Parish News for Sunday 13th January 2008

The Baptism of the Lord

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

Vol. 35 No. 2

The Baptism of the Lord

Today is the feast of the Baptism of the Lord and it marks the end of the season of Christmas in the Church. Last year 173 children were baptized in St Eugene’s Cathedral. Each baptism involved parents, sponsors and other family members so this is a good time for us to reflect on our own Baptism.

The new Catechism says that the sacrament of Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life; the gateway to life in the Spirit and the door of access to the other sacraments. When we consider all these then it is not a sacrament the Christian can take lightly. If we accept, as the Catechism says, that Baptism is a gateway and a door then it is for opening and not for closing. To be baptised means that we open ourselves to the Christian way of life and we enter a new way of living.

So parents who seek to have their children baptised have a serious responsibility. During the sacrament the priest asks the parents if they accept the responsibility of training the child in the practice of the faith. When the parents say they do then they are making a commitment on behalf of that child to raise him/her in the Catholic faith. This should not be an empty promise but a definite decision by parents.

We are all encouraged today to examine our commitment to the faith of our Baptism.

100th Anniversary of Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - 18th to 25th January: To celebrate the beginning of the week of Prayer for Christian Unity The Most Reverend Alan Harper, Church of Ireland – Archbishop of Armagh will be the guest speaker at a Inter-Church Service here in St Eugene’s Cathedral on Thursday, 17th of January at 7.30 pm. The leaders of the main Christian Churches in the City will lead the Service.

The Most Reverend Alan Harper served for a period in the 80’s as Rector of Christ Church our neighbour here at St Eugene’s. The theme for this year’s week of prayer is taken from St. Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians “Pray without ceasing”.

VISIT OF CARDINAL SEAN BRADY
His Eminence Cardinal Sean Brady will be making his first official visit to the Derry Diocese on Wednesday and Thursday, 23rd and 24th January 2008. He will be Principal Concelebrant at Mass here in St Eugene’s Cathedral on Thursday morning at 10.00 am to which all are welcome. Cardinal Brady will be available after the Mass to meet and greet those who come along.

Sympathy
We offer our sympathy to the family and friends of:
Martha McCallion, 27 Florence Street. May she rest in peace.

Baptism
We welcome as members of the Christian community
Liam Marcus Brown, France.
Christian David Bryson, 55 Sevenoaks.

Readers on duty next Weekend
06.15 Brendan Burns
07.30 Mona Tracey
09.30 St Anne’s P.S.
11.00 Eugene McClintock
12.30 Adele McCauley

Weekdays
10.00 Rita McCauley
07.30 Adele McCauley

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

Thank you
Fr Canny acknowledges with thanks donations for:
Cathedral Maintenance: £500. Trócaire: £5. St Pio: £5. St Thérèse’s Statue: £5. Bangladeshi Floods: £20. Darfur: £50, £50.
Fr Canny will forward a donation of £30 to LASCO.

Last Week’s Collection amounted to £3,368.

Sick Visitation
Fr David O’Kane will visit the sick this week as follows:
Mon am: The Village, Rosemount Gdns, Montrose Gdns, Ernest St: Grafton St, Park Ave, Rosemount Ave, Academy Tce, Tutor Close, Creggan Rd, Forest Pk. Nicholson Tce.

Mon pm: Lower Nassau St, Glen Road, Ardglen Park, Glenbank Rd, Northland Road (1), Edanmount Park.

Tues am: Meadowview Cres, Osborne St, Norcross St: Baldrick Cres, Upper Nassau St, Cedar St, Glasgow St, Argyle Tce, Argyle St, Northland Road (2).

Tues pm: Glenbrook House.

Fr Canny will hear Confessions at 7.00 pm and celebrate Mass at 7.30 pm in Abbey House on Monday.

Friends of St Eugene’s Cathedral - Private Members’ Draw
Voluntary subscription of £100 or 10 monthly payments of £10. Draw will take place on 21st November 2008. Total prize fund £60,000.

If you wish to be a Promoter and have 5 members or more please collect a promoter’s pack from the Sacristy after Masses or from the Parochial House, Monday to Friday during office hours.

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

PRAYER

May God who is good and merciful bless you. May He keep his hand outstretched over you and be a light to you on your way. May He strengthen you with his power and be for you a source from which you can draw. May He always send you the angel you need. May He help you when life lets you down. May He heal you when old wounds open up. May He go with you wherever you may travel. May He enclose you in his healing and loving kindness. And may He make you a source of blessing for your brothers and sisters. May God of his gracious goodness, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, bless you. Amen.