Parish News for Sunday 16th Nov 2008

Vol.35 No.47

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time.

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

“Belief and trust in God can move mountains. Don’t be discouraged by circumstances”.

Talents

Our word ‘talent’ has its roots in Jesus’ familiar Parable of the Talents. The word originally referred to a silver coin whose value is uncertain but at its lowest valuation was worth several thousand denarii (and a denarius was the usual payment for a day’s labour). It has, of course, come to mean ‘a natural or acquired ability, aptitude or skill’. So, for example, we might say, ‘David Beckham has a talent for taking penalty kicks outside of the box’ or ‘Paul McCartney has a talent for writing and composing music’ or ‘Daniel Day Lewis is a talented and accomplished actor’.

The Parable of the Talents has many different layers of meaning. What is clear from the Parable is that the servant who buries his talent, producing no return on his master’s investment, does so because of a defective understanding of his master. For him his master is a hard man, reaping what he has not sown and gathering where he has not scattered seed (v.24) His fear makes him lazy and indolent.

We too must examine ourselves to see if we have a defective understanding of God because it can prevent us from being creative, generous and productive with the gifts, abilities and talents the Lord has given us. It is in taking hold of God as the God of love, truth, freedom, liberation and justice, revealed most perfectly in the sending of Jesus, that we can freely and willingly lay our talents and gifts before him in the service of the kingdom. How great will our joy then be when our Master one day says to us, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!’.

‘Lord God, may I serve you with all my talents, all my gifts, all my abilities, all my love and all my strength.’

Excerpt from Bible Alive - November edition

Grateful Thanks from the Good Shepherd Sisters to all the parishioners of St Eugene’s for their generosity during the Sharing Sale last weekend. The intake for the weekend was £4,000. They are indebted to you for your sincere interest in their effort to better the lives of people in underdeveloped countries. The Sisters have a permanent stock of items made by girls and women in self help projects associated with the Sisters of Good Shepherd at 38 Dungiven Road, telephone 71342429. Congratulations to Mary Dolan of Oakfield Crescent on winning the African carved Nativity set.

Pro-Life Mass celebrated by Bishop Hegarty in Termonbacca on Monday at 7.30 pm.

Sympathy

We offer our sympathy to the family and friends of:

Tillie McGonagle, 80 Lisfannon Park.

Brian Og McKeever, 14 Temple Court.

Mary McGilloway, 55 Marlborough Street.

Paul Doherty, 63 Upper Nassau Street.

May they rest in peace.

Baptisms

We welcome as members of the Christian community

Kate Anna Cassidy, 73 Kylemore Park.

Callum Vincent Dunnion, 47A Glenbank Road.

Kian Payne, 3 John Field Place.

Shannon Rose Ferguson, 11 Ferndale Close.

Euan Martin Currie, Derryvane, Lenamore Road, Muff.

Callum Paul and Rory Michael Rush, 85 Stradowen Drive.

Grace Ann McArdle, 11 Langley Lane, London.

Jayden Declan Clarke, 23 Farland Way.

Readers on duty next Weekend

06.15 Rita McCauley

07.30 Stephen Orr

09.30 Brendan Burns

11.00 Geraldine Uí Meallain

12.30 Ciara McDevitt

Weekdays

10.00 Terri Willman-Gallagher

07.30 Mona Tracey

Eucharistic Ministers

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

A One Day Retreat for Senior Citizens and their friends from the Derry area in Termonbacca on Thursday. Registration from 10.30 am finishing around 5.00 pm. Cost £12/€18 (includes lunch). Payment at the Centre on the day. To book phone 71262512 during office hours.

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

Monthly Pro-Life Devotions on Tuesday in St Columb’s Church, Chapel Road, Waterside, commencing with Rosary at 7.00 pm followed by Mass at 7.30 pm. Everyone welcome to come and pray for the Unborn Child.

Fr Canny acknowledges with thanks donations for:

Charity of Adm’s choice: £10. Trócaire: £5. Church Funds: £40. Children in Crossfire: £100. Cathedral Repairs: £60. Earthquake/Famines: £100.

Fr Canny will forward a donation of £45 to LASCO.

Last Week’s Collection amounted to £3,350.

Parish Draw

A few tickets available from the Parish Office only

9.30 am to 1.00 pm and 2.00 pm to 4.30 pm, Monday to Thursday.

The Draw will take place next Friday, 21st November

in the City Hotel at 10.00 pm. All welcome.

Derry Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage 2009: Why not give someone an opportunity of going on the Lourdes Pilgrimage 16th-21st July 2009 as your Christmas Gift. Gift vouchers (£25/£50) are now available from the Pilgrimage Office, 164 Bishop Street. Office opens Tuesdays and Thursdays 11.00 am - 2.00 pm and Saturdays 11.00 am - 1.00 pm and 2.00 - 4.00 pm.

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