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

Sunday 28th February 2010

Second Sunday of Lent

Lord in whom we put our faith

Peter said to Jesus: “Master, it is wonderful for us to be here”. As we gather for Mass this Sunday, how many of us can say those words of Peter from our hearts? And yet we have a right to be able to say them. Unfortunately for so many Catholics, Mass has become a burden rather than a joy and a source of enthusiasm and energy. We need to help each other to gain that grace. And as we return home from Mass this Sunday, how many of us can say those words of Peter in relation to our family life? At best, so many can only say it is not bad, it is ok. But can we say it is wonderful? And yet we have a right to be able to say that. It takes a lot of working at the relationships in our home, the relationships of marriage, of family, of neighbourliness, to make those words possible and to ring true. But it is in those two places that the practice of faith takes place.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R.

Sunday, 28th February 2010

2nd Sunday of Lent

First Reading : Gensis 15: 5-12.17-18
God makes a covenant with Abraham.

Second Reading: Philippians 3: 17-4:1
Christ will transfigure our bodies into copies of his glorious body.

Gospel: Luke 9: 28-36
The disciples witness the Transfiguration of Christ.

The Transfiguration

At some point as children we learn the basic principle that whatever goes up must come down. True of childish playthings like balls and kites, the principle is equally accurate in the spiritual life. It is a good thing to ‘go up’ to a great experience with God, but we will become greatly disillusioned if we do not remember that eventually we have to ‘come down’ again.

Transfigurations are not all that rare. Some seem to have an aura about them – the warmth of God comes off them. But very soul experiences moments of sheer bliss. Love, friendship, knowing deeply that you are valued as you are, that you have a special place in another’s heart – all these transfigure. Memory of these moments can sustain the soul in the bitter winters of life.

The transfiguration is a reminder of our call to a higher destiny. Like our lives, journeying on through sadness, another hill [Calvary] will have Christ praying as on Tabor, but alone this time, thieves for companions, no dazzling garments or reassuring Father’s voice.

In our differing Calvarys it’s good to remember that Christ, who desired human company on an earthly mountain, won’t do differently in calling us to another height – to glory.

Last Sunday’s collection was £1,645.00. Many Thanks!

Solemn Annual Exposition
Solemn Annual Exposition will begin in St. Joseph’s Church, Glenmornan, today [Sunday] directly after the 10.15am Mass, and will end with a Eucharistic Service at 5.00pm. Solemn Annual Exposition will take place in St. Mary’s Church, Cloughcor next Sunday.

Padre Pio Devotions
Padre Pio devotions will take place in the Immaculate Conception Church, Strabane on Wednesday 3rd March with Stations of the Cross at 6.30pm followed by Mass at 7.00pm.

The next Pioneer Meeting will take place tomorrow [Monday] at 8.00pm, followed directly by a meeting of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Strabane District Policing Partnership
Strabane DPP are hosting a themed meeting on the subject of Domestic Violence on Thursday 4th March at 7.30pm in the Civic Room, Strabane Community Library.

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

SACRED HEART CHURCH:

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

Cleaners: Team D

ST. MARY’S CHURCH, CLOUGHCOR:

Collectors:
Gerard McShane

Altar Society & Cleaners:
Marie Devereux, Mary Gilliland and Louise Gilliland.

ST. JOSEPH’S CHURCH, GLENMORNAN

Collectors:
Jim Conwell and Sean Kelly.

Altar Society:
Ann Kelly, Mary Devine and Marie Devine.

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

Weekly Envelopes

The new weekly envelopes will be distributed within the next month. If you are not already receiving envelopes and would like a box for the coming year, please contact the secretary at the Parish Office [71882274] as soon as possible.

Reflection

An Unquenchable Longing

All of us can experience moments of great joy because in his goodness God allows us to taste on earth the joys of the world to come.

However, moments of joy, no matter how wonderful, will never satisfy the human heart.

What we long for is a permanent state of happiness.
But that is unattainable here.

So what must we do? Like desert travellers, we must go forward from one oasis to another, with the conviction that God has a homeland prepared for us at the end of our journey.

This conviction will make it possible for us to travel onwards with an ache in our heart and an unquenchable longing in our soul.

To Parents of a New Born Child

• Baptisms are normally celebrated in Leckpatrick on Saturday at 7.45pm or on Sunday at 12.15pm.

• Each sponsor must not be less than sixteen years of age and must be a practising Catholic.

• Please bring a baptismal garment to the ceremony. The infant should not be wearing it coming to the church, but will be clothed in it by the priest at the appropriate point in the ceremony.

• Please bring a reasonably substantial candle to the ceremony. It is preferable that each child in the family should have his or her own baptismal candle.

• Note that Canon Law states that ‘parents, sponsors and parish priests are to take care that a name is not given which is foreign to Christian sentiment.’

• Please make arrangements with the priest in good time, and see that the baptismal card is completed three or four days before the ceremony at the latest.

• Kindly remember that the church is a sacred space, and is worthy of reverence and respect at all times, including the period when photographs are being taken after the ceremony.

• Finally, congratulations on the birth of your child! Your child’s baptism will be a special occasion for you and your family. It will also be a special occasion for our parish as we welcome your new born baby into the Christian community.