Sunday
24th May 2009
The
Ascension of our Lord
World Communications
Day
First Reading Acts 1: 1-11
John baptised with water but you, not many
days from now, will be baptised with the
Holy Spirit.
Second Reading Ephesians
4: 1-13
There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
and one God who is Father of all, over all,
through all and within all.
Gospel Mark 16:
15-20
Go out to the whole world; proclaim the
Good News to all creation.
GOD IN CHRIST RAISES
US UP WITH HIM
In his book Jesus Today, Albert Nolan writes,
‘It seems that systems of various
kinds often exist in a state of chaos or
as they say, ‘on the edge of chaos’
and then suddenly and unpredictably there
emerges something called a ‘strange
attractor’ that rearranges the chaos
into some new order’. Today on the
feast of the Ascension we celebrate not
the arrival but the departure of the strange
attractor: the Risen Lord.
Change ‘systems to individuals’
above and you have many a person’s
life story. Confusion and doubt are necessary
for intellectual and psychological growth.
As Timothy Ferris writes in Coming of Age
in the Milky Way. ‘Yet it is turmoil
and confusion and not calm assurance that
mark the growth of the mind.’
Into our personal confusion steps the ‘strange
attractor’. As we flounder, his helping
hand pulls us up and out of our confusion
- not however on to a placid and permanent
plateau, but to a higher level of confusion.
No sooner are our feet placed firmly on
Mother Earth than we are whisked to heights
that make us dizzy. If our faith doesn’t
s-t-r-e-t-c-h our mind, we’re not
people of faith, but people of reason.
Belief in the Ascension should make us
gasp. Do we realize what we’re saying
we actually believe in! First: that someone
flatline dead didn’t just revive and
return to his former state but resurrected
to a higher, super-human, everlasting one.
Second: having done so, then ‘ascended’
to a totally new quantum-leap environment
we call heaven.
All we can say is we are totally
in awe of the wonder of this mystery.
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 JESUS, As I now
prepare for my
Exams, I ask you to grant me peace of mind.
Banish from my heart all fear, anxiety,
regret and nervous distraction.
May your gift of the Holy Spirit guide and
enlighten my thoughts. At this difficult
time give me confidence that you will hear
my prayer as you continue to guide me on
life’s journey. Amen.
DERRY CITY SCIENTIFIC LTD
Maths/Science teachers not yet employed
can register on the new Derry based NWMathssciencetutors.com
site opening in September. Ring Mary 71269602
Mon-Fri for information
BUS TO KNOCK 6th, 7th June
Overnight stay for Patrick Peyton Rosary
Day and Derry Diocesan Pilgrimage Cost €90
Tel.0035386241516 or 003537493 20734
KNOCK CELEBRATES
130th Anniversary On June 7th the
people and priests of the Diocese are invited
to lead the prayers and worship at Knock
Shrine starting at 2.30pm. It would be great
if as many as possible could travel to Knock
that day.
PROVISION OF CARE
FOR KNOCK PILGRIMS
Anyone who has poor mobility
or is in need of assistance who would like
to participate in the Diocesan Pilgrimage
on Sunday 7th June is invited to register
for assistance by phoning the Pilgrimage
Office. Tel. 71260293. Staff from Lourdes
Hospitalite will be available in Knock to
provide care. Anyone who would like to contribute
to the music at Knock please contact Sr.
Perpetua at 71351233 for rehearsal details.
LEGION OF MARY members will recite
the Rosary at the Grotto after evening Mass
Monday - Friday for the month of May
GROUP GUIDED PRAYER
will begin on Friday 29th May at
8.00pm in the Upper Room. This is a group
which will meet each week to pray with Scripture.
At this first meeting an arrangement will
be arrived at as to what day and time suits
best. All welcome.
MASS in
honour of Blessed Alexandrina Maria
De Costa will be celebrated in
Termonbacca on Sunday next 24th May at 7.30pm.
DIOCESAN YOUTH MASS
AND BLESSING FOR YOUNG DRIVERS will
take place in St. Columb’s Church
Chapel Road at 7.00pm on Pentecost Sunday
31st May. All young drivers are asked to
bring their licence or car keys to the Mass
for a special blessing. Bishop Hegarty will
be main celebrant and ‘Rejoice’
the Diocesan Youth Choir will lead the music.
Refreshments will be served in the parish
centre after Mass
BLOODMOBILE will be in
Rafters car park on Monday 1st June 2pm-4pm
and 5.15pm-8pm. The Blood Transfusion Service
need the support of not only existing donors
but also new donors.
SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL
urgently requires good quality clothes and
household furniture. Please contact 71265489
or 71268325 for collection
ST. MARY’S CREGGAN 50th Anniversary
Retreat Beginning Sunday, 24th
May with Rosary Procession at 5pm. Monday
(25th) to Friday (29th) Mass each morning
at 6.30am and Mission at 7.30pm with guest
speakers. Anniversary Mass on Sunday 31st
May at 3pm. All Welcome.
KNOCK CELEBRATES
130th Anniversary On June 7th the
people and priests of the Diocese are invited
to lead the prayers and worship at Knock
Shrine starting at 2.30pm. It would be great
if as many as possible could travel to Knock
that day.
PROVISION OF CARE
FOR KNOCK PILGRIMS
Anyone who has poor mobility
or is in need of assistance who would like
to participate in the Diocesan Pilgrimage
on Sunday 7th June is invited to register
for assistance by phoning the Pilgrimage
Office. Tel. 71260293. Staff from Lourdes
Hospitalite will be available in Knock to
provide care. Anyone who would like to contribute
to the music at Knock please contact Sr.
Perpetua at 71351233 for rehearsal details.
COLMCILLE PILGRIMAGES
LOURDES PILGRIMAGE 22nd-29th July 2009 Cost
£649 Deposit £100 secures seat
For details tel. Margaret 07732468511
Termonbacca Community Fun Day
Sunday 31st May We would be grateful for
any items you may wish to donate, clothes,
toys bric-a-brac of all sorts. If you are
willing to help in any way please contact
us during office hours Monday to Friday.
Tel: 71262512
CONCERN WORLD WIDE
invite you to take part in their
run?walk up Scalp Mountain just outside
Burnfoot. The run/walk takes place next
Sunday 31st May It starts at 3.pm The starting
point will be clearly signposted from Burnfoot
village. The walk is over a 2.5mile course
which as been concreted enabling all walkers
to use trainers or comfortable shoes. You
can help CONCERN by taking a sponsorship
form. Tel Eileen 71267798 or you may make
a donation on arrival.
LASCO LOTTO numbers drawn on 27th April
3, 5, 15, 20 2 x £10 winner No Jackpot
winner Next weeks jackpot £3700. To
join please contact LASCO 71374443
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.
WEEKEND FAMILY ACTIVITIES
A visit to the Iosas Centre
and Celtic Peace Garden can be extremely
rewarding for you and your family. Lots
to choose from. Small luncheon snacks, Bird
Sanctuary, Peace and Tranquillity. Open
Sat/Sun 1.00-5.00pm. Tel 003537493 84866
