Fr Paul Farren,

Fr Gerard Mongan, Fr Daniel McFaul, Fr Joseph Varghese

Deacon: Rev Brendan Collins

Sunday, 25th March 2012 - Fifth Sunday of Lent

“Anyone who loves her/his life loses it; anyone who hates her/his life in this world will keep it for the eternal life.” At first glance that statement from Christ in this Sunday’s Gospel is hard to take. But it is God’s wisdom and we must listen to it. It’s really about our priorities. If our priorities are all just about the here and now and our own gratification we will lose everything. If we set our sights on what God wants for us we will gain far more than we ever imagined possible. And what God wants for us is love, peace, joy, freedom, full life - all of which can only be gained by giving ourselves fully to one another. Marriage and family life are the two great schools for learning self-giving. In marriage each person has to deliberately choose what is good and best for their life together. In family life parents especially have to constantly give of themselves. That is how people grow to maturity.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R.

Sunday, 25th March 2012 - 5th Sunday of Lent

First Reading: Jeremiah 31:31-34
God will create a new heart in people, a heart that knows God and neighbour.

Second Reading: Hebrews 5:7-9
Christ learned to hear and follow his Father’s way humbly and obediently.

Gospel: John 12:20-33
The grain of wheat has to fall on the ground and die if it is to bring new life.

Next Sunday is Palm Sunday.

Palms will be blessed at all the Masses.

Prayer around the Cross: On Thursday (29th March) there will be an Evening of Reflection around the Cross in the upstairs room in the Sacristy area here in St Eugene’s Cathedral. The evening will be led by young people from the Pope John Paul II Group and will begin after 7.30 pm Mass for approximately 30 to 40 minutes.

Diocesan Eucharistic Congress in Thornhill New College on Saturday and Sunday, 14th and 15th April. Booking office has now opened for bookings. You should collect a booking form from your parish and mail it to IEC Office, 55 St Patrick’s Street, Draperstown, Co. Derry BT45 7AJ. (Booking form should read BT45 7AJ not BT45 7AG). Cheques should be made payable to Fr Seamus Kelly. The Office is open from Monday to Friday 9.00 am - 3.00 pm and Saturday 12 noon - 2.00 pm. Email DerryDioceseIEC@btinternet.com

Statio Orbis: The tickets for the final Mass in Croke Park will now be pooled together so that parishes who are over their quota will now get tickets if not used by the other parishes by Wednesday. Bookings have to be completed by the end of March and are to be sent to Dublin for processing. All tickets will be posted out from Dublin and will be individually Named. Booking forms available from the Parochial House.

Blessed Sacrament Chapel

You are invited to pray in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament which is exposed each day from 9.00 am until 6.00 pm, Monday to Saturday in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, Long Tower Parochial House, Pump Street. 

Sympathy

We offer our sympathy to the family and friends of:

Michael Stewart, Carrowkeel, Quigley’s Point.

May they rest in peace.

Anniversaries

Ann O’Neill, Freddie Boyle, Pat Glackin,

Frank Orr, Bella Kerrigan and Samuel Ramsey.

May they rest in peace.

Readers

Weekday Readers

10.00 am Grainne Nugent

12.30 pm Terry Willman-Gallagher

07.30 pm Mona Tracey

Readers on duty for Palm Sunday

06.15 pm Reader: Roísin Bonar

Passion: Mary McDowell (N Kieran Kehoe (S)

07.30 pm Reader: Stephen Orr

Passion: Charlie McDermott (N) Mona Tracey (S)

09.30 am Reader: Children’s Mass

Passion: Brendan Burns (N) James Garvin (S)

11.00 am Reader: Adele McCauley

Passion: Eugene McClintock (N) Geraldine Ui Meallain (S)

12.30 pm Reader: Michael Wilson

Passion: Carita Kerr (N) Sean Hickey (S)

Intercessions: Michael Wilson

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

‘Do This In Memory’ - First Communion preparation:

‘Do This In Memory’ Mass for children preparing for First Holy Communion next Sunday - Palm Sunday, 1st April at 9.30 am Mass here in St Eugene’s Cathedral.

