Sunday 27th July 2008

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

‘As soon as I believed there was a God, I understood that I could do nothing else but live only for Him. My vocation came at the same time as my Faith. God is so great! There is such a vast difference between God and all that is not Him’. So writes St.Charles de Foucauld, once a pleasure-loving soldier in the French army - to a friend, Henry de Castries, in Paris. Charles experienced a spiritual transformation at the age of 28 and after a period of searching, decided to go to the Sahara to be, as he puts it, ‘among the lambs who were most neglected’ Assassinated on 1 December 1916, he is a saint worth getting to know! When he finds one pearl of great value he goes and sells everything he owns and buys it. These are Jesus’ words. It is love that explains the price paid by so many servants of the Word: missionaries, priests and so many parents and people of all walks of life. They are willing to sacrifice their own comfort for the sake of the Kingdom. The parable of the dragnet is similar to that of the darnel. It seems that the process of hauling in this kind of net is such that no fish can escape. The Kingdom is like, not so much the net, as the whole process. The theme of Last Judgement in Matthew 25 emphasises that love and service of neighbour are the criteria for belonging to Jesus’ Kingdom.

A householder, bringing out from his/her storeroom things old and new, reminds us that the Old Testament has many wonderful passages that can serve to enhance my understanding of the New Testament. These days when we are inundated with courses, with knowledge, with options, it is more necessary for Christians to be informed. Indeed Karl Rahner suggests that modern Christians need to be Mystics if they are to be Christian at all. We can become more discerning through reading the Gospels and through prayer.

 

SYMPATHY

We offer our sympathy to the family and friends of
Jimmy Clifford, Inchview,
Damien Devlin Rosskeen Park and
Patrick Brown St. Eithne’s Park who died recently. May they rest in peace.

BAPTISMS

Our parish family welcomes:
Dara Joseph Doherty
74 The Branch
Rhys Kennedy Thomson Aberdeenshire

FIRST FRIDAY

Friday is the first Friday of August. The sick will be attended as usual. Confessions will be at the usual times on Thursday. There will be a Holy Hour on Thursday from 8-9.00pm

 

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS for August
Vigil Mass Brendan Ferris
Myra Merrigan Mark Mc Chrystal
Nell Smyth

9.30am Brigid Mc Nutt
Peter Mc Court Bridie Gallagher
Kathleen Cullen

11.15am Gordon Hyndman
Diane Hume Jackie Knox
Eileen Corcoran

12.30p.m. Majella Heaney Louise Mc Cl oskey Ann Lynch
Gerry Mc Monagle Fidelma Coyle

NEXT SUNDAY’S READINGS
Isaiah 55:1-3 Rom 8:35, 37-39
Mt. 14:12-21

READERS FOR AUGUST
Vigil Mass Myra Merrigan

9.30am Margaret Harkin

11.15am Bridie Gallagher
John Moore

12.30pm Marcella Patterson,
Louise McCloskey

SUNDAY COLLECTION 20th July amounted to £1922.92 and €130.05 Thank you

ST. PATRICK’S MISSIONARY SOCIETY wish to thank the parishioners of Holy Family for the welcome and hospitality Fr. Con received last weekend.

ROSARY for the Holy Souls in Purgatory will be held in St. Brigid’s Church Carnhill next Sunday 3rd August at 5.00pm.

The Sisters of St John would like to invite you to 3 spiritual conferences preached by Fr Gregoire of the Brothers of St John on 3rd and 4th August at 8pm in Termonbacca, and 5th August at 8pm at Waterside Parish Hall, Fr Gregoire will then lead a pilgrimage to Knock from 6th-8th August. . For further information please contact the Sisters on
7135 3414.

SILVER JUBILEE

We are inviting anyone who would like to write a short reflection on your memories of the beginning of the parish and what it meant to have a church and a parish established in this community in its very early days. Please hand in your reflection by Firday 1stAugust.

YOUTH 2000 SUMMER FESTIVAL Clonmacnois, Co. Offaly Thursday 14-Sunday 17 August For young people age 16-35 an opportunity not to be missed to experience the Catholic faith and meet many new friends. Donation only. Free buses available from around the country. Check websites www.youth2000.ie or xx-youth2000-xx.bebo.com.

BALLYMAGROARTY SUMMER SCHEME will commence on 7th July and will run for 7 weeks. Registration will take place on Monday 7th July and is open to ages 4-12years. Registration cost £1 per child and 30p per day. Sessions are 10-12nnon and 2-4pm. Breakfast club will be available every morning.

A seasonal Creche will also be running during the summer months in conjunction with the Summer Scheme. £5 per child per session. Anyone who would be interested in a part time position in the crèche contact Yvonne or Kara 71262797 Applicants must hold NVQ Level 3 or NNEB in childcare.

COLMCILLE PILGRIMAGES 

Pilgrimage to the
Holy Land, 

Including Egypt [the Pyramids] Greece [ Athens and Corinth Turkey [ Ephesus ] In the footsteps of St. Paul  Nine days beginning 6th. March 2009. 
What is so special about this pilgrimage? It will take the form of a cruise between these different ports. We have been allocated 30 places which will go very quickly Please book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Price £1145 Phone or text Margaret @ 07732468511 Or email:paddyokane@tiscali.co.uk

Loving God,
I give you thanks for the gifts of the Holy Spirit received in
Confirmation

Inspire me to use these gifts in the
everyday situations of my life.
Help me grow in wisdom
and knowledge and make
decisions and choices that are good.

May I always live life to the full
and with your help
reach my true potential.

Keep me joyful and guide me
O Lord,
I place all my trust in you.
Amen