Parish News for Sunday 12th August 2007

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

PRIESTS OF THE PARISH
Very Rev Michael Canny Adm
Rev David O'Kane CC
Rev Gerard Mongan CC

Vol. 34 No. 32

“Where Your Treasure Is ...”

In his words, “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also”. Jesus reflects both an ancient and a modern understanding of the human heart as the core of the human person. Modern parlance speaks, for example, of ‘following your heart’ and ‘your heart being in it ...’

Scripture teaches, however, that the human heart is also deceitful and all of us would recognise that we do not always know our own hearts.

St Augustine said, ‘The hairs on your head are far easier to count than your feelings and the movements of your heart’.

The beauty and wisdom of the Christian faith is that it is rooted in reality. The most basic fact of life is that we will all have to face death. Christian teaching and revelation has never and will never avoid the basic facts of the human condition. Death is the end of money, wealth, power, position, opulence, affluence and privilege. We are called to set our hearts on Christ, on God, on eternal life, on things that do not perish, corrupt or destroy.

St Augustine reflecting on this centuries ago speaks to us today: ‘If the heart be on earth, that is, if one performs anything with a heart bent on obtaining earthly advantage, how will that heart be clean which wallows on earth? But if it be in heaven, it will be clean, because whatever things are heavenly are clean. For anything becomes polluted when it is mixed with a nature which is inferior, for gold is polluted even by pure silver, if it is mixed with it; so also our mind becomes polluted by the desire for earthly things. All our works are pure and well pleasing in the sight of God, when they are done with a single heart, that is, with a heavenly intent, having the end of love in view; for love is also the fulfilling of the law.’ (taken from Bible Alive August 2007)

Feast of the Assumption - Wednesday, 15 August
It is a Holyday of Obligation

Masses for the Holyday are as follows:
Tuesday: Vigil Masses at 6.15 and 7.30 pm
Wednesday: 7.00, 9.30, 11.00 am, 12.30 and 7.30 pm.

Rosary will be said at the Grotto after 7.30 pm Evening Mass on Wednesday (weather permitting).

The Sisters of Nazareth Collection will be taken up at all Masses on Feast of the Assumption.

Sympathy
We offer our sympathy to the family and friends of:
Raymond (Rakie) O’Connell, 12 Springvale Park.
Helen Marie Best, 40 Great James Street. May they rest in peace.

Baptism
We welcome as members of the Christian community
James Hugo Henry, 21 Beechwood Street.
Andre Micheal Swift, 8 Cedar Street.
Niamh Josephine McLaughlin, Norboro, USA.
Maggie Anne-Marie Orr,67 Muldonagh Road, Claudy.

Readers on duty Feast of Assumption
(Vigil) 06.15 Rita McCauley
(Vigil) 07.30 Mona Tracey
09.30 Roisin Bonar
11.00 Eugene McClintock
12.30 Monica Garvin
07.30 Mona Tracey

Readers on duty next Weekend
06.15 James Garvin
07.30 Anna McMahon
09.30 Louise Davis
11.00 Geraldine Uí Meallain
12.30 Carita Kerr
Weekdays
10.00 Eugene McClintock
07.30 Mona Tracey

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

Sick Visitation
Fr David O’Kane will visit the sick this week as follows:
Mon 10.00 am: The Village, Rosemount Gdns, Montrose Gdns, Ernest St, Nassau Crescent, Park Ave, Northland Parade, Rosemount Ave, Academy Tce, Grafton St.
Mon pm: Tutor Close, Lower Nassau St, Glen Rd, Glenbank Rd, Glenside Rd, Edanmount Pk, Ardglen Pk.
Tues am: Meadowview Cres, Osborne St, Norcross St, Baldrick Cres, Upper Nassau St, Cedar St, Glasgow Street, Argyle St, Argyle Tce.
Tues pm: Glenbrook House.
Fri am: William Street Home.

National Rosary Crusade 2007:
It is the hope of the organisers that every parish throughout Ireland will assemble on the 13th of each month from May to September (apparition dates of Our Lady of Fatima in 1917) to recite the Rosary. The conclusion of these Rosaries will take place at the Hill of Slane on 13th October. The fourth of these will take place on Monday in the Long Tower at 7.00 pm followed by Mass. All welcome.

Fr Canny acknowledges with thanks donations for: LASCO: £20, £17. Trócaire: £10, £100. Missions: £20. Moshi: £60, £20. Darfur: £50.

Last Week’s Collection amounted to £3,025. Thank you.

The Assumption

Who is she that ascends so high,
Next to the Heavenly King,
Round about whom Angels fly
And her praises sing?

Who is she that, adorned with light,
Makes the sun her robe,
At whose feet the queen of night
Lays her changing globe?

This is she in whose pure womb
Heaven’s Prince remained;
Therefore in no earthly tomb
Can she be contained.

She that did so clearly shine
When our day begun,
See how bright her beams decline
Now sits with the Sun.

Sir John Beaumont

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

St Eugene’s Parish Draw: Winners Week 40
£1,000 (2365) P. McLaughlin, 8 Tyrconnell Street.
£100 (1060) Peter O’Hagen, 10 Eglinton Terrace.
£50 (2951) K. Lock, 6 Donegal Place. R. McCaul, 45 Marlborough Street. (2734) Jordan Casey, 82 Lisfannon Park. (1010) K. Chambers, Lawrence Hill. Promoter’s Prize: James McLaughlin, 4 Little Diamond.

Found:
Sum of money at St Therese’s Statute 6/8/07 contact Parochial House.
Sum of money in Fahan Street on 8/8/07 contact 71265172.

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.