Parish News for Sunday 15th February 2009

Vol.36 No.06

The 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

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

Let Jesus Transform You

You are looking for ways to meet Jesus. You are trying to meet him not only in your mind but also in your body. You seek his affection, and you know that this affection involves his body as well as yours. He became flesh for you so that you could encounter him in the flesh and receive his love in the flesh.

But something remains in you that prevents this meeting. There is still a lot of shame and guilt stuck away in your body, blocking the presence of Jesus. You do not fully feel at home in your body; you look down on it as if it were not a good enough, beautiful enough, or pure enough place to meet Jesus.

When you look attentively at your life, you will see how filled it has been with fears, especially fears of people in authority: your parents, your teachers, your bishops, your spiritual guides, even your friends. You never felt equal to them and kept putting yourself down in front of them. For most of your life, you have felt as if you needed their permission to be yourself.

Think about Jesus. He was totally free before the authorities of his time. He told people not to be guided by the behaviour of the scribes and Pharisees. Jesus came among us as an equal, a brother. He broke down the pyramidal structures of relationship between God and people as well as those among people and offered a new model: the circle, where God lives in full solidarity with the people and the people with one another.

You will not be able to meet Jesus in your body while your body remains full of doubts and fears. Jesus came to free you from these bonds and to create in you a space where you can be with him. He wants you to live the freedom of the children of God.

Do not despair, thinking that you cannot change yourself after so many years. Simply enter into the presence of Jesus as you are and ask him to give you a fearless heart where he can be with you. You cannot make yourself different. Jesus came to give you a new heart, a new spirit, a new mind, and a new body. Let him transform you by his love and so enable you to receive his affection in your whole being.

- Extract from ‘The Inner Voice of Love’ by Henri J. M. Nouwen

His Eminence Keith Cardinal O’Brien, Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh will be making an official visit to the Diocese on Monday, 23rd and Tuesday, 24th February. He will be Principal Celebrant at 10.00 am Mass here in St Eugene’s Cathedral on Tuesday, 24th February to which you are all welcome. Cardinal O’Brien 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:

James Hannaway,
39 Farmhill.
Myra Moore,
2 Glenbrook House.
Kathleen McIntyre,
2 Grafton Street.
Eimear Cunningham,
Clarence Avenue.
Nora Gallagher,
10 Hawthorn Terrace.

May they rest in peace.

Baptism

We welcome as members of the Christian community

Abby Teresa Leonard,
15 Gartan Square.
Ava Helen Susan McConnell,
152 Ardgrange.

Readers

Weekdays
10.00 Rita McCauley
07.30 Anna Peake

Readers on duty next Weekend
06.15 pm Brendan Burns
07.30 pm Kieran Kehoe
09.30 am Gráinne Nugent
11.00 am Eoin Garvan
12.30 pm Don Clarke

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

Mass in honour of Blessed Alexandrina Maria Da Costa on Sunday next at 7.30 pm in Termonbacca.

Sick Visitation

Fr Daniel McFaul 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, Crawford Square.

Sacred Heart Pro Life are having a Holy Hour at Termonbacca on 16th February from 7.30-8.30 pm in the small Oratory. All welcome.

A One Day Retreat for Senior Citizens and their friends from Derry and surrounding areas will take place at Termonbacca on Thursday, 26th February. Registration from 10.30 am finishing around 5.00 pm. Cost £15 stg or €18 includes a four course lunch. Payment at the Centre on the day. To book telephone 71262512 during office hours.

Lenten Retreat: Saturday, 28th February - Sunday, 1st March (open to everyone) at Ards Friary, Creeslough, theme “Share a Faith Journey” directed by Fr Owen O’Sullivan OFM Capuchin. Cost €85. For further details telephone 00353749138909 or visit their website www.ardsfriary.ie

Lenten Thursdays: Beginning 26th February, Thornhill Centre is hosting a series of ‘Reflection Mornings’ for the Thursdays of Lent. Each morning begins at 10.30, concludes with a light lunch at 1.00 pm and includes a talk, quiet reflection and ritual. A donation of £5 per morning is suggested. Please ring 71351233 to book.

Sunday Readings: Thornhill Centre is holding Scripture evenings beginning Wednesday, 4th March from 8.00-9.30 pm. The course will give participants some background on the Liturgy of the Word for the Sundays of Lent. For details phone 71351233.

Derry Youth Retreat in Termonbacca 20th to 22nd February. Invitation is extended to those in 16* to 35 age range. Inspiring talks, music, workshops and prayer. Booking essential. Contact Natasha 07791420037 or visit www.youth2000.ie (*parental consent essential for all under 18). Donation only - bring a sleeping bag.

Special Service for Bereaved Parents: ‘Remember Our Child’ will hold its annual Service of Remembrance in St Columb’s Cathedral next Sunday, 22nd February at 4.00 pm. Parents are invited to bring a flower in memory of their child(ren) to lay beside the Book of Remembrance in which the names of children have been inscribed. If you would like further information about the service, contact: Remember Our Child Project Co-ordinator, telephone 90797975 or email: rememberourchild@cruse.co.uk.

Thank you

Fr Canny will forward donations of £30 and £20 to LASCO.

Last Week’s Collection amounted to £3,165.

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