Parish News for Sunday 16th May 2010

Vol.37 No.19

Ascension of the Lord

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

The Ascension of the Lord

When the risen Christ appears to the disciples, it is sudden and unexpected. No-one knows where he comes from, no-one knows where he goes afterwards. He just appears and disappears. It is different with the Ascension. This is much more like a stately procession. It is important to make clear that this is the last time they will see him on earth. The disciples are taken out of the city into the hinterland, into an empty place. In the absence and emptiness they are to witness to the absence of the Christ. The rising into the sky can seem a rather absurd moment in the story of Jesus. Art struggles to represent his moment, because his rising into the clouds cannot be understood in purely physical terms. The clouds represent the mystery of things, and it takes a great artist to paint mystery. It is from the clouds that the voice of the Father is heard, (Luke 9.35), and it is among the clouds that the Son of Man will be seen when he returns, (Luke 21.27).

It is necessary for the disciples to see that Jesus has entered into this great mystery, this ‘cloud of unknowing’, as the great medieval mystic Richard Rolle put it. The disciples return to the city in a state of unknowing. They do not know when the kingdom will come. They do not really understand where Jesus has gone, only that he was taken from them. They return to the city, but it too has become a kind of emptiness. Yet this state of absence is to be the foundation of the Church. The absence is an emptiness which is to be filled, a canvas to be covered. In this filling up of the world, we are more paint than painter, though we do co-operate with the Spirit. The Church is the filling up of the world with the fullness of Christ.

Excerpt from The Pastoral Review - Volume 6 Issue 3

The Little Way Novena - The Closing Ceremony

At 3.00 pm today (Sunday) our Little Way Novena will end with a ceremony of prayer and thanksgiving. The Novena has been a tremendous success.

We sincerely thank all who contributed to the success of the Novena; speakers, readers, singers, sacristans and candle-sellers.

The Evidence of faith and commitment has been so uplifting. Through the interecession of Thérèse we have opened our hearts to God for our particular intentions at this time.

You are invited to bring a rose and candle to the service this afternoon.

Sympathy

We offer our sympathy to the family and friends of:

William (Spider) Kelly, 119 William Street.

Kelly Smith, 22 Park Avenue

May they rest in peace.

Anniversaries

We remember the anniversaries of: John and Maggie Ferguson, Terri Mellon (nee Quigg), Frank Kelly,

Molly Clarke, Sarah and Thomas Farren, Tommy McKinney, Eileen O’Connor, Gerry McGinley,

Jim McGinley, John Kennedy, Elizabeth Morrison, Terence O’Toole,

Grace Rooney and the deceased members of the McMonagle and the Mann families.

May they rest in peace.

Baptism

We welcome as members of the Christian community:

Edgars Dombrovskis,
8 Mount Street.

Chloe Ellen and Erin Maisie Doherty,
46B Westland Street.

Rhia Aileen Dunne,
136 Ardgrange.

Saffron Violet McConaghy,
15 Nicholson Square.

Cara Thérèse Dobbins,
8 Stoneybridge, Bridgend.

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

Readers - Weekdays
10.00 am Rita McCauley
07.30 pm Charlie McDermott

Readers on duty next Weekend
06.15 pm Sharon Duffy
07.30 pm Majella Coyle
09.30 am Louise Davis
11.00 am Eoin Garvin
12.30 pm Michael Wilson

Ardmore/Altnagelvin/Ballyoan Cemetery Sunday. The Service of Intercession for the Deceased at Ardmore Graveyard will be held on Sunday, 6th June at 6.00 pm in Ardmore and 3.00 pm in Altnagelvin and Ballyoan Cemetry.   Please bring Holy Water to sprinkle the graves of your relatives on that day.  Flower Sellers should notify Ardmore Cemetery Committee Members as usual by 1st June.  No Flower Sellers nor their vehicles permitted on Church Car Park on that day.  Their cooperation is very much appreciated.

The Annual Service of Intercession for the Dead
takes place in the City Cemetery on
Sunday, 20th June at 6.00 pm.

Mass in honour of Blessed Alexandrina Maria Da Costa on Sunday, 23rd May at 7.30 pm in Termonbacca.

Mass for the Sick with Eucharistic Blessing in Termonbacca on Tuesday at 8.00 pm.

Fr Canny acknowledges with thanks donations for:
St Therese: £10. Altar Flowers: £20. Charity of Adm’s Choice: £40. St Pio: £50.
Fr Canny will forward a donation of £20 to LASCO.

Last Week’s Collection amounted to £3,588.

Next Week’s Collection is the Annual Diocesan Collection.

Derry Pilgrimage to Lourdes July 16th-21st 2010: The Pilgrimage welcomes general pilgrims but also provides particular support to those who might need care/assistance whilst in Lourdes. For further details contact the Pilgrimage Office at 71260293 which is open on Tuesdays 11.00 am to 1.00 pm; Thursdays 11.00 am to 2.00 pm and Saturdays from 11.00 am to 1.00 pm.

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