Sunday, 25th October 2009

30th Sunday of the Year

Jesus asked: 'What do you want me to do for you?' This question, asked in the Gospel of a blind man, is addressed to each one of us by Jesus. The man who was born blind had no hesitation in asking for his sight to be given him. That was the single most important thing for him in his life. We should ask ourselves what our single most important need and desire is for our own lives. In what ways are we blind and need our sight restored? Maybe it is in relation to what our real priorities are. Or maybe it is in our close relationships of marriage and family life where we can easily fail to see the hurt or distress or loneliness of one another. Or we may be blind to our responsibility to care for those around us in our parish or wider community who are in need. This week is a call to look into our hearts and open ourselves up to the power of Christ to heal us and set us free.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R.

Sunday 25th October 2009

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading Jeremiah 31: 7-9
The Lord has saved his people.

Second Reading Hebrews 5: 1-6
Christ is the compassionate high priest, sent to take away our sins.

Gospel Mark 10: 46-52
A blind man is cured and becomes a follower of Jesus.

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

‘Go, your faith has saved you’

FORTY HOURS Adoration in St Mary’s, Dregish today, commencing with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after 10.00am Mass and finishing with a Holy Hour and Benediction from 6.00 – 7.00pm. I encourage as many people as possible to come along to spend some time of prayer and reflection in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. To ensure that the Blessed Sacrament is attended at all times, a sheet has been placed at the back of the church for you to indicate the time you intend to be present.

CHURCH DUTIES ROTA – Readings, Offertory Gifts, Cleaning & Flowers: Thank you to the Drumnabey Road area for this month’s duties in Drumnabey and the Tullymuck area for this month’s duties in Dregish. In November, the Drumnabey Park area is on duty in Drumnabey, and the Dunteague area in Dregish.

W E E K D A Y M A S S E S

Drumnabey Monday 10.00am, Thursday 7.30pm

Dregish: Wednesday 10.00am, Friday 10.00am

Please note, there will be no Mass in Drumnabey on Thursday evening, this week.

THANK YOU for your generosity in recent collections:
Dregish £252, Drumnabey £283.

STATION MASSES will take place this week as follows:
Tullymuck area: Michael & Gertie McGuire, this Wednesday, 28th October
Glassmullagh/Lisnacreight: Gerard & Claire Rodgers, this Friday, 30th October.
The Station Masses will commence at 7.30pm, with Confessions from 7.00pm.

NOVEMBER

FEAST OF ALL SAINTS: 1st November, normally a Holy Day of Obligation. This year it falls on a Sunday (next Sunday).

FEAST OF ALL SOULS: Monday 2nd November. There will be Mass in both churches on All Souls Day: Drumnabey 10.00am, Dregish 7.30pm.

BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE: During the month of November, there will be a Book of Remembrance in both of our churches, into which you are invited to write the names of your deceased relatives and friends. They will be prayed for each time Mass is celebrated in the churches during the month of November.

INDULGENCES: From 12.00noon on 1 Nov until midnight on 2 Nov, all who have confessed, received Holy Communion and prayed for the Pope’s intentions, (one Our Father, one Hail Mary and a prayer of one’s choice), can gain a Plenary Indulgence by visiting a church, and there reciting one Our Father and the Apostles’s Creed. All who visit a cemetery and pray for the dead may gain a plenary indulgence from 1 – 8 November.

CONFESSIONS will be heard in St Francis of Assisi, Drumnabey, next Sunday, 1st November, from 3.00pm – 4.00pm, and in St Mary’s, Dregish, from 4.30pm to 5.30pm.

FRIDAY MORNING MASS: Please note that, for the month of November, the Friday 10.00am Mass in Dregish will be changed to Friday evenings, at 7.30pm, (commencing 6th November). I know that many people make an extra effort to attend weekday Masses during November, when we remember all our dead in a special way, and it is hoped that this Friday evening Mass will facilitate a larger number of people than the morning Mass. I hope too that it will be suitable for our regular Friday morning Mass goers. The Envagh PS children, who normally attend the Friday morning Mass, will be brought to the Wednesday morning Mass during November.

DERRY DIOCESAN SWINE FLU GUIDELINES

Bishop Hegarty has issued a set of practical guidelines for the priests and people of the parishes in the Derry Diocese to follow, to assist in preventing the spread of swine flu. These guidelines are on a poster at the back of the church. Please take time to read them.

‘THROUGH THE EYES OF ST LUKE’: Four week course, Mon 9, 16, 23 & 30 November, from 7.30pm – 9.30pm in Thornhill Centre, Derry. St Luke’s Gospels will be used in the coming liturgical year, and this course is designed to help us understand the emphasis and focus of Luke’s account of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. To book, telephone 7135 1233. Cost 30.

SPAMOUNT SWIFTS Lotto: Numbers last week: 4, 17, 19, 25. No winners. Jackpot £1,100.

25 CARD PLAY resumes tomorrow night, Monday 26th October, in the clubrooms, commencing at 8.30pm sharp. All support will be greatly appreciated.

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.