Parish News for Sunday 25th January 2009

Vol.36 No.04

The Baptism of Jesus.

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

The Conversion of St Paul

If you were asked, ‘Tell me all you know about St Paul’s conversion’, how would you answer? You might speak about the fact that he was a violent persecutor on his way to arrest Christians, about his fall from a horse, about the blinding light that shone from heaven, about the voice which addressed him with the words, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’, and about the fact that when he got up from the ground, he discovered he was blind. All of these are important aspects of the conversion of St Paul.

However there are two elements of the story which may not strike us as dramatic or even worthy of note, but are, in fact, the key to St Paul’s conversion and we suggest the key to his life. We are referring to his receiving of the Holy Spirit and his baptism at the hands of Ananias. If St Paul had not received the Holy Spirit and had not been baptised, he would not have been able to lay down his life for Christ, the Church and the gospel.

St Paul writes about his insight into the meaning of his baptism in Romans 6: ‘We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life’ (v.4). He understood that in baptism we are immersed into the saving death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Just as Jesus died on the cross at Calvary, so we too died on the cross at Calvary. Just as Jesus rose again from the dead on the third day, so we too rose again from the dead. Through baptism we are united with Christ in his death and united with Christ in his resurrection.

St Paul knew without any shadow of a doubt that because he died with Christ he also lives with Christ. Through his revelation he was able to conquer sin, live a life in the power of the Holy Spirit and become the most powerful witness for Christ the world have ever known.

Excerpt from Bible Alive (January 2009)

Vocations Information Day

Whom Shall I Send....? Could you be called to serve God and his people as a Priest in the Diocese of Derry? A day of reflection on the theme of Vocation on Saturday, 14th February from 11.00 am to 4.00 pm in Thornhill Retreat Centre. For further information please contact any of the priests or RE Teachers or Fr Paul Farren, telephone 71264087, email: ddcc@derrydiocese.org or Fr Colm O’Doherty, telephone 81661475, email: collydoc2000@hotmail.com

Sympathy
We offer our sympathy to the family and friends of:

Mary Dunlop,
22 Lower Nassau Street.
Tony Simpson,
3 Tutor Court.
Barry McCafferty,
17 Elmwood Terrace.
Paula White,
24 Rosemount Gardens.

May they rest in peace.

Baptism
We welcome as members of the Christian community

Niamh Eimear Duncan,
1 Muskett Gardens, Carryduff.
Kieron Laurence Deeney,
30 Grangemore Park.

Readers

Weekdays
10.00 am Rita McCauley
07.30 pm Adele McCauley

Readers on duty next Weekend
06.15 pm Garvin Kerr
07.30 pm Stephen Orr
09.30 am Geraldine Uí Meallain
11.00 am Jemma McGlinchey/
Rebecca O’Doherty
12.30 pm Adele McCauley

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

Mass in honour of Venerable Alexandrina Maria Da Costa in Termonbacca today (Sunday) at 7.30 pm. All welcome.

St Joseph’s Young Priests Society will meet on Thursday at 8.00 pm in the room above the Sacristy in St Eugene’s Cathedral.

Fr Canny acknowledges with thanks donations for: Trócaire: £40. St Pio: £20. Moshi: £20.

Last Week’s Collection amounted to £3,567.

The Sacrament of Confirmation

Next weekend 171 children from the schools in the parish will receive the sacrament of Confirmation - children from St Anne’s Primary School and Model Primary School will be confirmed on Saturday at 11.00 am and children from St Eugene’s Primary School and Rosemount Primary School will be confirmed on Sunday at 3.00 pm.

This is a very important sacrament in their lives and it is also a very special day in the life of the parish. The sacrament of Confirmation is not confined to the schools but involves parents, sponsors, other family members and the wider Christian parish community.

Over the past year the children have been preparing for this day with the help of dedicated teachers and are ready to take this new step in developing their faith. It is also an opportunity for all of us to consider the meaning of our own Confirmation and what it asks of us.

Confirmation demands that we take responsibility for our faith. Even though the children who receive the sacrament are not yet adults they are making a commitment to God to accept and live their faith; the faith into which they were baptised and can now profess for themselves. They are also asking the Spirit of God, not the spirit of the world, to be their guide for the rest of their lives. We pray for the children at this time. We pray for their sponsors who have a serious responsibility as well. Joy is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Confirmation is an occasion of joy for all of us and we await this great sacrament to strengthen the spiritual life of our young people.

Organ Scholar - St Eugene’s Cathedral

Applications are invited for the above position. Applicants must be:

- aged between 11 and 16 years
- have reached Grade VII standard on the piano.
- have demonstrated an interest in Church music and
- have been a member of a choir

Duties of the Organ Scholar include playing at the weekend Services i.e. Sunday Masses; on St Patrick’s Day; Concelebrated Mass for All Souls; Easter and Christmas Ceremonies. The Organ Scholar will also be required to provide music at Services such as the Parish Novenas and other occasions when the Director of Music makes a request. He/She will receive organ tuition at the Cathedral’s expense and will have access to the Cathedral organ(s).

Applications in writing only enclosing a stamped addressed envelope to the Director of Music, St Eugene’s Cathedral, Francis Street, Derry BT48 9AP giving relevant details about music experience, qualifications and interests to arrive not later than Wednesday, 11th February 2009.

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