Sunday, 23rd May 2010

Pentecost Sunday

First Reading : Acts of the Apostles 2: 1-11
The Holy Spirit descends upon the apostles.

Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12: 3-7
There is a variety of gifts but always the same Spirit.

Gospel: John 20: 19-23
As the Father sent me, so am I sending you: receive the Holy Spirit.

Cemetery Sunday

Over the past thirty years, Cemetery Sunday has become an unofficial ‘holy day’ in many parishes. I receive phone calls from early in the year from people in Britain and faraway places in Ireland asking about the date for the blessing of the graves so that they can make travel plans to be present in Melmount Cemetery when the day arrives. It is such a special day for people that I would suggest that there are as many people gathered in our graveyard for the prayers on Cemetery Sunday as we have for Mass on the two great days of the Christian Calendar, Easter Sunday and Christmas Day. Thousands come to ask the Lord to remember those who have died and have gone before us marked with the sign of faith, especially our own relatives buried in Melmount and to ask God to give them light, happiness and peace in his presence.

The days and weeks in the run up to the blessing of the graves are a time of feverish activity for families as they tidy up their graves. Our groundsman and gravedigger, Jimmy Creggan, deserves our thanks for the work he does single-handedly all the year round in all kinds of weather conditions in trying to keep the place tidy. Our thanks too, to Conn Tinney for his help in digging many of the graves.

It is the relatives themselves who deserve the credit for looking after their own graves and often enough any neighbouring untended graves. The place always looks splendid and colourful on Cemetery Sunday and on the following days. Many people visit the graveyard on a daily or weekly basis and some of them have been distressed by some things that have happened in the graveyard – young people using it as playground or gathering place, personal items being disturbed or removed from graves, floral arrangements being upset or even vanishing.

Our cemetery is a sacred place and the only 100% security we can give it is by all of us of all ages being willing to respect its sacredness.

Blessing of Graves

The Annual Ceremony of the Blessing of Graves will take place in Melmount today Sunday 23 May at 5.00pm. You are asked to bring with you a small bottle of Holy Water so that you yourselves may sprinkle the graves of your loved ones. Car parking facilities will be available at St. Mary’s Boys P.S., St. Mary’s Girls P.S. and Holy Cross College. Because of the huge numbers who attend this service you are asked to come in good time. Those who are able may find it easier to walk to the Cemetery rather than come by car.

Announcements

Dates for Baptism

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

May: Sunday 30.

June: Saturday 5; 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:

Patrick Gerard McDonagh

Jolene Rhiena Rose Cawley

Patrick Gerard Stokes

Maya Roisin Campbell

Saoirse Elizabeth Farrell

Ella Suzanne Gibbons

May they Rest in Peace - Deaths

Sean Porter, Lifford

Mary McCullagh, Plumbridge

Mary McCarron, Raphoe

Liam Connolly, Gleneavy, Co. Antrim

Anniversaries

Edward Boyle, Mary Gallagher, Dan Meehan,

Mickey Doherty, Rose McGeehan, Elizabeth O’Reilly,

Charles O’Reilly, Kathleen Nolan, Molly Doherty,

Vincent Costello, Rose Ellen McNulty, James McLaughlin,

Elizabeth McLaughlin , Mary Murphy, Mary Ramsey,

Margaret Hegarty, Margaret Fields, John Scott,

Tommy Gray, Mary McGarrigle, Geraldine Houston, Packie Conway.

Fr. Willie Rafferty’s First Anniversary Mass will be held in

Doneyloop Church on Wednesday 26 May at 7.30pm.

Visitation of Sick and Housebound

The sick and housebound will be visited on Monday 24 May and Tuesday 25 May as follows:

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

Tuesday Morning: Carlton Drive, Melmount Park, Urney Road, Lisnafin Park, Castletown, Country Area.

Hearing Aid Clinic in Ballycolman Community Centre

on the last Thursday of every month from 10.00am - 12.00 noon.

For more information telephone 71320132.

Parish Draw

Promoters should make their returns for May to the Parish Office tomorrow Monday 24 May from 2.00pm - 4.30pm and from 7.30pm - 8.30pm. The Draw for May will take place on Thursday 27 May at 10.30am in the Parish Office.

Congratulations

Congratulations to all the boys and girls from St. Mary’s Boys Primary School and St. Mary’s Girls Primary School who received Holy Communion for the first time yesterday. We thank all the teachers and parents for preparation of the children and all those who took part in the Mass.

Holy Cross College will hold an information evening for the parents of Primary 6 children regarding Transfer 2011 in the school on Wednesday 26 May at 7.30pm.

Holy Cross College Concert

A celebration of the music of Holy Cross College will be held on Thursday 3 June at 7.30pm in the

College Assembly Hall. Admission is free.

Lourdes 2010

The next meeting of the Lourdes Group will take place on

Wednesday 26 May between 7.30pm - 8.30pm in ‘The Den’.

Annual Diocesan Lourdes Hospitalite Collection is scheduled to take place over the weekend 29/30 May. The Lourdes Hospitalite Fund is very dependent on the monies raised from this one collection to support people who are sick and in need of medical care. The strength of the collection determines the number of sick and medical helpers that we are able to bring on pilgrimage to Lourdes. Thank you for your support in the past and we hope that we can rely on your support again this year.

Pastoral Youth Ministry Leader

The parishes of St. Eugene’s Cathedral, St. Mary’s Creggan and Holy Family in Derry City are looking to employ an enthusiastic person to lead and direct youth in the three parishes in the ways of faith. The position will be for one year and the following criteria must be met: Be an active member of a Catholic Parish Faith Community; have experience of skilled leadership in a Youth Setting; have a third level qualification in a relevant discipline or one year’s experience of Youth Project Management; be competent in the use of ICT. This post will be based within the three parishes mentioned. Application forms, job description and personnel specification may be obtained by telephoning 71264087 and must be returned by 5.00pm on Thursday 3 June.

Melmount Centre

Parish Bingo Sunday 23 May.

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 to raise funds for the residents’ comfort fund. Any volunteers who would like to take part in the walk are more than welcome and sponsor forms are available at Greenfield Office.

Charity Dance for Chernobyl Children will take place in St. Patrick’s Hall on

Friday 28 May beginning at 9.00pm. Admission £5.00. Music by C & C.