Sunday 2nd May, 2010

5th Sunday of Easter

First Reading : Acts of the Apostles 14: 21-27
Paul and Barnabas put new heart into the disciples.

Second Reading: Apocalypse 21: 9. 1-5
John’s vision of the new creation.

Gospel: John 13: 31-35
The new commandment of Jesus: love one another as I have loved you.

Beauty and the Feast

Avatar is a visually stunning film. In 3-D the incredibly colourful and fantastic planet Pandora, where the story is fancifully set, totally captivates the imagination and sweeps one away on the light fantastic. Facing drab grey cement and noisy swarming traffic on leaving the cinema was also ‘stunning’ - but as in stunned or dazed. The town where the cinema was set - also in 3-D - was anything but captivating by comparison. Indeed such comparison according to one newspaper report caused some people who had seen the film to experience bouts of depression afterwards. The comedown that real life is was just too much for them. That report prodded me to see the film for myself. I’m glad I did. It reminded me never to underestimate the power of beauty to touch the human spirit, and to open up the human heart to the spiritual around, within and beyond us.

So let’s open ourselves to the spiritual and mind-travel to that location of beauty in today’s Second Reading (Apoc 21:1-5): the new heaven and the new earth. We give our imagination free rein. We try to visualise the wonder of all things made new, glistening with health, spirit and immortality. We try to picture a level of life unlimited by anything, as we soar creatively achieving everything we were incapable of in this life. And that just for starters! Let’s not be mean-minded or timid. The new heaven and the new earth leave fanciful Pandora in the shade and leave us to feast sumptuously in the radiant glory of God.

Fr. Tom Cahill

Announcements

First Friday

Friday of this week is the First Friday. Masses will be at 10.00am and 7.00pm. Confessions will be on Thursday at 9.30am (before Mass) and on Friday at 6.15pm.

Dates for Baptism

The following are the dates for the Sacrament of Baptism during the months of May and June:

May: Saturday 8; Sunday 16; Sunday 30.

June: Saturday 5; Sunday 13; Saturday 26.

Times for Baptism: Sunday 1.15pm; Saturday 4.00pm

Visitation of Sick and Housebound

The sick and housebound will be visited on Monday 3 May and Tuesday 4 May as follows:

Monday Morning: The Trust, Knockavoe Area

Tuesday Morning: St. Colman’s Drive, Pearse Gardens, Bridgend.

Parish Radio

Unfortunately the Parish Radio System has been out of action for the past few weeks. The engineer visited last week but the fault was more serious than was first thought. They have promised to have it working as soon as possible.

Blessing of Graves

The Annual Ceremony of the Blessing of Graves will take place on Sunday 23 May at 5.00pm.

Parish Draw

Promoters should make their returns for May to the Parish Office on Monday 24 May from 2.00pm - 4.30pm and from 7.30pm - 8.30pm. The Draw for May will take place on Thursday 27 May at 10.30am in the Parish Office.

Collection Counters

The following are asked to count the collection for the month of May: Sheila McGonagle, Eamon O’Connor, Terry Doherty’s Group, Jim Maguire’s Group.

Church Cleaners

The team for cleaning the church during the month of May is the Women’s Cursillo team.

Legion of Mary

The Legion of Mary will recite the Rosary before Mass during the month of May.

We welcome into God’s Family through the Sacrament of Baptism:

Rhys Brolly-Neeson

Josh McGillicuddy

Adam McGillicuddy

May they Rest in Peace

Deaths

Roger McLaughlin, 92 Lisnafin Park

Bernard Tracey, Derry

Patrick McDonagh, 47 Carlton Drive

Anniversaries

Michael McShane Snr., Rose Barrett, John Barrett, Mary Bridget Kelly, Paddy Casey, Hannah McGinley,
Andrew Lyttle, Molly McNulty, Mary McGurk, John Boyle, Margaret McDaid, Johnny Harvey, Carmel McBride, Edward Sweeney, Christopher Neeson, John McBride, Kevin McGonigle, James McCanney, Sadie Houston, Andrew Bonner, Michael Casey, Patrick Diver, Harry McDevitt.

Accord Derry: Marriage Preparation Workshop (Pre-Marriage Course) 14/15 May in the Thornhill Centre, Culmore Road, Derry, on Friday from 6.45pm - 10.00pm and on Saturday from 10.00am - 4.00pm. To book a place please contact Rosemary on 71362475, Monday - Thursday 9.30am - 1.30pm.

Strabane Friends of Marie Curie Cancer Care sponsored walk will take place on Thursday 13 May starting from Strabane Presbyterian Church Hall, Derry Road at 7.30pm. Sponsor sheets are available from any member of the Marie Curie Group or telephone 71383840 or 71841705. Your support would be gratefully appreciated. Refreshments served at hall afterwards.

Melmount Centre - Parish Bingo Sunday 2 May.

Children in Crossfire are recruiting 20 enthusiastic individuals to join them for the 25th Budapest Half Marathon on 5 September. A deposit of £150.00 is requested and minimum sponsorship applies. For more information contact Sarah 71269898 or email events@childrenincrossfire.org.

Open Retreat Friday 7 May - Thursday 13 May

This retreat is open to everyone and will be directed by Fr. Owen O’Sullivan OFM Capuchin. Theme: ‘Come apart to a desert place and rest awhile’. Revisit some basics of the Christian faith in an atmosphere of beauty and calm. Commences at 6.00pm and concludes after breakfast. Cost 390 Euro. Contact Ards Friary on 00353 749138909 or info@ardsfriary.ie.

The BIG Saunter, a sponsored riverside walk for those aged 55+, will take place on Wednesday 19 May at 1.00pm. The walk will commence from Sainsbury’s along the path of the River Foyle and finish off at the Guildhall. All monies raised will go to Foyle Hospice. For further information contact Stephanie English, Old Library Trust, Creggan. Tel. 71373870.

Strabane & District Citizens Advice Bureau, with funding from the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme, is rolling out a project which aims to maximise the income of residents in the Neighbourhood Renewal Areas through a benefit uptake project. The project will target households in Ballycolman, Carlton Drive, Lisnafin, Fountain Street and Springhill Park; this is to identify additional benefits or other assistance that households can receive. If you live in one of the areas mentioned and would like to take up the offer of a benefit entitlement check contact us on 71384241.

A team from the NI Blood Transfusion Service will be in St. Patrick’s Hall, Barrack Street on Wednesday 19 May from 1.30pm - 4.00pm and from 5.15pm - 8.00pm. In order to maintain the vital supply of blood to our hospitals, the Blood Transfusion Service need the help not only of existing donors, but also of new donors.

Parish Draw 2010

The Parish Draw took place on Thursday 22 April 2010. The winners are as follows: April Draw

£500: 1569 Mary O’Neill - Sheila McGonagle

£250: 1600 Betty Kelly - Frances McLaughlin

£250: 1609 Josephine McBride - Frances McLaughlin

£250: 1171 Marie & Jim Duncan - Juliana Murray

£150: 1202 Mary Gillespie - Ann Bell

£150: 1124 Ruari Maguire - Bosco McCready

£150: 1750 Nuala Timoney - Elizabeth O’Hare

£100: 1161 Eileen Cairns - Mar Hagan

£100: 1671 Roisin McDaid - Dympna McNamee

£100: 1710 Nellie Barr - Bosco McCready