Sunday 1st March 2009

1st Sunday of Lent

PRIESTS OF THE PARISH
Rev John Doherty PP Tel: 028 7188 2274
Rev Paul Farren Tel: 028 7188 3247

Lent – A Time to Change

If we wish to change the outer aspects of our lives,we must first change the inner attitudes of our minds.

The miracle of inner change is possible.
History and literature are full of examples:
Paul on the road to Damascus,
Charles Dickens’ miserly Scrooge,
Matt Talbot the alcoholic.
Something happened inside each of these,
and they became new people.
Change requires the substituting of new habits for old ones.
It calls for self-discipline.
You have to command yourself and make yourself do what needs to be done.
The change of heart to which Lent calls us can be accomplished most of all through the power of prayer.

Last week’s Collection was £2,020.00. Many thanks.

The next Pioneer Meeting will take place tomorrow [Monday] at 8.00pm, followed directly by a meeting of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Solemn Annual Exposition

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will begin today [Sunday] in the Sacred Heart Church after the 11.30am Mass, and will close with a Eucharistic Service at 5.00pm.

Exposition will take place in St. Joseph’s Church, Glenmornan next Sunday.
We ask our Glenmornan worshippers to kindly write your name in the appropriate space on the sheet at the back of the church to signify your intention of being present on Sunday between 11.00am and 5.00pm at a time that suits you. It is important that there are people present in the church all during the period of Exposition.

Padre Pio Devotions

Padre Pio devotions will take place in the Immaculate Conception Church, Strabane on Wednesday 4th March with the Rosary commencing at 6.45pm followed by Mass at 7.00pm.

Carmelite Retreat Centre, Termonbacca

The monthly devotions, in honour of Our Lady, will take place on Tuesday 3rd March starting with confessions at 7.30pm followed by Rosary and Mass, finishing around 10.00pm. All are welcome to attend.

Owen Roe O’Neill’s G.A.C. – please see poster at back of the church for details.

The following are asked to assist as collectors and church cleaners during the month of March:

SACRED HEART CHURCH:
Collectors:
Saturday 7.00pm:-
Manus McLaughlin, Liam Ward, Lawrence Doherty and Tony McDaid.
Sunday 11.30am:-
Brian Devine and Denis Hegarty.
Cleaners: Team D

ST. MARY’S CHURCH, CLOUGHCOR:

Collectors:
Gerard McShane

Altar Society & Cleaners:
Marie Devereux, Mary Gilliland and Louise Gilliland.

ST. JOSEPH’S CHURCH, GLENMORNAN
Collectors:
Jim Conwell and Sean Kelly.

Altar Society:
Ann Kelly, Mary Devine and Marie Devine.

Our thanks are due to all who served the parish in any way during the month of February.

Our Parish Website

Some parishioners may not be aware that we have a parish website with the following address: www.leckpatrickparish.com

It contains historical records of the parish, many items of parish news,reflections and prayers, and several photographs of the three parish churches.

It is also updated each week. Some of our emigrants may be interested in keeping up to date with what is going on back home, so perhaps they would appreciate being given the above website address.

Lent – springtime of the spirit
Each year the tree gives us a lesson in renewal.
First the bud, then the blossom, and finally the shoot.
Spring dresses the trees in a new robe,
and makes them young again.
But this is possible only because in autumn they let go of their old leaves.
Lent is the springtime of the spirit.
Lord, help us not to be afraid to let go of old habits, and to face our spiritual poverty, in order that you may renew us, and so at Easter we will feel young again in our discipleship.