St. Patrick's Church, Aghyaran.

Parish Priest: Fr. J. Gilmore

Telephone 8167 0728

Sunday 20th September 2009

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus said to his disciples: 'If anyone wants to be first he/she must make himself/herself least of all and servant of all.' Whoever said that religion is the opium of the people obviously never read the Gospels because if opium was nearly as difficult to take as some of the things that Jesus said there would be very few people taking it! And yet the truth is that only his way works. We all want to be first in so many different ways. We can see people in every sphere of life going around puffed up with their self-importance, often putting others down in order to keep their position. It is the opposite to the way of Jesus and can never lead to lasting happiness. This week again we are invited to practise putting other people first, especially in our families and communities, and know the joy that this brings.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R.

Sunday, 20th September 2009

Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading Wisdom 2: 12. 17-20
The godless plot to do away with the just one, because his blameless life is a reproach to them.

Second Reading James 3: 16 – 4: 3
Jealousy, ambition and self-seeking lead to disharmony and fighting. Gentleness, reasonableness and mercy lead to peace.

Gospel Mark 9: 30-37
Jesus tells his apostles he will suffer bitter humiliation and death, and says true greatness shows itself in service towards the weaker members of the community.

Living the Sunday Liturgy

PRAYER FOCUS

May we love one another.
What does 'love one another' mean in your life right now?

Take time to wonder at the beauty of a baby or small child.
Could you babysit for someone this week?

“Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name, welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”

Weekend Masses:

Vigil Mass Saturday evening 8.00 pm

Sunday morning 9.00 am & 11.00 am

Confession Times

Saturday Evening after Vigil Mass

Masses during the coming week

Monday & Tuesday 10.00 am

Thursday & Friday 10.00am

Mass Intentions for this week:

Tuesday 10.00 am - Anv. Mass - Rose Ann Collins

Saturday 8.00pm - Anv. Mass - Alice McHugh

Each day in the Derry Diocese we are asked to pray

for our priests named on that particular day.

THIS WEEK WE PRAY FOR:

Fr. Eugene Boland

Fr. Francis Bradley

Fr. Manus Bradley

Fr. Shane Bradley

Fr. Brian Brady

Fr. Bernard Bryson

Fr. Thomas Canning

This Week's Calendar

Monday 21 - St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist.

Tuesday 22 - 25th Week in Ordinary Time

Wednesday 23 -St Pius of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio), priest; St Eunan, abbot

Thursday 24 -25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Friday 25 - 25th Week in Ordinary Time;

Saturday 26 - 25th Week in Ordinary Time.

Weekly Church Collection

Last week’s collection totalled: £1137stg. - €64

Church Readers for the month of September

Vigil Mass 8.00 pm Sat. Josephine Byrne

Sunday 9.00 am Eileen O’Donnell

Sunday 11.00 am Tommy Moss

If you are unable to attend do try and get another reader to cover for you.

Church Door & Car Park Attendants for September

Saturday Vigil Mass

Patrick McSorley, Hugh Kelly & Joe McGlinchey

Sunday 9.00 am

John McNabb, John Campbell & Mickey McCrory

Sunday 11.00 am

Liam McGlinchey,Eamon Sweeney & James McMenamin

Altar Society for September 2009

Sara Moss, Mary Gallen & Kathleen Moss

BINGO

Every Friday night in the Parish Hall commencing at 9.00 pm.

Everyone welcome. Proceeds in aid of parish funds.

Young People’s Pilgrimage to Lourdes, Easter 2010

Around five hundred young people from all over Ireland spend a week on pilgrimage in Lourdes with the IHCPT, The Irish Pilgrimage Trust at Easter.The Irish Pilgrimage Trust(www.irishpilgrimage.com) welcomes applications from young people with:
A physical disability or illness/suffering/trauma/bereavement (aged 11-18) A learning disability (aged 11-21)
Jet Set Group- Physical Disability (18-25)
Jet Set Group-Learning Disability( 21-30) The organisation also has Family Groups for very seriously ill children under the age of 9, accompanied by a parent or close relative

The IHCPT covers the cost of those young people selected to travel. If there is a young person that you feel would be eligible and would benefit from a trip to Lourdes or you would like further information about the pilgrimage please contact Damian on 07968312770 or IHCPT, Kilcuan, Clarenbridge, Co Galway, Tel: 00353 91 796622 for further details and an application form. Please note closing date for applications is 31st October 2009.

