Third Sunday of Lent - Year A

Sunday 24th February 2008

Bible or TV Guide

On the table side by side:
The Holy Bible and the TV Guide.
One's well worn but cherished with pride
(Not the Bible, but the TV Guide).
One's used daily to help folk decide,
No! It isn't the Bible,it's the TV Guide.
As pages are turned, what will they see?
Oh, what does it matter, turn on the TV.
Then confusion reigns, they can't all agree
On what they will watch on the old TV.
So they open the book in which they confide
(Not the Bible, it's the TV Guide).
The Word of God is seldom read-
Maybe a verse o'er they fall into bed
Exhausted and sleepy and tired as can be,
(Not from reading the Bible: from watching TV).
So then back to the table, side by side,
Are the Holy Bible and the TV Guide.
No time for prayer, no time for the Word.
The way of salvation is seldom heard.
Abiding in Christ so full and free
is found in the Bible, not on TV.

Parish Missal: Readings (Year A) p 94 & Proper p 1026

First Reading Exodus 17: 3-7
God cares for his people, providing water to drink.

Second Reading Romans 5: 1-2.5-8
God’s love has been poured into our hearts.

Gospel John 4: 5-42
Jesus is the source of the water of eternal life.

Weekend Masses:
Vigil Mass Saturday evening 8.00 pm Sunday morning 9.00 am & 11.00 am

Masses during the coming week
Monday - 10.00 am - Anv Mass
Wednesday - 10.00 am - Anv Mass
Friday - 10.00 am - Anv Mass
Saturday - 8.00 pm Anv Mass

Confession Times: Saturday Evening after Vigil Mass

Monday to Friday 10.00 am each day Friday Evening Mass 8.00 pm

Mass Intentions for this week:
Monday - 10.00 am - Anv Mass - Patrick Finnegan
Friday - 8.00pm - Anv. Mass - Frank Duggan
Saturday - 10.00a.m. Anv. Mass - Rosemary McCrory
Saturday - 8.00 pm - Anv Mass - John & Maggie Jane O’Donnell

The Lenten Stations
Wednesday 27th February - Ballymongan, Croigh, Meenafergus in the home of Eugene & Isobel O’Donnell
Thursday 28th February - Trienamongan, Legatogegan, Common, Lislaird, Mournebeg, Carricoughan, Aghyaran, Mullinabreen, Maghernageeragh in the home of Ian & Mary McSorley

Legion of Mary meeting as usual on Thursday at 8pm in the parish hall.

Youth 2000 Festival - Magherafelt Youth 2000 will be hosting a youth festival in St Pius X College, Magherafelt from Friday 29th February - Sunday 2nd March. A big attendance (aged 16-35) is expected from all over Ireland at this donation only event, with newcomers very welcome. The weekend includes Youth masses, talks, music,games etc. Residential-so please bring a sleeping bag! For information contact Martin on 07858523141 or check out www.youth2000.ie

Baptism
We welcome into our Faith Community Kaicee Agnes McLaughlin-Bogle who was Baptised and welcomed into the family of God recently.

This Week’s Calendar Monday 25 - Weekday (3rd Week of Lent)
Tuesday 26 - Lenten Weekday
Wednesday 27 - Lenten Weekday
Thursday 28 - Lenten Weekday
Friday 29 - Lenten Weekday
Saturday, 1 March - St David, patron saint of Wales, where he was abbot and bishop in the 6th century. Several Irish saints were his pupils and he is said to have influenced monastic development in Ireland. He died around 601.

Grainne McSorley would like to thank everyone who attened my 21st birthday party in the G.A.C. Centre and generously donated to ÔFriends of Africa’, who I will be travelling with this summer to do voluntary work.

Altar Society for March 2008 Teresa McMenamin, Mrs Sally Corry, Mrs Mary McMenamin, Mrs Pearl Falls

First Friday Sick.
The sick of the parish will be attended this incoming week: Monday: Tullycar, Ballymongan, Killeter, Shanaghy & Scraghey. Thursday: The Corgary’s, Carn, Carndreen, Dreenan, The Garvagh’s, Laught & Aghyaran Can neighbours inform the housebound that I will be calling

Church Door & Car Park Attendants March 2008
Sat. Night Gary Falls, Hugo McGuire & Seamus McGrath Sunday 9.00 am Noel Moss, Kieran Dolan & John McGlynn Sunday 11.00 am Dinny Carlin, Alex Falls & Danny McSorley.

Church Readers for the month of March 2008
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.

A Mass of the sick with Eucharistic Blessing will take place in the Carmelite Retreat Centre, Termonbacca, Derry, on Tuesday 26th February at 8.00 pm. All are welcome to attend.

A one day retreat for Senior Citizens and their friends from Derry and surrounding areas will take place at the Carmelite Retreat Centre, Termonbacca, Derry on Wednesday 5th March Registration from 10.30 a.m. finishing around 5.00 p.m. Cost £12stg or 18euro includes a four course lunch. Payment at the Centre on the day. To book Tel: Termonbacca Derry 71262512 during office hours only

RECOMMENDED WEBSITE http://www.mycatholic.com/Personalise your content, layout and preferences. Choose from daily Mass readings, reflections, news, links, tools and more

Offertory Envelopes for 2008
Promoters are asked to call at the sacristy after Mass to collect their list of names for each area. You are asked to upgrade your list to include new names and delete names as necessary. Amended lists should be returned by Sunday 2nd March.

Parish Website www.parishofaghyaran.com Let your overseas friends know.

THE PARISH BINGO
The parish bingo continues in the Parish Hall @ 9.00 pm on Friday evening. We look forward to the parish support.

Questions people ask
Q. Why was there such enmity between the Samaritans and the Jews?
A. Samaritans were survivors of the ten northern tribes of Israel who broke away from the tribe of Juda (Jews) in 931 BC over the excessive taxes levied for the building of the temple in Jerusalem. Samaritans claimed that Mount Gerizim, in their territory, was a holy place long before any temple in Jerusalem. When the Assyrians conquered this northern kingdom they sent in five pagan tribes, each with their own religion. The Jews regarded the Samaritan religion as contaminated by these five streams of paganism. The Samaritan woman represented her race in her five marriages and her present relationship which did not merit the name of marriage

Prayer for Trust in Jesus

O Christ Jesus,
when all is darkness and we feel our weakness and helplessness,
give us the sense of Your presence,
Your love, and Your strength.

Help us to have perfect trust in Your protecting love and strengthening power,
so that nothing may frighten or worry us,
for, living close to You, we shall see Your hand,
Your purpose,
Your will through all things. Amen

Prayer of Solace

May Christ support us all the day long,
till the shadows lengthen
and the evening comes,
and the busy world is hushed,
and the fever of life is over
and our work is done.
Then in his mercy
may he give us a safe lodging,
and holy rest and peace at the last. Amen.

 

Marriage Preparation Courses.


2008

January 25th & 26th,
February 22nd & 23rd,
April 4th , 5th, and April 25th & 26th,
May 23rd & 24th,
June 13th &14th.
Numbers on courses are limited. The fee of £80 per couple must be included with completed application form and forwarded to the Accord office