30th Sunday of the Year - October 26th, 2008.

The Greatest Commandment

"You must love the Lord your God with all your heart;
you must love your neighbour as yourself."

Jesus gives us these two commandments as the only way to full human living and happiness. They are the core of Christian living and practice. We try everything else and yet love is all that human life is about here and hereafter. These two commandments go hand in hand as two parts of the one movement of life. Love of God is the ultimate in human life. It involves each of us in a personal relationship with God through prayer. Our Catholic tradition is very rich in the variety of prayer forms that are possible. Each of us needs to choose the ones that are helpful for ourselves. We reach this love of God also through our love for one another. In our common worship through the Sunday Eucharist we build up the People of God. And through love in marriage and family life we dedicate all that is good in life to God.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R

THE DEEP END - LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED

The Beatles got it right: ‘All you need is love!’ Trouble is, they didn’t say where to get it. Neither does Jesus in today’s Gospel reading, Matt 22:34-40. A lawyer tests him with a question. Is it a genuine one to assess his depth of understanding, or a trick question to make Him look foolish? It could be either. It’s not the Ten Commandments that Jesus is quizzed about, but the Torah - with its 613 commands. Of these 248 are positive, ie, ‘you shall’ form; 365 are negative and have a ‘you shall not’ form. So just imagine being asked which of those is the greatest.

Jesus however, remains unfazed. He ignores any deviousness of the part of the questioner. Taking the question at face value, he answers it; love God, love your neighbour. Could anything be simpler or clearer? Why then are there so many problems with human relationships and so much suffering in our world? Can loving God and our neighbour be that difficult?

Not at all! But many people prefer complexity to simplicity. Simplicity scorns wriggle room, dislikes nitpicking, finds defining and qualifying things until they are beyond recognition distasteful; and it offers no excuse for foot-dragging when action is called for.

By putting Jesus to the test, that lawyer unwittingly puts himself to the test also. Now he can never claim ignorance of what is expected of him. He has no excuse for not allowing the information he was looking for to be his guiding light. Come to that neither have we.

 

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.

 

COLMCILLE PILGRIMAGES

Cruise of the Lands of the Bible including Holy Land, Egypt, Turkey and Greece, Nine days beginning 5th- 14th March 2009. Price £1095 Phone or text Margaret @ 07732468511 Or email: paddyokane@tiscali.co.uk

Saturday 1st Nov. is the Feast of All Saints and is a holyday of obligation. Masses will be Vigil Mass on Friday at 6.00pm. Masses on Saturday will be 10.00am 12.30pm and 6.00pm. The 6.00pm Mass on Saturday will satisfy the obligation for either the Feast day or Sunday but not both.

Sunday 2nd Nov. is Feast of All Souls

INDULGENCES FOR THE HOLY SOULS from 1-2nd November all who have confessed, received Communion and prayed for the Pope’s intentions can gain a plenary indulgence by visiting a cemetery or church and praying for the dead. From 1-8th November a plenary indulgence may be gained each day by those who visit a cemetery and pray for the dead.

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

BLESSED ALEXANDRINA
Mass in her honour will be celebrated in Termonbacca today Sunday 26th October at 7.30pm

The Mass for deceased parishioners will take place on Monday 3rd November at 7.30pm. The names of those who have died during the past year will be read out and the Mass offered for them especially. A representative of each bereaved family has been asked to carry up a candle in the Offertory Procession. This special ceremony is being co-ordinated by our Parish Bereavement Group.

NEXT SUNDAY’S READINGS
Is 25:6-9 Rom. 5:5-11 Mt. 11:25-30

MISSION COLLECTION 19th October amounted to £3839.65 and €350.00 Thank you

SICK VISITATION

The sick in Fr. McKenna’s care will be visited on Thursday and Friday of this week.

DIOCESAN MASS FOR DECEASED YOUNG PEOPLE

There will be a Special Diocesan Mass on Sunday next 9th November at 3pm in the church. The Mass will be an opportunity for family and friends who have lost young loved ones to come together in a spirit of prayer and hope. If you have been bereaved or affected by a young death we invite you in faith to come and remember the life of your loved one.

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS FOR NOVEMBER

Vigil Mass Brendan Ferris,
Myra Merrigan, Mark McChrystal, Nell Smith,

9.30am Brigid McNutt
Peter McCourt, Bridie Gallagher, Kathleen Cullen

11.15am Gordan Hyndman,
Jackie Knox, Eileen Corcoran.

12.30pm Louise McCloskey,
Gerry McMonagle, Ann Lynch, Majella Heaney, Fidelma Coyle

READERS FOR NOVEMBER
Vigil Paddy Breslin,

9.30am Brenda Coyle

11.15am Martin Doherty
Kathleen Quinn

12.30pm Delia McFarland

CHARITY CONCERT featuring Moya Brennan of Clannad, the monks of Glenstal Abbey and a host of other talented musicians is taking place in the Millennium Forum on Monday, November 10th. The concert has been organised by Fr. Joseph McGilloway of Sanctuary, an organisation based at Glenstal Abbey in Limerick which was set up to raise money for charities through music. Local school children from St Anne’s Primary School Choir will also perform on the night and all proceeds will go to the Foyle Women’s Aid Children’s Unit. Tickets are now on sale at the Millennium Forum box office. Your support would be much appreciated.

WHO IS ST PAUL?: This is a 4-week course exploring various aspects of Saint Paul’s life – conversion, mission, prayer, his teachings and theology. The course begins on Tuesday 4 November from 7:30 to 9:30 pm in Thornhill Centre.

An Evening of Sacred Music with Liam Lawton and special guests, Trench Road Folk Group and Colleen Gormley will take place on Friday, 28th November in the Church of Immaculate Conception, Trench Road, Derry at 8pm. Tickets £20, available from Waterside Parish Office, tel: 71342303 (9.30am-4pm, Monday-Friday), Veritas, Butcher Street, the Holy Shop, Waterloo Street, or telephone Joanne on 71329259, Christina on 71311860 or Mary on 07891120407

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 before 3rd Nov.

An evening for Church Flower Arrangers will take place in Thornhill Centre on Thursday 6 November from 7:30 to 9:00 pm.

Enneagram Weekend: 7-9 November. A London-based team of facilitators will visit Thornhill Centre to lead this personality profiling workshop. The Enneagram helps people to identify for themselves their personality type. Cost: £100. To book, phone Thornhill Centre on 71351233