Sunday 26th October, 2008

The Greatest Commandment

"You must love the Lord your God with all your heart;
you must love your neighbour as yourself."

Jesus gives us these two commandments as the only way to full human living and happiness. They are the core of Christian living and practice. We try everything else and yet love is all that human life is about here and hereafter. These two commandments go hand in hand as two parts of the one movement of life. Love of God is the ultimate in human life. It involves each of us in a personal relationship with God through prayer. Our Catholic tradition is very rich in the variety of prayer forms that are possible. Each of us needs to choose the ones that are helpful for ourselves. We reach this love of God also through our love for one another. In our common worship through the Sunday Eucharist we build up the People of God. And through love in marriage and family life we dedicate all that is good in life to God.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R

30th Sunday of the Year - 26th October 2008

First Reading Exodus 22: 20-26
If you are harsh with the widow, or the orphan, my anger will flare against you.

Second Reading Thessalonians 1: 5 - 10
You have broken with the worship of false gods when you were converted to God and became servants of the real, living God, and you are waiting for Jesus, his Son.

Gospel Matthew 22: 34-40
You must love the Lord your God and your neighbour as yourself.

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 Fr E Graham 816 61445

Saturday of this week, 1st November, is the Feast of All Saints. It is a Holy Day of Obligation. Please see Mass schedule below.
Next Sunday, 2nd November, is All Souls Day.

WEEKDAY MASSES
St Francis of Assisi, Drumnabey:
Monday 10.00am, Thursday 7.30pm, Saturday 11.30am (Feast of All Saints)

St Mary’s, Dregish:
Wednesday 10.00am, Friday 10.00am, Saturday 10.00am (Feast of All Saints)

WEEKLY EXPOSITION of the Blessed Sacrament every Thursday in St Francis of Assisi, from 6.30 to 7.20pm. The prayer intention for October is Prayer for the Missions. I ask you to ensure that people are present at all times when the Blessed Sacrament is exposed in the church.

THANK YOU for last week’s collection: Dregish £320, Drumnabey £255.

FORTY HOURS ADORATION in St Mary’s, Dregish, today, commencing after 10.00am Mass and finishing with a Holy Hour and Benediction this evening from 7.00 to 8.00pm. The Forty Hours is an opportunity for all of us 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 during Exposition, a sheet has been placed at the back of the church for you to assign yourself a time for adoration.

During the month of November, there will be a Book of Remembrance in the churches, into which you are encouraged to write the names of any of your loved ones who have died. They will be prayed for each time Mass is celebrated in the churches during the month of November.

INDULGENCES: From 12.00 noon on 1 November until midnight on 2 November, 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 Creed.

All who visit the cemetery and pray for the dead may gain a plenary indulgence from 1 to 8 November.

THANK YOU to all who came along to St Mary’s Church yesterday afternoon to help prepare the church so well for the Forty Hours.

DIOCESAN MASS FOR DECEASED TEACHERS The annual Diocesan Mass for deceased teachers will be celebrated in the Immaculate Conception Church, Strabane, on Wednesday 12th November, at 7.00pm. Bishop Lagan will celebrate the Mass and all are welcome.

ST JOSEPH’S PRAYER GROUP, OMAGH: If you would like to spend one hour in Community, Friendship and Prayer, then come along to the Christian Brothers Oratory, Kevlin Road, Omagh, on Wednesday evenings, at 8.10pm: Rosary with Meditations, Sunday Gospel of the coming week, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Intercessory Prayers and Intentions, Music and Hymns.

The Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre has recently launched a new website www.catecheticalcentre.org . I encourage you to access this website, which has useful information for individuals, families and schools (primary and second level). It has a special ‘Youth Section’ and a Thought for the Week.

SPAMOUNT SWIFTS LOTTO Numbers last week: 7, 13, 15, 21. £50 went to Sally O’Donnell. Jackpot £3,500.

DREGISH GFC Lotto: Numbers last week: 2, 1, 3, 6, 4, 5, 7. £50 went to Seamus Nugent. Jackpot £350.

Good luck to those from our parish who are running the Dublin Marathon tomorrow!

25 CARD PLAY in the clubrooms every Monday night, commencing at 8.30pm sharp! Everyone welcome.

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.