The temptation of Jesus.

Victory by means of prayer and the bible. - Luke 4, 1-13

Mass Times this Week

Monday - Friday: 7.00am; 10.00am & 7.00pm.

Saturday: No Morning Mass; 7.00pm.

Sunday: 10.30am & 12.30pm.

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.

 

Morality Genes

After twenty years of research and God knows how much expense it’s finally on the market: the blue rose. Not available in Nature, it’s the product of genetic manipulation. Someone, obviously not given to flowery language, has rather prosaically named it Applause. Marketed as a special occasion gift, for wedding anniversaries, birthdays and the likes, it retails at about £20 per stem. That should weed out the true romantics from the common garden variety, don’t you think.

What’s that got to do with Lent? Nothing, really! I was just thinking that even with the impressive dedication and considerable resources that went into manufacturing this blushing freak of nature, you could wait until you were blue in the face before you’d see genetics modify a human being in to a better person. The day of the morality gene isn’t just around the corner.

So, for those sensible enough to want to be a better person what more effective way to go about it than by listening to what Paul says in today’s Second Reading: The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart. (Rom 10:8-13). Lent is a time for listening. There’s much sacrifice involved in listening well: sacrifice of time, emotional comfort and the luxury of aloofness. Is it going too far to say that those who don’t listen to God’s word can’t listen to anyone else’s?

What better way, then, to start Lent than by turning in to God’s word as we listen to our heart express its deepest desire. God’s word, our heart? A rose by any other name....

Fr. Tom Cahill

Announcements

Visitation of Sick and Housebound

The sick and housebound will be visited on Monday 22 February as follows:

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

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; Friday 7.20pm.

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

Tiernan James Smith

Shannon Mckenzie Molloy

Holly Ann McGarrigle

Luke Kevin McCay

Ella Rose Boyle

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.

Taize Prayer

Join us for an hour of meditative prayer and Taize chant on Wednesday 24 February in St. Colman's Chapel from 7.30pm - 8.30pm. Everyone welcome.

Lourdes Group

The next meeting of the Lourdes Group will take place on

Wednesday 24 February

between 7.30pm & 8.30pm in ‘The Den’.

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

Iona Carmelite Retreat Centre

A one day retreat for Senior Citizens and their friends will take place at the Carmelite Retreat Centre, Termonbacca, Derry on Tuesday 23 February. Registration from 10.30am finishing around 5.00pm. Cost £15.00, includes a four course lunch. Payment on the day. To book telephone 71262512 during office hours only.

May they Rest in Peace - Deaths

Tony Kelly, Orchard Road

Eileen Timoney, Draperstown formerly Knockavoe Crescent

Patsy Bell, formerly Curleyhill Road

Billy Timoney, Dublin

Mary Shaw, Reading

Anniversaries

Detta Curran, Sarah Mullen, Lily Doherty,

Patrick Woods, Daniel McCormick, Nana McGonigle,

Ann McGarvey, William Duffy, John James Conwell,

Colette Ronaghan, Paddy Duffy, Foncie Graham,

Maggie McGrath, Joseph Patton, Killian McBrearty,

Mary Carroll, Josephine McDonnell, John Bonner,

Jeanne McGivern, Denis Doherty, Charlie McGowan, Sadie McGowan.

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.

Holy Week Retreat

Holy Week Retreat from Sunday 28 March - Saturday 3 April will be given by Fr. Colm Lavelle S.J. at Loreto House, Linsfort, Buncrana. To book a place on this retreat telephone 00353 749362204 or email info@loretolinsfort.com. Cost 380 Euro residential, 200 Euro non-residential. Prayer Meetings every Monday in Lent beginning Monday 22 February from 8.00pm - 9.00pm.

IHCPT Derry Group 30th Anniversary Celebration Dinner Dance

To celebrate 30 years of taking young people with special needs on their annual Easter Pilgrimage to Lourdes, Group 110 of the Irish Pilgrimage Trust (The Derry Group) will be holding a celebration dinner dance in the City Hotel, Derry on Saturday 27 February, music by the Odyssey band. The group would like to invite anyone who has travelled with us over the years, young people or group carers, their families and all those who have supported and helped us in any way to join us. Tickets cost £25.00 and can be obtained from Stephen Browne at 07912500195.

Melmount Centre

Parish Bingo Sunday 21 February.

St. Vincent de Paul, Strabane and District Members Lucky Lotto Monthly Draw took place on Sunday 7 February. The draws for January and February were made at this time. The winner for January was David Nelson who won £1000.00. The numbers drawn were 2, 11, 16 and 17. The winner for February was Vera McCay who won £1000.00. The numbers drawn were 3, 6, 15 and 24. The jackpot for March is £1000.00 and the draw will take place at 9.00pm at Melmount Parish Bingo on Sunday 7 March. St. Vincent de Paul would like to appeal to you for donations of bric-a-brac, clothing and furniture. For more information telephone 02871384488.

Strabane St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee will hold meetings on Thursday 25 February, Thursday 4 March and Thursday 11 March at 7.30pm in Strabane Community Library, Railway Street to finalise plans for this year’s parade. An invitation to attend these meetings is extended to all community groups, sports bodies, businesses and all organisations.