Sun 11th Nov - Vol. 24 No 44

RESURRECTION

The risen life promised by Jesus was not earthly life prolonged; it was a new experience. A ‘spiritual’ resurrection in which we would share forever in the life and love of God.

God is not the God of the dung-heap, the lord of decomposition and decay. That could not be.

We should be pleased about this, not because Christ explained the resurrection but because he affirmed it as a fact. He gave us his guarantee, a guarantee made good by the events of Easter Sunday. Resurrection is our destiny. That is a doctrine that should completely transform our lives.

It means that the familiar things do not deceive us after all. Sometimes, in the middle of a busy street or by a fireside with friends we have, in Wordsworth’s phrase ‘intimations of immortality’ Little things like the wind in the chimney or rain on galvanise carry hints of permanence. They make us happy where we are and put us at ease with the universe.

Resurrection means that these common things are constant reminders of the uncommon destiny. They are not tickings of mortality but harbingers of the happiness to come.

The psalmist has been the victim of injustice, He pleads that he is entitled to God’s justice for I have kept my feet firmly in your paths; there was no faltering in my steps. The psalmist is confident that God’s answer will be there, first post, when he wakes up in the morning.
As for me, in my justice I shall see your face and be filled, when I awake with the sight of your glory.

We can give greater meaning to this prayer as a longing for the beatific vision in awakening after the sleep of death. In today’s Second Reading Paul speaks of the inexhaustible comfort and sure hope given us by God’s grace. The psalm has two moving images of protection. Guard me as the apple of your eye….suggesting the instinctive reaction one would use to protect the eye from harm.

Hide me under the shelter of your wings…like a mother hen gathering her chicks under her wing.

A November prayer, full of hope and longing for the blessed vision of God: I shall be filled, when I awake with the sight of your glory.

MASSES
Saturday Vigil 6.00pm
Sunday 9.30am 11.15am, 12.30pm
Weekdays 10.00am, 7.30pm

CONFESSIONS
Saturday 10.30am, 12noon and before evening Mass
Eve of Holydays & eve of First Fridays:
10.30am, 12noon, before evening Mass
Weekdays: before evening Mass.

DEVOTIONS
Sundays of Lent, May and October 6.00pm.

BAPTISMS
Saturday at 7.00pm

SUNDAY COLLECTION 4th November amounted to £2519.23 and €228
Thank you for your generosity.

Retired Priests Collection will be taken up next weekend. Please use the envelope in your box.

SYMPATHY
We offer our sympathy to the family and friends of
Eddie Corr, Tivoli Park
Paul Brown, Barr’s Lane who died during the week. May they rest in peace.

BAPTISMS
Our Parish family welcomes:
Charles Alexander McKnight, 4 Oranmore Park
Kayda Lynette Noonan, 99 Bracken Park
Jenna Josephine McLaughlin, 96 Ashlea Grove
Sarah Michelle Doherty, 11 Kavanagh Court
Stephen Lee Gallagher, 22 Synge Court
D’Arcy Anthony David McKeever, 74 Grangemore Park

NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP
Our church here in Holy Family is celebrating 25 years on 25th September 2008. So as a beginning of our build-up to the 25th Anniversary of the parish the Novena will focus on a different sacrament each Monday night It will continue tomorrow (Monday) at 7.30pm. The Focus this week will be Baptism. Please bring your own Petition or pick up a petition card at the main door of the church and place it in the special petition box at Our Lady’s Altar.

PADRE PIO PRAYER GROUP will meet on Tuesday night after 7.30pm Mass.

LEGION OF MARY
Mass for deceased Legionaries will take place in Holy Family Church on Tuesday 13th November at 7.30pm.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Confirmation 26th April 11.00am St. Eithne’s
Holy Family 26th April 3.00pm.
First Communion 31st May St. Eithne’s12noon
First Communion 7th June Holy Family 11.00am

MARRIAGE PREPARATION WORKSHOP 23rd/24th November in Thornhill Centre Friday7pm-10.00pm and Saturday and 10.am-4.00pm. Booking Forms available from Pastoral Centre Bishop St. Tel 71362475 or Parochial House.

LASCO LOTTO 8th Oct. numbers drawn 2, 5, 7, 21, No jackpot winner 2 X £10 winner. Next weeks jackpot £2,850. Anyone wishing to join please contact LASCO 71374443

BLESSED ALEXANDRINA
Mass in her honour will be celebrated in Termonbacca today Sunday 11th November at 7.30pm

'Free Course in Front LineManagement [Level 3] for women who are working behind the scenes in any small business childcare allowance available - contact Siobhan McLaughlin at NW Regional College - tel. 71276186.

ONE DAY RETREAT for Senior Citizens and their friends from Derry and surrounding areas will take place in Termonbacca, on Thursday 15th November. Registration from 10.30 a.m. finishing around 5.00 p.m. Cost £12stg or 18euro includes a four course lunch. Payment at the Centre on the day. To book Tel: Termonbacca Derry 71262512 during office hours only.

150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE APPARITIONS AT LOURDES
The Derry Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes will take place 16-21 July £449. Application Forms are available at the Parochial House or the Diocesan Pilgrimage Office 164 Bishop St. Special booking forms for pilgrims who are sick or are in need of care/help are available only from pilgrimage office. Opening times are Thurs 11am-2.00pm. Saturdays 11.am-1.00pm and 2.pm-4.00pm.

HOLY FAMILY LOURDES PILGRIMAGE 150TH ANNIVERSARY
23rd July 2008 Savings scheme in Parochial House on Thursdays 8.30-9.00pm. For details contact Margaret 07732468511

VICTORY FOR THE UNBORN
Precious Life sincerely thanks everyone who took part in the ‘Not in My Name Campaign’ opposing Abortion guidelines issued by the Dept of Health. The motion opposing the guidelines was passed by an overwhelming majority vote in the Assembly on Monday 22nd October and the guidelines scrapped . For information on Precious Life tel. 90278484

HEALTH EVENTS AND COURSES
Cook It Course 6 Wks commencing 7th November at Pass It On Centre 14 Synge Court Stress Management Course 4 Weeks 21st November. St. Bernadette’s Playgroup 6*Yoga Classes 4 Weeks 16th November Pass it On Centre Synge Court

Chest Heart & Stroke 14th November Hope for Health 5 Johnfield Place For Further information on above contact Carol or Mary 71271977