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

Sunday, 27th September 2009

26th Sunday of the Year

Reflection

My sins, Lord, are dulling my conscience.
I get used to evil very quickly:
A little self-indulgence here,
A small unfaithfulness there,
An unwise action farther on,
And my vision becomes obscured;
I no longer see stumbling-blocks,
I no longer see other people on my road.
Lord, I beseech you, keep me young in my efforts,
Spare the bondage of habit, which lulls to sleep and kills.

(Michael Quoist)

Sunday 27th September 2009

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading Numbers 11: 25-29
Are you jealous on my account? If only the whole people of the Lord were prophets!

Second Reading James 5: 1-6
Your wealth is all rotten.

Gospel Mark 9: 38-43.47-48
Anyone who is not against us is for us.
If your hand should cause you to sin, cut it off.

A Stumbling Block or a Stepping-Stone?

Today people live closer to one another than ever before. Therefore the influence they have on each other is greater. Whether we are aware of it or not, we are stumbling blocks in the path of others, or stepping-stones for them on the road to salvation. Here are some examples.

You are a stumbling block to me when you fail to understand my weakness, my mistakes, and write me off as a result of them.

You are a stumbling block to me when you humiliate me because I do not live up to your expectations.

You are a stumbling block to me when you exclude me or ignore me. You make me feel a stranger and an outsider.

If you do any of these things for me, you are darkness to me. You are an obstacle in my path, and you make it difficult for me to enter the kingdom of heaven.

But you are a stepping-stone to me when you support me in moments of weakness and doubt.

You are a stepping-stone to me when I’m feeling inadequate and you help me to discover the special talents that God has given me.

You are a stepping-stone to me when you accept me while others reject me.
You are a stepping-stone to me when you forgive me. You liberate me from my past, and allow me to move forward again.

If you have done any of these things for me, you are a light to me in my darkness. You are a bridge over troubled waters. You make it easier for me to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Collection
Last week’s collection amounted to £1,490.00. Many thanks.

A Note from the Nazareth Sisters
Thank you very much for your most generous church collection of £1,125.00. The Sisters are most grateful. May God bless and reward each one of you for your great generosity. Our project this year is to replace one of the boilers – thanks to your generous support this is now possible.

A Note from Trócaire

On behalf of the thousands of communities all over the world, which benefit from your generosity, I would like to thank you for your valuable contribution of £500.00 to Trócaire. This donation will have a real and lasting effect on the lives of poor communities throughout the developing world.

Anniversary Mass

The 7.00pm Vigil Mass on Saturday 3rd October will be said for the late
Seamus O’Neill, Artigarvan, on the occasion of the first anniversary of his death.

Derry Diocesan Society Mass

A Mass for the Living Members of the
Derry Diocesan Society will take place in
St. Joseph’s Church, Glenmornan on Friday 2nd October at 7.30pm.
New names for the Derry Diocesan Society should be handed in by Monday [tomorrow] at the latest.

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

SACRED HEART CHURCH:

Collectors:
Saturday 7.00pm:-
Brian Edwards and Declan Carlin.

Sunday 11.30am:-
Stephen Barrett, Noel Carlin and
Terry McCallion.

Cleaners: Team E

ST. MARY’S CHURCH, CLOUGHCOR:
Collectors:
Phonsie Monteith and Aiden McGonagle
Altar Society & Cleaners:
Pauline Monteith and Gabrielle Dooher.

ST. JOSEPH’S CHURCH, GLENMORNAN

Collectors:
Hugh Devine.

Altar Society:
Patricia Houston and Anne Marie Kelly.

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

Leading Children Astray

Jesus warned those who would lead the little ones astray,
but he blessed those who care for them.
One of the most touching things about children is their openness.
But this same openness leaves them extremely vulnerable.
They may not say much but they feel everything.
They are like crocuses which appear in the open in February –
frail, delicate, beautiful creatures –
innocents abroad in an unpredictable climate.
If they are embraced by the sun, they will bloom to their full potential.
But if they are assailed by hail, they will die a premature death.
Love is to a child what sunshine is to a flower.