Parish News for Sunday 16th March 2008

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

Let’s have a truly Holy Week!

In times past the world seemed to slow down and it was easier on a certain level to make this week holy. Now, it clearly has to be a personal commitment that each one of us makes. We have to choose to pause from our normal, busy routine and to give this week to God. We have to choose to pray, to meditate upon what Christ did for us, and to take part in the beautiful liturgies prepared for us. Let this week be a truly ‘holy week’ for all of us.

Sacred Heart Church

Monday 17th March:
• Mass at 10.00am followed by Confessions

Tuesday 18th March:
• Mass at 10.00am followed by Confessions
• Confessions at 7.00pm

Wednesday 19th March:
• Mass at 10.00am followed by Confessions
• Confessions at 7.00pm

Holy Thursday 20th March:
• Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7.30pm
• Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament until 9.30pm

Good Friday 21st March:
• Celebration of the Lord’s Passion at 3.00pm

Holy Saturday 22nd March:
• Easter Vigil at 9.00pm
[Candles will be available at the back of the church]

Easter Sunday 23rd March:
• Mass at 11.30am

St. Joseph’s, Glenmornan

Tuesday 18th March:
• Confessions at 8.00pm

Holy Thursday 20th March:
• Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7.30pm
• Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament until 9.30pm

Easter Sunday 23rd March:
• Mass at 10.15am

St. Mary’s, Cloughcor

Tuesday 18th March:
• Confessions at 7.30pm

Good Friday 21st March:
• Celebration of the Lord’s Passion at 7.30pm

Easter Sunday 23rd March:
• Mass at 9.15am

Trócaire
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.

Last week’s collection was £1,443.00. Thank you.

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

Taize Prayer – join us for an hour of meditative prayer and Taize chant on Wednesday 19th March in the Day Chapel, Melmount from 7.30pm until 8.30pm. Everyone is welcome.

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.

Alzheimer’s Support Group
A meeting will take place on Wednesday 19th March at 7.30pm in Melmount Manor Care Home, 1 Orchard Road, Strabane. Guest speaker: Deirdre Doherty [Reminiscence Network Northern Ireland] will be speaking on Reminiscence. Everyone 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.

NI Blood Transfusion Service
A team from the NI Blood Transfusion Service will be in St. Patrick’s Hall, Barrack Street, Strabane on Tuesday 25th March from 1.30pm – 4pm and from 5.15pm until 8.00pm. In order to maintain the vital supply of blood to our hospitals, the Blood transfusion Service needs the support not only of existing donors, but also of new donors. All support is appreciated.

Annual Financial Statement

In this bulletin we have included a statement of accounts for the year 2007. 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 10% 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.

Of course, when major work has to be carried out to parochial property, additional fundraising efforts are required. Since early 2000 substantial work was carried out to our three churches. In August of that year St. Joseph’s Church, Glenmornan reopened after major renovations. In 2005 extensive repair work was completed in the Sacred Heart Church, the car park was resurfaced and the church was painted. Two years ago St. Mary’s Church, Cloughcor was reopened after a refurbishment which began in August 2005.

As you can see from our 2007 financial statement, we are deeply indebted to some individuals from the parish and others from outside the parish for their magnificent generosity. As well as that, we cannot speak highly enough of the members of the Leckpatrick Development Committee, those who assisted them and the many good people who supported them in their efforts to fund all the projects undertaken in recent years. We are hopeful that, with the continued support of our people, we will soon be able to emerge at last from our deficit situation with the bank. Many thanks to you all!