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

Sunday 25th April 2010

4th Sunday of Easter

Day of Prayer for Vocations

Jesus said: “The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice”. One of the big questions of today for people is: “Who am I?” and there are all kinds of self-awareness courses around to help us answer that question. It is an important question and many of these courses are helpful. But it is not the most important question for us. Much more important is the question: “To whom do I belong?”. Belonging is of the essence of being human and our belonging is identified by and lived out through the voices that we listen to. Some people listen to the voice of the world around which tells us to put ourselves first and they belong to the world. Others listen to the voice of Christ telling us to put others first and by so doing they belong to him. In the struggle between the two, Christ invites us to listen to his voice.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R.

Sunday 25th April 2010

4th Sunday of Easter

Day of Prayer for Vocations

First Reading : Acts of the Apostles 13: 14.43-52
I have made you a light for the nations, so that my salvation may reach the ends of the earth.

Second Reading: Apocalypse 7: 9. 14-17
The Lamb will be their shepherd and will lead them to springs of living water.

Gospel: John 10: 27-30
The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me.

Prayer for Vocations

Heavenly Father,
Bless our diocese with the grace of many vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, grant those You have called the willingness and generosity of spirit to give themselves
in devoting their lives and their talents to the service of our Lord and to His Church.
Increase the faith of everyone in our diocese, and particularly the Faith
of those You have called and will continue to call.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Disarming

Things change during recession. People buy less and bargain-hunt more. They count their change. Supposedly, they go to church more often. Hard times, it seems, remind us of a soft God. A new one for me, however, is an increase in gun sales. America gunmaker Smith and Wesson is aiming for doubled annual sales for the next few years. After a 13 per cent hike in 2009, triggering sales to a whopping $335 million, they were expected to jump 30 per cent in the first quarter of this financial year – an impressive depending on your viewpoint, $103 million increase.

Throughout the US demand for firearms is rising. The reason? Fear. Fear that recession-induced unemployment will lead to more crime. Fear that terrorism will strike again at the heartland. Fear that government will slap restrictions on gun ownership, and more taxes on firearms.

Today’s Gospel reading opens a free-fear zone. It radiates confidence. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. This is not an arrogant boast but a sober statement of fact. The Church knows she’s awash with saints and sinners. Even when lifestyle and attitudes within the Church betray the sorry fact of sin’s influence on its members, the community’s faith holds. The reason? Our God loves: in prosperity as well as in recession, and sinners as well as saints. Maybe sinners that little more, because they’re short on love! Rather disarming, isn’t it?

Last week’s Collection was £1,245.00. Many thanks.

Questions People Ask

Q. Is there such a thing as a vocation from God? Or is it just your own desire or a form of self-suggestion or even a delusion?

A. There are many examples in Scripture of people receiving a call from God to undertake some special mission. The clearest example is the call of the apostles. A calling to some specific mission such as priesthood needs careful discerning with the help of somebody experienced in the spiritual life. Of course, everyone who has been anointed in the oil of chrism at baptism has been called to a mission to be an active apostle for Christ in the world.

Q. What will happen to parishes when there are not enough priests available?

A. We have been spoiled in Ireland with the ratio of priests to people and the choice of Mass times available. Obviously this situation is changing. Two plans are on the table. In some places, one priest will minister to two or more parishes. In areas of greater population, a team of priests will serve a cluster of parishes. God works in mysterious ways and the result may actually be a far greater involvement by the laity in the life of the church.

Fr. Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap

The vocation to love
The deepest wound of all is that which affects the heart:
the feeling that one has not been loved,
that one is not precious to anyone.
Many people today are wounded at heart.
Each of us can do something to heal their wounds.
Above all we have hearts that can give life
to people who are inwardly broken.
We can show them that they are important, and so bring life to them.
Today, Good Shepherd Sunday, is also Vocations Sunday.
But all vocations are vocations to love.

There will be NO 10.00am

Mass in the Sacred Heart Church on Monday.

Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes
16th – 21st July 2010
The pilgrimage is anxious to have the assistance of 3 more nurses to help in the provision of care for those registered for medical support. There are also places available for general pilgrims. Please contact the Pilgrimage Office [028] 71260293.

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

SACRED HEART CHURCH:

Collectors:
Saturday 7.00pm:-
Manus McLaughlin, Liam Ward,
Lawrence Doherty and Tony McDaid.
Sunday 11.30am:-
Denis Hegarty

Cleaners: Team F

ST. MARY’S CHURCH, CLOUGHCOR:

Collectors:

Noel McDaid and Brian Farrell.

Altar Society & Cleaners:
Mary Devine, Ita Devine and Alicia Devine.

ST. JOSEPH’S CHURCH, GLENMORNAN

Collectors: –

Altar Society: Nellie Doherty, Margaret Harte and Kathleen Kelly.

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

Cemetery Sunday
The Blessing of the Graves will take place in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Cloughcor on Sunday 16th May at 3.00pm.

Reflection

It can happen that we lose interest in people,
and even become blind to their strengths,
when we discover their limitations.
During his passion Jesus discovered the limitations of Peter.
Yet he didn’t write him off.
He continued to believe in him,
and in time he came good.
Like Peter, we are weak human beings,
who are inconstant in our beliefs.
We need someone who understands our weaknesses,
who realises that it may take time for us to overcome them,
and who doesn’t write us off because
we don’t produce the goods at once.