Sunday 22nd March 2009

4th Sunday of Lent

Christ, the Redeemer

"God sent his Son so that through him the world might be saved." We can become so familiar with a sentence like this that we miss the profound truth in it of how much God loves us and longs for us. We think of faith as meaning our belief in God. It is much more about God's intense belief in us and in our goodness and beauty and he wants us to come to a knowledge of that too. We have a serious responsibility to one another of constantly bringing that knowledge to one another in every way we can. One of the major tasks for every married couple is to help each other to know how much they are loved and treasured. This is done through affirmation and affection. Parents have this same responsibility towards their children. They can help each one be a truly successful human being by building up their goodness. And in the parish community we help one another by looking out for each other.

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

Sunday 22nd March 2009

Fourth Sunday of Lent

God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son;
everyone who believes in Him has eternal life

God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn us, but to save us. He is the light that darkness cannot overpower. We sometimes choose to remain in the darkness and reject the light of God’s love and mercy, but God loves us despite our rejection of Him at times. We may be unfaithful, but God is always faithful. Those who believe in Him and endeavour to live life faithful to the Gospel will have eternal life and those who refuse to believe or live by the message of the Gospel seal their own fate. Judgement is not passed by God; people judge themselves by their response to the light. Light stands for truth and goodness.

WEEKDAY MASSES

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

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

HEALING SERVICE in St Patrick’s Church, Castlederg, this evening at 6.00pm and every Sunday evening during Lent.

THANK YOU for your generosity in last week’s collection:
Dregish £303 Drumnabey £360.

WE WELCOME Fr Joe McMenamin of the Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers) to our parish today, to do a mission appeal and talk about the work of the Order. He will speak at our Masses in Drumnabey and Dregish. There is a second collection at these Masses to assist the Order in their missionary work. Your generosity will be appreciated.

EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT every Thursday evening in St Francis of Assisi, from 6.30pm to 7.20pm. I encourage as many as possible to come along to spend some time of prayer and reflection in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.

STATION MASS: There will be a Station Mass in the home of Brian Devenney, for the Ergenagh area, on Tuesday 7th April. Full details next week.

ST PATRICK’S NIGHT FUNDRAISING DANCE Sincere thanks to everyone who assisted in any way in making the Fundraising Dance the great social and financial success that it was. Thank you to all who sold tickets, to those who donated prizes for the draw, to those who organised the hall on the night, to those who brought food and those who helped with the tea on the night. Thank you also to all who came along to the dance and to those who bought tickets for the draw. The proceeds from the night amounted to over £1,300. This was a fantastic effort – congratulations to one and all! All proceeds are going to Parish Funds – to help meet the cost of the new window and the inside toilet in St Francis of Assisi and the handrail which will be erected at the pathway to the carpark and graveyard at St Mary’s, Dregish.

WORKSHOP FOR CHOIRS

Thank you to everyone from our parish who attended the Choir Workshop yesterday afternoon. Your participation was greatly appreciated and it was a most successful day for our parish and our deanery. Sincere thanks to Sr Perpetua for facilitating the workshop and, also, to Vera Leonard for her work and kind hospitality to our guests at the hall.

SPAMOUNT SWIFTS

Lotto Numbers last week: 1, 5, 17, 21. No winners. Jackpot £3,500.

DREGISH GFC

Lotto: Numbers last week: 7, 1, 5, 3, 2 6, 4. £50 went to Therese McCrossan. Jackpot £800.

25 CARD PLAY tomorrow night at 8.30pm.

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.