Lynch’s Coach Tours

The last trip of 2009 to Knock will take place on Sunday 27th September. The coach departs from Castlederg at 8.00am and Aghyaran at 8.15am.
Adults £12 U16’s £7
For bookings tel 028 816 71344

Dublin marathon

Pat O Loughlin is planning to do his 30th Dublin Marathon on Monday 26th October 09 for MS Research at Walton MS unit Liverpool. Pat is the only person north of the border and one of only 25 people in the world to have completed all 29 Dublin Marathons Pats ask for everyone's support For further details Contact Pat at 028 81671550 or John Doherty 028 81679686

C.U. Factor Singing Competition

The credit unions in Northern Ireland and Donegal have got together to organise an X Factor style singing competition for 12 to 19 year olds.The overall winner will receive £1,000.There are 16 heats being run throughout Northern Ireland and Donegal.Application forms are available in local Credit Unions or online atwww.cufactor.comand the closing date for the return of completed application forms is Saturday 26th September

DANCE In
Colcreaghy Hall
Friday 25th September
Music by Country Sensations

Urgent Pro-life Petition

Precious Life urgently requires volunteers to help in their Petition Campaign to protect unborn children from Department of Health Guidelines which will make abortion available in Northern Ireland. You can help by collecting petition signatures outside your church and in your community. For petition sheets, campaign leaflets, or further information, please contact Bernadette on 028 9027 8484

White Cane Walk ‘Walkers Wanted’

RNIB are having a 5 mile sponsored walk on Sunday 10th October. The starting point is McGurk’s Bar (Omagh) with registration at 10.00am.All funds received will be used to support services for blind and visually impaired people in your local community. For sponsor sheets and information contact staff at RNIB 10 James Street Omagh. Tel. 028 8225 0220 or email Ian.Ross@rnib.org.uk

Blessing of the Roses

Mass and Blessing of Roses in honour of St. Therese of Lisieux will take place in the Carmelite Retreat Centre, Termonbacca, Derry on Thursday 1st October at 8.00 p.m. Please bring a rose with you. All are welcome.

Questions people ask

Q. I often find that Mass passes me by without any involvement on my part. How can I improve?

A. I would suggest 5 words: come, listen, give, eat and go. Come in good time, relax and invite the Holy Spirit to help you. Listen to the readings as a letter of light and love from God. Give or offer yourself, through the bread and wine, in union with the sacrificial offering of Jesus to the Father. Eat means receiving the Lord as your bread of life, your greatest source of grace and strength. Then go from Mass with the mission to love and serve the Lord the rest of your day.

Prayer To The Holy Spirit

Holy Spirit, be with me today.
Be my teacher, my guide, my counsellor, my friend.
Fill me with your gifts, especially the gifts of wisdom, discernment, knowledge, understanding, compassion, love, and awe in God's presence.
In all that I think, say, and do, let it be in accordance with your most holy and perfect will.
I ask this in Jesus' name. AMEN.

Trocaire’s annual Global Gifts offer the chance to purchase real Christmas gifts for the poor in developing countries which are also items vital to simple survival - such as food, water, shelter, farm animals and many more. In 2009 Trocaire is looking for volounteers in the Derry diocese to help promote these life-changing gifts in your parish or community. If you or a friend can give a day or two to this rewarding opportunity, please contact Trocaire’s new NW representative Lawrence McBride on 028 71 357 288 or lmcbride@trociare.ie.

Bulletin Notices

Parish email address is kathleen@parishofaghyaran.com

USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS

Accord - 8224 2439
Al-Anon Famly Groups - 9086 2368
Alcoholic's Anonymous - 9043 4848
AWARE - 7126 6602
Care for Cancer - 8224 6599
CRUISE - 8224 4414
Drugs Anonymous - 8224 6177
Gamblers Anonymous - 7135 1329
The Samaritans - 8224 4944
Women's Aid - 8224 5998
Parkinson's Disease - 8224 2889