Sunday, 27th June 2010

13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Kings 19:16.19-21
Elisha rose and followed Elijah.

Second Reading: Galatians 5:1.13-18
You were called to liberty.

Gospel: Luke 9:51-62
I will follow you wherever you go.

Testy Times

It used to be the terrible teens. Now it’s the terrible tots. Crèches in Britain are suspending up to fourteen young children a day, aged five and younger, for physical assault. Incidents where testy tots use violence against classmates and teachers rose six per cent in a year.

I wonder what sort of tots the two disciples were in today’s Gospel reading (Luke 9:51-62). If they weren’t testy as tots they’re certainly testy as adults. Inflated with importance they assume a power to ‘command fire to come down from heaven’ (v.54) and torch to death the inhabitants of a Samaritan village. Not very Christian that now, is it?
Though close to Jesus physically as his followers they aren’t yet close enough to him spiritually to recognise what sort of person and what sort of messiah he is. It seems there’s baggage blocking the way: religious baggage that inflates their sense of election, of being God’s own people to the exclusion of others; political baggage that expects a freedom-fighter messiah to liberate the Jews from Roman tyranny; and social baggage that cultivates an elitist mentality that seduces them into thinking they can ride rough-shod over people like the Samaritans whom they despise.

Some ancient authorities add, ‘as Elijah did’ to v.54 about commanding fire from heaven. In response to this hankering for former ways and attitudes Jesus rebukes them. I wonder does he have any such rebuke for us today as we carry our baggage, whether it be personal, social or institutional in these testy and testing times?

Fr. Tom Cahill

Announcements

Visitation of Sick and Housebound

The sick and housebound will be visited on Monday 28 June as follows: Monday Morning: Ashgrove Park, Olympic Drive, Ballycolman Estate, Laurel Drive.

First Friday

Friday of this week is the First Friday. Masses will be at 10.00am and 7.00pm.

Confessions will be on Thursday after 10.00am Mass and on Friday at 6.15pm.

Dates for Baptism

The following are the dates for the Sacrament of Baptism during the months of July and August:

July: Sunday 11; Saturday 17; Sunday 25.

August: Sunday 8; Saturday 21; Sunday 29.

Times for Baptism: Sunday 1.15pm; Saturday 4.00pm

Parish Draw Returns for July and August

Promoters should make their returns for July and August to the Parish Office on Tuesday 13 July, for both July and August (£10.00 for each person), from 2.00pm - 4.30pm and from 7.30pm - 8.30pm. The double Draw for July and August will take place on Thursday 15 July at 10.30am in the Parish Office.

Accord Derry will hold Marriage Preparation Workshops

(Pre-Marriage courses) on 24/25 September and 22/23 October in the Thornhill Centre, Culmore Road, Derry. The course will run from 6.45pm to 10.00pm on Friday and from 10.00am to 4.00pm on Saturday. To book a place contact Rosemary on 71362475 (Monday - Thursday 9.30am - 1.30pm).

Lourdes 2010

The Final Meeting of the Lourdes Group will take place on

Wednesday 30 June between 7.30pm - 8.30pm in ‘The Den’.

A Mass for the Sick with Eucharistic Blessing will take place in the Carmelite Retreat Centre, Termonbacca, Derry on Tuesday 29 June at 8.00pm. All are welcome to attend.

Carmelite Pilgrimage to Knock Sunday 18 July. Coach leaves Termonbacca at 7.30am with pick up point at the Melmount Centre at 8.00am returning to Derry at approx 11.00pm. Return coach, snack on the way and four course evening meal. Fare £35.00 or 40 Euro. For further information telephone Termonbacca on 71262512 during office hours only.

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

William McGerrigle and Paula Doherty

May they Rest in Peace - Deaths

Kathleen Walters, 10 Alexander Place

Anniversaries

Frank Duffy, Hugh Devine, Gregory Kearney,

Ben MacIntyre, Gerard Conwell, Sarah Early,

George Early, Mark McElwee, Mary Doherty,

Larry McCool, Nan O’Connor.

Music Workshop

Tom Kendzia (US) is coming to Ireland to give the Church Music Summer School in Maynooth. He has been persuaded to come via Plumbridge to lead a workshop for singers/choirs on Wednesday 30 June from 7.30pm to 9.30pm in the Parish Hall, Plumbridge. For more details contact Sr. Perpetua on 71351233.

Marie Curie: Strabane Friends of Marie Curie invite you to ‘A Blooming Great Tea Party’ at Brae Wood, Sion Mills (home of Celia Ferguson) on Saturday 3 July from 10.00am - 1.00pm. This tea party will help to provide nursing care and support to terminally ill people in your neighbourhood.

Taking the Time: Mary Murphy with Sr. Perpetua will lead an ‘Exploration of the Journey Inward’, using some of the finest poetry and classical music, with reflections on the Psalms. This retreat-like experience is an invitation to touch into the creative imagination. Begins at the Thornhill Centre, Derry on Friday 2 July at 7.00pm and ends on Saturday 3 July at 7.00pm. For more information contact: The Secretary, Thornhill Centre, 71351233.

The Foyle Hospice Annual Car Draw takes place on Saturday 3 July in Foyleside Shopping Centre. Tickets should be returned as soon as possible to Foyle Hospice Fundraising Centre, Foyle Hospice Shop or the Foyle Hospice Stand in Foyleside Shopping Centre.

Melmount Centre - Parish Bingo Sunday 27 June.

Coach to the All Ireland Rally for Life: A coach to the pro-life rally in Belfast city centre on Saturday 3 July will leave the Melmount Centre at 9.00am for a pre-rally Mass at 11.30am in St. Patrick’s Church. For booking contact Margo on 71883453 or the Rally for Life Committee on 90278484.

Taster Evening: Craft Training, Mopack Business Complex, Ballycolman Road, will hold an open evening on Monday 5 July from 6.00pm - 9.00pm. You are invited to come and have a look around our custom built workshops and offices and you will have the opportunity to try out some practical skills e.g. joinery, bricklaying etc and to talk to some of our current trainees, Please feel free to bring a parent, guardian or friends with you.

Parish Draw 2010

The Parish Draw took place on Thursday 24 June 2010.

The winners are as follows: June Draw

£500: 1210 Frank Turbett – Elizabeth O’Hare

£250: 1350 Mrs M. Devine – Maureen Hegarty

£250: 1299 Mary McGuigan – Carol-ann Stewart

£250: 1345 Eva Stevenson – Elizabeth Devenney

£150: 1572 Dympna Harley – Sheila McGonagle

£150: 1501 Eamon MacIntyre – Sheila McGonagle

£150: 1102 Josephine McGinn – Margaret McLaughlin

£100: 1641 Marie McNulty – Sheila McGonagle

£100: 1031 Nicola McGuigan – Maureen Hegarty

£100: 1260 Carmel McDaid – Ann Donaghey