Sunday 2nd November 2008

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time.

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

The Faithful Departed

Jesus said: “Yes, it is my Father’s will that whoever sees the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and that I shall raise them up on the last day.” Remembering our dead is very important for various reasons. First of all, many of us have very affectionate memories of our loved ones who have died and it is good for us to call that to mind in a formal way at least once a year. Secondly, remembering our dead puts our own lives in context. All that we have has been given to us by others. This is particularly true of the gift of our faith and the values by which we are to live our lives. Can we look them in the eyes and know that our lives are in accordance with their expectations? Thirdly, remembering our dead puts us in touch with our own mortality. Death is part of the lives of each of us. But it is not our destiny. That destiny is eternal life. How are we preparing for that destiny now by the way we love in marriage, in family life, in our service to our faith community and to the world?

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R.

The Commemoration of all the

Faithful Departed

The Saints, Our Deceased and Us

‘She has her mother’s eyes.’ ‘He is the spitting image of his father.’ From birth until death, we talk endlessly about family resemblances. We carry within us the traits of our ancestors.

There are other characteristics. We’ll say; He has the patience of Job’, ‘I wish I had my grandmother’s faith’, ‘She is a saint for doing that’, ‘He’s a prayerful person’. These qualities and traits come from our spiritual ancestors, our deceased and the saints. They share with us the common bond of God’s image.
We also share the common bond of our baptism. In our Christian Catholic Tradition, we believe that on the day of our baptism the very life of God came to dwell within us, not just for one or ten or one hundred years, but forever. We also believe that at that very moment we became members of God’s family. So, in baptism, like the first creation, we are linked together, living and dead.

Our baptism calls us to model our lives on the life and message of Jesus left to us in the gospels. Each of us too leaves a story for others to tell. We look back for inspiration to the stories of the saints and apostles from the early Church.
As we celebrate the feasts of All Saints and All Souls, we might ask ourselves what we will leave behind? What will people remember of our lives? How will we mirror the very life, image, and likeness of God that we see reflected in our deceased relatives and saints of the Church?

Last week’s Collection was £1,908.00.
The previous week’s collection was £1,461.00. Many thanks, and sorry for the error!

Services for the Dead

Services for the Dead will take place today, 2nd November, as follows:

St. Joseph’s, Glenmornan: 3.00pm

St. Mary’s, Cloughcor: 4.00pm

Sacred Heart Church: 5.00pm

Month’s Mind Mass
The 7.00pm Vigil Mass in the Sacred Heart Church on Saturday 8th November will be said for the late Séamus O’Neill, Artigarvan on the occasion of his Month’s Mind.

Padre Pio Devotions

Padre Pio devotions will take place in the Immaculate Conception Church on Wednesday 5th November with Rosary commencing at 6.45pm followed by Mass at 7.00pm.

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

Aware Defeat Depression

Aware Defeat Depression is organising a public talk and information event in The Fir Trees Hotel, Strabane on Tuesday 4th November at 8.00pm. Guest speaker is Marie Dunne, Health Promotion Officer, Western health Trust and the title of her talk is “Beating the Blues”. Information will also be given about the organisation’s self-help support group, which meets in Strabane Women’s Centre, Railway Road every Tuesday at 8.00pm. For further information, telephone [028] 71260602. Admission is free and all are welcome to attend.

www.cathechicalcentre,org

The website for the Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre has been launched by Bishop Hegarty. This website will help individuals, families, young and old to explore their faith. Check out the “Youth Section” and the very popular “Thought for the Week”.

Diocesan Mass for Deceased Young People

There will be a special diocesan Mass on Sunday 9th November at 3.00pm in Holy Family Church, Ballymagroarty, Derry. The Mass will be an opportunity for family and friends who have lost young ones to come together in a spirit of prayer and hope. If you have been bereaved or affected by a young death we invite you in faith to come and remember the life of your loved one. All are welcome.

Diocesan Mass for Deceased Teachers

The Annual Diocesan Mass for deceased teachers will be celebrated in the Immaculate Conception Church, Strabane on Wednesday 12th November at 7.00pm. Bishop Lagan will celebrate the Mass and all are welcome.

Magnificat Daily Prayer Book

We have a few free samples of a daily prayer book called “Magnificat”. You will find them at the back of the church. If you would like to order a copy each month, you will find an order form inside the prayer book. The annual cost is £29. You may pay by credit/debit care, by cheque, or by direct debit. The address, telephone number and e-mail address are on the order form.