Sunday 14th March 2010

Fourth Sunday of Lent

The Lord who welcomes sinners

“This man”, they said, “welcomes sinners and eats with them.” One of the dangers with religion is that it can be thought of as for good, holy people. And one of the lovely aspects of Christianity, especially as experienced within our Catholic tradition, is that it is for sinners. Holiness is our call, sinner is our condition, and there is no need to worry or be fearful. It can be difficult for us to accept this for ourselves and also for other people around us and so we find ourselves standing in judgement on one another and at times condemning one another. If we want to find Christ, though, we have to learn to reverence the poor, the weak, the sinful, and the faults and failings of others and ourselves. This is why criticism of one another has no part in our following of Christ, whether in our homes, in our close relationships or in our faith community.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R.

Sunday, 14th March 2010

Fourth Sunday of Lent

First Reading : Joshua 5: 9-12
The People of God keep the Passover on their entry into the promised land.

Second Reading: Corinthians 5: 17-21
God reconciled us to himself through Christ.

Gospel: Luke 15: 1-3.11-32
The father said, “My son, you are with me always and all I have is yours. But it is only right we should celebrate and rejoice, because your brother here was dead and has come to life; he was lost and is found”.

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

Sunday 14th March 2010

Fourth Sunday of Lent

In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, St Luke invites us to see the unending mercy and forgiveness of God the Father.

St Patrick – Patron Saint of Ireland

Wednesday of this week, 17th March, is St Patrick’s Day. It is a Holy Day of Obligation. Mass in Dregish at 10.00am and in Drumnabey at 11.30am. The collection taken up at Masses on St Patrick’s Day is for Education of Clerical Students and Ongoing Formation of Clergy. There is an envelope in your boxes.

MASS SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK

DRUMNABEY: Monday10.00am, Wednesday 11.30am, 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 £405 Drumnabey £291.

CONGRATULATIONS AND WELL DONE TO CHLOE COYLE ON HER SUCCESS LAST WEEK! VOTE FOR CHLOE TONIGHT AGAIN IN THE FINAL OF THE ALL IRELAND TALENT SHOW.

CHANGE TO SUNDAY MASS SCHEDULE

The new Sunday Mass schedule in our parish commences next weekend,
20 / 21 March:

Dregish: Sunday, 9.30 am

Drumnabey: Sunday, 12.00 noon

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

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.

‘TAIZE PRAYER ROUND THE CROSS’: As part of our parish preparation for Holy Week and Easter, we will have two nights of reflective prayer and song, in St Mary’s, Dregish, on Tuesday 23 March, and in St Francis of Assisi, Drumnabey, on Wednesday 24 March, from 8.15 – 9.00pm.

IOSAS Centre & Celtic Prayer Garden, Muff, Co Donegal, is open on St Patrick’s Day, 2pm – 5pm, with music, dancing, hot food, children’s crafts, prayer garden. Everyone welcome.

ENGAGED ENCOUNTER is 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: Numbers 28 Feb: 6, 1, 2, 5, 4, 3, 7. Eight winners.
Numbers 7 March: 2, 1, 4, 7, 6, 5, 3. £50 shared between Catherine O’Kane, Seamus Nugent, A McGuire, Nicola McCrossan. Jackpot £2,000.
25 Card Play in the clubrooms every Monday night, 8.30pm.

SPAMOUNT SWIFTS Lotto Numbers for last week: 4, 6, 9, 22. Lisa McDevitt won £50. Jackpot £1,520.

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.