Sunday 3rd May 2009

Fourth Sunday of Easter

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

Our Good Shepherd

Jesus said: “I am the Good Shepherd; I know my own and my own know me.” On this Sunday the Year of Vocations ends. What has this special year meant for you personally, for you as a family and for you as a parish community? For many it quite possibly has meant very little and yet it has been significant. We take for granted that there will always be priests to serve us with the Eucharist and religious to take the initiative in our social needs. Recent years have provided us with a very different reality and a very new challenge. In our response to Christ the Good Shepherd we are all called to make our homes places of his presence for the world. We can only do this through the confident ways we make our love for one another shine out and our faith in him be seen by those around us. And we need to make our faith community a place that attracts the attention of those around us. The Lord will then provide what is needed for the Eucharist and for leadership for a better world.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R.

The late Pope John Paul II speaking to young people about vocations

Dear adolescents and young people, it is to you in a particular way that I renew the invitation of Christ to “put out into the deep”. You find yourselves having to make important decisions for your future. I still hold in my heart the memory of the many opportunities I have had over the years to meet with young people, who have now become adults, some of them your own parents perhaps, or priests or religious, your teachers in the faith. I saw them, happy as young people should be, but also thoughtful, because they were conscious of a desire to give full ‘meaning’ to their lives. I came to recognise more and more how strong is the attraction in young people to the values of the spirit, and how sincere is their desire for holiness. Young people need Christ, but they also know that Christ chose to be in need of them.

Dear young men and women! Trust Christ; listen attentively to his teachings, fix your eyes on his face, persevere in listening to his Word. allow Him to focus your search and your aspirations, all your ideals and the desires of your heart.

Derry Diocesan Child Protection

Annual Update

A lot of work has been accomplished in the area of Child Protection in the Diocese over the past number of years due to the commitment of personnel at all levels in the diocese from the Bishop through to dedicated Parish Representatives working on the ground in all parishes.

The Diocese of Derry continues to put in place those structures, personnel, policies and procedures that will try to ensure the protection and welfare of children and young people in a manner consistent with statutory requirements and Church guidelines. In the light of the teaching of the Church, Civil Legislation and Guidance, every part of the Church community must be committed to taking the necessary steps to:

• Demonstrate that the right of the child to protection from harm is paramount.
• Cherish and safeguard children and young people.
• Foster best practice.
• Support Church organisations and personnel in safeguarding children.
• Establish safe recruitment and vetting practices – aimed at preventing those who pose a risk to children from holding positions of trust.
• Maintain codes of behaviour – having clear guidelines that set out what is and is not acceptable behaviour as an essential part of keeping children safe.

The Diocese now has a Child Protection Committee, Diocesan Co-ordinator, 2 Diocesan Trainers and a network of Parish Representatives.

The trainers deliver information on “best practice” and raise awareness of child protection issues; they also provide support to parishes within the Diocese. In turn the Parish Representatives will pass on this information and raise awareness within their local parish communities. This is done through information evenings that have been and continue to be held throughout the Diocese.

Notices are displayed in our churches which includes the Diocesan Policy Statement, contact numbers for statutory authorities for anyone with a concern in relation to child protection or who wish to make an allegation as well as the names and contact numbers of the diocesan delegates.

28th April 2009

Last week’s Collection was £1,808.20. Many thanks.

This year’s Trócaire collection amounted to £9,600.00 On behalf of Trócaire, many thanks for your generosity.

Knock Celebrates 130th Anniversary

On Sunday 7th June priests and people of the Derry Diocese are invited to lead the prayers and worship at Knock Shrine starting at 2.00pm. It is hoped that as many people as possible will be there.

Provision of Care for Knock Pilgrims

Anyone who has poor mobility or is in need of assistance who would like to participate in the above pilgrimage is invited to register for assistance by phoning the Pilgrimage Office on Derry 71260293. Staff from the Lourdes Hospitalité will be available in Knock to provide care.

Music at Knock

Any individual, choir members or musicians who would like to contribute to the music at Knock on Sunday 7th June should contact Sr. Perpetua [Derry 71351233] for music and rehearsal details.

Baby Memorial Service

The Western Health and Social Care Trust's (Western Trust) annual service held in memory of babies who have died following a miscarriage, stillbirth, or neonatal death will be held this year on Sunday 10th May 2009 at 3pm. The Service will take place in Altnagelvin Area Hospital's Clinical Education Centre.

First Holy Communion

The dates for First Holy Communion are:

For pupils of Strabane Controlled P.S.
Saturday 9th May at 11.00am in the Sacred Heart Church, Derry Road.

For pupils of St. Joseph’s P.S., Glenmornan
Sunday 10th May at 10.15am in St. Joseph’s Church, Glenmornan.

For pupils of St. Mary’s P.S., Cloughcor
Saturday 16th May at 11.00am in the Sacred Heart Church, Derry Road.

Special Diocesan Mass

The Annual Diocesan Mass for those with special needs will take place in
St. Joseph’s Church, Galliagh on Saturday 9th May 2009 at the new time of 4.00pm. Bishop Hegarty will celebrate the Mass and everyone will be most welcome.

Carmelite Retreat Centre, Termonbacca

The monthly devotions, in honour of Our Lady, will take place on Tuesday 5th May starting with confessions at 7.30pm followed by Rosary and Mass, finishing around 10.00pm. All are welcome.
Community Funday will be held on Sunday 31st May 2009. If you are willing to help in any way Tel 71262512.

Padre Pio Devotions

Padre Pio devotions will take place in the Immaculate Conception Church, Strabane on Wednesday 6th May with the Rosary commencing at 6.45pm followed by Mass at 7.00pm.

Owen Roes O’Neill’s G.A.C.

Please see poster on noticeboard for club notes.

The Vocation to Love
The deepest wound of all is that which affects the heart;
the feeling that one has not been loved,
that one is not precious to anyone.
Many people today are wounded at heart.
Each of us can do something to heal their wounds.
We have hands that can make things,
and minds that can understand things.
But above all we have hearts that can give life.
We are not sterile people.
We can give life to people who are inwardly broken.
We can show them that they are important,
and so bring life to them.
Today, Good Shepherd Sunday, is also vocations Sunday.
But all vocations are vocations to love.

Annual Financial Statement

In this bulletin we have included a statement of accounts for the year 2008. This shows that we have routine expenses which are funded mainly by our regular collections each weekend. It is from this collection that we pay salaries, office expenses, insurance, rates, heating and lighting costs associated with all parochial buildings, as well as the ‘Diocesan Assessment’. This is now 13% of our disposable income which has to be paid to the diocese each year. As you can see, the regular weekly collection, together with interest on parish savings and Gift Aid refunds, just about covers all these expenses. Sadly for priests and people, we will not have the benefit of the Parish Savings Scheme in 2009, but hopefully it will be up and running next year. Let’s just hope and pray!

As you can see from our 2008 financial statement, in spite of the worldwide economic downturn, we are happy to report that this year we have emerged from our deficit situation for the first time in twenty years. We are deeply grateful to all who have contributed to parish funds in recent times. We are confident that you will continue to support your parish to the best of your ability.

Many thanks to you all!