Sunday 25th January

3rd Sunday of the Year

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

Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul

Today [25th January] is the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul. Because this is the Year of St. Paul, we are celebrating his special feast even though the 25th falls on Sunday.

The 2000th anniversary of the birth of St. Paul is not just a celebration of a past event, says Pope Benedict. The Pauline Jubilee Year, which was launched on June 28th, is more than a recollection.

“Paul is not, for us, a figure of the past,” affirmed the pope. “Through his letters, he still speaks to us today. And one who enters into dialogue with him is moved by him towards Christ crucified and risen. The Pauline year is a year of pilgrimage, not only in the external sense of a journey to the Pauline sites, but rather also, and above all, a pilgrimage of the heart, together with Paul, towards Christ.”

Last week’s Collection was £1635.70. Many thanks.

Children in Crossfire wishes to thank all the parishioners who have returned their advent boxes. However, if you still have a box in your possession, please return it to the Children in Crossfire Office, 2 St. Joseph’s Avenue, Derry [028] 71269898. Many thanks for your generosity.

Month’s Mind Mass

The Month’s Mind Mass for the late Kathleen Wilson, Tulagh na Greine, will take place in the Sacred Heart Church on Tuesday 27th January at 7.30pm.

Questions People Ask

Q. We have Mark’s gospel on Sundays this year. What should we watch out for in Mark?

A. Mark was a great storyteller. If you read his gospel from start to finish you will be swept along at breath-taking pace. He has the knack of bringing the reader into action. He makes Jesus feel very close, portraying him as looking at people, reaching out and touching them.

Mark places great emphasis on the power of Jesus over illness and evil. He wrote for a community of suffering Christians to reassure them that Jesus has conquered the darkness and is very near to us.

Fr. Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap

The following are asked to assist as collectors and church cleaners during the month of February:

SACRED HEART CHURCH:

Collectors:
Saturday 7.00pm:-
Brian Edwards and Declan Carlin.
Sunday 11.30am:-
John Mahon, Stephen Barrett.
Noel Carlin,, Terry McCallion and Patsy McNulty.

Cleaners: Team C

ST. MARY’S CHURCH, CLOUGHCOR:

Collectors:
Joe Vaughan.

Altar Society & Cleaners:
Mary Harkin and Kathleen Roulston.

ST. JOSEPH’S CHURCH, GLENMORNAN
Collectors:
Michael Mullen.
Altar Society:
Patricia Kelly and Rose McCrossan.

Our thanks are due to all who served the parish in any way during the month of January.

NI Blood Transfusion Service will be in
St. Patrick’s Hall on Monday 2nd February – see poster for further details.

Vocations Information Day

Could you be called to serve God and his people as a priest in the Diocese of Derry? ‘Come and See.’ There will be a Vocations Information Day, a day of reflection on the theme of Vocation in Thornhill Retreat Centre on Saturday 14th February from 11.00am until 4.00pm. For further information please contact any of your local priests/RE teachers or:
Fr. Paul Farren at [028] 71264087, Email: ddcc@derrydiocese.org or
Fr. Colm O’Doherty at [028] 8166 1475, Email: collydoc2000@hotmail.com

Reflection – Conversion is possible

Today we are in danger of being drowned in bad news.
Jesus began his ministry by announcing good news.
What was this good news?
That the kingdom of heaven had come.
The kingdom stands for the fulfilment of the promises,
the fullness of God’s blessings,
in short, the new order of things.
Forgiveness is available.
Conversion is possible.
God’s love is unconditional
and is available to us in Christ.
All we have to do is recognise our need,
and seek his help with humility and sincerity.
Unless we repent we can ‘t hear the good news.