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

Sunday, 1st August 2010

The 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus said to the crowd: “Watch, and be on your guard against avarice of any kind, for your life is not made secure by what you own, even when you have more than you need”. What a difficult message that is for us to listen to today, and yet what a vitally important one. Our lives are governed more and more by the need to get on so that we increasingly have less and less time for the really important things of life. And Jesus is very clear about what those important things are; the things that can give us true security. These are, of course, love of God with our whole hearts so that we can know where we came from and where we are going, and love for one another so that we can know the true joy of journeying through this life. That is our message of hope for our troubled world. We have to work at living it ourselves as followers of Christ.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R.

Sunday, 1st August 2010

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Ecclesiastes 1:2,2:21-23
The things that are supposed to satisfy human beings do not satisfy them.

Second Reading: Colossians 3:1-5.9-11
Through Baptism we share in the life of Christ.

Gospel: Luke 12:13-21
Jesus warns against greed.

Our Choirs Fall Silent

Our three parish choirs will now be taking a well-earned break for the summer. As we thank them for their music ministry during the year, we ask the members of our congregation to kindly join in the singing of the hymns printed below.

Entrance Hymn

Spirit of The Living God

Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Melt me. Mould me. Fill me. Use me.
Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.

Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on us.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on us.
Melt us. Mould us. Fill us. Use us.
Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on us.

Recessional Hymn

The Bells Of The Angelus

The bells of the angelus call us to pray
In sweet tones announcing the sacred Ave.
Ave, Ave, Ave Maria; Ave, Ave, Ave Maria.

An angel of mercy led Bernadette’s feet
Where flows the deep torrent Our Lady to greet.
Ave, Ave, Ave Maria; Ave, Ave, Ave Maria.

Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord – Friday 6th August

According to an ancient tradition it was on Mount Tabor that the mystery of the transfiguration took place. It was there the three disciples – Peter, James and John – became witnesses to the glory of Jesus. They heard the voice of the Father declaring him to be the Beloved Son. All this was to strengthen their faith which would be sorely tried by the events of the Passion; these three apostles would soon be witnessing Our Lord’s agony at Gethsemane. For us this feast is an occasion to renew our faith in Christ, our crucified and risen Lord, in whose glory we hope one day to share.

Last week’s Collection was £1,345.00.

Many thanks.

When More is Less

Jesus is consulted about an inheritance. The original Jewish custom was to leave two wills. The first concerned possessions. The second concerned treasure. It was a spiritual testament that spoke of the inheritance of values and attitudes that the parents fervently hoped was bequeathed to the children.
We are called by today’s Gospel to lay up treasure in heaven, not possessions on earth. It’s better to ask ourselves if we’re stocking up on treasures or possessions. If they’re possessions, then at best they are just more ‘stuff’; at worse, they are things that possess us.

Consider this. If we have food in the fridge, clothing and shelter, we are richer than 75 per cent of the world. If we have spare money, we are among the top eight per cent of the world’s wealthy. If we can worship freely, we are more blessed than three billion people. If we have never known battle, imprisonment, torture, starvation – we are ahead of 500 million. If we can read this, we are more blessed than over two billion people world-wide who cannot read at all.

A grateful heart for what we already have is surely the best antidote to greed.

www.obituarynews.co.uk – New, Northern Ireland online obituary services, all death notices, wake and funeral arrangements available at the touch of a button as soon as family request information to be public. Receive free email alerts of new listings from your chosen locations, tell relatives/friends living outside native parish to keep up to date www.obituarynews.co.uk

"The 4th National Grandparents' Pilgrimage will take place to the The Shrine of Our Lady of Knock, on Sunday 12th September. Anointing of the Sick at 2pm, Pilgrimage Mass at 3pm, followed by Eucharistic Adoration. Special guest singers: Michael English, Dana and Chloe Coyle. For further information, visit website www.catholicgrandparentsassociation.com or telephone 0035398 24877. Also, see details on poster on church notice board."

A Prayer to Jesus
Voice of Jesus, call us when we stray.
Eyes of Jesus, look upon us when we need encouragement.
Face of Jesus, smile upon us when we need reassurance.
Hands of Jesus, anoint us when we grow weary.
Arms of Jesus, lift us up when we stumble.
Body of Jesus, feed us when we grow hungry.
Heart of Jesus, help us to love one another as you have loved us.