Parish News for Sunday 7th March 2010

Vol.37 No.10

Third Sunday of Lent

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

Third Sunday of Lent

When we hear about a natural disaster such as an earthquake, volcanic eruption, a devastating flood or a forest fire, we sometimes think that it is some kind of punishment visited by a vengeful and unforgiving God on his unfaithful creatures.

This tendency becomes even stronger when the disaster occurs thousands of miles away from we are, preferably an ocean or two away and on another continent.

This view sits rather uncomfortably with the words of today’s psalm, “He pardons all your iniquities, heals all your ills, he redeems your life from destruction, he crowns you with kindness and compassion”. Our God does not reveal himself through pain, destruction or disaster but through kindness and compassion, as the psalm puts it, and through patience. This patience of God is made clear in the parable in today’s Gospel – the fig tree, hitherto barren and unfruitful, is given another chance to bear fruit, helped by careful attention from the gardener. This is how we see Lent – through prayer, alms-giving and fasting, we are helped to become more fruitful in our living of the Gospel and in our fidelity to Christ.

‘Youth 2000’ Youth Retreat for 16-35 year olds in St Patrick’s College, Ballymena from Friday to Sunday, 12th to 14th March. The programme includes dramas, music, workshops, inspiring talks, games, etc. Donation only. Residential - bring a sleeping bag! For more information contact Carla 07514820572 or check out www.youth2000.ie. Booking essential.

Monthly Mass For The Beatification Of Matt Talbot on Monday at 7.30 pm in Termonbacca.

Voluntary Parish Youth Ministry Leaders

The Parish is looking for volunteers to create, promote and deliver youth ministry initiatives. Would you like to engage with young people in the parish community and provide opportunities for them to grow in their relationship with Christ ie youth participation at Mass, Children’s liturgies or by facilitating and providing for the needs of the Pope John Paul II Award and its participants? Applicants should be mature and willing to undergo training. The Administrator, Priests, Diocesan Catechetical Centre and Youth Commission will provide support. Contact the Parish Office, email steugenes@btconnect.com or telephone 71262894 or 71365782.

Sympathy

We offer our sympathy to the family and friends of:

Pauline Davison,
21 Limewood Street.

Grace Lynn,
66A Westland Street.

Sadie Feeney,
5 Creggan Street.

May they rest in peace.

Anniversaries

We remember the anniversaries of: Patrick O’Connor, Annette Kerr,

Mary McGeehan, Johnny and Kathleen Sheerin.

May they rest in peace.

Baptism

We welcome as members of the Christian community:

Grace Holly McConnell,
11 Osborne Street.
Saoirse Eireann Keeney-Edgar,
5C Columbcille Court.
Kate Doherty,
53 Woodside Heights.
Harry Anthony Ballard,
5 Glenside Gardens.
Evan Sean Patrick McDonagh,
99 Marianus Park.

Readers - Weekdays
10.00 am Neil McMahon
07.30 pm Charlie McDermott

Readers on duty next Weekend
06.15 pm Roísín Bonar
07.30 pm Anne Griffin
09.30 am Michael Roddy
11.00 am Vanessa McGeehan/
Peter Lynch
12.30 pm Charlie McDermott

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

Sick Visitation

Fr Peter Raftery will visit the sick 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, Princes St, Great James St, Clarendon Manor.
Wed pm: 2.00 pm Confessions and Mass in Lavery Fold.

Fr Canny acknowledges with thanks donations for

Trócaire: £50. St Pio: £10. St Thérèse Statue: £5, £5. Haiti: £150, £50, £20, £30.

Altar Flowers: £5 Flowers for Forty Hours: £10. Sisters of St John: £5. St Vincent de Paul: £5.

Fr Canny will forward a donation of £20 to LASCO.

Last Week’s Collection amounted to £3,551.

THE FOLLY OF GOD

The other set of Stations of the Cross in the Cathedral during Lent are the work of Siweger Koder who is a Catholic priest in Germany. Before becoming a priest he fought in the Second World War and was a prisoner of war from 1944-45. Then he studied engineering and silversmithing. He was ordained in 1971. Koder uses his paintings in the way Jesus uses the parables. He shows a certain reserve in representing the figure of Jesus, who most of the time is outside the scene - in the position of the viewer - to convey the idea that Jesus is alive today in the person of the viewer.

Some of the fourteen pictures may not be immediately beautiful but they all lead us into a deeper awareness of the journey that our Saviour made to Calvary to save us and the world. Hopefully during Lent, we will take time to meditate on these pictures and read the reflection provided.

The Holy Family Padre Pio Prayer Group will hold their monthly meeting in the Holy Family Church, Ballymagroarty on Monday night starting with 7.30 pm Mass. There will be two 1st class relics of St Pio available at the meeting.

CLICK HERE FOR BULLETIN NEWS