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

Sunday 24th May 2009

Ascension of the Lord

The Ascension of Christ into Heaven

Jesus said to his disciples: "Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation". Because of all that has been happening in the Church in recent years we can feel despondent about the future. Today's feast of joy and gladness is a call to us to look up with confidence and know the power of Christ for the world in which we live. In spite of the sinfulness of his people, Christ is at work and can overcome. Our task is to let the world know his love and his salvation, not just by word but especially by the way we live with joy and hope and love. Although these qualities are best developed in our homes and families, they need to be seen and experienced in our parish community. This can only happen when we are all taking our responsibility for the health and well-being of our parish and its future.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R

Sunday 24th May 2009

Ascension of the Lord

World Communications Day

First Reading Acts 1: 1-11
John baptised with water but you, not many days from now, will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.

Second Reading Ephesians 4: 1-13
There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God who is Father of all, over all, through all and within all.

Gospel Mark 16: 15-20
Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation.

The ‘Confirmation’ Pledge

On the 30th March Bishop Francis Lagan administered the sacrament of Confirmation in the Sacred Heart Church. Next Sunday 31st May is Pentecost Sunday – recalling the occasion when the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles and gave them courage to preach the gospel to the ends of the earth. This great feast should remind the recently confirmed children of their Confirmation Day when the Holy Spirit came upon them in a very special way and offered them his guidance and strength to live as committed followers of Jesus.

Next Sunday is also a very important day in the lives of these young people, because at each Mass in this parish we will be offering them an opportunity to promise to abstain from alcohol until at least eighteen years of age, and also to abstain from illegal drugs for the remainder of their lives. If other young people wish to renew the pledge they made in the recent or not so recent past, they too will be given the opportunity to do so. It’s a decision that should be discussed with parents and should be taken only if there’s a serious intention to be faithful to the promise.

Before our young people decide whether or not to make this promise, they need to understand that alcohol is

- A gift from God.

- A gift which must be handled very responsibly by all those adults who have decided to use it, including parents who must give the best possible example to their children.

- A dangerous substance if not handled responsibly.

- A substance which can be particularly harmful if taken by a child or by a young person who hasn’t yet reached adulthood.

We hope that parents are already speaking to their children and helping them to decide to make the commitment to abstain from alcohol until the age of eighteen and from illegal drugs for the rest of their lives.

Those who wish to take the pledge are invited to come to any one of the four Masses next weekend in Leckpatrick parish:

Sacred Heart Church – Saturday at 7.00pm or Sunday at 11.30am

St. Mary’s, Cloughcor – Sunday at 9.15am

St. Joseph’s, Glenmornan – Sunday at 10.15am.

No one will be asked to identify himself or herself as the pledge is being offered. It will be a personal decision taken by those children who have thought about it, discussed it with their parents, and are determined to be faithful to it, no matter what pressures they may face to do otherwise.

We pray that the Holy Spirit will guide our children in making one of the most important decisions in their young lives.

Last week’s Collection was £1,304.00. Many thanks.

Diocesan Purposes Collection
The second envelope collection this weekend is the Diocesan Purposes Collection – also known as the Bishop’s Collection.

Diocesan Youth Mass and Blessing of Young Drivers

On Pentecost Sunday 31st May there will be a Diocesan Youth Mass and Blessing of Young Drivers in St. Columb’s Church, Chapel Road, Waterside, Derry at 7.00pm. All young drivers are invited to bring their licence or car keys to this Mass for a special blessing. The Diocesan Youth Choir ‘Rejoice’ will lead the music and Bishop Hegarty will be the main celebrant. Refreshments will be served in the Parish Centre after Mass. Everyone is welcome.

Parish Savings Cheques

We wish to remind parish savers that there are still a number of saving cheques that should be cashed before 25th May 2009. Cheques are only valid for 6 months and therefore will not be accepted by the banks/building societies/credit union etc after this date. Please contact the parish office [028] 71882274 if you have any queries or if your cheque has expired.

Open our Hearts and Minds

Try to teach a young child something as simple as a short prayer or the sum of a few numbers. For a few minutes, you seem to hold his attention. His face is bright - his eyes wide open. The lesson seems to be getting through. And then he volunteers something like, “My tooth fell out,” and you clutch your brow and start all over again.

The apostles put Jesus through that same kind of experience. For three years, he taught them gently and patiently, but they were not the most alert of pupils. Every now and then he must have put his hands on his hips and shaken his head, wondering how they could be so dense.

In today’s first reading, their lack of perception is almost comical. The Lord has tried so hard to lead them to an understanding of his mission. Yet even after his death they simply could not clear their heads and hearts of the wish that he would make Israel into a great earthly power. And so they ask once more: “Lord, are you going to restore the rule to Israel now?” [Acts 1:6]. His answer: “Forget about that and finish the much more valuable and necessary work I have begun.”

Lord, we are very like your apostles. Our grasp of your message and your mission is not so great either. The beatitudes and the command to love one another are challenges we would rather avoid. But your hard sayings are as important to us as your words of comfort. Lord Jesus, open our minds and our hearts to all you call us to be.