Second Sunday of Easter

Sunday 19th April 2009

My Lord and my God

Jesus said: “Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.” We are all very familiar today with the idea of peace processes – in Northern Ireland, the Middle East and so on. Jesus needs us to engage in a peace process with one another so that we can be his disciples and true witnesses of his resurrection. We need first of all to put away all weapons of mass destruction like criticism, anger, coldness, selfishness etc. We need to put in place of these the qualities of God’s Spirit, namely love, joy, peace, patience etc. This week we should practice these qualities first of all in our homes as wife and husband, as parents and family. We also need to practice them as we build our parish community to the glory of God.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R.

Sunday, 19th April 2009.

Second Sunday of Easter

First Reading Acts of the Apostles 4: 32-35
The unity and charity of the first Christians.

Second Reading John 5: 1-6
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ has been begotten by God.

Gospel John 20: 19-31
The Risen Christ brings faith, forgiveness and peace to his disciples.

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

‘You believe because you can see,
Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe’

In today’s Gospel, Thomas, known as ‘Doubting Thomas’, believes in the Risen Lord when evidence is placed before him - he is able to see and touch Jesus. Thomas’ struggle and doubts lead us to reflect on the strength of our own faith. We thank God for the gift of faith and pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to guide and strengthen us in our faith journey.

WEEKDAY MASSES

St Francis of Assisi, Drumnabey: Monday 10.00am, Thursday 7.30pm

St Mary’s, Dregish: Wednesday 10.00am, Friday 10.00am

DERRY DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO KNOCK

The Derry Diocesan Pilgrimage to Knock, which takes place every second year, on the first Sunday of June, takes place this year on Sunday 7th June. This year is the 130th anniversary of the apparition at Knock. For the first time, the organising committee, with the help of the Lourdes Hospitalite team, is arranging facilities so that the Sick of the diocese can be part of the pilgrimage in a special way. It is also intended to have choirs from across the diocese leading the singing at the Mass, and the Dregish and Drumnabey choirs will be part of this collective choir. I am hoping that we as a parish will make a big effort to participate in the Knock pilgrimage this year. I intend to run a bus (buses) from the parish, to facilitate travel.

Further details in the coming weeks. See itinerary for the day on poster at the back of the church.

THANK YOU for your generosity in recent collections:
Sunday 5th April: Dregish £455, Drumnabey £370.
Shrines of the Holy Land collection: Dregish £255, Drumnabey £72.

NEW ENVELOPE BOXES are available in the sacristy after Mass for anyone who has not received one yet, or for anyone who wants one for the first time.

TROCAIRE BOXES:

Please return any outstanding Trocaire Boxes to the church next Sunday.

APOSTOLIC WORK Honorary Members 2009: Envelope Collection, Drumnabey, amounted to £194. Easter Draw tickets, Dregish, amounted to £72. Thank you to all who donated. The total raised from the draw was £519.

HOOLEY AND BUFFET DANCE in St Patrick’s Hall, Dromore, on Friday night (24th), commencing at 8.30pm. Music by Silver Fox. Proceeds in aid of Palliative Care Teams and MacMillan Cancer Relief Nurses. All support greatly appreciated. For tickets, contact Jackie on 07793812372.

SPAMOUNT SWIFTS Lotto Numbers last week: 6, 18, 19, 21. Marie Adams won £50. Jackpot £3,500.

DREGISH GFC Lotto: Numbers last week: 4, 5, 1, 3, 6, 2, 7. £50 shared between Breda O’Kane, John Coll and John McGlynn. Jackpot £900.

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.