Sunday, 11th January 2009

Baptism of the Lord

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

Journey into Light

Who am I? How do I fit in? Where do I belong? These are lifelong questions for most of us, and we search for answers no matter what age we are, however inadequate those answers may be. An ancient teaching says that every child that is born has something to teach us, a message that will explain why we are here.

Whenever a baby is born, it is a kind if summing-up, a culmination of everything that has ever happened before. His parents and grandparents live on in him. And not only they but all the forgotten generations are, as it were, born anew in the new-born child. The history of his people is in his veins. In every baby this hidden, ceaseless flow of experience and response breaks surface and emerges at one particular point.

In the Middle Ages, when monastic robes were made in only one size, the robe would be huge on a young novice who was training to be a monk. Over the years of learning and service, the novice would grow into his robe. When we first became Christians, we may not have been much like mature disciples. But, eventually, we can grow into the robe and role of a Disciple of Jesus. Eventually, we can grow into a large vision we have of who we want to and who God wants us to be.

Baptism marks the beginning of a journey, not a destination.

Recent Collectons
Last Sunday’s collection was £1,528.00.

The collection for Sunday 28th December was £2,025.00.
The collection for Sunday 21st December was £2,685.00. Many Thanks!

Inter-Church Service next Sunday

To mark the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, there will be an Ecumenical Service in the Immaculate Conception Church on Sunday 18th January at 5.00pm. All are welcome.

A Note of Thanks from Nazareth House

Thank you very much for your most generous church collection of £1,122.00 and for your Christmas greetings received some time ago. The Sisters are most grateful. May God bless and reward each one of you in his own special way for your great generosity. Our project this year is to replace all six water tanks. Thank you!

A Question to be Asked

Have you ever asked your parents why they had you baptised? Their answer might run something like this:

We were over the moon when you were born. You were the first/third/fifth, and we loved you as much as any of the other children.

We were so happy that you had arrived into the world safely that we wanted to do the best thing for you. So we brought you to the church, where the priest poured water over you in God’s name. Mum held you, well wrapped up. Dad was very proud and wore his best clothes.

Before you were born we spent sometime discussing what Christian names we would give you. Once we held you we decided, and gave you the names by which you would for ever be known to us, to the world, and to God.

We wanted you to be part and parcel of God’s family and to have the benefit of Mass and the Sacraments.

We wanted you to have the support of our families, of the neighbours and of the parish. That day we gave you what was most precious to us: our love and our faith. You were our son/daughter. Our ‘favour’ was on you. It still is. And so too is God’s. We hope you will remember that all the days of your life.

The Strabane Family History Society will meet on Thursday 15th January at 7.30pm in the Library, Abercorn Square.

To Parents of a New Born Child

- Baptisms are normally celebrated in Leckpatrick on Saturday at 7.45pm or on Sunday at 12.15pm.

- Each sponsor must not be less than sixteen years of age and must be a practising Catholic.

- Please bring a baptismal garment to the ceremony. The infant should not be wearing it coming to the church, but will be clothed in it by the priest at the appropriate point in the ceremony.

- Please bring a reasonably substantial candle to the ceremony. It is preferable that each child in the family should have his or her own baptismal candle.

- Note that Canon Law states that ‘parents, sponsors and parish priests are to take care that a name is not given which is foreign to Christian sentiment.’

- Please make arrangements with the priest in good time, and see that the baptismal card is completed three or four days before the ceremony at the latest.

- Kindly remember that the church is a sacred space, and is worthy of reverence and respect at all times, including the period when photographs are being taken after the ceremony.

- Finally, congratulations on the birth of your child! Your child’s baptism will be a special occasion for you and your family. It will also be a special occasion for our parish as we welcome your new born baby into the Christian community.

Prayer for Parents

Grant us children, O Lord,
who will be strong enough to know when they are weak;
who will be unbending in honest defeat,
yet humble and gentle in victory.

Lead them, we pray you,
not in the path of ease and comfort,
but rather in the path of difficulties and challenges.

Grant us children,
whose hearts will be clear,
whose goals will be high;
children who will master themselves
before seeking to master others.

And after all these things,
add, we pray, a sense of humour,
so that they can be serious,
yet never take themselves too seriously.
Give them the humility and sincerity of true greatness.
Then we, their parents, will dare whisper,
we have not lived in vain.

We wish you all a very peaceful and happy New Year.