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

Sunday 7th June 2009

Trinity Sunday

Jesus said to his disciples: "Know that I am with you always; yes, to the end of time." What a wonderful consolation and strength that promise that Jesus made to us is for his followers! He is with us in so many ways - in the Sacraments; in the Eucharist; in our prayers. But Jesus is especially with us always in our love relationships, especially in marriage and family life. He is also with us through our parish community. That is the meaning of being a parish - a people among whom Jesus lives. And the wonderful thing is that he is also present to our world always through us. We have a serious responsibility to build our homes and parishes into real living communities of faith and love so that Jesus can bring salvation to our world and so that our God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit may be praised and glorified.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R.

Sunday, 7th June 2009

The Most Holy Trinity

First Reading Deuteronomy 4: 32-34, 39-40
Moses reminds the people of the close and loving relationship God established with them, and of the obligation and blessings that flow from such a relationship

Second Reading Romans 8: 14-17
Through the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit, we have become children of God, and co-heirs with Christ his Son.

Gospel Matthew 28: 16-20
In his last appearance to his apostles, Jesus commissions them to preach the Gospel to all peoples, and promises to be with them to the end of time.

Come Holy Spirit, Renew the Face of the Earth.

Three’s Company

The sign of the Cross is the sign of a Christian. It’s there from the time of baptism, when priest and parent sign a baby on the forehead, until the last farewell, when the sign of the Cross is made over our coffin.

It signifies that the person making or receiving it belongs to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit – to the Trinity, in short. Often it’s used so mindlessly and indiscriminately that we don’t realise what we are doing.

Properly done, it expresses a great deal. You firstly touch your head, dedicating your mind to God, as you say ‘In the name of the Father’. Secondly, you touch the base of your heart, the symbol of love, while you speak the name of the one who loved you first: ‘and the Son’. Thirdly you move from shoulder to shoulder, from which your arms spring, as you say ‘and of the Holy Spirit’.

With the sign of the Cross, we indicate to whom we belong. By this blessing, with this simple sign and these simple words, we show we are no longer our own man or woman. Whatever follows, the prayer we pray, the meal we eat, the journey we begin, the job we do, we do them neither in our name nor for our glory, but in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
We are never alone: three’s company.

Collections
The collection for Sunday 24th May was £1,626.00.
The collection for Sunday
31st May was £1,601.00.
Many thanks.

Diocesan Pilgrimage to Knock
Many people from all over the diocese will be converging on Knock today [Sunday] to celebrate the 130th anniversary of the apparitions. The ceremonies will begin at 2.00pm. We wish all those who are travelling a safe journey and an inspiring pilgrimage.

St. Mary’s P.S. Cloughcor School Fair
The annual school fair, organised by
St. Mary’s P.T.A., will take place on Thursday 11th June from 7.00pm until 9.00pm. Admission is £1.00 for adults [including refreshments] and free for children. All welcome. Come along for a fun evening out!

End of Year School Masses

The end of year School Mass will take place in St. Joseph’s Church, Glenmornan on Tuesday 23rd June at 10.00am. Parents and family members of the children will be welcome.

A similar Mass will be celebrated in
St. Mary’s Cloughcor on Wednesday
24th June, also at 10.00am

Questions People Ask

Q. Why do we have to complicate the simple idea of God with the mystery of the Blessed Trinity?

A. The doctrine of the Blessed Trinity reveals to us a clearer idea of what God is like. God is not an impersonal sort of ‘remote control’ over the world but more like a family, united in knowing and loving. To grow in prayer means that one advances in personal relationship with the Father over all, with Jesus our saviour and with the Holy Spirit. Our liturgy renders glory to the Father, with Jesus our saviour and with the Holy Spirit. Our liturgy renders glory to the Father, through the Son, by the power of the Spirit.

Fr. Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap

North West Regional College

Get into part time learning….. The North West College, Derry, Limavady and Strabane, is now offering an exciting range of new part-time courses, which commence this September. A number of course prices have been reduced for the year ahead. For your copy of its Part-time Prospectus telephone [028] 71276022, or email: info@nwrc.ac.uk

A Trinity Prayer

God our Father,
we dedicate ourselves to you.
In the power of the Spirit
we walk with Jesus in your way.
Teach us to pray.
Lead us to repent and to be reconciled
with you and with one another.
Show us how to live in hope
and remember in truth
the life of your Son, Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

Parish Savings Cheques

Please contact the parish office [028] 71882274 if your cheque has expired.

Addiction – The First Step in Recovery

Learn from the past, plan for the future and live in the present.

Dependence on alcohol, other drugs or gambling presents life threatening physical and mental health challenges for individuals, stress and relationship difficulties in families, financial problems for all concerned, educational issues for children and young people, deaths on roads and crime on our streets.
An honest response to the following questions will confirm evidence of addiction.

- Have you ever felt that you should cut down on your use of alcohol, other drugs or the time and money spent on gambling?
- Have people annoyed you by criticizing your dependence on alcohol, other drugs or the time and money spent on gambling?
- Have you ever felt guilty about your dependence on alcohol, other drugs or the time and money spent on gambling?
- Have you needed alcohol or another drug first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or to get rid of anger?

If you are concerned about your dependence on alcohol, other drugs or gambling, we are glad to advise you that staff in White Oaks Rehabilitation Centre provide a confidential counselling service for individuals, couples or families. It has been said that a journey of 1000 Km begins with the first step. Begin the journey into recovery today.