Sunday 13th September 2009

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus said, "If you want to be a follower of mine, renounce yourself, take up your cross, and follow me." In this one sentence from Jesus there are two things that most of us don't want to do. Our world teaches us to 'be yourself'. Jesus teaches us to renounce yourself. This doesn't mean to put yourself down but to let go of your own self-importance and find your true self in being loved and in loving. And then he tells us to take up our cross. Immediately we think of suffering. Many of us have suffering in our lives and certainly this can be our cross. But more importantly the cross we need to take up is that of the consequences of putting others first in love. It is the cross of moving out of our own small world of self-preoccupation and living for others in our family and our community.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R.

Sunday 13th September 2009.

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading Isaiah 50: 5-9
The Servant of God faces suffering and persecution.

Second Reading James 2: 14-18
If good works do not go with faith, it is quite dead.

Gospel Mark 8: 27-35
Jesus, the Son of Man, was to endure rejection, suffering and death.

The Cross Section

We face the cross again in today’s Gospel (Mark 8:27-35). ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me’ (v. 34). We’re not allowed to forget the cross for long, are we? I wonder, though, did Jesus actually use the expression ‘take up their cross’. If, as presented, he were talking directly to the crowd would he not have said ‘you’ instead of ‘any’ and ‘yourselves’ instead of ‘themselves’? But maybe that’s a translation issue. Maybe. Was the expression ‘take up your cross’ common coinage then? Is it not more likely to have been a later Christian expression in the light of Jesus’ death and resurrection?

However, what is important is that Jesus - and consequently us his followers - was not a pain seeker.

Suffering for suffering’s sake is sick. Suffering for a purpose is not. Jesus’ death on the cross is not a justification for us to seek pain. We’re not masochists. But neither do we avoid the cross when it blocks the path to follow Jesus.

Jesus links crosses with following him. To follow him is the reason for carrying them. But not just carrying them; using them, in fact, to serve his mission of bringing his good news to those who need to hear it. Part of that good news is that love is greater than fear, that the spirit to serve God’s kingdom is stronger than the urge to preserve vested interests.

We never have to go dial a cross. The true one is always with us.

Fr. Tom Cahill

Dates for Baptism

The following are the dates for the Sacrament of Baptism during the months of September and October:

September: Friday 18; Sunday 27.

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

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

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

Haydn Joseph Williamson

Parish Draw 2009

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

Sr. Perpetua McNulty - Silver Jubilee

Sr. Perpetua McNulty, a native of this parish, will celebrate the Silver Jubilee of her Religious Profession on Thursday 17 September. Bishop Hegarty will be the main celebrant at a Mass of Thanksgiving in St. Eugene’s Cathedral on Thursday 17 September at 7.30pm. Sr. Perpetua would like to ask you to remember her in your prayers and to offer an invitation to anyone who would like to attend this Mass and to come to the Thornhill Centre for a cup of tea afterwards.

Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes

The Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes will take place from 16 - 21 July 2010. Cost £629.00. Payable in instalments. A few forms are available at the Parish Office, 71383777 or at the Pilgrimage Office. Forms for those in need of care or those aged 80+ are available only from the Pilgrimage Office 028 71260293.

Gaelscoil Ui Dhochartaigh

St. Mary’s Boys P.S. and St. Mary’s Girls P.S.

In school we will have difficulties if any of our non-teaching staff are hit with swine flu in that we do not have a register of people available to stand in incase of illness. With vetting now necessary we are looking to establish a register of people who would be willing to go through the vetting process and fill in as caretaker, secretary, classroom assistant, dinner supervisor or cleaner should the need arise. If any parent, or someone you know, is interested please contact the relevant school where we will provide you with further information.

Taize Prayer

Join us for an hour of meditative prayer and Taize chant on Wednesday 16 September at 7.30pm in St. Colman’s Chapel. Everyone welcome.

May they Rest in Peace - Deaths

Paul Houston, Derry

Michael O’Hanlon, Ballindrait

Marcella Edgington, 28 Newtown Street

Anniversaries

Ellen McBride , Becky Coyle, William McCrossan,

James Devine Snr, Johnny Barr, Mary Roulston,

Benny Creggan, Johnny McCauley, Jimmy McCauley Snr,

Mae O’Farrell, David Gallagher, Mary Bridget Kelly,

Brian Semple, Fergal McLaughlin.

A Mass for the Sick with Eucharistic Blessing

will take place in the Carmelite Retreat Centre, Termonbacca, Derry on Tuesday 15 September at 8.00pm. All are welcome to attend.

Legion of Mary Pilgrimage to Knock

The Annual Legion of Mary Pilgrimage to Knock Shrine will take place on Sunday 27 September. Bus leaving Bowling Green at 8.15am. For bookings please contact Margaret Harte on 028 71883159 or Frances Conwell on 028 71882048. Fare is £12.00 to be paid at time of booking.

The Holy Family Padre Pio Prayer Group will hold their monthly meeting in the Holy Family Church, Ballymagroarty, Derry on Monday 14 September starting with Mass at 7.30pm. There will be two 1st relics of St. Pio at the meeting. Everyone is welcome.

Alzheimer’s Support Group will meet on Wednesday 16 September at 7.30pm in Melmount Manor Care Home. The guest speaker will be Mairead Farrell (Advocate with the Alzheimer’s Society ‘Let Me Speak, Help Me Be Heard’ pilot project) speaking on ‘Advocacy’. Everyone welcome.

Earth Works Charity in aid of orphanages in South Africa will hold a coffee morning on Saturday 19 September in Oysters Restaurant beginning at 11.00am.

Foyle Hospice will have a sponsored walk on Sunday 4 October. Registration at the Fir Trees Hotel at 12.00 noon on the day. Walk begins at 1.30pm. Forms available at the Foyle Hospice Shop, Church Street.

The new season of the Strabane Family History Society begins on Thursday 17 September in the Local Community Library at 7.30pm. Members are asked to renew their annual subscriptions at this meeting and new members are welcome to join.

Melmount Centre - Parish Bingo Sunday 13 September.

St. Vincent de Paul Lucky Lotto

The Draw for September took place on Sunday 6 September. The numbers drawn were: 9, 11, 13, and 19. There were 13 people who matched three numbers - Fr. Pat O’Hagan, Nora Duffy, Isobel McCrea, Patrick McCallion, Raymond Semple, Sean Crawford, Dympna Boyle, Gregory Brolly, Anita Tracey, Maura McCormack, Rorie Porter, Daniel Donaghey and Moya Gallagher. The Jackpot for October is £1,100.00. Promoters are asked to have October draw envelopes returned on or before 28 September. The next draw will take place at 9.00pm on Sunday 4 October at Melmount Parish Bingo.

If you are interested in finding out more about the Samaritans and volunteering opportunities please come along to one of our information evenings. All start at 7.30pm and everyone is welcome.

Monday 14 September: Samaritans Centre, 16 Clarendon St., Derry
Tuesday 15 September: Strabane Council Offices, 47 Derry Road.
Wednesday 16 September: The Plaza, Main St., Buncrana
Thursday 17 September: Samaritans Centre, 16 Clarendon St., Derry.

Samaritans are available 24/7 to provide confidential emotional support. Tel. 02871 265511.