Parish News for Sunday 23rd March 2008

Easter Sunday - The Resurrection of the Lord

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

A Reflection for Easter Sunday

As long as the sun comes over the hills,
scatters the darkness, and fills the world with light; as long as the fields get green again,
and the primroses and violets return;
as long as the trees fill up again with leaves,
there is hope for us and for the world.
So come, let us follow the footsteps of spring, for the snow has melted,
and life is awakening from its sleep
and wanders through the hills and valleys.
Come, let us ascend the heights and gaze upon the waving greenness of the plains below.
O come, let us rejoice on this Easter Day.

Easter Sunday

Hope Springs Eternal

‘Hope springs eternal.’ This assertion is born out of human experience. Were it not true, life would not be worth living. There would be no interest in tomorrow. Each today would be a dead end. There would be but one direction in which to look – backwards, to yesterday. And that too would have been itself a dead end.
‘Hope springs eternal.’ Because it does, we sow seeds and plant trees; we build houses and paint doors; we launch ships and cross seas; we marry, we bring to birth; we take vows, we pledge hours.

‘Hope springs eternal’ that pain will pass,
and disease will cease;
that despair will disappear and care will bring repair;
that heartbreak will heal, and defeat will not repeat.
‘Hope springs eternal’: that sin is forgiven, by God and by victim;
that life has point, and death is not the end;
that God is good, and his word can be believed.

‘He is risen!’ The Easter cry confirms the truth: hope does spring eternal, and there will be a better tomorrow and a glorious destination.

Last week’s Collection was £1,715.00. Many thanks.

Weekly Envelopes
By now you may have received your new weekly envelopes for the coming twelve months. If you have not been supplied with a box by next weekend, and wish to have one, please contact the Parish Office by Monday 31st March. We thank those who have given or who will be giving their time to distribute the weekly envelopes.

If you attend Mass in one of the neighbouring parishes, please use your own parish envelopes. There is a long standing tradition in this area whereby envelopes are returned to their original parishes. It is vital that people support the parishes in which they live.

Derry Diocesan Society
New names for the Derry Diocesan Society should be handed in at the Parochial House by Friday 28th March at the latest.

First Anniversary Mass
The first anniversary Mass for the late Margaret McDaid, Woodend Road will be said at 7.30pm on Friday 28th March in the Sacred Heart Church.

First Anniversary Mass
The 7.00pm Vigil Mass on Saturday 29th March in the Sacred Heart Church will be said for the late Billy McColgan, Greenlaw Drive on the occasion of the first anniversary of his death.

Derry Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes - 16th – 21st July 2008-03-13
Application forms are available for any young person aged 14yrs – 15yrs old who would like a place on the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes this year. Special arrangements are made for the youth who will be led by the Pilgrimage Youth Team.

The Lourdes Pilgrimage would be grateful for volunteers who are qualified nurses to work as part of the care team. For further information please contact: The Pilgrimage Office, 164 Bishop Street, Derry BT48 6UJ. Telephone [028] 71260293

We are very grateful to all those who have been involved in the Holy Week ceremonies in our three churches. These include the readers, the Eucharistic Ministers, the altar servers; also the organists, the choirs and the soloists for the inspiring music. We thank the sacristans, those who clean the churches and look after the grounds, and all who prepare the altars and provide the flowers. Finally, we take this opportunity of wishing you all a very Happy Easter.

Father John Doherty

Father Paul Farren