Living the Sunday Liturgy

PRAYER FOCUS

Strengthen our faith, hope and love.
How would you like this prayer answered?

Questions

For Married Couples: What are the signs of hope in your marriage?

How can you bring hope to each other this week?

For Others: Do you know someone who has lost hope at this time?

Can you bring some hope to them at this time?

Sunday 25th October 2009

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading Jeremiah 31: 7-9
The Lord has saved his people.

Second Reading Hebrews 5: 1-6
Christ is the compassionate high priest,
sent to take away our sins.

Gospel Mark 10: 46-52
A blind man is cured and becomes a follower of Jesus.

A Stupid Question?

Jesus doesn’t ask stupid questions. So why does he ask Bartimeus what seems at best a question with an obvious answer in today’s Gospel reading (Mark 10:46-52)? Bartimeus is blind, and a beggar. He calls Jesus ‘Son of David’. So the odds are in favour of him wanting more than money. He wants sight. Yet, Jesus doesn’t assume that. Why?

Perhaps he wants to show respect towards Bartimeus, unlike the crowd who tell him to shut up. Jesus invites him to speak for himself. Can we say we always do that with those we consider unimportant to us? Those whose sentences we finish for them? Those whose conversation we cut across when in company? Those whom we think aren’t worth listening to?

Or perhaps Jesus wants to test the quality of Bartimeus’s faith. ‘Son of David’ he calls Jesus. Will he now undo the impression he makes by asking Jesus for a few coins? Respecting Bartimeus’s freedom, Jesus let’s his faith unfold. And what a faith it is! He asks for nothing short of a miracle. Even though he’s blind he can ‘see’ that Jesus is more than ordinary. Faith brings vision of a kind that healthy eyes may fail to. Do we see in Jesus more than the human eye can catch? Is our faith great enough to expect a personal transformation little short of the miraculous by sincerely asking for it? Jesus doesn’t force us to ask for the impossible. But he does invite us to.
What a shame should we refuse because it might sound stupid!

Fr. Tom Cahill

All Saints Day

Next Sunday 1 November is the Feast of All Saints.

Collection for Retired Priests

The Annual Collection for Retired Priests will be taken up at all Masses on Sunday 1 November. This is a collection to help assist priests who have retired from active ministry. There is a special envelope in your box. Anyone contributing to this collection by cheque should make it payable to ‘Melmount Parish’.

Dates for Baptism

The following are the dates for the Sacrament of Baptism during the months of November and December:

November: Friday 6; Sunday 15; Sunday 22; Friday 27.

December: Sunday 6; Friday 11; Sunday 20.

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

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

Nora Mary O’Driscoll & Ross Anthony Dudgeon

Dates for Confirmation and First Holy Communion 2010

Bishop Hegarty will administer the Sacrament of Confirmation to the Primary 7 pupils of our schools on Saturday 15 May 2010 at 11.00am.

First Holy Communion for Primary 4 pupils of St. Mary’s Boys P.S. and St. Mary’s Girls P.S. will take place on Saturday 22 May 2010.

First Holy Communion for pupils from the Gaelscoil will take place on Saturday 5 June 2010.

Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes

The Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes will take place from 16 - 21 July 2010. Cost £629.00. Payable in instalments. A few forms are available at the Parish Office, 71383777 or at the Pilgrimage Office. Forms for those in need of care or those aged 80+ are available only from the Pilgrimage Office 028 71260293.

Divine Mercy Devotions

There will be Divine Mercy Devotions every Sunday

from 3.00pm - 4.00pm in St. Colman’s Chapel with Eucharistic Adoration. Everyone welcome.

May they Rest in Peace - Deaths

John McKenna, St. Colman’s Drive

Hughie Blee, 9 Columban Terrace

Brendan Devine, 65 Moorlough Road, Glenmornan

Nora Gallagher, Ballindrait

Tommy McGoldrick, Manchester

Annual Service for the Dead

The annual service in remembrance of deceased members of our families and parish will take place on Sunday 8 November at 5.00pm. Families who have suffered bereavement since November 1, 2008 are asked to nominate a representative to carry a candle to the altar in commemoration of their dead. (Candles will be provided).

Anniversaries

Fanny Harte, Kitty McLaughlin, George Brad Doherty,

Hugo Quinn, William Meehan, Margaret Anne McGinley,

Tom Devlin, George McGinley, Hugh McDaid Snr,

Brendan McGee, Terence Browne, Patrick Kennedy,

Nora Quigley, Mary McDermott, Patrick Farrell,

Cedric Edwards, Eileen Simpson, Rosaleen Coyle,

Christopher McHugh, Elizabeth McGarrigle, Ryan McGonigle,

Kathleen McGirr, Grace Conroy, Patrick Tierney.

Through the Eyes of St. Luke

As St. Luke’s Gospels will be used in the Sunday Masses of the coming year, this 4 week course will help us to appreciate the emphasis and focus of St. Luke’s account of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. This course will take place in the Thornhill Centre on Monday 9, 16, 23 and 30 November from 7.30pm - 9.30pm. Cost £30.00 (payable in instalments). To book telephone 71351233.

Strabane History Society

Strabane History Society will meet on Thursday 29 October at 8.00pm in the Library, Abercorn Square. Ken McCormack of Radio Foyle fame will give an illustrated talk on the Foyle and the Mourne, with stories from the past and present. New members are welcome.

A Team from the N.I. Blood Transfusion Service will be in St. Pat’s Hall on Wednesday 4 November 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.

Melmount Centre   Parish Bingo   Sunday 25th October.

St. Anthony’s Retreat Centre, Dundrean, Burnfoot, Co. Donegal - a space of quiet, prayer and solitude. Available for individual retreats and spiritual guidance (Marie McCormack, Fr. Neal Carlin). Residential accommodation and meals in the Centre’s hermitages. Promotional offer 45 Euro per night. ‘Come away by yourself to a desert place and rest for a while.’ Contact Fr. Neal Carlin on 00353 74 9368370 or sacre@eircom.net for enquires and bookings.

St Patrick’s Hall will have a Social Evening featuring ‘Reflections’ on Monday 26 October.

Doors open at 9.00pm. Admission £5.00.

Light Supper provided. Everyone welcome.

All proceeds in aid of St. Patrick’s Luncheon Club.

Charity Night for Breast Cancer in St. Patrick’s Hall on Friday 6 November.

Doors open at 9.00pm. Admission £5.00 or 6 Euro. Music by ‘Friends’. Light supper served.

All proceeds to Breast Cancer Unit at Altnagelvin Hospital. Everyone welcome.

October Draw

£500: 1001 James & Myra O’Connor - Elizabeth O’Hare
£250: 1539 Maureen O’Donnell - Sheila McGonagle
£250: 1400 Ross McDaid - Helen Foster
£250: 1192 Miriam McElroy - Juliana Murray
£150: 1177 Catherine Sheerin - Juliana Murray
£150: 1456 Ursula Coyle - Michael McGrath
£150: 1703 Ken Devine - Helen Foster
£100: 1230 Maura McElroy - Mar Hagan
£100: 1451 Pauline McGrath - Elizabeth O’Hare
£100: 1015 Patsy McCallion - Elizabeth O’Hare