Parish News for Sunday 30th August 2009

Vol.36 No.34

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

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

Welcome

We welcome Fr Peter Raftery CSSp to St Eugene’s Cathedral. Fr Raftery is a native of Dublin and was ordained in 1978. After his ordination he worked in South America. He returned to Ireland and taught French. He recently retired as Principal of Rochwell College, Cashel. He has spent the last five summers working in the Waterside parish. We look forward to Fr Raftery’s ministry with us and assure him of our prayers and support.

True and False Religion

Recent events in the news have faced us with some tough questions about true and false religion and our capacity to delude ourselves in matters of religion and religious practice. How is it that throughout history so many cruelties and horrors have been inflicted by religious people with apparently religious motives? Moses urges the Israelites to observe the Law, whose heart is love. Throughout the Jewish Law runs the deep seam of compassion and justice. The psalm reminds us that the proof of being admitted to God’s presence lies in the practice of justice in truth.

James reiterates this again: true observance is about justice, mercy and compassion. The proof of our devotion to God lies in our treatment of others. Yet so often we tie ourselves and others up in rules and regulations that are more about control and domination than about the freedom of the children of God. Jesus does not rebuke the Pharisees for their ritual practices as such, but for the hardness of heart that he sees going with them. The practices themselves are not so much at issue as the hypocrisy of a formalised religion which obeys the letter of the law but loses sight of the spirit. What lies behind this is fear, and an inability to trust the saving power of God within us, so we seek to control ourselves and others in a form of self-redemption which is tantamount to idolatry. It is when we let God’s power break through our fears and our desire to dominate that we begin to practice the law of love written on the heart.

Gemma Simmonds CJ

Excerpt from The Pastoral Review Volume 5 Issue 4

Thornhill Centre: Eight monthly Saturday Seminars on Pastoral Ministry beginning on 3rd October from 11.00 am - 4.00 pm. “There is a variety of gifts, but it is always the same Spirit; there are many different ways of serving, but it is always the same Lord”. (1 Cor 12:4-5). A basic formation programme to help those involved in pastoral ministry, appreciate the role of the priest and the role of the laity in building parish community. Further information: The Secretary, Thornhill Centre, 121 Culmore Road, telephone 71351233.

Sympathy

We offer our sympathy to the family and friends of:

John Duffy, 210 Hatmore Park.

May he rest in peace.

Anniversaries

We remember to anniversaries of: Gareth Roberts, Veronica McCausland, Thomas and Ruby Duffy, David and Ray Spence. May they rest in peace.

If you wish to have the name of your loved one placed in the newsletter contact the Parish Office before 12.00 noon on Thursdays.

Baptism

We welcome as a member of the Christian community:

Ruairi James Boydell,
7 De Burgh Terrace.
Darragh William Sean Gallagher,
14 Wesley Street.
Caiden Christopher Eugene Keenan,
52 Rosskeen Park, Hazelbank.

Readers
Weekdays
10.00 Neil McMahon
07.30 Charlie McDermott

Readers on duty next Weekend
06.15 pm Mary McDowell
07.30 pm Mona Tracey
09.30 am Brendan Burns
11.00 am Terry Willman-Gallagher
12.30 pm Anna Peake

Sick Visitation

Fr Michael Canny will visit
the sick in his care this week:
Mon am: 10.00 Lisfannon Park.
Mon pm: 3.00 - William St, Columbcille Crt, Chamberlain St, Brewster’s Close.
Wed am: 10.00 - Westland Ave, Westland St, Glenfada Pk, Abbey Pk, Fahan St, Joseph Place, Cable St.
Thurs am: 10.00 - Limewood St, Beechwood St, Elmwood Tce.
Thurs am: 11.30 - Fr Mulvey Pk.
Thurs pm: 2.00 - Lisfannon Pk (Upper), Eglinton Tce, Blucher St, Little Diamond.

St Mary’s, Ardmore will be hosting an evening of music by the African Children’s Choir on Sunday, 13th September at 7.30 pm.  No tickets required, donation at door.  For further information visit www.africanchildrenschoir.com or contact St Mary’s Parish Secretary on 71349490.

The monthly devotions in honour of Our Lady in Termonbacca on Tuesday starting with confessions at 7.30 pm followed by Rosary and Mass finishing around 10.00 pm.

 
Fr Canny acknowledges with thanks donations for:
Trócaire: £500, £15, £100. St Pio: £50. Sisters of St John: £50, £20. Altar Flowers: £20. Eucharistic Congress: £100.

Fr Canny will forward donations of £20 to LASCO.

Last Week’s Collection amounted to £3,787

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