Parish News for Sunday 21st Oct 2007

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Mission Sunday

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

Vol. 34 No. 42

Reflecting God’s love

Today, on Mission Sunday, we are asked to support the work of missionaries as they reflect God’s love throughout the world. We are encouraged to give generously to a collection that will go to support a Young Church (a new community of believers) in the missions.

Pope Benedict reminds us that the absence of God in the lives of millions is the greatest suffering. But God is often absent in our own communities when people feel terrible emptiness in their lives. This is especially true of our young people who are searching for something deeper in their lives in a culture that promotes celebrity and exploits the hunger that they feel by offering drugs and alcohol as answers. In the coming weeks our young people will be exploited again by those who profit from this hunger. We must use every opportunity in our families, schools and parish to reflect God’s love to our young people who so richly deserve it and who hunger and thirst for it.

“Jesus cried out: ‘If anyone is thirsty let them come to me!’”

Derry Diocesan Pioneer Mass: The venue for this Mass which is being celebrated today, Sunday, has had to be changed at short notice. It will now be celebrated by Bishop Hegarty in St John the Baptist Church, Swatragh at 3.00 pm. Apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.

St Eugene’s SPRED Group urgently require male or female volunteers who can give approximately two hours every Tuesday night during the school year. No previous experience of teaching or working with people who have special needs required. Training will be provided. For further details call into the Sacristy any Tuesday night at 7.30 pm or phone 07918107497.

Monthly Mass in Polish here in St Eugene’s Cathedral on Friday at 9.00 pm.

Sympathy
We offer our sympathy to the family and friends of:
Gerard McDaid, 154 Hatmore Park.
Mary Cullen, 64 Glenowen Park. May they rest in peace.

Baptism
We welcome as members of the Christian community
Lorcán Garvin, 58 Park Royal, Belfast.
Conal McDermott, 39 Francis Street.
Catherine Monica Garvin, 27 Creag Bhan Village, Scotland.

Readers on duty next Weekend
06.15 James Garvin
07.30 Stephen Orr
09.30 St Eugene’s P S
11.00 Gatha McClintock
12.30 Carita Kerr

Weekdays
10.00 Neil McMahon
07.30 Anna Peake

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

LASCO wish to acknowledge receipt of donations totalling £70 from Fr Canny.

Thank you
Fr Canny acknowledges with thanks donations for: Trócaire: £10, £10, £10. St Pio: £20. St Thérèse Statue: £20. Moshi: £20, £15, £11.

Last Week’s Collection amounted to £3,261

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 50
£1,000 (3131) John Corcoran, 87 Academy Road.
£100 (1946) Eamon Doherty, 8 Kylemore Park.
£50 (2665) Rosie Matthewson, 2 Blucher Street. (1174) Ciara Boyle, 8 Oakfield Road. (2257) Mrs Lynch, 69 Marlborough Road. (1507) A. Atkins, 6 Glenview Avenue. Promoter’s Prize: Margaret McLaughlin, 11 Nicholson Terrace.

New Parish Draw
The new Parish Draw will be £100 per ticket which can be paid
over a period of 10 months (ie £10 per month).
If you think you could sell 5 tickets or more please contact
Fr Canny or the Parish Office. More details soon.
This Draw will replace the £1 weekly draw
which has been running for almost 20 years.

My Song of Today

Oh! how I love Thee, Jesus! my soul aspires to Thee -
And yet for one day only my simple prayer I pray!
Come reign within my heart, smile tenderly on me,

Today, dear Lord, today.

But if I dare take thought of what the morrow brings -
That fills my fickle heart with dreary, dull dismay;
I crave, indeed, my God, trials and sufferings,

But only for today!

O sweetest Star of heaven! O Virgin, spotless, blest,
Shining with Jesus’ light, guiding to Him my way!
O Mother! ‘neath thy veil let my tired spirit rest,

For this brief passing day!

Soon shall I fly afar among the holy choirs,
Then shall be mine the joy that never knows decay;
And then my lips shall sing, to heaven’s angelic lyres,

The eternal, glad today!
Poem by Saint Teresa of Lisieux, June 1894

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.