Sunday, 24th January 2010

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading : Nehemiah 8: 2-6.8-10
After Jesus returned from exile in Babylon, Ezra sought to re-establish the Jewish religion. Here, he reads the book of the law of Moses to the people.

Second Reading: Corinthians 12: 12-30
Just as the human body is one though made up of many parts, so the Church, though composed of different members with different gifts, form a unity in Christ.

Gospel: Luke 1: 1-4; 4: 14-21
Gods’ promises are fulfilled in Jesus, the long awaited Saviour of the poor and oppressed.

Your Bottom Dollar

Gambling is one of our growing problems. You can bet your bottom dollar on that! It’s estimated that in 2008 punters risked losing about £3.6 billion in the nation’s 1,093 betting shops. That’s £300 million more than the previous year. No recession there! This, alarmingly, doesn’t include on-course betting, gambling on the National Lottery, or online. Many people relish risk, crave for chance and feed on fickle fate instead of solid faith. For some people there can be nothing odd with the odds when it comes to risk-taking for money. What, in sober moments, most of us would count as throwing money away gung-ho gamblers see as a prelude to a victory parade.

Today’s Gospel reading (Luke 1:1-4, 4:14-21) doesn’t deal with chance, though there may be some risk later down the road. It presents us with odds-on certainty; the fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah in the person of Jesus. He was prophesied as the one who brings news of freedom to captives and those oppressed because the Spirit of God rests on him (4:18-19). In other words, because God is with Jesus he can enable us to live free of addictions, compulsions and false values. It’s a totally upbeat prophecy, and indeed Jesus is totally upbeat about it. Question is: are we?

Do we accept Jesus as he who brings us freedom? Or, do we see him as cramping our style? But there’s nothing that’s moral and legal that we can’t do as a Christian that we could do were we not. You can bet your bottom dollar on that too.

Fr. Tom Cahill

Announcements

Dates for Baptism

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

January: Sunday 24; Friday 29.

February: Friday 12; Sunday 21.

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

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

Niamh Ellen McColgan

Dylan William Stewart

Prayer before the Blessed Sacrament

will now be on Friday mornings after 10.00am Mass until 12.00 noon

Parish Draw 2010

We hope to start Melmount Parish Draw 2010 as soon as possible. Once again the Parish Draw will be one of our principal means of revenue. We would encourage as many people as possible to become part of the Draw and would ask for more people to volunteer as promoters. If you are willing to volunteer your services please contact the Parish Office on 71 383777.

The Draw costs £60.00 for the year. The Prizes are:

1st Prize: £500.00

2nd, 3rd, 4th Prizes: £250.00

5th, 6th,7th Prizes: £150.00

8th, 9th.10th Prizes: £100.00

Giving a Prize Fund of £2000.00 per month.

Promoters will be contacted shortly regarding their lists of members. Parishioners are encouraged to support the Draw. Anyone who does not have a promoter can join the Draw by contacting the Parish Office.

Special Diocesan Mass

The Annual Diocesan Mass for those with special needs and their families and friends will take place in St. Joseph’s Church, Galliagh, Derry on Saturday 24 April 2010. Bishop Lagan will celebrate the Mass. If you have a child who wishes to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation or First Communion at this Mass please contact the Catechetical Centre on 028 71264087 or email ddcc@derrydiocese.org.

Visitation of Sick and Housebound

The sick and housebound will be visited on Tuesday 26 January 2010 as follows:

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

Holy Cross College Open Day

All Primary 7 pupils and their parents are invited to attend the Open Day in Holy Cross College on Saturday 30 January. Principal’s Address at 10.00am and 1.00pm. (Choose one of the two sessions). Parking in the College Grounds.

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

Dermot Finlay and Lea Langan

May they Rest in Peace - Anniversaries

John Lynch, Maggie Hegarty, Catherine McDaid,

Annie Nelson, Kieran Hegarty, Mary Canavan,

Harry Devine, Sarah McLaughlin, Willie Ferry,

Patsy Patton, Margaret Patton, Mary Kelly,

Francis Kelly, Danny McGranaghan, Hugo McLaughlin,

Norah McCrea , John Roulston, Lollie Elliott,

Eddie McAnenny, Willie John Carlin, Mary Ann Maguire,

Bridget Bonner, Bing Shields, Seamus McCusker,

Tara Cassidy, Francie Floyd, Teresa Deehan,

Jackie Dunne, Hugh Dunne, George Henderson.

Christian Unity Week

Annual Prayer Service for Christian Unity will take place this year in Christ Church, Bowling Green,

on Sunday 31 January at 3.00pm. All are welcome.

Accord Derry:

If you are getting married in 2010 apply for your Marriage Preparation Course. Limited places are available: 29/30 January, 26/27 February and 26/27 March at the Thornhill Centre, Culmore Road, Derry from 7.00pm - 10.00pm on Friday and 10.00am - 4.00pm on Saturday. For booking forms and details contact the Pastoral Centre, 164 Bishop Street, Derry. Tel: 71362475.

Prayer Vigil:

Thornhill Centre, Derry is holding a Prayer Vigil from 8.00pm - Midnight on Friday 5 February. In this, the Year for Priests, we pray for our Church, our Priests, our Parish and Faith Communities at this time of difficulty. There will be a 10 minute led Prayer at the start of every half hour. To ensure enough prayer leaflets are available it would be helpful if you could telephone 71351233 to indicate your interest in attending.

Melmount Centre - Parish Bingo Sunday 24 January.

Bridgend Community Association will be making

St. Brigid’s Crosses on Tuesday 26 January at 7.30pm in Mulvey House.

Lourdes 2010

The next meeting of the Lourdes Group will take place on Wednesday 27 January in ‘The Den’ between 7.30pm - 8.30pm. Deposit secures seat.

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 on Saturday 27 February. The group would like to invite anyone who has travelled with us over the years to join us. Tickets cost £25.00 and can be obtained from Stephen Browne 07912500195.

Parenting your Teen

Parenting Education offers a unique and flexible approach to addressing the needs that parents themselves identify. This FREE course is ideal for those in a parenting role of young people aged 12 - 18 and covers a range of themes including Problem Solving, Communication, Understanding Teen Behaviour, Boundaries, Conflict, Self Esteem etc. It takes place from Tuesday 2 March - Tuesday 27 April from 7.00pm - 9.00pm (Venue to be confirmed). To register contact Sharon Clarke on 90310891.

Calverts Community Development Association AGM

in MEBECAF office on Wednesday 27 January at 7.30pm. All welcome.

Liam Bradley Tours:

Easter in Killarney 4 Days. Monday 5 April £225.00 pps. Departs Abercorn Square at 8.20am.

For details and booking telephone 71269109.