Parish News for Sunday 25th Nov 2007

Christ The King

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

Vol. 34 No. 47

The Feast of Christ the King

Christ the King has to be found in the foothills before he is found at the mountain top. Jesus told a parable about sheep and goats. It is a story about his kingship: it is also a story about people being taken by surprise. For they were both surprised, sheep and goats alike.

The sheep were those who ministered to needy people, the hungry, the thirsty, the poor, the prisoners and the sick. The goats were those who, faced with the same needy people, did nothing to minister to their needs.

The surprise in the story is not that people are judged according to their mercy or lack of it when faced with the plight of others. Every one of Jesus’ listeners, everyone who is committed to any religious or moral code worthy of the name, knows that he has a duty to care for the sort of people Jesus was describing. The surprise in the story is in Christ’s assertion that what is done for ‘the least of the brethren’ is done for him. He is in the poor and needy. To serve them is to serve him.

We find Christ the King in our service to others. He is there in our needy brethren and we have to look no further. He is found in the emaciated body of the hungry, in the bitterness of those who have been robbed and cheated by an amoral society, in the sick, who wrestle with torment in body and mind, in the lonely who huddle themselves for warmth. That is where the King is to be found.

To look for Christ the King is to find one’s neighbour. Our search for Jesus the King, the plight of our neighbour and the presence of Christ are all bound up together.

No one could tell me where my soul might be,
I looked for God but God eluded me,
I sought my neighbour and found all three.

Excerpt from Glory to Glory by Michael Walker

Sympathy
We offer our sympathy to the family and friends of:
Kate McLaughlin, 40 Osborne Street.
May she rest in peace.

We pray for the family and friends of baby Shaun Joseph Long, 21 Wesley Street.

Baptism
We welcome as members of the Christian community
Cielo Evangeline Kelly, 20 Brewsters Close.
Kayleigh Marie Melaugh, 6 Ballyngard Close.
Deborah Anne Lynch-Coyle, 83 Cable Street.
Ellie Kate Donnell McManus, 7 Rushcroft Gardens.

Readers on duty
next Weekend
06.15 Monica Garvin
07.30 Stephen Orr
09.30 Rosemount P.S.
11.00 Ruth Harley
12.30 Carita Boyle

Weekdays
10.00 Neil McMahon
07.30 Adele McCauley

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

Advent meditations for young people
Fr Gary Wade would like to invite young people between the ages of 17 and 30 to join him for 4 meditations on the theme of Advent in preparation for Christmas. These will take place on the Thursday evening before each Sunday of Advent, beginning on Thursday. Time and venue: 8.00 – 9.00 pm in the Choir Room above the Sacristy.

Society of St Vincent de Paul acknowledge with thanks a donation of £200.

St Eugene’s Cathedral branch of St Joseph’s Young Priests Society will meet on Thursday at 8.00 pm in the Choir Room.

Thank you
Fr Canny acknowledges with thanks donations for:
Trócaire: £105.
St. Pio: £10.
Bangladeshi Floods: £660.
Thanksgiving to Holy Family & St. Pio: £40.
Darfur: £50.

Fr Canny will forward donations totalling £60 to LASCO.

Thank You
Last Week’s Sunday’s Collection amounted to £3,302.

Friends of St Eugene’s Cathedral ‘£100 Ticket’ 2008 Parish Draw
Draw will take place in 21st November 2008
1st Prize £25,000
2nd & 3rd Prize £5,000
4th – 8th Prize £2,000
9th – 18th Prize £1,000
19th – 28th Prize £500
Total prize payout - £60,000

If you would like to help with this Draw as a member of
the Draw Committee please contact Fr Canny as soon as possible.
Your support would be greatly appreciated.

St Eugene’s Parish Hall:
Sunday: Long Tower Bingo 8.30 pm.
Tuesday: Long Tower Bingo 9.00 pm.

Prayer for our deceased loved ones

We seem to give them back to thee, O God, who gavest them to us. Yet as thou didst not lose them in giving, so do we not lose them by their return. Not as the world giveth, givest thou, O lover of souls. What thou givest, thou takest not away, for what is thine is ours also if we are thine. And life is eternal and love is immortal, and death is only an horizon, and an horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight. And while thou dost prepare a place for us, prepare us also for that happy place, that where thou art we may be also for evermore. Amen.

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.