Sunday 30 March 2008

Second Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday.

Reflection

Good old Thomas the doubter! If Thomas knows about this title I hope he is proud of it! There is a certain dignity to honest doubt. Jesus, himself, was a bit of a doubter. He grew up under a religious system that believed and taught that God favoured a particular race over all other people. Jesus doubted that. The only race that mattered to Jesus was the human race.

Jesus grew up under a political system that believed in, and was built on, the brute force of military power. Jesus doubted it. He questioned it and ultimately rejected it.

We think of Jesus as a man of faith, and that he was. But he was also a great doubter. He questioned many of the religious concepts and traditional values of His time. So Jesus, of all people, would understand the honest doubter.

Is there any virtue in gullibility? Is it an act of faith or folly to pretend to believe what one really does not believe? Thomas refused to do that. He wasn’t there that evening when the risen Christ appeared to his disciples for the first time. They all told him about it, but he didn’t believe it. He said ‘Unless I can see the holes that the nails made in His hands…...I refuse to believe’.

Let’s not be too hard on good old Thomas for that. Jesus wasn’t. He was patient with him, and perhaps even a little proud of him. There is a certain dignity to honest doubt.

Thomas asked the questions because he was seeking answers. He was a sincere searcher for the truth. Let us not be afraid or ashamed of our doubts. Jesus never suggested that in order to follow Him we had to quit thinking. We must not be afraid to examine our faith.
Real Christian faith never just happens. We must build it and nourish it, day by day, through thought, reading, prayer and personal experiences with God and one another.

In good times and in bad, we will bow in the presence of Christ and say with doubting Thomas, ‘My Lord and My God’.

SYMPATHY
We offer our sympathy to the family and friends of
Maggie Stokes, St.Eithne’s Park
Isabel Deehan, Bantry Road who died during the week. May they rest in peace.

BAPTISMS Our Parish family welcomes:
Megan Koula Starzacher, 26 Glenvale Road
Natasha Howlett, 26 Glenvale Road

SUNDAY COLLECTION
23rd March amounted to £3607.17and €250. Thank you

MASS OF HEALING AND RECONCILIATION for parents who have grieved after a miscarriage, abortion or death of a young child will be celebrated tomorrow 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.

FIRST FRIDAY
Friday is the first Friday of April. 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 JANUARY
Vigil Mass Sheila O’Comain, Angela Cassidy, Mary Forbes, Claire Brown

9.30am Ann Roddy, Philomena Brown, Colleen Breslin, Maria McGeehan, Liz Harvey

11.15am Brian Walker, Jimmy Jennings, Willie McShane, Bernadette Duddy,

12.30pm Marcella Patterson, Ruth Heaney, Anne Marie Duddy, Natalie Bryson

READERS FOR APRIL
Vigil Mass Myra Merrigan

9.30am Margaret Harkin

11.15am Bridie Gallagher
John Moore

12.30pm Marcella Patterson,
Louise McCloskey

TROCAIRE BOXES should be left back as soon as possible.

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.

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.

LASCO LOTTO . numbers drawn 24th March 8,16,19,20 No Jackpot winner Park No £10 winners. Next weeks jackpot £700. 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

DIABETIC ASSOCIATION Meeting Wednesday 2nd April at 8pm. In MDU Altnagelvin.

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. 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

JAMES KILBANE will be singing songs from his new CD "Heart to Heart" in Veritas Bookshop on Friday 4th April between 3.00p.m. & 4.30p.m. All welcome. For further information tel: 71266888

ST.CECILIA’S PTA are running a CAR BOOT SALE in the school car park on Saturday 5th April from 10-12 noon Cars £5 Van £10

MEDJUGORJE IRISH CENTRE Located beside St. James Church, the Centre is the meeting place for all Medjugorje Irish Pilgrims. Tel. :028 8224 1888

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