Sunday 4th October 2009

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus said to the Pharisees – when talking to them about marriage and divorce: ‘They are no longer two therefore, but one body.’ A phenomenon, and one of the very sad features of our world today, is the number of marriages that break down. And we should have the greatest reverence for and compassion towards those people who are in this situation. However the challenge for us is to keep faith in marriage and to reverence the institution of marriage as a vitally important part of God’s plan for our humanity and as one of the sacraments of the Church. Marriage is under all kinds of pressure. It needs to also have all kinds of support from all of us whether we are married or not so that every couple will be encouraged to aim for and work towards the best possible marriage and not settle for mediocrity in their love.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R.

Sunday 4th October 2009

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Day for Life.

First Reading Genesis 2: 18-24
Man and woman are created equally and as husband and wife become one body.

Second Reading Hebrews 2: 9-11
By God’s grace Jesus had to experience death for the salvation of all people.

Gospel Mark 10: 2-16
What God has united, man must not divide.

Here’s a piece of worldly wisdom: A man is incomplete until he’s married; then when he is, he’s finished! In other words: marriage makes or breaks. The Pharisees in today’s Gospel reading (Mark 10:2-16) are aware of this too when they ask Jesus if it’s lawful for a man to divorce his wife. Note that it’s the legal aspect of marriage they focus on to test him - not a respectful attitude to Jesus or the Law. Law’s purpose is to guide, not to entrap. So, too, with God’s word.

Today it guides us to an understanding of marriage between a man and a woman as a relationship that lasts. This may be hard to take. So a few questions: if divorce is good for society then should it not be on call? Why limit it to just once or twice? If people who marry want the divorce option down the line should this not be expressed in the marriage ceremony? How could someone marrying, who wants divorce as an option, promise ‘to have and to hold for better or for worse until death us do part’? To be honest would they not have to declare: ‘to have and to hold for better but not for worse and until one of us decides to divorce’? But who would want to begin their life together saying that in public? Could love be so calculating?

If it could, then perhaps a comment on marriage that the Reader’s Digest carried many years ago might still be true: marriage is an illusion and a snore!

Fr. Tom Cahill

Church Collections

We would remind those who make their contributions by cheque to any of the church collections e.g. weekly collections, priests’ collections, Mission Sunday collection or any other special collections that cheques should be made payable to ‘Melmount Parish’. This is a requirement of the bank.

Visitation of Sick and Housebound

The sick and housebound will be visited this week as follows:

Monday Morning: Ashgrove Park, Olympic Drive, Ballycolman Estate, Laurel Drive.

Tuesday Morning: Carlton Drive, Melmount Park, Urney Road, Lisnafin Park,
Castletown, Country Area.

Please Note: The other areas of sick and housebound will be visited next week.

Dates for Baptism

The following are the dates for the Sacrament of Baptism during the months of October, November and December:

October: Sunday 4; Friday 9; Friday 16; Sunday 25.

November: Friday 6; Sunday 15; Sunday 22; Friday 27.

December: Sunday 6; Friday 11; Sunday 20.

Times for Baptism: Sunday 1.15pm; Friday 7.20pm.

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

Oliver Patrick Mohan
Zachary Christian O’Donnell
Daniel Patrick Ferguson
Jenna Margaret Kennedy
Emily Sarah Keegan

Confirmation 2010

There will be a meeting in St. Mary’s Boys Primary School tomorrow Monday 5 October at 7.30pm for all parents of Confirmation children of St. Mary’s Girls Primary School, St. Mary’s Boys Primary School and Gaelscoil.

St. Mary’s Girls Primary School Beginning of Year School Mass will take place in the church on Thursday 8 October at 10.00am. Families and, for this special occasion, grandparents are welcome to attend.

Parish Draw 2009

Promoters should make their returns for October to the Parish Office on Monday 19 October from 2.00pm - 4.30pm and from 7.30pm - 8.30pm. The Draw for October will take place on Thursday 22 October at 10.30am in the Parish Office.

Solemn Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament (40 hrs)

The Annual Solemn Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will take place on Sunday 11 October beginning after 12.30pm Mass. There will be conducted prayers at 5.00pm and at 8.00pm after which the Exposition will conclude.

We congratulate the following couple who were recently united in the Sacrament of Marriage:

Aidan Christy and Aine Griffin

May they Rest in Peace - Deaths

Mary Gormley, 3 Colman Fold

Leonard Devine, Douglas Bridge

Madge Doherty, 19 Columban Terrace

Florence Logan, Stewartstown

Patricia Doherty, 25 Lisnafin Park

Phyllis Craig, Portrush

Anniversaries

Frances Neeson, Ella Boggs, Dermot Harkin,
Gerald Kelly, Pat McCourt, Mary Casey,
Gerry McCauley, Mary O’Donovan, James Shortt,
Bob McCabe, Eamon Connolly, Martin Turbett,
Patrick Connolly, Richard Duffy, Kathleen Henderson,
Stephen Gallagher, Lisa Wallace, Mariah Toorish.

Annual Service for the Dead

The annual service in remembrance of deceased members of our families and parish will take place on Sunday 8 November at 5.00pm. Families who have suffered bereavement since November 1, 2008 are asked to nominate a representative to carry a candle to the altar in commemoration of their dead. (Candles will be provided).

Prayer Group

There will be Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in St. Colman’s Chapel on Monday 5 October from 8.00pm - 9.00pm. Everyone welcome.

Legion of Mary

The Legion of Mary will recite the Rosary during the month of October before evening Mass at 6.30pm.

St. Joseph’s Young Priests Society will meet on Monday 5 October after 10.00am Mass in St. Colman’s Chapel. All welcome.

Collection Counters

The following are asked to count the collection for the month of October: Kathleen McGowan, Margaret Devine, Michael McColgan, Madeline McColgan, Robin McHugh, Tina Clifford, Mary O’Reilly.

Cleaning of Church

Many thanks to the Women’s Cursillo team for cleaning the church during the month of September. The team for cleaning the Church during the month of October is Patricia McDaid’s team.

St. Patrick’s Hall will hold auditions on Saturday 10 October for anyone wishing to take part in the pantomime ‘Beauty and the Beast’ which opens on Saturday 16 January. Times are: 2.00pm for children aged 10-13 years; 3.00pm for 14-18 age group and 4.00pm for all adults.

Melmount Centre - Parish Bingo Sunday 4 October.

N.I. Leukaemia Research Fund will have a meeting in The Church of Ireland Church Hall on Monday 5 October at 7.30pm. All welcome.

Knot Again!

At times some of our relationships seem to have us in knots. Just thinking of certain people (e.g. partners, ex-partners, teenage children, work colleagues) can produce recurring feelings of stress, resentment, hurt, anger or fear. This can affect our well-being, self esteem, family, work and health. A workshop based on the work of Byron Katie to help untie these knots and bring more peace into your life will take place in the Pastoral Centre, Letterkenny on Sat 10 & Sun 11 October from 9.30am - 4.30pm each day. Cost 90 euro and Tony Carlin who has over 25 years experience as a facilitator will be the tutor. To reserve a place email: tony.carlin@btinternet.com or tel. 00447843587757.