Parish News for Sunday 13th April 2008

Fourth Sunday of Easter

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

Christ, our Way to new life

"I have come that they may have life and have it to the full." You couldn't get a clearer statement of intent and desire than that from anyone. The practice of our faith is about making that desire of Jesus a reality for one another. That's why he gave us his commandment to love one another. The fulfillment of that longing should be our aim in all that we do. It is the major task for every married couple, to help this other person to come to the greatest fulfillment of her/his potential. And if parents want to know what their parenting is about they have a true statement of it in this word of Christ. Parenting is not about what they give to their children but what they help their children to become as individuals. It is also a word for every parish community this week. We dare not settle for anything less than the best.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R.

Confirmation

Confirmation will be administered by Bishop Séamus Hegarty in the Sacred Heart Church next Sunday 20th April at the 11.30am Mass. The children to be confirmed and their sponsors should be in their places no later than 11.10am. We would ask parishioners who intend to be present at that Mass to kindly leave the reserved places at the front of the church free for the children who are to be confirmed and their sponsors. The parents and families of the children would like to be placed in the seats behind the children and the sponsors.

After the ceremony Bishop Hegarty will meet the children and their families in St. Patrick’s Hall, Strabane. We ask our usual helpers and any others who would like to offer their services to be in the hall by 11.00am in order to make preparations for serving light refreshments.

On Thursday next 17th April there will be a very important rehearsal in the Sacred Heart Church at 7.30pm for the children and their sponsors. If a sponsor is unavailable, a parent should come to the practice instead.

Last week’s Collection was £1,733.00. Many thanks.

Cemetery Sunday
The Blessing of Graves will take place in the Sacred Heart Cemetery on Sunday 11th May at 5.00pm.

Taizé

Join us for an hour of meditative prayer and Taizé chant on Wednesday 16th April at 7.30pm in the Daychapel behind St. Mary’s church, Melmount. Everyone is welcome.

Month’s Mind Mass
The Month’s Mind Mass for Shane Caldwell, Hollyhill Road will be said in St. Joseph’s Church, Glenmornan on Friday 18th April at 7.30pm.

Workshop on Marriage
Marriage Encounter is a weekend away [Friday 8.00pm until Sunday 5.00pm] for married couples of all ages with a stable relationship. Couples explore, in complete privacy, how to come to a deeper mutual understanding of each other. The next weekend takes place in the Drummond Hotel, Ballykelly, Co. Derry from 26th – 28th September 2008. For information Telephone [028] 90 626503 or log onto www.marriageencounterireland.com

Priesthood – A Marvellous Adventure
At a recent talk about education an economist said that he would like to see our education system enabling young people to become curious, flexible adults with a great sense of social responsibility. In many ways today the priest is called to be a curious, flexible person with a great sense of social responsibility that is rooted in a deep friendship with Jesus Christ and inspired by the Gospel. The priest is to be curious – he is to be a man who asks questions. He needs to question the Church and the world that he lives in. He needs to question his relationship with Jesus. Filled with the Spirit he needs to explore the plan or dream that God has for his life and the lives of those he serves. It is in the serving that the flexibility is needed. Flexibility allows obedience to flourish – obedience to Christ living in others. It is in this flexibility that enables obedience that a social responsibility evolves. This social responsibility is the call of the Eucharist – the call to communion. A priest is called to celebrate the Eucharist and lead people into communion with Jesus and one another.

It is a challenging, exciting and dynamic vocation. Pope Benedict on 2nd February described priesthood as a ‘marvellous adventure’. He went on to say that it was “the most interesting of adventures” and “it is a very demanding adventure and could not be otherwise because a priest is called to imitate Jesus”.

The primary role of a priest is to preach the Good News. The priest is called to be the healing, challenging and life giving presence of Jesus. He can only do that if he is a man of prayer. As a man of prayer he will be a prophet of joy in the world.

For further information about priesthood in the Derry Diocese please contact
Fr Colm O’Doherty [028] 81661475 or Fr Paul Farren [028] 71264087.

Prayer for Vocations

Loving Father,
thank you for the gifts you have given me;
life, faith, family and friends.
Help me to live out the call
that I received at Baptism
to follow your Son, Jesus Christ.

Shine your light
so that I may see the path that leads to you.
Help me to respond
to your personal love for me
so that I may become more fully
the person you called me to be. Amen.