome.

St.  Brogan's Parents Association will hold a fundraising table quiz in the Munster Arms Hotel, Bandon Friday March 27th at 8.30pm Tickets :E20 (per table of 4) includes door prize.  Quiz master Paudie Palmer.  Proceeds to the school.

To celebrate Carbery Macra na Feirme 60th Anniversary 2 special Macra scoriocht programmes will be broadcasted by Bob Jennings on C103fm on Sunday 22nd & Sunday 29th March at 7pm.  For further celebration of their 60th anniversary the region has organised a dinner dance to mark this special occasion.  This takes place on sat. 4th April in the Parkway Hotel, Dunmanway.  Tickets:E35.  For further info and bookings contact Brian O'Mahony 087 7636535 or Brian Fintan 086 3478903.

Work Start West Cork is a free, FAS funded supported employment service.  We support job seekers who feel they need some extra support finding work due to various issues such as dyslexia, back problems, illnesses, sensory impairments, depression or other issues.  We support people to find fully paid employment in the open labour market.  We also provide support to employers.  Contact Mags 086 8126806 or 023 88 41311

Ahakeera Dramatic Society presents "The winning Maid" a 3 act comedy on Sunday March 22nd in Gaggin Community hall.  Curtains 8.30 sharp

Bandon Opinion April issue on sale Thursday next, March 26th.

Diabetes Public Meeting & AGM Sunday 29th March at the Imperial Hotel, South Mail, Cork.  AGM at 2pm, Speakers at 3pm.  Guest speaker Ms. Mary Banotti, former MEP & Active public figure 'Living with Diabetes'.  'Healthy Lifestyle Choices' speaker Ms. Liz Kirby Dietician, Diabetes Federation of Ireland.  All Welcome Admission Free 021 4274229/ Lo-Call 1850 909 909 email: sro@diabetes.ie

Bandon Toastmasters meet 2nd & 4th Wednesday of each month in the Bandon Room of the Munster Arms Hotel at 8.15pm sharp.  Visitors & new members always welcome.  Next meeting is the 23rd March.  Kinsale meetings are on Ist & 3rd Wednesday of each month next meeting is on Ist April in the Blue Haven Hotel at 8pm.  All welcome.

The focus this week is on the displaced Mohammed family from Somalia, whose picture appears on the Ambo this weekend.

Why were they displaced?

Arab & Qaali used to live in Baidoa city.  They had a good life there, lived on a farm with 5 cattle and Arab had a job repairing watches and radios.  Then in 1991, the government of the country collapsed.  Since then there has been no central functioning government to make decisions about running the country.  Fighting between rival clans since 1991 has forced 10% of the population, over I million people, to leave their homes.  Arab and his wife had to leave their home when the fighting started.  They had to escape to a refugee camp in Kenya in 1992 when fighting broke out in Belet Amin and lived there for four years.

Where do they live now?

They live in Belet Amin, a settlement for displaced people in Somalia beside the border with Kenya.  Life is very hard for the family.  They get some food aid but not enough to feed the whole family.  They try to make some more money by washing clothes, gathering firewood or begging.  They have to walk 3km to the nearest source of water.  They feel they will never be able to return to their home because it is more dangerous than ever.  Arab said "God knows the future; we don't know what will happen.  I'm staying here; I don't have any intention to move from here, where security is good."

I  The special Trocaire Collection takes place at all masses next weekend.