Parish News for Sunday 1st March 2009

Vol.36 No.09

The 1st Sunday in Lent.

PRIESTS OF THE PARISH
Very Rev Michael Canny Adm
Rev David O'Kane CC
Rev Daniel McFaul CC

Temptation

In a way, it is reassuring to know that Jesus was subject to temptation. It somehow emphasizes his humanity; for, though we know by faith that he is truly man as well as truly God, do not most of us hesitate to think of him as really human? It is true, of course, as both Matthew and Luke emphasize, that he was “led by the Spirit” and “filled with the Spirit” during his lonely ordeal. Yet, he did experience a struggle; he had to reaffirm his complete acceptance of the Father’s will.

The three temptations essentially invite Jesus to be a false Messiah. He is urged to be a political Messiah, a powerful Ruler. He is asked to consider the human privileges of wealth and glory and power that would naturally follow upon a political Messiahship. The truth is that many of the Jews were expecting such a Messiah anyway. Why not take advantage of their expectations?

Jesus, showing his familiarity with the Old Testament, sternly refuses the attractive propositions offered by Satan. He chooses instead complete dependence on God, a recognition that God and his will must always come first, a willingness to obey God at any cost. In effect, Jesus states that nothing - not pleasure, not power, not wealth - must ever come between us and the saving will of God.

The temptations which Jesus faced are experienced anew, in a thousand disguises, by the individual Christian and by the community of the Church. There is the ever-present temptation to bring God down to our level rather than to reach up to his. There is a temptation to see prayer as a bargaining power, to view faith as an insurance policy, to prize religion for the respectability it gives. There is the even more subtle temptation, as Saint Augustine said, to make God in our own image and likeness and, while mouthing pieties, to trust only in ourselves.

The first reading from Genesis (3:1-7) describes in rich imagery the psychology of temptation. Have we not had similar experiences? There is a perverse desire in human nature to “fool around” with temptation, even though one may genuinely not want to fall. The woman Eve “saw that the tree was good for food, pleasing to the eyes, and desirable for gaining wisdom.” By that time, not surprisingly, she was trapped; and she fell into grave disobedience against God.

Excerpt from ‘Day by Day Through Lent’ by Daniel L. Lowery, C.SS.R.

Lent in St Eugene’s

Lunch-time Mass: 12.30 pm Mass will be celebrated each week day (Monday to Friday) during Lent.

Stations of the Cross: Wednesday and Friday after the 7.30 pm evening Mass.

Parish Community Book of Prayer: We are invited to write down what we are doing for Lent. At the Cross we can say the prayer that we will be faithful to our commitment during the season and so be more prepared to celebrate the resurrection of Christ at Easter.

Sympathy
We offer our sympathy to the family and friends of:

John Canning,
29 Northland Drive.

Alice Coyle,
50 Rosemount Gardens

May they rest in peace.

Baptism

We welcome as members of the Christian community

Kasey Robyn Doherty,
22 Brewsters Close.

Ryan Mark Kavanagh,
35 Swilly Gardens, Creggan.

Readers - Weekdays

10.00 Eugene McClintock
07.30 Charlie McDermott

Readers on duty next Weekend

06.15 pm James Garvin
07.30 pm Mona Tracey
09.30 am Brendan Burns
11.00 am Geraldine Uí Meallain
12.30 pm Anna Peake

Eucharistic Ministers

Team *B* begins its rota at the 6.15 pm Vigil Mass next weekend.

Rosary for the Holy Souls in St Brigid’s, Carnhill today Sunday at 5.00 pm.

Saint Vincent de Paul Society acknowledges with thanks a donation of £200 recently received.

Sick Visitation
Fr Michael Canny will visit
the sick in his care this week:

Mon am: 10.00 Lisfannon Park.

Wed am: 10.00 - Westland Ave, Westland St, Glenfada Pk, Abbey Pk, Fahan St, Joseph Place, Cable St.
Wed pm:* 3.00 - William St, Columbcille Crt, Chamberlain St, Brewster’s Close.

Thurs am: 10.00 - Limewood St, Beechwood St, Elmwood St.
Thurs am: 11.30 - Fr Mulvey Pk.
Thurs pm: 2.00 - Lisfannon Pk (Upper), Eglinton Tce, Blucher St, Little Diamond.

* Please note change of day.

International Women’s Day on Friday from 10.00 am - 12.00 pm Healthy Living Centre & Gasyard Centre. Creche and transport facilities available for families in the Sure Start Area. Telephone 71371670 to book a place.

Foyle Hospice Therapy Unit - Carer Support for anyone looking after a person with a life-limiting illness. Meetings on the first Wednesday of the month 10.00 am to 12 noon. Next meeting Wednesday, 4th March. For further information please contact Julia McIvor, Phone 71359888.

Fr Canny acknowledges with thanks donations for: Trócaire: £300, £10. Flowers for Forty Hours: £10, £10, £10, £10, £50, £10, £5, £20, £10, £20, £20, £15, £5. Moshi: £20. Cathedral Funds: £300.

Last Week’s Collection amounted to £3,516.

Please take a Trócaire box from the back of the Cathedral.

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