Parish News for Sunday 4th Nov 2007

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

PRIESTS OF THE PARISH
Very Rev Michael Canny Adm
Rev David O'Kane CC
Rev Gary Wade CC

Vol. 34 No. 44

‘A lost cause’

Zacchaeus was despised and reviled by his fellow countrymen. He was a chief tax collector, probably responsible for a district, with other collectors reporting to him. Jericho was an affluent Jewish region, and Zacchaeus had grown rich and prosperous on the back of his own people.

It is hard for us to appreciate how loathed and marginalized he was within his own community. He would have been considered ‘a lost cause’, someone who was ‘beyond the pale’, a known ‘sinner’ and therefore someone to avoid at all costs.

Where sin abounds, grace superabounds. It is a perfect illustration of how sin, confusion and darkness in a human being, rather than repelling God, attracts God’s mercy and compassion. Zacchaeus came in touch with grace and holiness, and it completely transformed him. He repented and made immediate and generous amends for his sin, giving away half of his possessions and agreeing to make restitution to anyone he had cheated, giving back four times the amount he had stolen. Jesus saw in Zacchaeus what other people did not see.

For Jesus, he was a true son of Abraham (v.9), a human being with dignity, immeasurable value, an eternal destiny and an inalienable right to be treated with love and respect.

Adapted article from ‘Bible Alive’ - November 2007 edition

Concelebrated Mass for the Dead
There will be a Concelebrated Mass at 7.30 pm on Wednesday, 7th November for the deceased members of each home in the parish. If anyone has lost a close relative who was buried from another parish during the past year please leave the deceased’s name in the Sacristy or Parochial House so that they can be remembered in the Mass and nominate someone to receive a candle in their memory.

As November is a special month of prayer for the dead, there will be a book in which you can enrol the names of your deceased family and friends. At the Masses each day during the month, there will be a special prayer for those enrolled.

Sympathy
We offer our sympathy to the family and friends of:
Larry Villa, 13 Columbcille Court. May they rest in peace.

Baptism
We welcome as members of the Christian community
Trea Margaret Harkin, 21 Westland Avenue.
Niamh Mary Theresa Ni Dhonghaile, 223 Hatmore Park.

Readers on duty
next Weekend
06.15 Louise Davis
07.30 Mona Tracey
09.30 Rosemount Primary School
11.00 Eugene McClintock
12.30 Ciara McDevitt

Weekdays
10.00 Terry Willman-Gallagher
07.30 Mona Tracey

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

Sick Visitation
Fr Gary Wade will visit the sick in his care on Friday from 3.00 pm.

St Vincent De Paul (St Eugene’s Branch) acknowledges with thanks an anonymous donation of £200.

Thank you
Fr Canny acknowledges with thanks donations for:
St Pio: €20.
Parish Funds: £5.
Darfur: £20.

Fr Canny will forward donations totalling £125 to LASCO.

Last Week’s Collection amounted to £3,317.

New Parish Draw
The new Parish Draw will be £100 per ticket which can be paid
over a period of 10 months (ie £10 per month).
If you think you could sell 5 tickets or more
please contact Fr Canny or the Parish Office.

St Eugene’s Parish Hall:
Sunday: Long Tower Bingo 8.30 pm.
Tuesday: Long Tower Bingo 9.00 pm.

My Song of Today

Oh! how I love Thee, Jesus! my soul aspires to Thee -
And yet for one day only my simple prayer I pray!
Come reign within my heart, smile tenderly on me,

Today, dear Lord, today.

But if I dare take thought of what the morrow brings -
That fills my fickle heart with dreary, dull dismay;
I crave, indeed, my God, trials and sufferings,

But only for today!

O sweetest Star of heaven! O Virgin, spotless, blest,
Shining with Jesus’ light, guiding to Him my way!
O Mother! ‘neath thy veil let my tired spirit rest,

For this brief passing day!

Soon shall I fly afar among the holy choirs,
Then shall be mine the joy that never knows decay;
And then my lips shall sing, to heaven’s angelic lyres,

The eternal, glad today!
Poem by Saint Teresa of Lisieux, June 1894

Prayer for Priests

Eucharist: a prayer inspired by the Mass

O Lord!
Look into our hearts this day and read us
Look in our souls this day and hear us
When we thrust out our hands for help - hold us
When we open our arms for love - embrace us
When we bow our heads to thee - bless us
When we give of ourselves - come to us. Amen.
Judith Ann Pounder

Lord Jesus, bless all priests and give them grace to do your great work on earth. Keep them, Lord, close to your heart and under the shadow of your protection. Bless their labours for you and grant that their harvest of souls may be a source of joy and consolation to them during life and may merit an everlasting reward for them in death, that having led many souls to you they may see you to face to face. Amen.

Hospital Visitation: If you would like a priest to visit a relative in hospital or in a nursing home, please fill in the card at the back of the Cathedral and leave it at the Parochial House. It is the only way we will have of knowing who is in hospital and who would like a visit.

New Parishioners: We welcome you to the parish and invite you to leave your name and address at the Parochial House and one of the priests will arrange to visit your new home for a chat and to bless the house.

Telephone numbers if you feel you cannot cope

Samaritans - 0845 790 9090

Zest - a counselling service offering free support to those who feel suicidal, friends and loved ones who have been affected by suicide and those who self harm. Telephone 7126 6999 or e-mail. zestni@yahoo.co.uk

Prayer for the Suicidal

O Eternal Father, we pray for all those who are suicidal.
May Your loving hand guide and protect them
so they receive the help they need,
preventing them from dying from suicide.
Let them know that we need them and love them,
show them Your love Lord Jesus.
Remind them that they are very special people,
filling their minds with beautiful memories.
Give them everything they need so as to ease their pain,
grant that they may find hope, comfort, guidance
and healing in every way possible.
Let them feel our love, and Your love,
carry them when they are weary.
Embrace them and let Your love
shine down upon them always. Amen.