Parish News for Sunday 10th January 2010

Vol.37 No.2

Baptism of Our Lord

PRIESTS OF THE PARISH
Very Rev Michael Canny Adm
Fr Peter Raftery CSSp
Rev Daniel McFaul CC

The Lord’s Baptism - and ours

Now that the various festivals of the Christmas season are over for another year, our Gospel readings move forward to the beginning of Christ’s public ministry, marked by his Baptism in the Jordan by John the Baptist. John himself had made it clear that the baptism he was offering was no more than a washing with water, symbolising an inner willingness, a readiness to change one’s heart. When Jesus, as a young man of about 30 years of age, comes to the banks of the Jordan to be baptised by John, something extraordinary happens – the Holy Spirit is seen descending on him and the voice of the Father is heard. We are reminded of our own baptism – the Spirit took up his dwelling-place within each of us and the Father claimed us as his beloved sons and daughters. Set apart by the Father and sealed by the Holy Spirit, we are sent forth to proclaim the Gospel of Christ by our words and our deeds.

Pupils Starting Primary School in September 2010: Children born on or between 2nd July 2005 and 1st July 2006 inclusive must commence their primary education in Primary 1 in September 2010. We have three excellent Catholic schools in the parish, which take both boys and girls. The three schools are: St Anne’s Primary School, Upper Nassau Street, telephone 71263046, St Eugene’s Primary School, Francis Street, telephone 71261601 and Rosemount Primary School, Helen Street, telephone 71265605. Enrolment Forms can be obtained from the schools. It is vital that you return the completed form with your child’s birth certificate to the school of your choice by noon Wednesday, 20th January 2010. Nursery class places are available in St Eugene’s Primary School and Rosemount Primary School. Parents are invited to visit any of our primary schools for further information. We feel it is important that Catholic children should attend Catholic Schools.

Camara is an Irish Charity which refurbishes used computers (under 10 years old) and sends them to schools in Africa. Minimum specification is Pentium 3, 256 MB RAM, 600 Mhz processor, 10 GB hard-drive. Camara will be collecting used computers from the following locations in January: 16th January from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm at Sprucefield Shopping Centre car park, Belfast. 23rd January from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm at The Quays Shopping car park, Newry; 30th January from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm at Crescent Retail Park, Derry. It costs £50 to refurbish and send a computer to Africa. Contact Camara Belfast, Unit 23-24, Townsend Enterprise Park, Belfast, BT13 2ES, telephone 90332470 or email belfast@camara.ie

St Vincent de Paul acknowledges with thanks a donation of £50 recently received.

Sympathy

We offer our sympathy to the family and friends of:

Charles Gallagher,
6 Ardcaien, Culmore Road.

Marie O’Doherty,
76 Glenowen Park.

Jim McGonagle,
80 Lisfannon Park.

Catherine Harkin,
118 Glen Road.

Rita Staunton,
formerly of De Moleyn Park.

May they rest in peace.

Anniversaries

We remember the anniversaries of:

Annie May Hauser, Martha McCallion, Mary Nicholl, Susan O’Connor and Eddie Sweeney.

May they rest in peace.

Baptism

We welcome as members of the Christian community:

Kane Anthony Black,
7 Montrose Gardens.
Padhraic McBride,
44 Hatmore Park.

Readers
Weekdays
10.00 am Gráinne Nugent
07.30 pm Charlie McDermott

Readers on duty next Weekend
06.15 pm Roisin Bonar
07.30 pm Mona Tracey
09.30 am James Garvin
11.00 am Rebecca Doherty/
Sara Henderson
12.30 pm Ciara McDevitt

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

Sick Visitation

Fr Peter Raftery will visit the sick as follows:

Mon am: Forest Pk, Helen St, Kerrs Tce, Oakfield Rd, Marlborough Ave, Marlborough Rd, Oakfield Ave, Beechwood Ave, West End Tce, Marlborough Tce.

Mon pm: Creggan St, Queen St, Princes St, Great James St, Clarendon Manor, Francis St.
Wed pm: 2.00 pm Confessions and Mass in Lavery Fold.

Monthly Mass for the Beatification of Matt Talbot on Monday at 7.30 pm in Termonbacca.

The Holy Family Padre Pio Prayer Group Monthly Meeting

in the Holy Family Church, Ballymagroarty on Monday starting with 7.30 pm Mass.

There will be two 1st class relics of St Pio available at the meeting.

Congratulations

to Con and Eileen Doherty of 9 Marlborough Road who celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary on New Year’s Eve.

Fr Canny acknowledges with thanks donations for: Trócaire: £60, £50, £30. St Pio: £10. Altar Flowers: £20, £25. Concern and Romania: £100. St Thérèse Statue: £10. Fr Paddy McIntyre’s Missionary Work: £100, £20. Charity of Adm’s Choice: £1000.

Fr Canny will forward a donation of £20 to LASCO.

Last Week’s Collection amounted to £3,684.

“Prayer in Daily Life”:

This weekly 8-session course begins in Thornhill Centre, 121 Culmore Road on Monday, 18th January from 7.30 pm until 9.30 pm for those interested in developing their prayer life in a simple but effective way. This is an opportunity to use the Bible in prayer. Cost: £4 per Session. For further details and to book please telephone 71351233.

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