This Month

Máirt/March

1 -17 Máirt/March:

Seachtain na Gaeilge

Seachtain na Gaeilge  is an international Irish language festival and one of the biggest celebrations of our native language and culture that takes place each year in Ireland and in many other countries                                                                                                                          An bhuil cúpla focal agat? Bain taithneanh as iad a úsáid. Dia dhuit.

Obair: Tóg bog é; Go hiontach; Dia ‘s Muire agat; Go raibh maith agat; Conas tá tú? Níl aon tinteán mar do thinteán féin;  ‘s ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine.

 

3-10 Máirt/March

National Tree Week Seachtain Náisiúnta na gCrann   Theme: Planting Trees for a greener Future

The designated week for tree protection awareness in Ireland, organised by the Tree Council of Ireland and Coillte.

 ‘and the leaves of the trees are for the healing of the nations’ Rev 22:2

Just think…everyday one tree supplies enough oxygen for more than 4 peop

 ‘and the leaves of the trees are for the healing of the nations’ Revelation 22:2                                                                                                                                  Trees take in carbon dioxide from the air and convert much of it into wood. They also produce oxygen. Every year, each hectare of Ireland’s forests takes in 3.4 tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere, which helps in the battle against climate change.

Action:  Why not hug a tree or maybe plant a tree in your garden, school, farm, parish this week.

4-17 March

Fairtrade Fortnight- 2024 Theme:  The World is Boiling and its Unfair!

As we can all see, hear and feel, our World is Boiling. And it is affecting small farmers and workers more than most.

We all need to do our bit to adjust the heat, to adapt to the changing climate. To reduce our contributions from how our homes, communities and businesses that are creating chaotic climate change. This is also true for how Governments spend our money. We need to ensure our politicians deliver climate finance to support the most vulnerable people in the face of chaotic climate change – small farmers and workers.                                             Choose Fairtrade as its better for people and planet, and it could help save everyday treats like chocolate, bananas and a cuppa!Check out FAIRTRADE and or find them on facebook. Join an online event and meet people from Ghana, Honduras, Nicaragua…Highlight the FAIRTRADE Mark for the next seven days..Buy FAIRTRADE Mark coffee and tea.

Make your home, school, office, club, church, parish a Fairtrade place

3 March/Márta 

World Wildlife Day

United Nations World Wildlife Day (WWD) is celebrated every year to celebrate wild animals and plants. Every year, we recognize the unique roles and contributions of wildlife to people and the planet.

Action: What are our native Irish fauna? Have you a hedgehog hibernating under leaves in your garden…go gently if tidying those leaves!

 

8th March/Marta

UN International Women’s Day

This International Women’s Day,  join the United Nations in celebrating under the theme ‘Invest in women: Accelerate progress. The world is facing many crises, ranging from ‘ge.

All around the world, International Women’s Day represents an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women while calling for greater equality.

Action: Celebrate the women in your life, a sister, daughter, mother, grandmother, a colleague. Look for and join a local celebration.

5th March/Márta:

Annual Trócaire Lecture  7pm

The St. Patrick’s College Maynooth Annual Lent Lecture takes place on Tuesday March 5th 2024 at 7pm. This year’s speaker is Rev. Agbonkhianmeghe Orobator, S.J, who is the Dean of Theology at Santa Clara University. The theme is: ‘Climate Justice and Catholic Social Teaching: “Everything is connected…No one is saved alone” (Laudate Deum, 19).

“Registration for this free online event

10 March/Márta – 9 April/Aibreán

Ramadan, also spelled Ramazan, Ramzan, Ramadhan or Ramathan, is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide. It is a sacred month for all Muslims, a month of prayer fasting and almsgiving which of course reminds us of the Christian Lenten time. Fasting during Ramadan means abstaining from all food, drink and smoking during daylight hours. It is an exercise in self-discipline and enables some experience of deprivation.

Action: pray for your Muslim neighbours and friends and support them in this sacred time. Wish any Muslim friends or neighbours ‘Ramadan Mubarak’ or A Blessed Ramadan or ‘Ramadan Kareem’, May God be generous to you during Ramadan.

17 March/ Márta

St. Patrick’s Day

Christ with me, Christ before me………Christ on my right, Christ on my left…

Action: Reach out…safely… to someone from another country who has come to live in Ireland.

18 March/Márta

Global Recycling Day& International Day of Forests

Action: Use your local recycling banks for bottles, cans, paper and BEE THE CHANGE and walk in your local wood and breathe deeply and give

21 March/Márta                                                                                                    International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

… in Christ’s eyes everyone is someone special, whether black, Asian or Arab. Now when Christ’s love enters us, when we open the doors of our spirits to it, when we pack in cold religion and opt for the warmth of real faith, then everything inside us starts to change; and it effects our eyesight, the way we look at all people whether they are black or Asian or Arab. We start to look loving at people – with Christ’s eyes.                                                   Action: Pray and then live this prayer:                                                                                     Lord, Jesus Christ
who reached across the ethnic boundaries between Samaritan, Roman and Jew,
who offered fresh sight to the blind and freedom to captives,
help us to break down the barriers in our community,
enable us to see the reality of racism and bigotry, and free us to challenge and uproot it
from ourselves, our society and our world. Amen

 

22   March/Márta

World Water Day                                                                                                                  Praise be to Thee my Lord for Sister Water,she is useful and humble,precious and pure. The campaign for World Water Day, 22 March 2024, This year’s theme is ‘Water for Peace’, which focuses on the critical role water plays in the stability and prosperity of the world.

Action: Drink a glass of water slowly today and savour it. Pray for all those affected by drought with no access to clean water. Pray for the people of Malawi and add some money to your Trócaire box.

 

Saturday 23rd March/Márta

 Earth Hour  8.30pm -9.30pm  

Switch off and Give an hour for Earth on Saturday, March 23rd at 8:30 pm your local time. Together, let’s create the Biggest Hour for Earth.                                                                    Earth Hour aims to encourage an interconnected global community to share the opportunities and challenges of creating a sustainable world.                                                      Earth Hour was started as a lights-off event in Sydney, Australia in 2007. Since then it has grown to engage more than 162 countries and territories worldwide.

Action: Consider your use of energy. Can you reduce it? CLICK HERE to calculate your carbon footprint  and of course turn off your lights at 8.30pm and spread the word!

 

 

24 March/Márta

Saint Oscar Romero (Murdered in El Salvador in 1980)

A man compelled by the Gospel to speak out against injustice.

“The martyrdom of the Servant of God Oscar Arnolfo Galdámez Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador; born August 15, 1917 in Ciudad Barrios (El Salvador) and killed in hatred of the Faith, March 24, 1980, in San Salvador (El Salvador)”

Action: Now inspired by Martyr Saint Oscar Romero and others be a voice for justice here in Kerry.

Other Lenten Actions

-Keep putting money into your Trócaire Box

-Fast from gossip!

-Pray with the Lenten gospels

Join in the Prayer of the Stations of Creation in Tralee (20 March @5.40pm, st Johns Church).

SAVE THE DATE:

22 April  Earth Day

“We are all involved in the construction of a better world”  Pope Francis