Fifth Sunday of Lent - 5 March 2007

Who are you?

We live in a culture of blame, accountability and compensation. A head may roll, but usually it’s the wrong one. In a kind of mad mathematics we apply money to relieve the human carnage wrought. It’s not a perfect system - but it is something. And we may feel infinitely better than the lynch mob presented to stone a woman in the Gospel.

But underneath, are we so superior? In Western Culture, we can talk about any topic, but only in boringly politically correct terms. So, while we are mostly nice to people, respectful to colleagues, law-abiding, not committing adultery, or using drugs, we seem to only see ourselves as ‘cursing and swearing.’ Look deeper to where you harbour bitterness, hoard your time, resent intrusion, where you’re vain and self-obsessed, fretting of how others see you. Is our act more spiritual than we really are? Haven’t we all strayed with our eyes and heart - if not our body? We are all like that unnamed woman in the Gospel, a mess in the dust, before the baying hound that is our own conscience or the judgement of others.

Our only hope is as that song might have put it, that ‘He’ will raise us up. There is a wideness and a wildness in God’s mercy and he will raise us up to something infinitely better.

Announcements

Last week’s collection amounted to £2867.00. Thank you.

Anointing of the Sick
This evening’s Devotions at 5.00pm will consist of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. Those who would like to be anointed are asked to be in the Church by 4.50pm to be shown to their seats.

Mass Times during Lent
Monday-Friday: 7.00am; 10.00am & 7.00pm
Saturday: 10.00am & 7.00pm
Sunday: 8.30am; 10.30am & 12.30pm

Palm Sunday
Palms will be blessed at all Masses next weekend. Please bring your own palm branches for blessing. Some small palm crosses will be available.

4.00pm-6.00pm - Penitential Service and Confession in the Church of the Immaculate Conception. Eleven priests will be available.

Dates for Baptism
The following are the dates for the Sacrament of Baptism during the months of March, April, May and June:
March: Friday 30.
April: Sunday 8; Friday 13; Sunday 22; Friday 27.
May: Friday 4; Sunday 13; Sunday 20; Friday 25.
June: Friday 8; Sunday 17; Sunday 24; Friday 29.
Times for Baptism: Sunday 1.15pm; Friday 7.20pm.

Parish Draw 2007
Promoters should make their returns for March to the Parish Office tomorrow Monday 26 March from 2.00pm - 4.30pm and from 7.30pm - 8.30pm. The Draw for March will take place on Thursday 29 March at 2.30pm in the Parish Office.

Lenten Reflections
You are invited to join the Prayer Guidance Group in the Day Chapel every Tuesday morning at 10.30am during Lent for a prayerful reflection of the Sunday Gospels. Everyone is welcome.


We welcome into God's Family through the Sacrament of Baptism:
Wiktoria Czarnecka

We congratulate the following couple who were recently united in the Sacrament of Marriage:
Gerard Kelly and Ciara Conwell

May they Rest in Peace - Deaths
Phyllis McMenamin, Knockavoe Crescent
Paddy O’Kane, Colman Fold
Baby Jamie Kieran Patterson, Columban Terrace
Baby Aimee Brogan, Carricklynn Avenue
Mary Rose Hargan, Derry
Packie Gormley, Dunamanagh

Anniversaries
Betty Roulstone, Mae Logue, Shaun Donnelly,
John Gallagher, Doris Gallagher, Jim Bradley,
Anna McKenna, Susie O’Neill, Margaret Gallagher,
Maggie McKenna, Lily McCready, Nigel Baldrick,
Ellen McCallion, Gerald McCrossan, Monica McLaughlin,
Sarah Carlin.

Collection Envelopes
We thank those who contributed to the Parish during the year. Those who made their contributions using the collection envelopes will receive a new box to begin on Sunday 8 April. Anyone who has not been using envelopes and who would like to receive a box should leave their name in the Sacristy.

Melmount Prayer Group
Sister Marie Wiley, Thornhill will give a talk entitled “Praying with Mary” in the Melmount Centre on Monday 26 March at 7.30pm. Everybody welcome.

Young Persons 14-17 Years
Would you like to travel to Lourdes as part of the Derry Diocesan Youth Pilgrimage from 16-21 July 2007? For application forms contact your head of R.E. at your school or telephone the Lourdes Pilgrimage Office on 71260293.

Lourdes 2007 (1 – 8 August)
The next meeting of the Lourdes Group will take place in ‘The Den’ on Wednesday 28 March between 7.30pm – 8.30pm. Please Note: All outstanding deposits need to be made at this meeting to secure seat.

Iona Carmelite Retreat Centre
A Mass with Healing Service will take place in the Carmelite Retreat Centre, Termonbacca, Derry on Tuesday 27 March at 8.00pm. All are welcome to attend. Easter Weekend Retreat Friday 30 March (8.00pm) - Sunday 1 April

A quiet residential weekend, which will be a spiritual preparation for the Feast of Easter, will be conducted by the Carmelite Fathers in the Carmelite Retreat Centre, Termonbacca, Derry. All are welcome to attend. For further details and bookings telephone 71 262512.

Melmount Centre - Parish Bingo Sunday 25 March 2007.

Strabane Sigersons G.A.A.
The Boys Minor League will open their league campaign at home to Gortin next Tuesday night at 6.45pm. All support welcome. The Club’s new website can be accessed at www.strabanegaa.org and contains loads of information on the affairs of the Club at all levels. Thanks to everyone who contributed to the Annual Church Gate Collection in respect of the Irish Language on St. Patrick’s Day.

Strabane Guides, Brownies & Rainbows will be holding an Easter Fair on Wednesday 28 March in the Presbyterian Church Hall, Derry Road from 7.00pm - 9.00pm. There will be various Craft Stalls, Face Painting, Story Telling, Refreshments etc. Adults £2.00/Children £1.00. All proceeds to the Guides, Brownies & Rainbows.

St. Mary’s Boys School
St. Mary’s Boys School are presenting ‘New Beginnings’ in the Alley Theatre on 23, 24, 25 and 26 April. To assist with the production of the show we are looking for old photographs of the 1950’s and 1960’s. Photographs of the local housing estates would be particularly useful. The Old Trust, Ballycolman, Calverts and the Council Houses (the bungalows etc.) In addition, we would appreciate photographs of the Pallidrome Dance Hall and St. Mary’s Hall, Bridge Street. We would photocopy any photographs supplied to us and return them to their owners immediately. Please contact John McGinley on 028 71 382422.