Next Sunday 19th October is Mission Sunday. The theme for Mission Sunday this year is ‘Go and Tell’. On Wednesday night in the Upper Room this week we saw the beginning of a six-part series on the Creed. When we stand together at Mass every weekend and profess our faith we proclaim in words the essential heart of who we are as God’s people. Faith is our response to God’s abundant love and goodness in creating and redeeming us. This response cannot stop at the level of words alone. When we experience God’s infinitely generous and unconditional love we have to respond in action as well as words.

The first step in attempting to do this is to study, reflect and pray about what God has done for us and what he is calling us to do in our own personal lives and in our relationships and in the wider community. Our recent Jubilee Retreat and celebrations was an opportunity to grow and be renewed in the living out of our faith. The forthcoming Annual Novena will provide another similar opportunity.

The seminar which began this week is an appropriate link between these times of renewal and growth and is itself a very good means of nourishment at the heart of our community.

Also very closely linked with these very positive experiences is our annual focus on the Missions which happens each year in October

Some give to the Missions by going. Some go to the Missions by giving. The Pope recently said ‘Please assist Young Churches in their response to people who are hungry for God, not just bread and freedom’.

Next week marks the annual worldwide Catholic celebration of Mission Sunday. Our prayers and donations on Mission Sunday help to support missionaries and those they reach out to in countries where the Church is new, young or poor. Our support allows Catholic communities throughout the world to become self-sufficient and progress according to their own needs and traditions. A special collection will be taken up next Sunday in aid of our brothers and sisters currently on mission allowing them to continue their difficult but vital work reflecting the theme for Mission Sunday 2008:

‘Go and Tell’.  

World Mission Sunday reminds us of our role as disciples of Jesus. Today we are asked to play our role in helping to bring the word of God to those who are still hungry for his message. We are given the opportunity to share in the experience of our brothers and sisters who carry on the missionary task today as they ‘Go and Tell’, often in difficult and dangerous circumstances. Our spiritual and material offerings are crucial for the continued work of missionaries throughout the world, allowing them to share God’s love and compassion. The total raised in the collection will be sent in its entirety to support various mission projects.Please give what you can afford, every gift – no matter how small- makes a difference.  

JUBILEE CANDLE

A commemorative Holy Family Silver Jubilee candle is on sale. The candle bears the Holy Family logo and costs £3 or 4 for £10.

SYMPATHY
We offer our sympathy to the family and friends of Eamon Anderson, 42 Corrib Court who died during the week. May he rest in peace.

BAPTISMS

Our parish family welcomes
Caolan Patrick Harkin, 81 Ashlea Grove
Cara Rose Brady 33 Tranarossan Ave.
Roise Mairi Parkhill 5 Dundrum Park
Daniel Robert Murray, 101 Fergleen Park.

HOLY FAMILY ADULT FAITH FORMATION GROUP  is hosting a six part series of DVD talks and discussions from the Cafe program on the Nicene Creed beginning 8th October. Every weekend at Mass we stand together and recite the Nicene Creed. In this prayer we proclaim our shared beliefs and the very core of what God has revealed to us about Himself. Archbishop Mark Coleridge says 'This course will help us go beyond the words to discover the huge treasure that we have been given in the Creed'. The sessions will take place in the Upper Room of the Church each Wednesday commencing at 8 p.m.

Exploring and sharing our faith in courses such as this is a very good way of expressing and nourishing the life of our worshipping parish community. Everyone welcome.

OCTOBER DEVOTIONS will take place today at 6.00pm. in the church.

SILVER JUBILEE PARISH BOOK

This very attractive publication contains reflections by all the priests who formerly served here, photographs and articles recalling the beginnings of our parish, contributions by parishioners, children’s artwork and accounts and pictures about groups and individuals who together have woven the colourful tapestry which is the story of Holy Family past and present. The book is on sale at any time from the sacristy or parochial house. Cost £5.

SUNDAY COLLECTION 5th October amounted to £2379.50 and €192.80 Thank you - Next week’s collection is for the Foreign Missions

MONTHLY MASS for the Beatification of Matt Talbot will take place in Termonbacca on Monday 13th October at 7.30pm. All welcome.

ACCORD DERRY MARRIGE PREPARATION WORKSHOP 24th/25th October Thornhill Centre Friday 7pm-10pm and Saturday 10am-4pm. Booking forms available from Pastoral Centre 164 Bishop Street or Parochial House

ANNUAL DIOCESAN PIONEER MASS will be celebrated by Bishop Hegarty in St. Mary’s Church Clonmany at 3.00pm on Sunday 26th October .. Refreshments will be served in the nearby parochial hall. All welcome

Draw to promote Temperance in Ireland and in the Developing World is being organised by the Central Office of the Pioneer Assoc. It starts in mid-November £6 for 6 months or £33 for those who pay for 6 months in advance. Anyone who wishes to enter the draw should contact Andrew Doherty 71352285 or Danny Gorman 71352725 before 3rd Nov.

COSY CLUB/OVER 50s Winter Programme; Flower Arranging Mon 10.30am-11.30am Tai Chi Mon 7.30-8.30pm taking place in 12a Farland Way.
Bingo, Tea & Buns and a laugh Tues.10.30am-1.00pm 23 Inchview
Entertainment music & course by demand Thursday 10.30am-1.00pm

St. Eithne’s Common Room
Cross Community and Enrolment Line Dancing Beginners Class Friday 7.30pm-9.00pm. Taking place in Richmond Memorial Hall
All welcome. Tel. 71370196

SURESTART Little Hands Parent and Toddler Group in Hawthorn Drive Common Room (8A Hawthorn Drive) Springtown Road. Open every Thursday 10am-12noon

ST. MARY’S COLLEGE have 2 course available MOS Develop basic skills in Word, Excel and Powerpoint and IC3 basic skills in the use of hardware, software networks and Internet. Both course commence on Monday 20th Oct from 5.15-7.00pm. Tel Yvonne 71376931 for further details.

Wee Bears Day Nursery and Kids R Us Out of school have full-time and part-time available at 34 Balliniska Rd, Sprintown. We collect from local Primary Schools.Fully qualified staff, indoor sports court, CCTV monitored. Please phone Krisztina or Karen on 028 71367186 or email weebears@btconnect.com.

COLMCILLE PILGRIMAGES 
Pilgrimage to the Holy Land Including Egypt, Greece, Athens Turkey, In the footsteps of St. Paul  Nine days beginning 5th. March 2009. It will take the form of a cruise between these different ports. Price £1095 Phone or text Margaret @ 07732468511 Or email:paddyokane@tiscali.co.uk