Parish News for Sunday 28th March 2010

Vol.37 No.13

Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion

PRIESTS OF THE PARISH
Very Rev Michael Canny Adm
Fr Peter Raftery CSSp
Rev Daniel McFaul CC
Fr Joseph Varghese

Holy Week Reflections

Palm Sunday

Today, the liturgy invites us to contemplate the face of the suffering Lord. Jesus’ mission, purpose, goal and glory are revealed in his Passion. We encounter today the pure and perfect witness of God’s love. If you are tempted to doubt God’s love, look at Christ crucified. Here the mystery of God’s love is revealed. Jesus would have died on the cross if there was only one of us to die for. Only his death, his sacrifice, his laying down of his life for us, could reconcile us with the Father, open heaven to us and secure for us life eternal, which was lost through the fall of Adam.

Monday

All four Evangelists record an account of a woman anointing Jesus. The version found in Luke 7:36-50 stands on its own, offering us the same message but set against a slightly different backdrop (and including Simon the Pharisee’s reaction). What all four accounts have in common is that they reveal an incident which captures so beautifully, so powerfully and so movingly a love for Jesus which is difficult to find words to describe. You see, what the Christian life is all about is actually very simple and straightforward. Mary witnessed to love. Her ‘waste’ of nard and her profound willingness to humble herself and wash the Lord’s feet were an expression of her deep, unashamed and uncompromising love for her Saviour.

Tuesday

Judas was one of the twelve apostles. We can sometimes lose sight of this fact. Jesus chose him to be a member of the most dynamic group of men the world has ever known. We are not given the details of how Judas became a follower of Christ, as we are with some of the other apostles. We can be certain, however, that the Lord chose him because he saw in him the necessary qualities. What happened to change him can really only be the subject of conjecture. We just don’t know what was going on in his heart to betray the Lord as he did.

Wednesday

The clear indication of scripture is that Judas was motivated by greed and avarice and completely misunderstood Jesus and his mission. What was really going on in his mind we cannot really know. What we do know is that Jesus would have forgiven him. Jesus taught forgiveness and love of ones enemy.

Holy Thursday

Jesus’ disciples are offended, even scandalized, by the humility of this gesture of washing their feet. Peter protests strongly, keen to prevent his Lord and Master adopting such a humble and lowly position. Peter was not showing false humility: he was genuinely shocked, horrified even, that Jesus should adopt the position of a slave. Jesus washed his disciples’ feet because he wanted to set them an example. In the same way that he had humbled himself and washed their feet, so they should humble themselves and wash one another’s feet.

Good Friday

Today a special grace flows through the Church. Today the mystery of the cross shines out. Today, the cross, not the Eucharist, is the highpoint, the focus of our celebration. Our thoughts and prayers are focused on the cross. We adore, worship and venerate the cross by which the world was saved. We will go forward today to venerate the cross. We will be invited to kiss the figure of Christ. In this gesture we show our love and our dependence on him. For Jesus, his glory was his cross. For him his death was not defeat but victory; death was not the end but the beginning.

Holy Saturday

We invite you, today, on this most holy and sacred of days, to ponder the rich wisdom offered to us in this ancient homily for Holy Saturday. The early believers had a profound grasp of the drama of our salvation played out before them in the liturgy. ‘O Christ, you slept a life-giving sleep in the grave, and didst awaken humankind from the heavy sleep of sin. All-powerful and ever-living God, your only Son went down among the dead and rose again in glory. In your goodness raise up your faithful people buried with him in baptism, to be one with him in the eternal life of heaven.’

Excerpts from Bible Alive: Lent edition

Celebration of Holy Week and Easter

Loving God,
we are the body of your Son in the world today.
As we begin our journey to Calvary give us
the courage to carry our crosses.
Help us to know that when we suffer
we share in the suffering of Christ.
Give us the faith to believe that with Christ our crosses never end in death
but in the resurrection.
As we await Easter Day fill our hearts with joy.
We make this prayer through Jesus Christ who is our crucified and risen Saviour
for ever and ever.
Amen.

