Lent begins this week. Ashes will be distributed after all Masses on Ash Wednesday.

Masses are at: 7.00am; 10.00am & 7.00pm. Today is a day of fast and abstinence.

Trocaire boxes are available at the back of the church.

Mass Times this Week

Monday 10.00am

Tuesday 7.00pm

Wednesday, Thursday & Friday: 7.00am; 10.00am & 7.00pm

Saturday: No Morning Mass; 7.00pm

Sunday: 10.30am & 12.30pm

I am glad that we will be able to have 3 Masses during the weekdays of Lent; 7.00am; 10.00am and 7.00pm. This is possible because of the generosity of Fr. Eddie Kilpatrick, Fr. Paul McCafferty and Fr. Paul Farren who have offered their services to the Parish for the Holy Season of Lent.

Sunday 14th February 2010

Day of Prayer for Temperance

First Reading : Jeremiah 17: 5-8
The prophet contrasts the life of the wicked with the life of the righteous.

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12: 16-20
St Paul stresses the reality of Jesus’ bodily resurrection, and the meaning of that resurrection for Christians.

Gospel: Luke 6: 17, 20-26
The Gospel passage assures us there is only one set of guidelines worth heeding.

 

The Hubble Space Telescope has shown the universe in such incredible detail that it has transformed the way scientists view it. For example, Hubble has honed down the estimate of the universe’s age to between 13 and 14 billion years. It was instrumental in discovering dark energy - that mysterious force that accelerates the expansion of the universe. And, it has revealed galaxies at all stages of their evolution: from wobbly toddlers to the end-time collapse of their massive stars. Among the world’s most important observations ever, Hubble will degrade until it can’t function. Its life expectancy is perhaps five more years. However, the rejuvenation it got in May 2009 from the crew of the space shuttle Atlantis will enable it to go out in a blaze of glory. Hubble’s last years will be its best.

The same often holds true for people. Senior ones, when they’ve lived good lives, have so much to offer. We should never be tempted to think that we’re past it or have become useless. The doing may be less urgent, varied or demanding, but the being becomes more important than ever. The older we are privileged to get, when open to God’s Spirit, the more we give witness to the truth of what Paul writes about in today’s Second Reading. (1 Cor 15:12, 16-20) We are called to resurrection - a resurrection that begins today, or for the fortunate ones: yesterday.

As Hubble has revolutionised scientists’ view of the universe, so too can every person whose resurrection has begun revolutionise the outlook and behaviour of those awaiting theirs.

Fr. Tom Cahill

Announcements

Visitation of Sick and Housebound

The sick and housebound will be visited on Tuesday 16 February as follows:

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

Dates for Baptism

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

February: Sunday 21.

March: Sunday 7; Saturday 13; Sunday 21.

Times for Baptism: Sunday 1.15pm; Saturday 4.00pm

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

Brendan McDonnell and Kamila Tomala

Lent - A Time for Fasting

Abstinence - Everyone 14 years and over is expected to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

Fasting – Everyone 18 years of age and under 59 years of age is expected to fast (that is to cut back on amount of food eaten) on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. As a form of penance many people keep this fast or some make some other sacrifice for the whole of Lent.

Lenten Thursdays

Beginning 25 February, Thornhill Centre is hosting a series of ‘Reflection Mornings’ for the Thursdays of Lent. Each morning begins at 10.30am, concludes with a light lunch at 1.00pm and includes a talk, quiet reflection and ritual. A donation of £5.00 per morning is suggested. Telephone 71351233 to book.

May they Rest in Peace - Deaths

Joe Allen, England formerly Columban Terrace

Delma Falconer, Sion Mills

Tommy Gallagher, Castlefin

Peter Costello, Cork

Anniversaries

Joe Devine, Artie McHugh, John McHugh, Brian Connolly, Tom Doherty, Kathleen (Kin) McFarland,

Kevin Connolly, Willie John Connolly, Dinny McCrossan, Eddie McMenamin, George Connolly, May Elliott,

Michael Kearney, Dan Devenney, Eamon Gillespie, Eddie Cunningham, Bridie Cunningham, Paul McShane,

Mickey McCrossan, Phyll Anderson, Irene Caulfield, John Caulfield, Davey Foley, Robert McLaughlin,

Tommy Brogan, Denis Doherty , Terry Porter, Charlie Boyle, Jack McAneny, Rose Friel,

Franco Walsh, Jean Foster.

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: Any promoter who has not yet left in an updated list is asked to do so as soon as possible.

Anyone who has no promoter and who would like to join the draw can pay their subscription at the Parish Office.

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

Alzheimer’s Support Group

will meet on Wednesday 17 February at 7.30pm in Melmount Manor Care Home. The guest speaker will be Michael McIvor from the Alzheimer’s Society giving a presentation on ‘What is Dementia’. Everyone welcome.

Melmount Centre

Parish Bingo Sunday 14 February.

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.

Northern Ireland Cancer Pilgrimage to Lourdes,

accompanied by medical, nursing and other Oncology staff, Thursday 27 May to Tuesday 1 June, ex Belfast, 5 nights full board, £599.00 with insurance, Oncology patients £499.00, recently treated £399.00. For more information telephone 07516759646 or email: mail@nicancerpilgrimage.org.uk