LECTIO DMNA on Mondays from 8pm to 9pm at, Presentation Convent.  The most transformative word in today's Gospel is "Shalom" - peace be with you.

RECENT BAPTISMS Ava Leona Ryan 47 Oliver Plunkett St.

PRAYERS will be offered for the canonisation of Nano Nagle - foundress of the presentation order this weekend.

RELICS OF ST.  THERESE OF LISIEUX RETURNS TO CORK We at St Francis Church have been asked to host the relics of St Therese Of Lisiex on Friday 8th May until midday the 9th May.  This is an opportunity for people of the region to pay their respects to the "Little Flower" and to ask her intercession.  It is an opportunity for the sick and the elderly to come and celebrate her life and to join with her in offering up their sickness and their pain and suffering and uniting themselves with her in a spiritual way.  It is fitting that the Saint of Lisieux comes to Ireland to visit especially the sick and old who cannot make the pilgrimage to France.  We pray that through her intercession many will be blessed, and strengthened in their faith.  There will be a special mass at 3.30pm on Friday May 8th and there will be an opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation on both days.  And of course the masses as scheduled for the weekdays will be celebrated at 7am, 9am, 10-30am and 12 noon.

BANDON TIDY TOVINS work nights.  Meet at 7pm every Tuesday at Hartes car park. (weather permitting) More volunteers most welcome "Many hands make light work".

GURRANE NATIONAL SCHOOL are holding their inter school sports on Friday lst May at 6pm in Brinny pitch.  All are welcome.

SWIMMING next 8 week session begins the week of May 4th.  Lessons for adults & children.  Beginners & improvers , lane swimming.  Grove leisure centre Bandon 023 8841643.

BANDON OPINION May issue out on Thursday 30th April.

BANDON BRANCH OF COPE FOUNDATION meeting will be held on Monday 27th April Munster Arms Hotel at 8.30pm.

DUNMANWAY MINIATURE MODEL SHOW A miniature model & farm construction show & car boot sale will take place on Sun. 26th April at the Parkway Hotel Dunmanway, Co. Cork from 12noon-6pm.  Both static & mobile Dioramas will be on show so it will be suitable for young and old alike.  Denis Kelleher from Dunmanway who was joint winner of the recent Farmers journal best model competition will have his prize-winning farmyard on display on the day.  In association with Dunmanway Co-action and Dunmanway Day Care Centre.

GRAMOPHONE CIRCLE Monday April 27tb at 8pm at Gateway Hall.  Everybody welcome.

Two of the disciples are on the road to Emmaus, they had placed all their hopes on Jesus & now all they have is shattered dreams.

How could they have been so foolish?  How could they have hoped & believed so much?  The disciples are so self absorbed in their loss and dashed hopes that they fail to recognise Jesus & to remember what he thought them.

The stranger who travels with them also believes they are foolish - but for a different reason "What little sense you have!  How slow you are to believe in what the prophets had said".

As their journey ends the disciples invite the stranger to stay with them & in the sharing of the meal they recognise Jesus as that stranger.  "Were not our hearts burning within us as he talked to us on the road". it is then filled with courage & joy that the disciples go forth & proclaim the Easter story.  "The Lord has been raised"!  It is true.

The story of the road to Emmaus is the story of every Christian.  It is in our journey towards the Lord with all our doubts and fears, that we can encounter the stranger who will open our eyes & inflame our hearts.  When our eyes are opened.  We can experience the presence of Jesus in our failures & in our successes.

In our sadness & in our joy.  As we travel along lifes journey we will all experience the presence of strangers in our lives, May we have the courage to pray with the disciples.  "Were not our hearts burning within us as they talked to us along the road."                                                                      Fr.  Paul