Parish News for Sunday 13th January 2008

The Baptism Of The Lord

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

The Gift of New Life

Most of us were baptised when we were infants, and for that we are, of course, thankful. But we did not have to do much to be baptised. Our parents and godparents brought us to the church, the priest sprinkled water on us, and we received the stupendous gift of being buried to sin and of rising with Christ to life that would never end.

But have we ever really appreciated what happened to us on our baptismal day? We did not have to go through the long preparation adults must endure when they become Christians. All we had to do was be born and be brought to church. It was so easy, wasn’t it?

But the gift demands responsibilities. And we are far from sure that we live up to them. If indeed our Baptism was a death to sin, why are our lives so stained by our personal sins? If we have risen to new life, why are we so much more fascinated by the pleasures of this present world than we are by the life that Jesus has opened to us? Some of us live as if Baptism has never happened, and perhaps most of us have never committed ourselves completely to living the new life. We have never become what we really are.

Somewhere in our lives we have to make our own what has already happened to us. Somewhere and sometime we will have to say: “I am the child of God; I must join the family circle; I must allow God really to be my Father.” In a word, we must become the Christians we already are.

Lord, on this day when we celebrate your baptism, let us celebrate also our own. Give us the nudge we need to live as if we were seeking Baptism and not as if we had forgotten we had ever received it.

Mass Times
Sacred Heart Church, Derry Road
Weekdays
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday – 10.00am

Sundays
Vigil: 7.00pm, 11.30am

St. Mary’s Church, Cloughcor
Sundays
9.15am

St. Joseph’s Church, Glenmornan
Sundays
10.15am

Confessions
Saturday: Sacred Heart Church at 11.30am and 6.15pm

Parish Missal: Readings (Year A) p 55 & Proper p 1006

First Reading Isaiah 42: 1-4.6-7
The mission of the Messiah to bring justice and freedom.

Second Reading Acts of the Apostles 10: 34-38
The Good News of Jesus Christ is for all people.

Gospel Matthew : 13-17
The Spirit of God comes down upon Jesus.

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 then 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.

Priests For Life
Guest speaker Fr. Jim Hyde will talk about his work in the Pro-life movement and about the Gospel of Life in Da Vinci’s Hotel, on Wednesday 16th January at 7.30pm.

Inter-Church Service next Sunday
To mark the centenary of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, there will be an Ecumenical Service in the Sacred Heart Church on Sunday 20th January at 5.00pm. All are welcome.

Last week’s Collection was £1,716.00.
The collection for Sunday 30th December was £1,817.00.
The collection for Sunday 23rd December was £1,555.00. Many thanks.

Entry to Primary 1 or Pre-school
If your child is due to start Primary 1 in September 2008 or if you have a child of Pre-school age, please remember that the closing date for completed application forms is Wednesday 23rd January 2008. Forms are available from the parish schools.

St. Mary’s Primary School, Cloughcor
Telephone [028] 718841237

St. Joseph’s Primary School, Glenmornan
Telephone [028] 71398588

St. Mary’s Pre-school Centre, Cloughcor
Telephone [028] 71841237 [Extension 26]

Taizé
Join us for an hour of meditative prayer and Taizé chant on Wednesday
16th January in the Day Chapel, Melmount from 7.30pm. Everyone welcome.