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

Sunday, 22nd August 2010

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Saviour of all peoples

Jesus said: “There are those now last who will be first, and those now first who will be last”. One of the basic needs of the human person is to be successful. The fulfilment of this need brings people in all kinds of directions in life. Some people invest themselves in work and their whole self-worth is associated with how successful they are there. Then they have to retire! For others it is found in the kind of home they have, or their popularity, or in sport etc. All of these are good things but when they become our reason for being able to say, “I am the best” they have led us astray. The way of Jesus puts being successful in love as our priority. Through love we put our beloved as number one whether that beloved is our wife/husband, our children, our community, and in so far as we do that we live with great peace and joy and inherit eternal life.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R.

Sunday, 22nd August 2010

Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Isaiah 66:18-21
The Lord will gather the nations into his glory.

Second Reading: Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13
We are encouraged to endure through suffering and to bear fruit in peace and goodness.

Gospel: Luke 13: 22-30
All the faithful are invited to take their places at the feast in the Kingdom of God.

Entrance Hymn

Sweet Heart Of Jesus

Sweet heart of Jesus, fount of love and mercy.
Today we come, thy blessing to implore;
O touch our hearts, so cold and so ungrateful,
And make them, Lord, thine own for evermore.
Sweet heart of Jesus, we implore,
O make us love thee more and more.

Recessional Hymn

Hail Queen Of Heaven

Hail, Queen of heav’n, the ocean star,
Guide of the wand’rer here below:
Thrown on life’s surge, we claim thy care:
Save us from peril and from woe.
Mother of Christ, star of the sea,
Pray for the wand’rer, pray for me.

O gentle, chaste and spotless maid,
We sinners make our prayers through thee:
Remind thy Son that he has paid
The price of our iniquity.
Virgin most pure, star of the sea,
Pray for the sinner, pray for me.

Push and Pull

It used to be cynically said of Irish Society that the only requirements to success in life were found written on every door – ‘push’ and ‘pull’. Things have changed, yet people are still people. It helps to know and be known. That’s how doors get opened. Or rather – that’s how doors get opened in this world. But what about the world to come? Will a well-placed relative get you pas St. Peter? Is there a secret password, membership card, letter of introduction that will open the gates of heaven? Jesus picks up on those questions when, in today’s Gospel, he is asked, ‘Lord, will only a few be saved?’ Admission, says Jesus, has nothing to do with who you know, where you come from, even how perfectly you’ve kept to the straight and narrow.

It’s all about trying our best to enter by the narrow door. It calls for a faith that is clear, focused and disciplined, not settled for what is, but insisting on what should be. It is demanding what’s right, fair, good and pure when others shrug. ‘Close enough.’ It’s not too late. The door is narrow, but it is open.

North West Regional College

North West College, Derry, Limavady and Strabane, is offering an exciting range of full-time and part-time courses, commencing this September. To find our more, come along to our Full-Time Course advice sessions 23rd – 27th August; or Part-Time Enrol & Advice sessions from 31st August. Visit www.nwrc.ac.uk for full details. Places are still available and enrolments are now open. Telephone [0028] 71276000.

Slimming World group every Wednesday from 5.30pm until 7.30pm at Donemana Primary School. Telephone 07731463716.

Diabetic Association
Meeting on Wednesday 1st September at 8.00pm in Mulvey House, Bridge Street, Strabane.. Speaker Deirdre Calhoon.

Last week’s Collection was £1,259.00. Many thanks.

Pakistan Flood Disaster Fund
You the people of Leckpatrick are to be thanked for your contributions of £3,555.00 and €260.00 to the above fund which were sent to Trócaire during the week.

"The 4th National Grandparents' Pilgrimage will take place to the The Shrine of Our Lady of Knock, on Sunday 12th September. Anointing of the Sick at 2pm, Pilgrimage Mass at 3pm, followed by Eucharistic Adoration. Special guest singers: Michael English, Dana and Chloe Coyle. For further information, visit website www.catholicgrandparentsassociation.com or telephone 0035398 24877. Also, see details on poster on church notice board."

Reflection
Jesus said that there are two roads we can follow.
The first is wide and easy travelled.
It is downhill most of the way.
It is the way of comfort and ease, pleasure and self-seeking.
Many are fooled and travel down this road.
But in the long run it leads them nowhere. They die in the desert.
The second road is narrow and difficult.
It is uphill of lot of the way. It is the way of struggle and sacrifice.
Few take this road. But they are the lucky ones.
This road leads to the Promised Land.