Sunday 2nd March 2008

 

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Reflection

In the Gospel story today Jesus gives the gift of sight to a blind man. But since we are not blind, we might think that the Gospel story has no relevance for us. It is precisely because we can see that it has relevance for us. The question is: how well do we see? There are many forms of blindness besides physical blindness. In some way these are just as crippling. Some examples: Selfishness blinds us to the needs of others. Insensitivity blinds us to the hurt we’re causing to others. Snobbery blinds us to the equal dignity of others

THE POPE'S INTENTIONS FOR MARCH 2008
General: That the importance of forgiveness and reconciliation between individuals and
peoples may be understood and that through her testimony the Church may spread
Christ's love, the source of new humanity.
Mission: That Christians persecuted because of the Gospel in various parts of the world
and in various manners may be sustained by the strength of the Holy Spirit and continue
to bear witness courageously and openly to the Word of God.

 

 

STATIONS OF THE CROSS

ST PETER & ST PAUL’S - 6.00pm every Sunday evening during lent. Please note the change of time.

ST JOSEPH’S - every Wednesday and Friday after evening Masses in St Joseph’s.

ST MARY’S – every Sunday at 6.00pm and Wednesdays at 7.30pm during Lent.

 

ST PETER & ST PAUL’S - Please lift a Trocaire Box for each household from the Church Porch.

 

LAST WEEKS COLLECTIONS – thank you for your generosity
St Joseph’s £850 & £356

St Mary’s £801 & £280
St Peter & St Pauls £472 & £160

 

READERS FOR ST. JOSEPH’S
Sat 8th March Rachel Farren Rachel Farren
Sun 9th March Natash Lockhart Sorcha O’Hara
(5th Sunday of Lent pages 89, 90 & 91Year A Part 1 orange book)

 

READERS FOR ST PETER & ST PAUL’S
Sat 8th March Carmel McElhinney Sun 9th March Julie McLaughlin

 

ALTAR SERVERS FOR ST. PETER & ST PAUL’S
Sat 8th March – team 3 – Siobhan Duffy, Shane Farrell, Ryan Downey
Sun 9th March (weekdays)– Team 4 – Padraic Morahan, Caolan O’Hara, Cliona Donaghy, Olivia Donaghy

 

ALTAR SERVERS FOR ST JOSEPH’S
Sat 8th March – Team 3 (weekdays) – Nicole Farren, Trudy Farren
Sun 9th March – Team 4 – Luanne McGrellis, Aedan McGrellis

Priests to be Prayed for this week
Sun Fr Charles Keaney
Mon Fr Stephen Kearney
Tues Michael Keaveny

Wed Fr Seamus Kelly
Thurs Fr Edward Kilpatrick

Fri Bishop Francis Lagan
Sat Fr Charles Logue

CONFIRMATION – Thanks to Bishop Lagan who came this weekend to Confirm the children of P7. Congratulations to all the children, their parents and sponsors. May the Holy Spirit, given you as a gift, be part of your life today and always.

MONTHS MIND MASS for Mary and Larry McCloskey on Friday 7th March at 8.00pm in St Joseph’s, Fincairn

 

PARISH PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES - 3rd July 2008 – because of cancellations we have 6 places available for our Pilgrimage to Lourdes for 7 nights beginning 3rd July 2008. Total cost is £550 per person sharing. We are staying the Saint Savour, which is a lovely hotel very close to the Grotto. If you are interested please contact Fr John or Kathleen on 77781223.

CHILD PROTECTION FOR THE PARISH – There will be a Meeting in Altinure Hall on Monday 3rd March at 7.30pm for everyone who works for the parish. This is a very important meeting because we are obliged to put in place a Child Protection Policy for our parish and this is part of that procedure. Who should be there? If you are involved for parish at all from being Sacristan to collecting savings round the doors, to yourth club or Bowling Club using parish property, to collectors in Church or Readers or whatever you might do… Please, please attend on Monday night at 7.30pm. Thank you

PARISH GROUP – Thank you for your cooperation last weekend in nominating names for the Parish Group. There may have been some confusion about this, so we are leaving the Boxes available this weekend also. We are looking for people who will help bring the parish forward in thinking and in fact. Fresh ideas, involving all of us, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, can mean so much. Thank you for your time and your thought.

 

FOREGLEN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION – please note we now have a clothing bank at the Foreglen Community Centre which helps with out funding and we would appreciate your support if you could put any clothes into bin liner bags. You can put in towels, sheets, blankets, shoes, curtains and clothes. We also have a bottle bank at the Centre for the Community.

LEARMOUNT DEVELOPMENT GROUP – DAWN CHORUS – come along to Learmount Forest on 8th March 2008 and hear the songs of the most common birds of the forest. Children are welcome to attend but must be accompanied by an adult. Everyone is asked to gather at Learmount Community Centre at 7.00pm. Afterwards breakfast will be available at the Community Centre. Cost £1.

FEENY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION – Courses such as an Introduction to IT and making the most of your digital camera are being offered at the Community Centre. Anyone interested in these courses or have any ideas on possible course, please contact the office on 028777 81876 for more information

 

HELP WITH FAMILY TREE ORIGINS SOUGHT – Our Banagher parish website is obviously being viewed now worldwide !!! We have been contacted by a Brian Carlin from San Diego, California, USA who was originally from St Malachy’s Parish in Coleraine. Brian is trying to trace his family tree and in the process of research on the internet he was very impressed with our website – Brian’s family have been in the Coleraine area for 5 generations, but prior to that he has information that some ancestors hailed from the Foreglen area. He writes that the family name has undergone a number of spelling changes through the generations . Currently he is trying to discover the origins of his great-great grandfather, Bernard Carlin, who was born around 1800. Can anyone help at all – there are variations such as Carland on some documents but he is aware that Kerlin may also be some form of variation - If you think you can help in any way, however small, Brian can be contacted by email on BCARLIN@san.rr.com

Alternatively, if you leave your contact details with Josephine Hassan she will pass these on to Brian who will be only too delighted to get in touch with you.