Sunday 7th March 2010

Third Sunday of Lent

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.

REV BRIAN DONNELLY PP
Tel 028 816 71393
patrick.doherty@derrydiocese.org

REV COLM O’DOHERTY CC
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

Third Sunday of Lent

One of the recurring themes throughout the Lenten season, in the Scriptures, is the compassion and mercy of God. Through the parable of the tree that was bearing no fruit, we are reminded today of our failures to live up to the Gospel values. We are sometimes like the tree that was bearing no fruit, but the season of Lent gives us an opportunity to become closer to God, to reflect on our lives and seek ways of being more fruitful.

MASS SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK

DRUMNABEY: Monday 10.00am, Thursday 7.30pm

DREGISH: Wednesday 10.00am, Friday 7.30pm

CONFESSIONS

Drumnabey: Thursday 6.30pm – 7.20pm
Dregish: Friday 7.00pm – 7.20pm

EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT in St Francis of Assisi, every Thursday evening during Lent, from 6.30 – 7.20pm. I invite as many people as possible to take up this opportunity of spending some time of prayer and reflection in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.

THANK YOU for your generosity in last Sunday’s collection:
Dregish £291 Drumnabey £300.

CONGRATULATIONS to the girls and boys from our schools who are making the Sacrament of Confirmation today, in St Patrick’s, Castlederg. We pray for them, that their lives will be directed and guided by the Holy Spirit always.

CHANGE TO SUNDAY MASS SCHEDULE

The Sunday Mass schedule for our parish is being altered. As mentioned a couple of Sundays ago, the reason for the re-scheduling is to enable one priest from our parish to celebrate the scheduled Masses in all three churches. The current schedule does not allow for this. The new Mass times, which will take effect from the weekend of 20 / 21 March, will be as follows:

Dregish: Sunday, 9.30 am

Drumnabey: Sunday, 12.00 noon

Castlederg: Vigil Mass, Saturday, 7.00 pm
Sunday, 10.45 am

Sincere thanks to the members of the Parish Council for their input and efforts, and to all who made suggestions or contributed in any way. Your interest and help is much appreciated. Fr Colm O’Doherty & Fr Brian Donnelly

FUNDRAISING STEW NIGHT AND DANCE will be held in Spamount Cross Community Hall, on Wednesday 17th March, St Patrick’s Night, commencing at 8.00pm. Music by: Crystals. Tickets £6. All proceeds will go to Parish Funds. Tickets will be sold throughout the parish and it is hoped that every family will take at least one ticket. There will be a draw on the night for a cash prize, for unused tickets.

PAULA’S FRIENDSHIP RUN AND WALK 2010, next Sunday, 14 March, starting at 1pm, from Derg Valley Leisure Centre. Registration Forms available in local shops or online at www.paulasrun.com. Entry fee £5 / €5. All funds raised go to Castlederg Palliative and Terminal Care Fund and the Paula Gallen Pink Ribbon Tribute Fund at Breast Cancer Campaign.

CHARITY DANCE in aid of Castlederg Care Centre, will be held in the Spamount Community Centre, this Friday night, 12 March, 9.30pm to Midnight. Music by Country Sensations. Adm £5, including refreshments.

ENGAGED ENCOUNTER, designed for couples preparing for marriage and seeking to enrich communication in all aspects of their relationship. The next Weekend will take place in the Dromantine Conference Centre, Newry, on 20 / 21 March. Tel 7930 0340 or visit www.marriageencounter.ie

DREGISH GFC: 25 Card Play in the clubrooms every Monday night, 8.30pm.

SPAMOUNT SWIFTS Lotto Numbers for last week: 16, 17, 18, 23. No winners. Jackpot £1,480.

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.