Sunday 24th May 2009

The Ascension of Christ into Heaven

Jesus said to his disciples: "Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation". Because of all that has been happening in the Church in recent years we can feel despondent about the future. Today's feast of joy and gladness is a call to us to look up with confidence and know the power of Christ for the world in which we live. In spite of the sinfulness of his people, Christ is at work and can overcome. Our task is to let the world know his love and his salvation, not just by word but especially by the way we live with joy and hope and love. Although these qualities are best developed in our homes and families, they need to be seen and experienced in our parish community. This can only happen when we are all taking our responsibility for the health and well-being of our parish and its future.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R

Sunday 24th May 2009

Ascension of the Lord

World Communications Day

First Reading Acts 1: 1-11
John baptised with water but you, not many days from now, will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.

Second Reading Ephesians 4: 1-13
There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God who is Father of all, over all, through all and within all.

Gospel Mark 16: 15-20
Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation.

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

Ascension Sunday

In today’s Gospel we hear Jesus commission his disciples to proclaim the Good News to all creation. Filled with the Holy Spirit, they carry out his instructions.
The important message for us today is that Jesus’ command wasn’t just intended for those disciples gathered around Him that day. It was intended for every follower of Christ, through every generation, from that day on. That means that each one of us has been given the responsibility to preach the Good News, to bring Jesus’ message to the world. We do so, not so much by our words but, rather, by our actions – by living our lives, to the best of our ability, according to Gospel values. We should not underestimate the responsibility, and the honour, that we, as disciples of Christ, have in living out and passing on His Good News.

‘Go make disciples of all the nations;
I am with you always; yes, to the end of time’

WEEKDAY MASSES

Drumnabey: Monday 10.00am, Thursday 7.30pm

Dregish: Wednesday 10.00am, Friday 10.00am

THANK YOU for your generosity in last week’s collection:
Dregish £350, Drumnabey £405.

MAY ALTARS, ST MARY’S, DREGISH AND ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI

I invite you to continue to place your prayer intentions during the month of May in the Prayer Intention Boxes at the May Altars. As you pray at the Altars during the month of May, I ask you to remember all the prayer intentions that are placed there.

PARISH FINANCE COUNCIL

A Parish Finance Council has recently been formed in our parish. The members of the Council are:

Jo Sweeney (Dregish), Catherine Lennon and Tracey Cassidy (Drumnabey), Sean McCarron and Sean McLaughlin (Castlederg), Fr Doherty PP and
Fr O’Doherty CC.

The role of the Parish Finance Council is to assist the priests of the parish in ensuring that effective administrative and financial controls and systems are in place in the management of income and expenditure. The Council is of a consultative and advisory nature. It will meet a minimum of three times each year and the first meeting, an introductory meeting, was held in Castlederg on the evening of Thursday 7th May. We are grateful to the members for giving of their time and expertise to the Parish Finance Council.

A STATEMENT OF INCOME AND EXPENDITURE for the year 2008, for Dregish and Drumnabey, has been placed on the Notice Boards in our churches. Please take time to read it, at your convenience.

USED STAMPS St Patrick’s Missionary Society, Kiltegan, have written to thank the people of Dregish and Drumnabey for faithfully supplying used stamps, the sale of which continues to provide support to Mission Parishes for small projects. Fr Seamus Reihill and his team of retired priests can make up to €30,000 per year on the stamps they receive. Thank you to all who contribute. Sincere thanks also to the people from our parish who co-ordinate the collection and onward transmission of the used stamps to St Patrick’s.

PARISH MISSION, hosted by St Patrick’s, Castlederg, from Sat 6th June to Sun 14th June. The Mission is being preached by the Ceili Community, Kilbeggan, Co Westmeath. Evening Devotions will be in Castlederg, at 7.30pm.
A 6.30am Mission Mass will be held in Dregish from Monday to Friday and a 12.30pm Mission Mass will be held in Drumnabey, Monday to Friday.

A full schedule of the Mission will be available for everybody next Sunday.

DERRY DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO KNOCK, SUNDAY 7th JUNE

For assistance on the day, contact the Pilgrimage Office on 7126 0293.
Pick-up points for the bus are Drumnabey PS, 8.00am, and McGuires, Envagh, 8.20am. To book, please put your name on the sheet at the back of the church or phone Brian Devenney on 816 79806.

CHARITY SHOWCASE FASION EVENT in aid of Cystic Fibrosis Trust, on Thursday 4th June, in the Everglades Hotel, Derry, from 7pm – 10pm. Tickets £5.00 or pay at door. Contact Eleanor on 816 70406.

SPAMOUNT SWIFTS Lotto Numbers last week: 2, 3, 18, 23. No winners. Jackpot £3,500. AGM on Wednesday 3rd June at 7.30pm.

DREGISH GFC Lotto: Numbers last week: 2, 7, 6, 3, 5, 1, 4. £50 shared between seven. Jackpot £1,050.

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.