Sunday 6th June 2010

The Body and Blood of Christ

First Reading: Genesis 14: 18-20
Blessed be Abraham by God Most High, creator of heaven and earth.

Second Reading:
1 Corinthians 11: 23-26
This is my body, which is for you; do this as a memorial of me.

Gospel: Luke 9: 11-17
Jesus said, “Give them something yourselves”.

The Body and Blood of Christ

Brainstorming is about to take on new meaning if research in brain science has its way. Already scientists can convert into crude video footage the brain’s activity from watching or even remembering something. In the US security agencies are experimenting with brain scanners for interrogating prisoners. They’re also studying ways of scanning brains from a distance to probe a person’s thoughts and anxieties without their knowledge, for example at airports.

The Eucharist also probes - but the heart, and up close and personal - to share thoughts, feelings and anxieties. It doesn’t intrude into your privacy but invites you to a faith-filled encounter with God and friends. It eases life’s burdens through mutual support, affirmation and service. It does so through sharing time, talents and goodwill with others not just during Mass but also outside of it.

We see this in today’s Gospel reading (Luke 9:11-17). Jesus tells his disciples to feed the crowd following him (v. 13). They say they don’t have enough food to go round. That doesn’t bother Jesus. So they just do what they’re told and start sharing the little they have. And, surprise, surprise, they have more than enough to feed everybody. This is why Jesus gave us the Eucharist. This is why we go to Mass. To become sharers with others. To give to, and accept from, another human being.

I wonder if our brains were scanned as we celebrate the Eucharist what images would be reproduced: those of daze, flat-lined by consubstantiality, or those of vision pulsating from simple words of life?

Fr. Tom Cahill

Dates for Baptism

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

June: Sunday 13; Saturday 26.

July: Sunday 11; Saturday 17; Sunday 25.

Times for Baptism: Sunday 1.15pm; Saturday 4.00pm

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

Finlay Michael Shaw, Grace Bridget McLaughlin

Holly Marie McCormick, Molly Beth McGillian

Visitation of Sick and Housebound

The sick and housebound will be visited on Monday 7 June and Tuesday 8 June as follows:

Monday Morning: The Trust, Knockavoe Area.

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

May they Rest in Peace - Anniversaries

Eileen Gallagher, Molly McLaughlin, James Magee,

Michael Donnelly, Philomena Blake, Brendan McElwee,

Joan Houston, Joe McDaid, Christina Brogan,

Paddy Boyle, Joseph Quinn, Rosaleen McKenna,

Eileen Gallagher, Danny Cauley, Danny Shields,

Brian McGarrigle, Adrian Doherty, Bridie Doherty, Tom French.

National Collection for the 2012 Eucharistic Congress will take place this weekend of Corpus Christi (5/6 June). This collection is to help with the costs of planning and hosting the 50th International Eucharistic Congress which is to be held in Dublin in 2012. Anyone wishing to make a contribution to this collection can do so by putting it in the containers at the back of the church.

Pope’s Collection - There will be a second collection next Sunday 13 June for the Pope. There is a special envelope in your box for this collection. Anyone contributing to this collection by cheque should make it payable to ‘Melmount Parish’ only. This is a banking requirement as all cheques are now crossed and must state the name of the bank account into which they are paid. The words ‘Pope’s Collection’ should not appear on the cheque. Thank you for your help in this matter.

Golden Jubilee

Fr. John Doherty’s Golden Jubilee Mass will take place on
Sunday 20 June at 5.00pm in the Sacred Heart Church, Derry Road.

Parish Draw

Promoters should make their returns for June to the Parish Office on Monday 21 June from 2.00pm - 4.30pm and from 7.30pm - 8.30pm. The Draw for June will take place on Thursday 24 June at 10.30am in the Parish Office.

Parish Census

Over the coming weeks more of the Parish Census Forms will be delivered to areas not yet covered. Many thanks to all who have returned theirs as it is of great help in updating the Parish Records.

Collection Counters

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

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is pleased to announce the reopening of the Barrack Street Shop on Thursday 10 June at 10.00am. We look forward to the reopening of the Market Street Shop in the not too distant future. We thank you for your understanding and continued support.

Melmount Centre - Parish Bingo Sunday 6 June.

Sponsored Walk: Staff and relatives of the residents of Greenfield Home will take part in a sponsored walk on Sunday 13 June beginning at 10.00am. Any volunteers who would like to take part in the walk are more than welcome and sponsor forms are available at Greenfield Office.