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

Sunday 7th March 2010

Third Sunday of Lent

Lord in whom we put our faith

God said to Moses: “Take off your shoes, for the place on which you stand is holy ground”. All religions designate certain places as holy places and rightly demand a certain level of reverence and respect. For ourselves as Catholics our sacred place is the church where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved. But the revelation of Christ is that the most sacred place of all is the company of another human being. He said that what we do to even the least person we do to him. Because of Christ, we are always standing on holy ground and our response always has to be one of reverence and respect. This has very far-reaching implications for us in the practice of our faith. The intimate relationship of husband and wife is a sacred place and calls for great reverence from all of us. And equally our homes and families and our faith community are places where we very often need a change of heart.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R.

Sunday, 7th March 2010

3rd Sunday of Lent

First Reading : Exodus 3: 1-8.13-15
We are shown God’s concern for his oppressed people.

Second Reading: Corinthians 10: 1-6.10-12
What happened to the Israelites in the desert is a warning for Christians.

Gospel: Luke 13: 1-9
Jesus stresses the necessity of repentance and tells the people that time is running out.

The Second Chance

They talk of global warming, but even in March as spring reaches its’ mid-point, the chill grip of winter can linger. Despite this, Spring is a time of new beginnings, colours peeping out, blossoms budding. Everything indicates new life. Hope is in the air. But anyone involved with the land knows that there is many a slip between sowing time and harvest-time. A late frost can arrest growth, summer storms can destroy completely. Still, there is hope and expectation, without which nothing worthwhile is achieved. There are seasons in the human heart also. Even the most recently born child is losing precious time. As years accumulate and physique weakens, our souls grow infinitely richer in wisdom and experience. We begin by wanting to change the world, and end up content if God gives us the grace to change ourselves. There are moments which cause us to stop and take stock of our lives, certain birthdays, an ill-health, redundancy, separation or desertion.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus uses two ‘new items’ to make several points; the brutal slaying of Galilean protestors at the temple by the Romans, and the death of 18 people trapped in the collapse of a tower in Siloam. We can not know in this life the ‘why’ for random disasters and personal misfortunes. Such events should not lead us to fixing blame, but rather to examining the health of our own souls. Life is fragile, Jesus says, take nothing or no one for granted. Lent is a time to make us to stop and think, to take heed of the wanting and encouragement God gives.

Last Sunday’s collection was £1,580.00. Many Thanks!

Solemn Annual Exposition
Solemn Annual Exposition will begin in St. Mary’s Church, Cloughcor, today [Sunday] directly after the 9.15am Mass, and will end with a Eucharistic Service at 5.00pm.

First Confessions
First Confessions will take place in St. Joseph’s Church, Glenmornan on Monday 15th March at 6.45pm, and in the Sacred Heart Church at 7.30pm.

Foyle Hospice
Foyle Hospice presents Borderland Reunion Night with music by Midnight Showband on Saturday 27th March at the City Hotel, Derry. Tickets £8 available from Foyle Hospice Fundraising Centre on [028] 71359888.

Foyle Hospice Carers Group
“Take Timeout” meeting Tuesday
9th March at 7:30pm in Day Therapy Unit. Physiotherapist speaking on ‘Moving and Handling at Home’. For further details contact Julia or Donna, Tuesday – Thursday, on (028) 71359888.

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.

Gift Aid Scheme
Those who are paying tax may wish to join our Gift Aid Scheme – at no extra cost to you. The Parish Gift Aid Scheme means that if you pay through the envelope system in your parish, the Church can recoup 25 pence in every £1 that you contribute. This is a very simple way of gathering extra funds. Again, if you wish to join please contact the Parish Office [71882274].

Italian Pilgrimages

San Giovanni, Rotonda and Sorrentto – departing 19th May 2010 for 7 nights. Cost is €999.

Fatima and Lisbon Coast – from 8th until 15th July 2010 for 7 nights. Cost is €749.

For further details and to book please contact Sean Mulrine, Derry [028] 71265926.

Engaged Encounter
Engaged Encounter is designed for couples preparing for marriage and seeking to enrich communication in all aspects of their relationship. If fulfils diocesan requirements for marriage preparation. The next weekend will take place on 20th – 21st March 2010 in Dromantine Conference Centre, Newry. Booking is essential by tomorrow 8th March. Telephone 048 9730 0340.

NI Blood Transfusion Service
A team will be in St. Patrick’s Hall, Strabane on Wednesday 24th March from 1.30pm until 4.00pm and again from 5.15pm until 8.00pm. Both existing and new donors are welcome to come along – you could save a life!

What I fail to do
It isn’t the tings you do,
it’s the things you leave undone,
which give you a little heartache
at the setting of the sun.
The gentle word forgotten,
the letter you didn’t write;
the flowers you might have sent,
are your haunting ghosts tonight.
The tender touch of the hand,
the gentle and kindly tone;
which we have no time or thought for,
with troubles enough of our own.

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.