Sunday 23rd August 2009

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Simon Peter said to Jesus: 'Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the message of eternal life, and we believe'. We are conscious today of the many people who give up the practice of their faith. This happens for all kinds of reasons but it is always sad especially when it is people whom we love. This puts more responsibility on the shoulders of those of us who stay with Christ to live our faith ever more fully so that people can see him in us and be attracted to him through us. Christ is the very centre of our faith, as the one who teaches full human living. And his way is the way of love. To love God with our whole heart and to love one another as he loves us is the true practice of our faith. We need the Eucharist in order to live that way. As always the places where we live this faith most urgently are in our homes and our parish.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R.

Sunday, 23rd August 2009.

21st Sunday of the Year

First Reading Joshua 24:1-2 15-18
Joshua confronts the people with an initial decision, to serve the one true God or to serve false gods.

Second Reading Ephesians 5:21-32
St Paul urges the image of a marriage relationship to express the bond that exists between Christ and the Church.

Gospel John 6:60-69
The disciples are faced with an initial decision to stay with Jesus or to leave him.

Take It or Leave It

There’s very much a take-it-or-leave-it approach evident in today’s Gospel (John 6:60-69). There’s no attempt at gentle persuasion. Jesus has just told the Jews that he is the living bread from heaven and that anyone who eats it will live forever. Does he think that the Jews will jump for joy at hearing this? Strangely, instead of laughing him to scorn, or just turning their back on him as a crackpot, as you might expect, they dispute among themselves what he means. Now why would they do that? Why would they take seriously someone who makes so outlandish a claim?

Two reasons perhaps. First, there’s something about Jesus that demands he be taken seriously, no matter what. There’s an intensity of presence, charisma and power in him that tells you he’s not the type to make nonsensical statements. Whatever about his statements being enigmatic, you know they can never be idiotic. Therefore, the Jews take him seriously and try to understand him.

Second reason: his works. Jesus has publicly performed works of extraordinary power. Miracles we call them. Because we’ve not experienced directly such works ourselves we cannot fully appreciate their effect. Just imagine if you witnessed someone performing even one of the healings attributed to Jesus would you not be totally gobsmacked? Would you not take seriously every utterance of such a person?

Jesus presents his followers with a take-it-or-leave-it claim. Why? Because if what he has done does not convince, then words won’t either. As St. Francis noted, we should preach the gospel at all times, using words when necessary.

Fr. Tom Cahill

Announcements

Last week’s collection amounted to £2925.00. Thank you.

The Priests of the Parish would like to thank you for your contributions to the Priests’ Collection on Sunday 19 July.

The Collection for Sunday 26 July amounted to £3535.00. Thank you.

The Collection for Sunday 2 August amounted to £2657.00.Thank you.

The Collection for Sunday 9 August amounted to £2614.00. Thank you.

Dates for Baptism

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

August: Sunday 23; Friday 28.

September: Sunday 6; Friday 11; 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

Bridget Diana McDonagh
Tadhg Terence Patton
Charlie McElroy
Blaine McColgan-Sharkey
Paige Gallagher-Brookes
Kaci Lee Conwell
Michael John O’Hagan
Cayden James Vaughan
Geraldine Shanelle Stokes

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.

Accord will hold Marriage Preparation Workshops (Pre-Marriage Courses) on September 18/19 and October 23/24 2009 from 7.00pm - 10.00pm on Friday and from 10.00am - 4.00pm on Saturday at the Thornhill Centre, Culmore Road, Derry. Booking forms are available from the Pastoral Centre, 164 Bishop Street, Derry, telephone 028 71362475.

The Thornhill Centre

Beginning Monday 5 October from 8.00pm - 9.30pm for eight weeks a course in passing on Core Aspects of the Catholic Faith designed to help parents, grandparents and anyone involved in helping form young people into the ways of faith. Cost £50.00 (payable in installments).

Also starting this Autumn courses in Liturgy (1 year night course - October), ‘So what should we teach them?’ (1 term night course - October/November), Working with your Dreams (1 term night course - October/November), Pastoral Ministry Course (8 Saturday Seminars - Monthly), Scripture - The Year of Luke (4 week night course - November). For information contact the Thornhill Centre on 71351233.

We congratulate the following couples who were

recently united in the Sacrament of Marriage:

Sean O’Reilly and Keira McCay
Brian McNamee and Lucinda Floyd
Fergal McCoy and Olivia Kelly

May they Rest in Peace

Deaths

Johnny McCrea, 9 Delaney Crescent, James O’Brien, Killyclogher,
Jim Hunter, Greenfield Home, Susan Murray, 72 Laurel Drive,
Myra Dudgeon, 3 Croaghan View, Molly Roulston, 161 Mt. Carmel Heights,
Harold Ickes, Ohio, Alice Alexander, Toronto,
Dermot Browne, Altishane, Ina Brennan, Burndennett,
Jackie Cunningham, Riverside Terrace, Agnes Devenney, Raphoe,
Mary Lynch, Woodend Road, Bertie McCosker, Lifford,
Celine O’Kane, 43 St. Colman’s Drive, Willie Curran, Ballindrait,
Maureen MacIntyre, Riverview Terrace, Eileen Quinn, Derry,
Mairead Harkin, Clougher, Seamus McCormack, England formerly Douglas Bridge.

Anniversaries

Norah McAteer, Eamon Foley, Ruby MacIntyre,
Marie Earley, Jeanette Hutchinson, May Earley,
John O’Kane, Jnr Bridget Curran, Jim McDaid,
Patrick McDaid, Mary Farrell, Frankie Stewart,
Denise McElwee, Grace Drumm, Willie Christy,
Nellie McGarrigle, Patrick McElroy, Danny Carlin,
Gay Boyle Tommy Melaugh Ena Herron, Daniel Mallon.

Melmount Centre - Parish Bingo Sunday 23 August.

A team from the N.I. Blood Transfusion Service will be in St. Pat’s Hall on Wednesday 26 August from 1.30pm - 4.00pm and 5.15pm - 8.00pm. In order to maintain the vital supply of blood to our hospitals the support of not only existing members but also new donors is needed.

Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

A 10 day pilgrimage to the Holy Land from Monday 21 - Wednesday 30 September. Cost £1090.00 or 1240.00 Euro per person. Spiritual directors Fr. Michael Porter & Fr. Anthony Mailey. We have a few seats remaining. For further information contact Charlie Gillespie on 07533330756.

St. Vincent de Paul Lucky Lotto

The Draw for August took place on Sunday 2 August. The numbers drawn were: 6, 8, 11, and 23. There was one jackpot winner - Mrs Margaret McBride. The Jackpot for September is £1,000.00. Promoters are asked to have September draw envelopes returned on or before 31 August. The next draw will take place at 9.00pm on Sunday 6 September at Melmount Parish Bingo.

N.W. Regional College, Derry, Limavady and Strabane is offering an exciting range of full-time and part-time courses commencing this September. To find out more come to our Full-Time Course advice sessions August 24 - 28; or Part-Time Enrol & Advice Sessions from Tuesday 1 September or visit www.nwrc.ac.uk for full details or telephone 71276000.

Charity Barn Dance in McCrossan’s, Dergalt Road on Saturday 22 August at 9.30pm. Everyone welcome.