Sunday 6th April 2008

Third Sunday of Easter.

 

THE ROAD TO EMMAUS

Old photographs often come out a family gatherings. ‘Would you recognise who he or she is? ‘That’s the question which is often posed. Ten or twenty years can bring a lot of change to a childhood photograph or a wedding day snap - heads turn grey, faces age and bodies change. Often we struggle to recognise who a person is, even a family member or a friend. In today’s Gospel, the risen Christ appears to two of his closest disciples but they fail to recognise him at first. The two disciples walk with Jesus, open their hearts and share their lives and concerns. So there was an opening our of life and its cares to an unrecognised Christ. Do we feel free to open our lives and cares to the Risen Christ? If we are to encounter Christ, then we must be real. We are invited to open up our true lives, our real lives -lives with worries about health and concerns about children, lives with days of joy and holiday adventures, lives with hurt relationships and obstacles to be overcome, lives with people to love and plans to make. To walk with Christ is to be real with Christ.

The two disciples extend an invitation to Jesus to stay with them. It is only after the invitation is extended that Jesus reveals who he is. Jesus does not impose himself or force his presence. It’s a natural connection. However for Christ to be present an invitation is required. We too must invite Christ into our hearts and our lives. We must invite the Lord to stay with us in good times and in bad.

And the hearts of the disciples burned within them. It is important that we study and deepen our knowledge of Christ. The world of ideas is necessary and enriching. But Christ speaks to the heart and it is the heart that burns not the intellect or the head. Perhaps we make Christ into an idea too much. Perhaps we speak of Christ rather than allowing Christ to reach into our heart, which is the driving force for life in our body. The heart is at the centre of life. It is often represented as the place of love. And that is what Christ offers - life and love. - What is needed is an invitation.

SYMPATHY
We offer our sympathy to the family and friends of Margaret Bradley
45 The Branch who died during the week. May she rest in peace.

BAPTISMS Our Parish family welcomes:
Dylan Sean Saunders
16 Synge Court.

SUNDAY COLLECTION 30th March amounted to £2372.79 and €173.17 Thank you

VOCATIONS VIGIL is being held in St. Columb’s Church Waterside on Friday 11th April commencing with Mass at 7.30pm. This will be followed by Adoration of The Blessed Sacrament 8-9pm during which two of the Seminarians will speak about their vocation and life as a Seminarian. A cup of tea will be served afterwards in the Parish Hall accessible via the Church grounds. All welcome

PLANNED GIVING BOXES have been delivered this week. If you would like a box and have not received one please call at the Sacristy to collect one. If you are a taxpayer please sign a Gift Aid Form so that we can claim back the tax that you have already paid for the church. It is strictly confidential and does not affect your tax situation in any way

YOUNG PRIESTS SOCIETY Meeting on Thursday 10th April at 8.00pm in the Upper Room.

LEGION OF MARY ACIES CEREMONY will take place today Sunday in Thornhill at 3.00pm. All are welcome.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Sr. Anne and Gerry Deeney would like to thank everyone who contributed to the Easter Raffle 2008 in aid of the poor of Kenya, India, Chile, Cambodia and Fiji by giving donations, buying raffle lines etc. The total amount raised to date is £10,283.80 and €668. Your support and encouragement are invaluable. This would not be possible without your help. Please take time to look at the photos, thank you letters etc in the church to see how you all have made a difference. God bless you all.

The Annual Diocesan Mass for those with special needs, and their families and friends, will take place in Saint Joseph's Church, Galliagh, Derry on Saturday 12th April Bishop Lagan will celebrate Mass.

TROCAIRE BOXES should be left back as soon as possible.

EDDIE STONES will lead A Day of Prayer and Healing on Saturday 12th April beginning at 11.00am in the Drummond Hotel Ballykelly. All are welcome.

HOLY FAMILY SILVER JUBILEE
This year we celebrate our 25th Anniversary. If you have any memorabilia or photographs of the opening of the church in September 1983 or any photographs or material about anything to do with the story of our parish especially in the early years we would be grateful if we could borrow them. Please leave them in the parochial house. These will be returned to you later on.

DERRY DIOCESAN LOURDES PILGRIMAGE 16-21 July Application forms for any young person aged 14-15 years old who would like a place on the Lourdes Pilgrimage. Special arrangements are made for the youth who will be lead by the Pilgrimage Youth Team
The Lourdes Pilgrimage would be grateful for volunteers who are qualified nurses to work as part of a care team. For further information contact the Pilgrimage Office 164 Bishop St. Tel. 71260293

STAMP APPEAL A collection box is in the church over the Easter period. Please bring your stamps for collection. The stamps will be forwarded to St. Patrick’s Mission after Easter. They will aid St. Patrick’s Missionaries in their work all over the world.

POETRY EVENINGS ‘Sensing the Sacred’ Mary Murphy will lead a three session workshop leisurely exploring some of the longer poems in the Irish output beginning with Patrick Kavanagh’s ‘The Great Hunger’ Dates- Wednesday 9,16,23 April 7.30-9.30pm in Thornhill Centre Cost £5 per night. To reserve a place tel. 71351233

Echo Echo Dance Theatre Company will be teaching a weekend workshop in 'Instantaneous Composition' on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th May at their studio in The Waterside Theatre. From the ordinary to the extra-ordinary… and back again. Hidden in our ordinary everyday behaviour lays our body language, let Echo Echo help you turn it into the extra-ordinary! This 2-day workshop is open to all ages and abilities and costs just £40 or £20 concession. Phone Ailbe or Sarah on 028 7134 2266, e-mail info@echoechodance.com or visit www.echoechodance.com for more information.

GRAND CHARITY DANCE in aid of Foyle Hospice in ‘An Grainan Hotel, Burt on Wednesday 16th April Music by 3 Js 10-12.30am Admission €5

Prayer for the sick
Lord, as I face an uncertain future.
I am in need of your mercy and ask for healing in mind and body.
Lord, hear my pain.
I unite my pain with your pain.
May this benefit me and others.

Taken from the mission Booklet
Prayers and Reflections

Before Surgery
Lord, I thank you for the wonders of medicine.
Bless the surgeon and the medical team.
Give skill to their hands and clear vision
to their minds to set me on the path of recovery

Taken from the mission Booklet
Prayers and Reflections