THE PRIEST GIVES THANKS TO GOD FOR OUR GIFTS

The priest stands behind the altar and holds up the paten with the bread on it and says a prayer of blessing to God. The priest then pours the wine into the chalice. The chalice is a special cup which is shaped like a wine glass. It may be made of gold or silver. He pours a drop of water into the wine. He then holds up the chalice and says a prayer of blessing to God again. At Mass the priest says a prayer over the gifts which is different each day. In many churches people will stand at this point. This shows us that the preparation of the gifts is over and we are now going to pray the Eucharistic Prayer.

Last Week’s Collection amounted to £3,502.

Renovations Collection amounted to £855.

Thank you for your generosity to the Clerical Education & Ongoing Formation Collection.

A Weekend Retreat in preparation for Easter will take place in Termonbacca beginning on Friday at 7.30 pm and ending on Sunday after Lunch. For booking contact the Carmelite Retreat Centre. Phone 71262512.

Mass in honour of Blessed Alexandrina Maria Da Costa this evening (Sunday) at 7.30 pm in Termonbacca.

Spiritual Night of Healing: The Derry Trust Fund is holding a night of Spiritual Music, Song and Prayer on Tuesday, 3rd April in St Brigid’s Chapel, Carnhill from 8.00 pm to 10.00 pm.

Holy Week Prayer Experience at the YARD Project, Columba House. During Holy Week the conference rooms of Columba House will be transformed with interactive hands-on prayer stations using the senses of sight, sound, touch and taste to give visitors a truly memorable prayer experience. This creative and contemporary approach to prayer helps us reconnect and deepen our relationship with Jesus as we relate his sacrifice to our own spiritual journey. Sessions are open to the public and begin at 11.00 am and 2.00 pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of Holy Week. For further information contact: The YARD Project, Columba House, 11 Queen Street, phone 71269113.

28th March - Reminiscence Afternoon at the IOSAS Centre. Enjoy lunch and a guided tour of the Celtic Peace Garden. Fr Neal will conduct a short Healing Service and Blessing for all who wish to participate. Sit back and share in some music, memories and laughter with Tracey McRory and Dinny McLaughlin. Donation: £8

Accord Derry Marriage Preparation Workshop 18th/19th May. Venue: Thornhill Centre, Culmore Road. Booking online: www.accordni.com or contact: Accord Derry, telephone 71362475 or email derry@accordni.com

Way of Saint Columcille: As part of the preparation for the International Eucharistic Congress you are invited to join in a youth pilgrimage echoing the Way of St Columcille: an all night Vigil of Adoration will be held in Thornhill Chapel, Culmore beginning at 8.00 pm on Saturday, 14th April. This Vigil will be led by the youth of the Diocese. It will finish at 6.00 am with dawn Mass in the grounds of Thornhill Convent, followed by a walk to the Long Tower Church, after which a cooked breakfast will be provided. For more information or to request a booking form contact Dominic at the Catechetical Centre on 71264087 or email dominic.oreilly@derrydiocese.org.

St Eugene’s Cathedral - Easter Draw

•1st Prize: £3000 •2nd Prize: £1000 •3rd Prize: £500 •4th Prize: £500

•5th Prize: £100 • 6th Prize: £100 •7th Prize: £100 •8th Prize: £100

Donation: £5/€6 per ticket (£50/€60 for book of 10)

Draw will take place on Easter Monday, 9th April 2012

Tickets available from the Sacristy after all Masses - the Parochial House - Matt and Hilda - upstairs in the Sacristy area from 7.00 pm to 8.30 pm on Friday night.

Draw Promoters needed: If you wish to help to sell tickets please contact the Parochial House.

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