Sunday 5th April 2009

Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

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

My God, why have you forsaken me?

Jesus said: "I am the resurrection and the life. Do you believe this?" The central reality of our faith as Christians is that Christ has risen from the dead and that he lives among us. Holy Week is the celebration of Christ's journey into this new life; a journey that we are also invited to travel, knowing that he has gone before us, and that he travels with us. It is important to make this week a special time of prayer and reflection. This is done in the frequent gatherings in Church. But we need to take time at a family level and also at a personal level to get in touch with the most inspiring and life-giving love story ever told. Talk to each other this week about all the good things the Lord has done for you. If you are a parent, let each of your family know what she/he means to you. And take a full part in the parish Liturgy.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R.

Sunday 5th April 2009

Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

First Reading Isaiah 50: 4-7
The prophet suffers in carrying out his mission, but is sustained by the firm belief that God will not abandon him. We think of Jesus as we listen to this Reading.

Second Reading Philippians 2: 6-11
Because Jesus took on himself our human condition and accepted death on a cross, the Father has raised Him up and made Him Lord of heaven and earth.

Gospel Mark 14: 1-15:47 ~ The Passion of Jesus Christ
St Mark stresses the crude trial and shocking details of Jesus’ suffering.

Let’s look forward to Easter!

If Advent was a time of expectation and anticipation for Christmas, Lent is a time for preparation and promise. At Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Christ, at Easter we’ll celebrate the reason why he was born. During this one week we move through the central story of our faith. We move from despair to hope, from death to life renewed, from sorrow to joy, from beginning to end, or as we’ll see on Easter Sunday, beginning without end.

HOLY WEEK IN LECKPATRICK 2009

Sacred Heart Church

Monday 6th April: • Mass at 10.00am followed by Confessions

Tuesday 7th April: • Mass at 10.00am followed by Confessions
• Confessions at 7.00pm

Wednesday 8th April: • Mass at 10.00am followed by Confessions
• Confessions at 7.00pm

Holy Thursday 9th April: • Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7.30pm
• Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament until 9.30pm

Good Friday 10th April: • Celebration of the Lord’s Passion at 3.00pm
Holy Saturday 11th April: • Easter Vigil at 9.00pm
[Candles will be available at the back of the church]

Easter Sunday 12th April: • Mass at 11.30am

St. Joseph’s, Glenmornan

Tuesday 7th April: • Confessions at 7.30pm
Holy Thursday 9th April: • Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7.30pm
• Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament until 9.30pm
Easter Sunday 12th April: • Mass at 10.15am

St. Mary’s, Cloughcor

Tuesday 7th April: • Confessions at 7.00pm
Good Friday 10th April: • Celebration of the Lord’s Passion at 7.30pm
Easter Sunday 12th April: • Mass at 9.15am

Kindly change your Trócaire contributions into notes, use the appropriate envelope in your box of envelopes, and bring it to the church on Holy Thursday or Good Friday. If you are a taxpayer, you can increase the amount of your gift by using one of the small envelopes which have been placed in the Trócaire boxes. There are still Trócaire boxes available if you require them.

Weekly Envelopes

The new boxes of weekly envelopes are now available for collection. We ask the people who usually distribute them to be good enough to do so once again this year, if they have not already done so.

We appreciate the time they give to serving the parish in this way.

Last week’s collection was £2,370.50.
Thank you.

GOOD FRIDAY – THIS IS A DAY OF FAST AND ABSTINENCE.

Pioneer Meeting – the next meeting of the Pioneer Association will take place on Monday 6th April at 8.00pm followed directly by a meeting of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Mass of Chrism

This Mass, during which the holy oils are blessed, will be in St. Eugene’s Cathedral on Holy Thursday at 10.00am. All are welcome.

Evening of Forgiveness
A special period of forgiveness will take place in the Immaculate Conception Church this (Sunday) evening. Confessions will be heard from 5.00pm until 6.30pm. Several priests from the surrounding parishes will be available.

Congratulations to our Newly Confirmed Children!

We congratulate the forty-five children who received the sacrament of Confirmation last Monday. We thank Bishop Francis Lagan for administering the sacrament and for relating to the children in his usual relaxed and friendly manner. We thank the parents and teachers for preparing the children for this very important occasion in their lives. We thank those who prepared the church and grounds and provided and arranged the flowers; those who took part in the ceremony; the sacristan, the stewards and the men who directed the traffic. We are also grateful to all who prepared and served the refreshments in St. Patrick’s Hall and the meal in the Parochial House. We thank the committee for the use of St. Patrick’s Hall. We pray that the Holy Spirit may help and guide these children to be faithful friends of Jesus in the years that lie ahead.

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!