Sunday, 5th February 2012

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

“The fever left her and she began to wait on them.” One of the lovely features of the Gospels is the number of healing stories they contain. Nothing is too big or too small to bring to Jesus. He raised Lazarus from the dead; he healed Peter’s mother-in-law from a fever. That same Jesus is with us and among us with the same power and the same longing, to heal us into wholeness. All we have to do is ask him for what we need for ourselves and for one another and know that he will answer. We all need his healing power in so far as we set limits to our love for one another because his great commandment is to love. Husbands and wives often need to stretch their love into forgiveness if they are to go forward together. Parents need to grow in understanding of their children. And in our faith community we need Christ’s power to help us to take true responsibility for those in need.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R.

First Reading: Job 7:1-4.6-7
Restlessly I fret till twilight falls.

Second Reading: Corinthians 9:16-19.22-23
I do not boast of preaching the gospel, since it is a duty which has been laid on me; I should be punished if I did not preach it.

Gospel: Mark 1:29-39
He cured many who suffered from diseases of one kind or another.

 

Reflection:

Living God, source of light and life,
we come to you as broken members of your body;
your strength is our strength,
your health is our health,
and your being is our being.
Grant us your wisdom in our work,
your love in our pain
and your peace in our hearts.
Send your blessing on all those who care for the sick,
and those whom they serve,
and give us the joy of everlasting love.
In the name of Jesus your Son.
(CARA) (adapted)

 

 

SYMPATHY

We offer our sympathy to the parents and family of

Paddy McDermott, Hawthorn Drive who died during the week.

May he rest in peace.

In the TV series ‘In Treatment’, the psychiatrist, played by Gabriel Byrne, sometimes uses the phrase ‘the customer is always – wrong’! In a joking way he is trying to protect his patients from self-analysis. The use of the word ‘wrong’ instead of ‘right’ shocks us as we do not expect it. The jarring of words makes us think.

Father Richard Rohr gives me much spiritual nourishment in his writings and I recommend him to you. He makes me think at a deeper level. He has a book called, ‘Falling Upward’. We tend to say ‘falling down’. It suggests to me the notion that when we are broken, have given up control and humbly handed the situation –whatever it is- into the hands of God, then we are open to the possibility of being lifted up in His grace. It reminds me of the phrase ‘religious people believe in hell, spiritual people have been there’.

Another such phrase Fr. Richard uses is “Until death do us... unite” he heard it from a Polish nun .We expect the word ‘part’ and so again we are made to think about the deeper meaning of the phrase

Usually we think true union is on this side of death, and the work of uniting all things is already our work in this world. Indeed this is true .We think death is about parting, but really it is all about union when we will meet again all those we have loved and have journeyed on ahead in the path of life.

 

BAPTISMS

Our parish family welcomes:

Jake Oliver Johnson 8 Altnafoyle

Riley Jacob Cregan 42 Rossnagalliagh

Anniversaries - We pray for

Tommy Donegan, Anne Shore,

Paddy Brown, Monica Coyle,

Philip Coyle, Daniel McLaughlin,

Laura McLaughlin, Lily Nicell, Conor O’Neill

 

OFFERTORY PROCESSION

6.00pm Claire Devlin & family

12.30pm Orla Wilson & family

PRAYERS OF FAITHFUL

6.00pm Darina Nash

12.30pm Caitlin Brown

SUNDAY COLLECTION 22nd Jan

amounted to £1902.79 and €171.11

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS if you are visiting the sick in the parish please leave the names and addresses of those whom you visit in the parochial house.

Please note all retired ministers may still help at Masses if needed but only when invited forward by the priest.

ST JOSEPH YOUNG PRIESTS SOCIETY will meet at 8pm on Thursday 9th February

Sunday Evening Mass in Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Steelstown today Sunday, 5 February at 7.30pm. Everyone is welcome.

The Marian Devotions will take place in Termonbacca, on Tuesday 7th February beginning at 7.30p.m. All are invited and welcome to attend.

The Monthly Mass the Latin Rite will be celebrated in Long Tower Church, today, Sunday, at 2:00pm. It is an opportunity to pray in the form used by the Church for many centuries. Everyone is welcome.

Scripture Course: Thornhill Centre - For three Mondays in February from 7:30 to 9:30 pm. Sr. Rosemary Gallagher offers background and fascinating insights into the Gospel of Mark, including themes of ‘Bread’ and ‘Discipleship’. Begins Monday 6 February. Cost: £5 per night. For more details/to book a place, phone 71351233.