The six weeks of Lent are a preparation for the last three days of this week, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil. During them we celebrate the central event of our religion, the death and the resurrection of Christ, the Saviour of the World.

PASSION SUNDAY
(Palm Sunday)

Today the Church celebrates Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem to accomplish the Paschal mystery. The death and resurrection of Christ cannot be separated and so we have the readings of the Passion to remind us of Christ’s death.

HOLY THURSDAY

10.00 am Mass of Chrism

Bishop Hegarty celebrates the Mass of Chrism with priests from all over the Diocese. During the Mass the Holy Oils to be used in Baptism, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick and Ordination are blessed. Bishop Hegarty and priests renew their priestly vows to serve Christ and his Church.

7.30 pm Concelebrated Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Celebrating the gift of the Eucharist and the ministry of service.

On Thursday evening we celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper. We gather with Jesus and the apostles in the upper room. There it is revealed to us that to be the body of Christ we are called to serve. We are called to wash the feet of others - to be their humble servants.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at the
Altar of Repose until 11.00 pm
Praying at the Garden of Gethsemane.

On Thursday night we wait as the Body of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. We share in the fear and loneliness of Jesus as he reaches the depths of despair.

Funeral Masses are not celebrated on
Holy Thursday, Good Friday or Holy Saturday.

Trócaire Boxes can be left in the Cathedral on Holy Thursday and Good Friday.

GOOD FRIDAY

We meditate on the Passion and the death of Jesus. We focus on the cross - the crude instrument that took the life of our Saviour - the key that opened eternal life for us all. We venerate the wood of the cross on which hung the Saviour of the world.

This is a day of Fast and Abstinence. There is an obligation to fast (one main meal, two light meals in the course of the day and to abstain from meat. The Law of Fasting obliges all Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 years (except the sick). The Law of Abstinence obliges all Catholics over the age of 14 years.

10.00 am Morning Prayer

3.00 pm Celebration of the Passion
We walk with Jesus on the path to Calvary.

5.00 pm Good Friday Walk with Christ
From St Eugene’s Cathedral to
St Mary’s Church, Creggan
via Creggan Road, Westway
and Broadway.

7.30 pm Celebration of the Passion

Those who wish to contribute to a collection for the Religious Communities in the Holy Land may do so by placing a donation in the collection boxes provided at the back of the Cathedral on Good Friday.

HOLY SATURDAY

On this day we wait as the body of our Saviour lies dead in the tomb.

The Easter Vigil: In the words of St Augustine ‘this is the mother of all vigils’. The Easter Triduum reaches its high point on this most holy night. On this night we tell our story, it is our family story. It is not just a distant memory, it is not historical fact - it is living reality. It is the story of salvation. We are a saved people. Through his cross and resurrection Christ has set us free. We symbolise our salvation and freedom through the use of the fire and the single flame of the paschal candle. We have been called out of darkness into the wonderful light of Christ. All the readings at the Vigil reveal to us that we are God’s chosen people. The blessing of the Easter water, the baptism and the renewal of our baptismal promises all express the fact that we belong to Christ and so are a resurrected people.

10.00 am Morning Prayer
We wait at the tomb.

9.00 pm Easter Vigil
Tonight is the high point of the Church’s year
as we celebrate the resurrection of our Saviour.
Ceremony of Light.
The Story of Salvation.
Baptised in Christ.
Renewal of Baptismal Promises.

EASTER SUNDAY

We are a resurrected people and alleluia is our song.

Masses: 7.00 am, 9.30 am, 11.00 am and 12.30pm.

No Devotions.

Divine Mercy Sunday
Divine Mercy Devotions on Sunday, 11th April
in St Eugene’s Cathedral at 3.00 pm

Planned giving envelopes have been distributed.

If you contribute by envelope to St Eugene’s Cathedral and have not received a new box please collect a box of envelopes at the Parochial House or in the Sacristy after Mass times. If you live outside the parish and contribute by envelope to St Eugene’s Cathedral please collect your box of envelopes in the Sacristy after Mass times.

