Sunday
21st June 2009
12th
Sunday in Ordinary Time
GOD IS WITH US IN
ALL OUR FEARS AND QUSTIONINGS
Job was a man who asked the question ‘Why’.
When his world fell apart, he had only questions;
Why is this happening to me? Why does God
allow this? Why do good people suffer? His
friends tried to console him, but their
arguments only added to Job’s pain,
because they tried to convince him that
he had somehow deserved his suffering. Eventually,
God comes in a storm to answer Job. But
God’s speeches surprise us because
they too are questions; Who established
the earth on its foundations? Who pent up
the sea behind closed doors? God’s
questions coax Job away from his questions
and offer a vision of God’s amazing
and wonderful work in creation. In the storm
of doubt and pain and anger that is blowing
around him, Job wonders at ‘who’
is behind the mystery of creation with all
its wonders and contradictions. Somehow
this brings him consolation.
The disciples of Jesus also ask, ‘Who
is this?’ The storm blowing around
them is a metaphor for the storm of fear
and uncertainty that is raging through their
mind and hearts. In that storm they discover
the one who calms the wind and the sea,
forces of chaos that threaten to overwhelm
and destroy.
Today we are being invited to recognise
God in the storm. When the storms of fear,
doubt, uncertainty, confusion threaten to
overwhelm us, and when God seems to be asleep,
we are called to place our trust in the
God who is present in the storm and who
assures us that he is master of the forces
of chaos. The words of Christ - Why are
you so frightened? How is it that you have
no faith?’ - are both a challenge
and a consolation to us: they challenge
our lack of faith in his presence with us,
but they also assure us that faith in his
presence will conquer fear.
Sunday 21st June
12th Sunday of the
Year
First Reading Job
38: 1.3-11
God created and controls the forces of nature.
Second Reading Corinthians
5: 14-17
For anyone who is in Christ, there is a
new creation.
Gospel Mark 4: 35-41
Jesus calms the storm.
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.
BAPTISMS 2nd and
4th
Saturdays of the month at 7.00pm
Parochial House
71267070
Parish Sisters
71260398
Holy Family School
71267798
St. Eithne’s
School 71377077
PRAYER FOR THOSE
DOING EXAMS
Now at this time of exams our parish community
in conjunction with the Pope John Paul II
Award Group extend an open welcome to anyone
who would like to take part in a time of
prayer in the Upper Room Each Monday from
tomorrow 11th May to the end of June . There
will also be a brief social dimension to
the gathering. The prayer will take place
from 8pm-8.30pm and there will be a glass
of lemonade and a small snack from 8.30-9.00pm
Lord, smooth the
waters that disturb me.
May nothing upset me.
I know that all things will pass but you
O Lord.
Lord I am fearful in
my troubles.
Make me stronger in my hope,
knowing that you are almighty
SYMPATHY
We offer our sympathy
to the family and friends of
Ann Deehan
9 Farland Way
who died last week. May
she rest in peace.
BAPTISMS
Our Parish Family welcomes:
Rose Geraldine O’Donnell and Oisin
Pio O’Donnell 93 St. Eithne’s
Park
Caiden Paul Morrow 68 Ardgrange
Shea Jack Gorman 4 Carleton Court
Ava Karen Curran 31 Springvale Pk
Jason Lee Stokes 3 Drumard Close
Callum Damien McCloskey
51 Rosskeen Park
SUNDAY COLLECTION
14th June amounted
to £1909.67 and €217.30 Thank
you.
CHILDRENS LITURGY GROUP
will meet on June 28th.
There will then be a break
for the holidays. It will resume again in
September
CEMETERY SUNDAY, today
6.00 pm Due to the fact that there are fewer
priests available in the City, people are
asked to bring their own holy water with
them to the Cemetery for the blessing of
the graves. At the appropriate time the
Bishop will ask a representative of each
family to sprinkle their family grave (and
neighbouring grave if there is no-one present).
There will be no holy water in the Cemetery
so please ensure that you get holy water
beforehand.
MASS in honour of Blessed Alexandrina
Maria De Costa will be celebrated
in Termonbacca on Sunday next 28th June
at 7.30pm.
DVD OF LONG TOWER CENTENARY MASS
on 9th June is now available from Long Tower
Church or Parochial House. Featuring Liturgical
Reception of Papal Legate. Concelebrated
Mass of St. Columba, Procession and Blessing
of the Well by Cardinal O’Brian. The
DVD also records some of the people at work
in preparation of the week leading up to
the 9th June. Cost £10
POPE JOHN PAUL’S VISIT TO
IRELAND
The BBC N.I. are making a television documentary
to mark the 30th anniversary of Pope John
Paul’s visit to Ireland - They are
keen to hear from people who have memories
of that weekend in September/October 1979
As well as personal reflections they would
also be interested in speaking to those
who have photographs or video/Super 8 footage
from that time. Ring Patricia Beller 90338735
or 07742749661
COLMCILLE PILGRIMAGES
LOURDES PILGRIMAGE 22nd-29th July 2009 Cost
£649 Deposit £100 secures seat
For details tel. Margaret 07732468511
ST. VINCENT DE PAUL Senior Citizens
Annual Bus Run will take place
on Sunday 5th July leaving Dunnes car park
at 1.30pm
EPILEPSY ACTION REGIONAL SEMINAR
in City Hotel on Monday 22nd June 7-9pm.
Speakers Ena Bingham -Epilepsy Support Nurse
Specialist and Martina Blake - Co-Ordinator
of the Long Term Condition Alliance Western
Trust. For further info tel. Colette 07528079882
ADDICTION
The First Step in Recovery, Dependence
on Alcohol, other drugs or gambling present
life threatening physical and mental health
challenges for individuals, stress and relationship
difficulties in families, financial problems
for all concerned, educational issues for
children and young people, deaths on the
roads and crime on our streets. If you are
concerned about your dependence on Alcohol,
other drugs or gambling staff at Whiteoaks
Rehabilitation Centre provide a confidential
counselling service for individuals, couples
or families. Tel. 003537493 84400 for help.
LASCO LOTTO numbers drawn
5, 6, 11, 19 No x £10 winner No Jackpot
winner Next weeks jackpot £3900. To
join please contact LASCO 71374443
LONG TOWER CENTENARY CEILI with
Sets and Old Time will be held in St Columb’s
Hall on Friday 26th June 9.30pm-12.30. Music
by Fr. Gerard Mongan and Emerald Ceili Band.
Price £5 includes supper.
SPECIAL MUSIC CONCERT to
launch CD ‘From the Heart’ will
take place in the Millennium Theatre on
Saturday 11th July. All profits go to HURT
who run programmes aimed at promoting suicide
awareness. Tel Box Office 71264455 for tickets.
SLIMMING WORLD New classes
on Thursday nights 7pm in Holy Family School
£9.50 to register and £4.50
each week. Call Valerie 07756453438
UNIVERSITY OF ULSTER -
Are you aged over 55 years? Are you able
to use computers and the Internet? If you
answered yest to the above questions we
would love to hear from you. The University
of Ulster is currently developing an exciting
new computer application that offers support
to older adults as they browse the internet.
To volunteer to take part contact Audrey
by email: hunter-5@email.ulster.ac.uk or
ring 71375167