The Poetry of Love A 4-session poetry course led by Mary Murphy will begin on Wednesday 8 February in Thornhill Centre, Derry . Participants will have the opportunity to write their own love poems. Time: 7:30 to 9:30 pm. Cost: £5 per night. Tel 71351233

Foyle Hospice invite everyone in the North West to Leap Into Action on Wednesday 29th February and support their local Hospice. For further information please contact the Fundraising Dept at Foyle Hospice, 61 Culmore Road, Tel: 71359888, email michellemcginn@foylehospice.com

EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS

The Tickets for the final Mass of the Eucharistic Congress in Croke Park on Sunday 17th June 2012 are now available- Applications forms available from parochial house Please include €10 or £10. Cheques payable to Fr Kelly. for more information tel. 79628248 or Email: derrydioceseiec@btinternet.com Please mark on form if interested in travelling by bus.

International Eucharistic Congress. Fr Kelly and Colette Furlong will speak in Thornhill Church on Saturday 26th February from 2.30 - 4.30 Light refreshments will be served. Cost £5 per person. Booking forms available from the Parochial House.

St Patrick’s & St Brigid’s College, Claudy Presents a production of ‘Oklahoma’! Tuesday 7th -Thursday 9th February at 7.30p.m. Adults: £6 Concessionary: £4

Rosemount Primary School celebrates its Centenery this year They want past pupils who sang in various choirs to come together to create a new Male Choir to sing at concert in Millenium Forum on 15th May Rehearsals start on Wednesday 8th Feb in Rosemount School It is also hoped to form a Ladies Choir. If interested please contact Rosemount School 71265605

ZUMBA classes, St Peter’s High School – All Welcome starts Thursday 1st March 2012, 7.30pm – 8.30pm, £2.00 per class. Instructor Katrina Brady Glenview Community Centre, Courses: Six week 'Introduction to Email' course on Monday 13th February from 2-4pm. The course is free.

Yoga classes: Thursdays 5.45-7pm, mats, blocks etc supplied - all abilities catered for - £2 per class. New members welcome. For details phone 71268748

 

Volunteers needed to assist with the Sure Start Services in the Creevagh/Springtown/Rosemount areas. Volunteers will receive FREE training & out of pocket expenses will be covered. If you are 16yrs or over please contact Rose Doherty or the secretary @ 71267524

Men and Toddler Group every Thursday morning (term-time) from 10am-12noon in Rosemount Primary School. Varied activities. Refreshments provided. New men welcome.

Free Hearing Aid support sessions! Ráth Mór Centre: Wednesday 8th February from 11am – 12 noon Old Bridge House: Wednesday 8th February from 3.30pm – 4.30pm Resource Centre, Carnhill: Thursday 16th February from 11am – 1pm
If you’re having trouble with your hearing aid, need new batteries (they are free), need the tubing changed, or just need some information about your hearing, come along and talk to us. We’ll be glad to help!

A LONELY PLACE

Jesus often went to a lonely place to pray.

Yet the same Jesus who prayed in lonely places said ‘When you pray, go into your room and pray to your Father in secret.’

This means that the lonely place is not necessarily a place far away, or that by ‘room’ he means four walls that separate us physically from others.

The room is the room of our innermost heart.

This room is with us at all times.

We should make it a place to which we can go to find rest and spiritual recovery when the world is too much with us.

Then we will discover that the empty room is not empty at all, but is occupied by the God of love who dwells in us all.

 

HEALING THE WOUNDS OF THE HEART
All of us are wounded by sin.
The part of us which is most deeply damaged by sin is the heart.
The heart is so beautiful, so innocent, but it can be betrayed, scorned and broken.
Darkness of heart is the blackest night of all.
Emptiness of heart is the greatest poverty of all.
A heavy heart is the most wearisome burden of all.
A broken heart is the most painful wound of all.
Only love can heal the wounds of the heart.
Lord, send your Holy Spirit to us, to heal the wounds of our hearts so that we produce the fruits of love.

 

HOLY FAMILY LOURDES PILGRIMAGE

21st July 2012

Cost £615 Deposit

£100 Savings scheme on Thursdays 8pm in

Parochial House For details

Phone Margaret 07732468511.