Easter Sunday, 23rd
March 2008
Easter
Sunday, the Resurrection of the Lord
The priests of the parish
wish you all a very happy Easter
There are many ways of stating the meaning
of Easter. The way I prefer is this; Easter means
that the best things in life will never be lost.
Those first followers of Christ had found in Him
their highest hope and their deepest faith. God
knows that most of them ‘...left everything
at once to follow Him’ To them Jesus represented
everything that life ought to be. He was love. He
was courage. He was kindness. He was integrity.
He was truth. He was the best of everything.
On a fateful Friday afternoon, the followers of
Jesus saw their highest hope and their deepest faith
wrapped in a winding sheet and placed in a tomb.
But early in the morning of the first day of the
week, they went to that tomb and found it empty.
He was alive again, and so were their hopes and
dreams!
Easter means that the best things in life will never
be lost. All of the things that Jesus represents
are here to stay forever.
This is a very practical matter. Our need for this
kind of faith in a very different Ireland and in
a turbulent time for the Church is profoundly intimate
and personal. We need it in our work and in our
ministry. In all of our efforts to be better people
and build a better world, we need to know that our
investments of time and energy will not be lost.
St. Paul said ‘Let your thoughts be on heavenly
things not on the things that are on earth…
when Christ is revealed - and He is your life -
you too will be revealed in all your glory with
Him. (Col 3:4) We are reminded of the practical
implication of Easter - that every investment we
make in the cause of Christ is permanent. It will
still be here when we are gone, reaping benefits
and paying dividends when the sun, moon and stars
have passed away. We need to know that. It will
encourage us and sustain us in our daily work.
Easter means that the
best will never be lost.
SYMPATHY
We offer our sympathy to the family and
friends of
Siobhan McKeever Hatmore Park,
and
Seamus McCauley Belfield Park who
died during the week. May they rest
in peace.
BAPTISMS Our Parish family welcomes:
Charlie Jude Atkins
55 Groarty Road
Aaron Edward Sweeney
63 Woodbrook
Ellen Marie Tyre 8 Oakbridge Park
EASTER GARDEN
We present our Easter Garden again this year. Just
like the crib tells the Christmas story, the garden
tells the Easter story of Christ victorious triumph
over suffering, sin and death. We thank all those
who prepared it.
THANKS to all who helped in any
way during the ceremonies of Holy Week and Easter.
SUNDAY COLLECTION 16th March amounted
to £2355.76 and €150.76 Thank you
CLERICAL EDUCATION & ONGOING FORMATION
Collection 17th March amounted to £1076.32.
Thank you
TROCAIRE BOXES should be left
back as soon as possible.
MASS OF HEALING AND RECONCILIATION
for parents who have grieved after a miscarriage,
abortion or death of a young child will be celebrated
on Monday 31st March at 7.30pm. Parents are invited
to hand them over to the loving care of the Father
during Mass. White flowers to be brought to the
altar will be available. Anyone wishing to enrol
their baby’s name in the Memorial Book may
do so at the Sacristy.
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.
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.
LASCO LOTTO . numbers drawn 25th
Feb. 2, 8, 16, 24, No Jackpot winner Park 4 X £10
winners. Next weeks jackpot £650. Anyone wishing
to join please contact LASCO 71374443
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
Thornhill College 25-year Reunion
event organised for those pupils who started Thornhill
College in September 1975 - the first group of 1st
years to attend Artillery Street. The City Hotel,
Derry, has been booked for the night of Saturday
19th April. Please contact Emer asap at 71353863
after 6pm for more details about the event. We look
forward to hearing from you!"
YOUTHLIFE in partnership with
the Young Peoples’ Beginning Experience will
present a residential weekend in St. Columb’s
Park House Friday 4th April to Sunday 6th April
2008. This programme helps young people who have
experienced the death of a parent, divorce or separation
of their parents to work through the process of
grief and make a new beginning in their changed
family situation. The residential is free to participants.
For more information contact: Bridie at Youthlife
tel: 71377227 or 07912507388
THE SWILLY PLAYERS present ‘Moll’
a comedy by JB Keane and directed by Stan McGowan
at St. Mary’s Hall Burt 3rd 4th & 5th
April at 8.00pm. Tickets at door €9
MEDJUGORJE IRISH CENTRE Located
beside St. James Church, the Irish Centre is the
meeting place for all Medjugorje Irish Pilgrims.
Tel. :028 8224 1888
SEAN DAVIS Easter 3Day Indoor
‘Fun’Soccer Academy takes place at Templemore
Sports Complex on Tuesday 25-Thurs 27th March for
boys and girls aged 5-17yrs. For further information
Tel. 71263044
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
