Sunday, 7th February 2010

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading : Isaiah 6:1-8
God calls Isaiah to be His prophet.

Second Reading: Corinthians 15:1-11
Paul’s mission is to preach the gospel of Christ.

Gospel: Luke 5: 1-11
Jesus calls the first apostles.

Faith in the word of Jesus and the miraculous catch of fish.
The call of the first disciples - Luke 5: 1-11

Dates for your Diary

Ash Wednesday, 17th February 2010

Easter Sunday, 4th April 2010

In the Dark

When it comes to energy and matter we’re in the dark. Satellite images of leftover energy from the Big Bang show things as they were 400,000 years after the Bang. To put that into perspective: it means seeing something as it was 13 billion years ago. Analysing their findings, scientists have discovered that only 4.6 percent of the total universe is made of stuff we can see. The rest, in the form of dark matter and dark energy, is invisible and mystifying. Dark matter holds our galaxies together; dark energy drives them apart. Their interaction means that while there won’t be more matter in the universe there will be more space - lots more. So much more that neighbouring galaxies will disappear into the void. We’ll find ourselves even more cosmically isolated than we already are. Something to look forward to!

Better to look forward to what God’s word promises. God’s image in today’s First Reading (Isa 6:1-8) shows him as majestic and transcendent. Yet God cares for his people. He sends Isaiah on a mission to them. This mighty God, for whom our Big Bang was neither big nor a bang, cares for creation. A cold and lonely universe is not part of his plan for us.

Couldn’t be since he sends his son to us later. As the seraphs cover their faces before the majesty of God in that First Reading so too does Peter as he falls before Jesus’ knees in awe in the Gospel reading. (Luke 5:1-11).

Take your pick: dark matter, dark future; glorious God, glorious future.

Announcements

Visitation of Sick and Housebound

The sick and housebound will be visited on Monday 8 February as follows:

Monday Morning: The Trust, Knockavoe Area.

Dates for Baptism

The following are the dates for the Sacrament of Baptism during the months of February and March:

February: Friday 12; Sunday 21.

March: Sunday 7; Saturday 13; Sunday 21.

Times for Baptism: Sunday 1.15pm; Saturday 4.00pm; Friday 7.20pm.

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

Jake Anthony McAnenny

Holly Marriott

Ronan Hugh McGettigan

Chloe Elizabeth Walters

Meabh Noreen Kelly

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

Sean Mellon and Allison Coulter

Martin Gallagher and Rachel Russell

May they Rest in Peace - Deaths

Charlie Hunter, Dublin Street, Newtownstewart

Anniversaries

Edward O’Reilly, Maisie McCay, Gerald McGeehan,

David Aitken, Paddy McGarrigle, John Catterson,

Robert McCutcheon, Daniel McLaughlin, Toby McGrath,

Catherine Gibb, Veronica Patton, James Doherty,

Cissie Canavan, Mary Gallagher, Margaret Ingles,

Peter Doherty, Andy Browne, Margaret McGarrigle.

Parish Census

In the next few weeks we hope to take a new census of the Parish. It is many years since the last one and I would like to update Parish Records. The information asked for will be straightforward: names; address; contact number and dates of birth. Obviously you do not have to participate in the census but it is a great help when it comes to sick or other calls and planning for the future.

Parish Draw 2010

The new Parish Draw will get underway this month. Returns for January and February, i.e. £10.00 for each member, will be taken on Monday 22 February from 2.00pm - 4.30pm and from 7.30pm - 8.30pm at the Parish Office. The Draws for January and February will take place on Thursday 25 February at 10.30am in the Parish Office. Please Note: Promoters are asked to leave their updated lists of members into the Parish Office as soon as possible so that tickets can be issued.

Vocations Information Day

Whom Shall I Send? Could you be called to serve God and his people as a Priest in the Diocese of Derry? Come and See. Vocations Information Day, a day of reflection on the theme of Vocation, on Saturday 20 February in the Thornhill Retreat Centre, Derry from 11.30am - 4.00pm. For further information contact your local priests, RE teachers or Fr. Paul Farren, tel: 71264087 or Fr. Colm O’Doherty, tel: 81661475

Derry Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes (16 - 21 July 2010)

Application forms are available for any young person aged 14 - 15 years who would like a place on the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes. Special arrangements are made for the youth who will be lead by the Pilgrimage Youth Team. For more information please contact the Pilgrimage Office, 164 Bishop Street, Derry or telephone 71351233.

Children in Crossfire would like to thank all those who donated through their Advent Campaign. The amount collected was £1167.56. Many thanks.

The Holy Family Padre Pio Prayer Group

will hold their monthly meeting in the Holy Family Church, Ballymagroarty on Monday 8 February beginning with 7.30pm Mass. All are welcome.

Lenten Retreat Saturday 20 - Sunday 21

(Open to Everyone)

Directed by Fr. Eddie Butler (priest of the Birmingham Diocese). Theme ‘Prepare the way for Jesus our Lord.’ Make time to reflect, pray and prepare oneself for Easter. This retreat will help you focus upon the Christ at the centre of our lives. Commences at 9.30am and finishes after lunch. Cost 85 Euro residential, 60 Euro non residential. For booking contact Ards Friary Retreat Centre. Tel: 00 353 749138909 or info@ardsfriary.ie.

Sr. Josephine Walsh Weekend Retreat with emphasis on forgiving, healing and making a new start will take place in the Carmelite Retreat Centre, Termonbacca from Friday 12 February to Sunday 14 February. For further details telephone 71262512 during office hours only.

Melmount Centre

Parish Bingo Sunday 7 February.

Where you a past pupil at St. Mary’s Boys Primary School?

St. Mary’s Boys P.S. is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year. To mark this momentous occasion the school is organising a series of events including a photographic exhibition in the Alley Theatre. The school is asking past pupils and families to share any photographs that they have during their time at St. Mary’s. These photos will be carefully scanned and returned to their owners. Please hand in your photographs to the school office as we would love to see what you have to share!

The Irish Children’s Pilgrimage Trust is taking children/young people with special needs (both physical and learning disability) from the ages of 9 - 21 years from all over Ireland to Lourdes on Easter Sunday (4th - 10th April 2010). The IHCPT is looking urgently for nurses to travel with groups this Easter. If you would be interested in travelling please contact Mary on 00353 877962047 for further details. The cost of the fare is 640 Euro.

Strabane and District Citizens Advice Bureau, with funding received from the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme, is rolling out a new project which aims to maximise the income of residents in Neighbourhood Renewal areas through a benefit uptake project. The project will target households in Ballycolman, Carlton Drive, Fountain Street, Lisnafin and Springhill Park. Over the next year households in these areas will receive letters inviting them to take up the offer of a benefit entitlement check. This will identify any additional benefits or other assistance that households can receive. Help will be offered throughout the application procedure. The project will run until March 2011 and all households in these areas will be contacted in due course.