Confessions for Easter

Today (Palm Sunday): 6.00 pm – Penitential Service in Long Tower

Monday: 7.00 pm – 7.25 pm in St Eugene’s Cathedral
7.30 pm Penitential Service in Ballymagroarty

Tuesday: 7.00 pm – 7.25 pm in St Eugene’s Cathedral
7.45 pm Penitential Service in Creggan

Wednesday: 7.00 pm – 7.25 pm in St Eugene’s Cathedral

Holy Thursday: 12.30 pm – 1.00 pm, after 7.30 pm Celebration
in St Eugene’s Cathedral

Good Friday: 12.00 noon – 1.00 pm and 8.30 pm – 9.00 pm
in St Eugene’s Cathedral

Holy Saturday: 11.30 am – 6.00 pm in St Eugene’s Cathedral

Easter Week Arrangements

Monday: Masses at 10.00 am, 11.00 am and 7.30 pm.
Tuesday - Friday: Masses at 10.00 am and 7.30 pm.
Saturday: Masses at 10.00 am, 6.15 pm and 7.30 pm.

The Annual Mass for the Organisation of National Ex-Servicemen and Women

will be held here in St Eugene’s Cathedral on Easter Monday at 11.00 am.

Sympathy

We offer our sympathy to the family and friends of:

Pat Glackin, 130 St Eithne’s Park.

May he rest in peace.

Anniversaries

We remember the anniversaries of: Mary and Michael Deehan, Margaret Bradley,

John Curran, Hugh McLaughlin, Eleanor Sweeney, Bridie Sweeney and Patsy Horner.

May they rest in peace.

Baptisms

We welcome as members of the Christian community:

Penny Francesa Doherty, 61 St Eithne’s Park.
Khloe Bradley, 15 Bennett Street.
Callum Ciaran Barras, 28 Melmore Gardens.

Readers

The Holy Week Rota for Readers has been issued.

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
10.00 Rita McCauley
07.30 Adele McCauley

Eucharistic Ministers
Team *A* begins its rota at the
Masses on Easter Sunday.

Flowers:

Yellow or White flowers or financial donations towards flowers for the Cathedral at Easter are most welcome.

Flowers should be left in the Sacristy on Holy Thursday.

Mass in honour of theBlessed Alexandrina Maria Da Costa

this evening (Sunday) at 7.30 pm in Termonbacca.

Fr Canny acknowledges with thanks donations for:

Trócaire: £70. Sisters of St John: £20. St Pio: €20, £50. Haiti: £60. Ethiopia: £50. Cathedral Maintenance: £500.

Last Week’s Collection amounted to £3,720.

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

Sick Visitation

Fr Michael Canny will visit the sick in his care this week:

Mon am*: 10.00 Lisfannon Pk, Limewood St, Beechwood St, Elmwood Tce.
Mon pm*: 3.00 - William St, Columbcille Crt, Chamberlain St, Brewster’s Close, Lisfannon Pk (Upper), Eglinton Tce, Blucher St, Little Diamond.

Wed am: 10.00 - Westland Ave, Westland St, Glenfada Pk, Abbey Pk, Fahan St, Joseph Place, Cable St.
* Note change of day

Abbey House: Fr Canny will hear Confessions at 7.00 pm and celebrate Mass at 7.30 pm on Monday.
Foyleville: Fr Canny will celebrate Mass at 2.00 pm on Tuesday.
Mulvey Park: Fr Canny will celebrate Mass at 6.00 pm on Tuesday.

Fr Peter Raftery will visit the sick in his care this week as follows:

Mon am: Forest Pk, Helen St, Kerrs Tce, Oakfield Rd, Marlborough Ave, Marlborough Rd, Oakfield Ave, Beechwood Ave, West End Tce, Marlborough Tce.

Mon pm: Creggan St, Queen St, Clarendon Manor.

Wed pm: 2.00 pm Confessions and Mass in Lavery Fold.

Bus To Knock Divine Mercy Weekend Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th April. Full cost £80 or €90 to be paid one week in advance. To book and for further information contact 00353749320734 or 00353863222874.

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