Parish News for Sunday 16th Sept 2007

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

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

Vol. 34 No. 37

The Prodigal Son

The Parable of the Prodigal Son is a masterpiece! It is surely one of the most beautiful of Jesus’ parables. It is impossible to do justice to its profundity and wisdom in one short reflection. All we can do is offer some food for thought, some direction, a gentle nudge to encourage you to invite the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the parable’s hidden depths.

The character of the prodigal son is so vivid and his story so heart-rending that he is often regarded as the central player in the parable that carries his name. The parable, however, has three participants: the father, the younger son and the older son. It is hard, in fact, to say which of them is central. Some say that because the parable reveals so much about God the Father it should be called ‘the Parable of the Good Father’ and others (Pope Benedict XVI included) refer to it as ‘the Parable of the Two Brothers’.

The parable strikes at the very heart of who God is and who we are. God created us with free will; we can choose, as the younger son did, to rebel and leave the Father’s House. The key for us, who are familiar with the parable from childhood, is to read it as if for the first time. If we do this, Jesus’ words will impact our minds and hearts in a new and exciting way. It is easy to conclude that Jesus is addressing ‘others’ and not us, whereas, in fact, his parable speaks into our lives and our humanity.

We all stray from the Father’s house; we all waste what God has given us; and each of us is capable of debauchery and promiscuity. If we fail to recognise this, we are like the older brother who could not share in his father’s rejoicing. God’s mercy is at the heart of the parable - the younger son experienced it first hand whereas the older son had lost sight of it completely. The Father has only mercy for his fallen, wayward humanity redeemed by Jesus.

Would you like to become involved in the work of the parish?

Do you have a few spare hours? There are many groups that would appreciate your time, involvement, experience and talent. Would you be interested for example in becoming a member of one of the Board of Governors, a Reader, Eucharistic Minister, joining the Baptismal Team or any of the other ministries? Please contact the Parish Office (telephone 71262894/71365712 during office hours or e-mail steugenes@btconnect.com indicating your area of interest.

Sympathy
We offer our sympathy to the family and friends of:
Kathleen Tierney, 11 Ardglen. May she rest in peace.

Baptism
We welcome as a member of the Christian community
Sarah Louise Wilson, 16 Glenbank Park.

Readers on duty next Weekend
06.15 Garvin Kerr
07.30 Anna McMahon
09.30 Rosemount P S
11.00 Gatha McClintock
12.30 Don Clarke

Weekdays
10.00 Neil McMahon
07.30 Anna Peake

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

St Joseph’s Young Priests Society acknowledge with thanks a donation of €10.

St Vincent de Paul Society will donate their collection next weekend (22nd and 23rd September) to the registered charity ‘Action with Effect’ in support of the building of a hospice for the terminally ill and lepers in India. Please support this worthy charity.

Fr Canny will celebrate Mass in Abbey House on Monday at 7.00 pm. Confessions 6.30 pm.

Fr Wade will celebrate Mass in Lavery Fold on Friday at 2.30 pm.

St Eugene’s Scouts: Calling all boys and girls. Are you between the age of 6-11 years old, interested in making new friends, playing new and exciting games, love to make creative things in arts and crafts, also learning new skills?

Beaver meetings are for children aged 6-8 years old. These meetings take place in St Anne’s Primary School every Tuesday night from 7.00-8.00 pm.

Cub meetings are for children aged 8-10.5 year olds. Cub meetings take place in St Anne’s every Tuesday night from 8.00-9.30 pm.

Pathways to Prayer: A one-year spirituality course in Thornhill Centre each Monday beginning 1st October from 7.30 to 9.30 pm . This course will allow people the opportunity to nourish their intellect and so feed their spirit. For more details please telephone 71351233.

Fr Canny acknowledges with thanks donations for:
St Pio: £25. St Thérèse Statue: £5. St Joseph’s Young Priests Society: £60. Moshi: £5. Darfur: £100, £10. Missions in Ecuador: £100.

Last Week’s Collection amounted to £3,256.

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 45
£1,000
(2349) Paul O’Kane, c/o Paul’s Butchers.
£100
(2442) Ann Barr, Lowry’s Lane.
£50
(2395) Paul Curran, 3 Ernest Street.
(3159) Yvonne Dixon, 67 Academy Road.
(2155) Teresa Lynch, 29 Glenbrook House.
(1860) Fiona Hillen, 1 Beechwood Street.
Promoter’s Prize: Patrick Kyle, 61 Osborne Street.

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.