Sunday, 31st January 2010

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading : Jeremiah 1: 4-5.17-19
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you came to birth I consecrated you; I have appointed you as prophet to the nations.

Second Reading: Corinthians 12: 31 – 13:13
There are three things that last: faith, hope and love; and the greatest of these is love.

Gospel: Luke 4: 21-30
Jesus’ message is meant for all people.

Climate Change

There’s something fishy about the North Sea. It’s getting hotter. Its temperature rose by 1º C over the last 40 years. Not earth shaking, but serious enough to cause waves. The plankton that cod larvae like have had it. Some 60 percent of them have scuttled off to a cooler clime 1,200 km further north. The result? A sea change. Cod stocks dwindled; crab stocks exploded and jellyfish proliferated as the adult cod that feed on these became fewer. This in turn put pressure on flatfish such as plaice and sole whose offspring crabs crave. Just one extra degree of heat and an ecosystem’s food chain snaps. Even the quiet, away-from-it-all sea urchins, mussels and scallops on the sea bed haven’t escaped the squeeze.

Now, let’s enter our fishbowl and look at our society, our North Sea. Even here, one little degree of change can produce unforeseen consequences. I still remember the shock nearly 30 years ago while home on holidays from the missions hearing a seven-year old girl shout at a five year old boy and call him an a**hole. I thought only foul-mouthed Hollywood hoodlums used that language. I figured she’d been exposed at home to so-called entertainment unsuited even to adults. I fume when I hear on the TV seemingly concerned warnings from a disembodied voice about a film containing what it arbitrarily calls ‘strong’ language. It’s never ‘foul’, or ‘bad’ always ‘strong’. What a fine positive and ‘adult’ term for something debasing!

Needless to say a lot more has entered the fish bowl from Hollywood and elsewhere that has raised the temperature.

Fr. Tom Cahill

Announcements

Haiti Collection

Many thanks to all those who contributed so very generously to the Haiti Collection.

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.

Catholic Schools Week

On Monday 1 February our Primary School children will be attending 10.00am Mass for Catholic Schools Week.

They will take part in the readings and singing.

Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord (Day for Consecrated Life)

Tuesday 2 February is the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord and also Candlemas Day. Mass will be at 7.00pm and candles will be blessed at this Mass.

Blessing of Throats

Wednesday 3 February is the Feast of St. Blaise. The traditional Blessing of Throats for St. Blaise’s Day will take place at 10.00am Mass.

Dates for Baptism

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

February: Friday 12; Sunday 21.

March: Sunday 7; Saturday 13; Sunday 21.

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

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

Ava Bridie Sarah Vaughan
Che Michael McColgan-Kelly
Dylan Colum Hassan
Ronan James Gallagher
Zara Lucy McCool
Micah Claire Conwell

Prayer before the Blessed Sacrament

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

Parish Draw 2010

The new Parish Draw will get underway this month. Returns for January and February, i.e. £10.00 for each member, will be taken on Monday 22 February from 2.00pm - 4.30pm and from 7.30pm - 8.30pm at the Parish Office. The Draws for January and February will take place on Thursday 25 February at 10.30am in the Parish Office.

Please Note: Promoters are asked to leave their updated lists of members into the Parish Office as soon as possible so that tickets can be issued.

May they Rest in Peace - Deaths

Susan Kane, 2 Lisnafin Park

John Kelly, 7 Newtownkennedy Street

Anniversaries

Elizabeth Barr, Dan Devenney, Patsy Donaghey,

Mary Moore, Annie Mary Kearney, Sharon McGinley,

Pat Dunne, Jane McGranaghan, Elizabeth Coyle,

Kathleen Coyle, Paddy McGonigle, Irene Snodgrass,

Michael McDaid, Columba Gallagher, George Toorish,

Michael McGarrigle, Bridie Henderson, Francis McGlynn,

Michael Bradley, Bridget McAleer, Maxine McMenamin,

Toby McGrath Jnr, Patrick McGrath Snr, Jim Kennedy,

John Houston, Brian McBride, Jim McLaughlin,

Denis Coyle, Nuala Logue, Josephine Gallagher,

Patsy Harte, Kathleen Harte.

The monthly Devotions, in honour of Our Lady,

will take place in the Carmelite Retreat Centre, Termonbacca, Derry on Tuesday 2 February starting with confessions at 7.30pm followed by Rosary and Mass finishing around 10.00pm. All are welcome.

Annual Prayer Service for Christian Unity

will take place today Sunday 31 January at 3.00pm in

Christ Church, Bowling Green,

All are welcome.

Cleaning of the Church

Many thanks to the Women’s Cursillo Team for cleaning the church during the month of January. The team for cleaning the church during the month of February is Patricia McDaid’s Team.

Collection Counters

The following are asked to count the collection for the month of February: Kathleen McGowan, Margaret Devine, Michael McColgan, Madeline McColgan, Robin McHugh, Tina Clifford, Mary O’Reilly.

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 31 January.

The Diabetic Association

will hold their next meeting on Wednesday 3 February at 8.00pm in ASDA supermarket.

Lesley Hamilton, dietitian, will be in attendance.

Castletown Community Association will hold their monthly meeting on Tuesday 2 February at 8.30pm in Melmount Forum Office (above Davy McNally’s Shop). Everyone welcome.

Strabane St. Patrick’s Day Parade:

Planning for the parade is now underway and all interested parties are invited on the following dates to a meeting in Strabane Community Library; Thursday 4, 18, 25 February and Thursday 4, 11 March. All meetings will commence at 7.30pm.