Sunday 10th February
2008
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE
SICK - MESSAGE OF POPE BENEDICT XV1
On 11 February, Memorial
of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lourdes, the World Day
of the Sick will be celebrated, a good occasion to
reflect on the meaning of pain and the Christian duty
to take responsibility for it in whatever situation
it arises. This year we reflect on the connection
between, "The Eucharist, Lourdes and Pastoral
Care for the Sick": At this time of the 150th
anniversary of the apparitions of the Immaculate Mary
at Lourdes.
The 150 years since the apparitions of Lourdes invite
us to turn our gaze towards Mary whose Immaculate
Conception is the sublime and freely-given gift of
God to her a woman so that she could fully live by
God’s ways with a steady and unshakable faith,
despite the tribulations and the sufferings that she
would have to face. For this reason, Mary is a model
of total self-abandonment to God's will: she received
in her heart the eternal Word and she conceived it
in her virginal womb; she trusted in God and, with
her soul pierced by a sword (cf. Lk 2: 35), she did
not hesitate to share the Passion of her Son, renewing
on Calvary at the foot of the Cross her "yes"
of the Annunciation. To reflect upon the Immaculate
Conception of Mary is thus to allow ourselves to be
attracted by the "yes" which joined her
wonderfully to the mission of Christ, Redeemer of
humanity; it is to allow ourselves to be taken and
led by her hand to pronounce in our turn ’let
it be’ to the will of God, with all our existence
interwoven with joys and sadness, hopes and disappointments,
in the awareness that tribulations, pain and suffering
make rich the meaning of our pilgrimage on the earth.
One cannot contemplate Mary without being attracted
by Christ and one cannot look at Christ without immediately
perceiving the presence of Mary. There is an indissoluble
link between the Mother and the Son generated in her
womb by the work of the Holy Spirit, and this link
we perceive in a mysterious way in the Sacrament of
the Eucharist.
Mary, observes the Servant of God John Paul II, is
a "woman of the Eucharist" in her whole
life, as a result of which the Church, seeing Mary
as her model, "is also called to imitate her
in her relationship with this most holy mystery".
In this perspective we understand even further why
in Lourdes the cult of the Blessed Virgin Mary is
joined to a strong and constant reference to the Eucharist
with daily celebrations of the Eucharist, with adoration
of the Most Blessed Sacrament and with the blessing
of the sick, which constitutes one of the strongest
moments of the visit of pilgrims to the grotto.
The presence of many sick pilgrims at Lourdes, and
of the volunteers who accompany them, helps us to
reflect on the maternal and tender care that the Virgin
expresses towards human pain and suffering. Associated
with the Sacrifice of Christ, Mary, Mater Dolorosa,
who at the foot of the Cross suffers with her divine
Son, is felt to be especially near by the Christian
community, which gathers around its suffering members
who bear the signs of the passion of the Lord. Mary
suffers with those who are in affliction, with them
she hopes, and she is their comfort, supporting them
with her maternal help. And is it not perhaps true
that the spiritual experience of very many sick people
leads us to understand increasingly that "the
Divine Redeemer wishes to penetrate the soul of every
sufferer through the heart of his holy Mother, the
first and the most exalted of all the redeemed"?
(John Paul II )
I invite the diocesan and parish communities to
celebrate this World Day of the Sick by appreciating
to the full the importance of the Holy Mass and of
adoration of the Eucharist. The distribution of the
Eucharist to the sick done with decorum and in a spirit
of prayer, is true comfort for those who suffer, afflicted
by all forms of infirmity.
May this World Day of the Sick be a time to invoke
in a special way the maternal protection of Mary over
those who are weighed down by illness, on health-care
workers and workers in pastoral health care! I think
all those who with active dedication to serve in body
and soul the sick and those in need. I entrust all
to Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, the Immaculate
Conception. May she help everyone in testifying that
the only valid response to human pain and suffering
is Christ, who by rising defeated death and gave us
life that knows no end.
Prayer For the Sick
Lord, we thank
you for the wonders of medicine.
Bless the surgeons
and medical teams who care for our loved ones.
Give skill to their
hands and clear vision to their minds to set them
on the path of recovery.
(Taken from the
mission Booklet Prayers and Reflections)
SYMPATHY
We offer our sympathy to the family and friends of
Connor O’Neill, Sandbank Park
who died during the week. May he rest
in peace.
