Sunday 1st February 2009

4th Sunday of the Year

The Lord, our Teacher

"His teaching made a deep impression on them because, unlike the scribes, he taught them with authority." As Christians we believe that Jesus is the one above all others who can teach us about God. And the God that he reveals to us is a God of infinite love and compassion. At times we, as the Church, move away from this God and create a God of fear and judgement. Our responsibility is to move back very firmly to the God of Jesus. We also believe that Jesus is the one above all others who can teach us about the meaning of human life. He teaches us very clearly that human life is about love. We make it about wealth, or importance, or pleasure and we have to constantly move back to pinning our hopes on love: in marriage; in family life; in our life with one another in the parish community.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R.

REV PATRICK DOHERTY
Tel 028 816 71393
patrick.doherty@derrydiocese.org

REV COLM O’DOHERTY
Tel 028 816 61475
07786115471 (emergencies only)
c.odoherty@btinternet.com

NEIGHBOURING PRIESTS:
Fr K Mullan 82 831225 Fr J Gilmore 816 70728 Fr E Graham 816 61445

Parish website: www.castledergparish.com
Derry Diocesan website: www.derrydiocese.org
Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre: www.catecheticalcentre.org
Irish Bishops’ Conference: www.catholicbishops.ie

‘He taught them with authority’

• Today is the Feast of St Brigid, Patroness of Ireland. The Feast Day is not celebrated in our liturgy this year, as it falls on a Sunday.

• Tomorrow, 2nd February, is the Presentation of the Lord. The Feast is a combined remembrance of Son and Mother - the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple and the Purification of the Virgin Mary. Tomorrow is also Candlemas Day, when we celebrate Christ our Light, who revealed God to the nations. Candles will be blessed at our Mass in Dregish this morning and also at 10.00am Mass in Drumnabey tomorrow morning. Candles will be available for sale.

• Tuesday of this week, 3rd February, is the Memorial of St Blaise . Since the 8th century, St Blaise has been venerated as patron of those who suffer from ailments of the throat. Throats will be blessed at Mass in St Patrick’s Church, Castlederg at 10.00am Mass on Tuesday morning.

CHURCH DUTIES ROTA – Readings, Offertory Gifts, Cleaning & Flowers:
Thank you to the Erganagh / Listymore / Oakland area for last month’s duties in Drumnabey and the Envagh/Leglands area for last month’s duties in Dregish. This month, the Crew area is on duty in Drumnabey, and the Tullymuck area in Dregish.

VISITATION OF THE SICK AND HOUSEBOUND Fr O’Doherty will visit the sick and housebound this week: in the Drumnabey area on Thursday and in Dregish on Friday.

THANK YOU for your last week’s collection: Dregish £260, Drumnabey £350.

Sincere thanks to the donor of £40 this week towards the cost of the new window in St Francis of Assisi.

Today marks the end of Catholic Schools Week. We give thanks for the gift of Catholic Education and for generations of teachers in our schools who have promoted the Catholic ethos and assisted our young people in growing in faith and love. We pray that the example given in our schools, homes and parish may always reflect the teachings of Jesus through the Gospels.

We remember in our prayers the children in our parish who are making the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Eucharist and Confirmation in the coming weeks. We pray also for their parents, teachers and all who guide and influence them as they prepare for these Sacraments.

SERVICE OF LIGHT for Confirmation children and their parents / sponsors will be held in St Patrick’s Church, Castlederg, on Tuesday evening (3rd Feb), at 7.30pm. It is important that everyone attends. Confirmation takes place on Sunday 22 February.

VOCATIONS INFORMATION DAY in relation to vocations for diocesan priesthood will take place on Saturday 14th February, in the Thornhill Centre, Culmore Road, Derry, from 11.00am – 4.00pm. For further information about the event, please contact Fr O’Doherty.

DREGISH GFC Lotto: Numbers last week: 2, 5, 7, 4, 1, 3, 6. £50 shared between K Rodgers, M Taggart, S Taggart and A O’Kane. Jackpot £650.
25 CARD PLAY tomorrow night at 8.30pm.

SPAMOUNT SWIFTS LOTTO Numbers last week: 1, 7, 14, 25. £50 shared between Mary Devenney and Steven Gamble. No winners. Jackpot £3,500.

PLEASE NOTE: Notices for the parish bulletin are welcome; however, they need to be with Fr O’Doherty by Thursday afternoon at the latest, for inclusion.