Sunday 5th April 2009

Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

My God, why have you forsaken me?

Jesus said: "I am the resurrection and the life. Do you believe this?" The central reality of our faith as Christians is that Christ has risen from the dead and that he lives among us. Holy Week is the celebration of Christ's journey into this new life; a journey that we are also invited to travel, knowing that he has gone before us, and that he travels with us. It is important to make this week a special time of prayer and reflection. This is done in the frequent gatherings in Church. But we need to take time at a family level and also at a personal level to get in touch with the most inspiring and life-giving love story ever told. Talk to each other this week about all the good things the Lord has done for you. If you are a parent, let each of your family know what she/he means to you. And take a full part in the parish Liturgy.

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

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

WEEKDAY MASSES

St Francis of Assisi, Drumnabey: Monday 10.00am
St Mary’s, Dregish: Wednesday 10.00am

SEE HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE OF SERVICES AND CONFESSION TIMES ON NOTICES AT BACK OF THE CHURCHES.

HEALING SERVICE

in St Patrick’s Church, Castlederg, this evening at 6.00pm.

HOLY LAND COLLECTION

There will be a collection at the Good Friday services in aid of the Shrines of the Holy Land. There is no envelope in your boxes for this collection.

THANK YOU for last week’s collection: Dregish £270, Drumnabey £355.
Clerical Education collection, 17th March: Dregish £362, Drumnabey £308.

MISSIONARIES OF AFRICA

Fr Joe McMenamin, who visited our parish on Sunday 22 March, has asked me to pass on his deepest appreciation and sincere thanks for the lovely welcome he received on his visit, and for your very generous response to his mission appeal. The collections taken up for the Missionaries of Africa amounted to: Dregish £444 and €20, Drumnabey £275 and €100.

NEW ENVELOPE BOXES are available at the back of the churches, for next Sunday. Any boxes not collected will be delivered this week.

TROCAIRE BOXES; Please return Trocaire Boxes to the church during this week. It would be appreciated if , in so far as possible, you would change coin to notes, for ease of counting. Thank you.

STATION MASS: There will be a Station Mass in the home of Brian Devenney, for the Ergenagh area, this Tuesday, 7th April. Mass will commence at 7.30pm, with Confessions from 7.00pm.

MASS OF CHRISM

Bishop Hegarty will celebrate the Mass of Chrism with the priests of the diocese, in St Eugene’s Cathedral, Derry, on Holy Thursday morning at 10.00. During this Mass, the Holy Oils used in Baptism, Confirmation & Ordination and Anointing of the Sick are blessed. At this Mass, the bishops and priests renew their priestly vows to serve Christ and His Church. Everyone from the parish is welcome to attend.

APOSTOLIC WORKERS

Draw Winners: 1st prize, Anna McHugh, Dunteague Rd, 2nd, James McCrea, St Patrick’s PS, 3rd, Hannah McHugh, Lurganbuoy Rd, 4th, Rose McNulty, Castlefin Pk, 5th, Una Lynch, Castlefin Rd, Consolation Prizes: Stephen McBride, Drumquin, F O’Donnell, C/o 93 Dunteague Rd, Frances Treanor, Derg View. The Apostolic Workers wish to pass on their sincere thanks to all who participated. Your generosity is much appreciated.

ST VINCENT DE PAUL have left Clothing Banks at both our churches – at the back of Dregish Hall and in the carpark at Drumnabey. The Clothing Banks will be emptied every week and I ask for your support of this very important project for the St Vincent de Paul. Details of what is acceptable is on the Clothing Banks.

ULSTER PROJECT 2009 Colour Me Beautiful Evening in Derg Valley Care, 33 Main St, Castlederg, on Friday 17th April, at 8.00pm. Host: Shauna Cathcart (Doherty). Adm £3.00. Refreshments served.

SPAMOUNT SWIFTS Lotto Numbers last week: 9, 13, 14, 20. No winners. Jackpot £3,500.

DREGISH GFC Lotto: Numbers last week: 5, 2, 6, 3, 4, 7, 1. £50 shared between S Taggart, B Teague, B O’Kane and P McAleer. Jackpot £850.

ANNUAL 25 CARD DRIVE in aid of parish funds and Dregish GFC, will take place in Dregish Hall tomorrow night, 6th April, at 9.00pm sharp. £500 in prizes! Tea served. There will be a draw for unplayed tickets. Tickets, £10, on sale. All support greatly appreciated.

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.