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

Sunday 4th April 2010

A day of celebration

“They have taken the Lord out of the tomb,” Mary of Magdala said, “and we don’t know where they have put him.” On the first Easter morning there was a sense of excitement among the disciples but it was mixed with anxiety and fear. They didn’t know what was happening but they knew that something was. As we celebrate our Easter we can know exactly what has happened. However we can be so familiar with this wonderful truth that we may have little if any excitement about it. It was not the soldiers who took the body of Jesus from the tomb but rather the power of God. And where God has put Jesus is into our hearts, our minds, our company with one another, above us, below us, all around us. The deepest reality of our lives has been changed forever by what happened today and Jesus is risen and living among us in our homes and in our faith community. We need to attend to him there.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R.

Easter Sunday, 4th April 2010

The Resurrection of the Lord

First Reading : Acts of the Apostles 10: 34, 37-43
We have eaten and drunk with him after his resurrection.

Second Reading: Colossians 3: 1-4
You must look for things that are in heaven, where Christ is.

Gospel: John 20: 1-9
Till this moment they had failed to understand the teaching of scripture, that he must rise from the dead.

Early Risers

We’re not known as a nation of early risers, and seem unable to go to bed the same day we get up. Yet everyone appreciates the wisdom and value of the one who rises at daybreak. People like … Mary Magdalene in the half-light of that Easter Sunday.

Even God seems to be an early riser! ‘Early in the morning, when the world was young You made life in all its beauty and terror. You gave birth to all we know.
Early in the morning when the world least expected it, a new-born child crying in the manger announced that You had come among us, that You were one of us.
Early in the morning, a voice in a guarded graveyard and footsteps in the dew proved that You had risen, that You had come back to and for those who had forgotten, denied and destroyed You.’

And so we pray that God who shapes heaven and earth, whom death could not contain, who lives to disturb and heal us, will bless us with power to go forth and proclaim his Gospel. On a day when the tomb is empty, Christ calls us to leave our own individual tombs of darkness.

Last week’s Collection was £1,702.00. Many thanks.

Weekly Envelopes

By now you should have received your new weekly envelopes for the coming twelve months. If you have not been supplied with a box but wish to have one, please contact your area representative or the Parish Office as soon as possible.

If you attend Mass in one of the neighbouring parishes, please use your own parish envelopes. There is a longstanding tradition in this area whereby envelopes are returned to their original parishes. It is important that people support the parishes in which they live.

Gift Aid Scheme

Those who are paying tax and who receive parish envelopes may wish to join our Gift Aid Scheme – at no extra cost to you. The Parish Gift Aid Scheme means that if you pay through the envelope system in your parish, the Church can recoup 25pence in every £1 that you contribute. This is a very simple way of gathering extra funds.

If interested please contact the parish office [028] 71882274. Many thanks for your co-operation.

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

SACRED HEART CHURCH:

Collectors:

Saturday 7.00pm:-
Brian Edwards and Declan Carlin.

Sunday 11.30am:-
Stephen Barrett, Noel Carlin,
Brendan Gallagher and Terry McCallion

Cleaners: Team E

ST. MARY’S CHURCH, CLOUGHCOR:

Collectors:
Philip Vaughan

Altar Society & Cleaners:
Ann O’Neill

ST. JOSEPH’S CHURCH, GLENMORNAN

Collectors:
Brian Blee.

Altar Society:
Martina McNulty, Angela Kelly and Rita Kelly.

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

The next Pioneer Meeting will take place on Monday 12th April at 8.00pm, followed directly by a meeting of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Carmelite Retreat Centre, Termonbacca
The monthly devotions, in honour of Our Lady, will take place on Tuesday 6th April starting with confessions at 7.30pm, followed by Rosary and Mass, finishing around 10.00pm. All are welcome to attend.

Many Thanks!

We are very grateful to all those who have been involved in the Holy Week ceremonies in our three churches. These include the readers, the Eucharistic Ministers, the altar servers; also the organists, the choirs and the soloists for the lovely music. We thank the sacristans, those who clean the churches and look after the grounds, and all who prepare the altars and provide the flowers. We are also grateful to Sister Benedict for her help.

Finally, we take this opportunity of wishing you all a very Happy Easter.

Father John Doherty & Father Paul Farren