BAPTISMS - Our Parish family welcomes:
Tiernan Nathan Hamilton - 20 Thistlewood Park
Sean Michael McGowan - 21 Sheelin Park
During Lent
there will be an extra Mass Monday
- Friday at 5.00pm.
Stations of the Cross after evening Mass Monday to
Friday.
Lenten Devotions on Sundays at 6.00pm
WATCH AND PRAY
Would you have some time to spare? Eucharistic Adoration
takes place Monday -Friday 11.00am-7.30pm in the Oratory.
Conducted prayer takes place 2pm-3.pm Monday - Saturday.
Give some time --to God for Lent.
SUNDAY COLLECTION 3rd February amounted
to £2365.30 and €107.68 Thank
you for your generosity.
EUCHARISITIC ADORATION
There will be 24 hour Adoration in Fahan Parish Church
on Sunday next 10th February. All welcome.
SPECIAL DIOCESAN MASS
The Annual Diocesan Mass for those with special needs
and their families and friends will take place in
St. Joseph’s Church Galliagh on Sunday 12th
April. Bishop Lagan will celebrate the Mass. If you
have a child who wishes to receive the Sacrament of
Confirmation or First Communion at this Mass please
contact the Catechetical Centre 71264087
CONCERNED ABOUT SUICIDE
An Information Evening entitled ‘Concerned About
Suicide’ will be held in the City Hotel on Tuesday
19th February 7.30-9.30pm. This evening has been organised
by representatives of the four main Christian Churches
and will be led by Mr. Barry McGale and Mrs Anne McGarrigle.
Everyone welcome.
Time to Pray Day - On the first
Sunday of each month Thornhill Centre is open from
3:00 to 6:00 pm for those who wish to come and pray
in the beauty and quiet of the house. Evening Prayer
of the Church is celebrated at 5:30.
MARIE CURIE CANCER CARE will be
hosting a Flag Day Collection in Derry on Saturday
8th March. If you could volunteer as a collector please
call Omagh Marie Currie Office 822 498 88
PADRE PIO
The body of St. Pio will be exhumed mid April and
the relics of St. Pio will be displayed for veneration
for several months. Our May trip will correspond with
the displaying. Trips this years: 19th May (7 nights)
Rome, Assisi, San Giovanni Fatima and Estoril 3rd
July For further details contact Sean 71265926
BHCP wishes to invite local young
people age 14+ to take part in a 6 week Cook - It
programme. The Programme will begin on Wednesday 13th
February and will run from 7-9pm at the Pass It On
Centre 14 Synge Court. We encourage young people to
come along to meet new friends and have some fun.
Contact BHCP on 71271977
STEER MENTAL HEALTH Steer’s
Recovery Programme offers Stress Management, Confidence
and other services. All services are provided by fully
trained qualified staff who understand the difficulties
of coping with mental health issues. All services
are free. Contact Tricia 71279995 or call 13 Pump
St.
FOYLE YARNSPINNERS invite you to
an evening of song and story with Declan Forde tomorrow
Monday at 8.00pm in Verbal Arts Centre Bishop St.
Adm Free.
Matthew Mondays - A 4-week beginners
bible-study course on the Gospel of Matthew starts
in Thornhill Centre on Monday 18 February from 11.00
am to 12.45 pm. Bibles will be available for use.
Suggested donation: £5 per morning. Phone 71351233
to book.
HEARING AID VOLUNTEER PROJECT The
project aims to support people who have recently been
prescribed a hearing aid, using highly trained and
committed volunteers to offer them practical help
and information about making the most of their new
aid. If you can spare one hour or more a week please
ring 71374619. Please support the project if you can.
GIVE ME STRENGTH PROGRAMME is a
6 week confidential free programme designed to address-building
relationship with your teenagers- Programme dates
12, 19,26 Feb 4th, 11, 18th March- Morning session
Tuesdays 10am-1.00pm Evening Sessions Thursdays 6.30-9.30pm
14, 21, 28 Feb and 6,13, 20th March. Venue: Training
Unit Foyle Hospice. For further info and booking ring
71311322
WEIGHT WATCHERS
Templemore Sports Complex
Tuesday 10am
Wed. 5pm 6.30pm 8.00pm.
Leader Betty Cairns
Thursday 5.30, 6.45, and 8.00 Men only
Leader Ann Fox
