Sunday, 5th February 2012

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

“The fever left her and she began to wait on them.” One of the lovely features of the Gospels is the number of healing stories they contain. Nothing is too big or too small to bring to Jesus. He raised Lazarus from the dead; he healed Peter’s mother-in-law from a fever. That same Jesus is with us and among us with the same power and the same longing, to heal us into wholeness. All we have to do is ask him for what we need for ourselves and for one another and know that he will answer. We all need his healing power in so far as we set limits to our love for one another because his great commandment is to love. Husbands and wives often need to stretch their love into forgiveness if they are to go forward together. Parents need to grow in understanding of their children. And in our faith community we need Christ’s power to help us to take true responsibility for those in need.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R.

Sunday, 5th February 2012

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Job 7:1-4.6-7
Restlessly I fret till twilight falls.

Second Reading: Corinthians 9:16-19.22-23
I do not boast of preaching the gospel, since it is a duty which has been laid on me; I should be punished if I did not preach it.

Gospel: Mark 1:29-39
He cured many who suffered from diseases of one kind or another.

Reflection:

Living God, source of light and life,
we come to you as broken members of your body;
your strength is our strength,
your health is our health,
and your being is our being.
Grant us your wisdom in our work,
your love in our pain
and your peace in our hearts.
Send your blessing on all those who care for the sick,
and those whom they serve,
and give us the joy of everlasting love.
In the name of Jesus your Son.
(CARA) (adapted)

THE PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL

Last weekend we spoke about the first phase of establishing our Parish Pastoral Council and our intention to distribute a questionnaire to every house in the parish. Whilst we’re grateful to those who volunteered their help, sadly, we don’t have a sufficient number of volunteers to carry this out, so we will ask people to fill them out at all the Masses next weekend (February 11/12) or to take them home and return them to the church or the parochial house by the following weekend (February 18/19). The findings from the questionnaire will then be collated in booklet form and will be available to everyone in the parish as a hard copy or on the parish website, and will be used as the basis for discussion at the parish assembly on April 28. The first six lay members of the Council will be elected at the parish assembly.

Copies of the questionnaire will be available at the churches and the parochial house for any parishioner who would like to fill one out. We are asking everyone of Confirmation age and older to complete one so that we have a fairly good idea of our parishioners’ attitudes and opinions.

Thank you in advance for your co-operation in this important parish venture.

Responsorial Psalm Praise the Lord who heals the broken-hearted.

Sunday Mass Times
St Pius X
Saturday Vigil 7.00 pm
Sunday 9.30 am and 12 noon
Ballinacrae 10.30 am
Ballybrack 11.00 am

Mass during the week
St Pius X 10.00am each day & Monday 7.30pm
Ballinacrae Thursday 7.30pm
Ballybrack Wednesday 7.30pm
Shrove Tuesday & Friday 7.30pm

THIS WEEK’S CALENDAR

Sunday 5th Job speaks for those who cannot make sense of the suffering to be found in daily life. The questions raised by the tedium and the shortness of life are asked in every age. The Christian sees a meaning through the life of Christ, for whom suffering becomes a means of achieving true life. Healing is a lifting up, and all suffering can lift up the world anew.

Monday 6th St Paul Miki and companions. Sixteen Christians martyred at Nagasaki, Japan in 1597. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after Mass until 7.15. Mass in St Pius X Church at 7.30 followed by Divine Mercy Devotions. No evening Mass in Ballinacrae.

Tuesday 7th St Mel. Said to have been a Briton who came to Ireland with St Patrick. He gave the religious veil to St Brigid. Died 488.

Wednesday 8th St Jerome Emiliani (d 1537). After a military career, he founded a religious group for the care of orphans and the poor. Patron saint of orphans.

St Josephine Bakhita (1868-1974), a native of Sudan, brought as a slave to Italy, where she became a Christian and later a nun in Venice.

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after Mass until 9pm.

Friday 10th St Scholastica, sister of St Benedict, who spent her life as a consecrated virgin. Died 543. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after Mass until 11.30.

Saturday 11th Our Lady of Lourdes. World day of prayer for the sick, instituted by Pope John Paul II in 1992. Confessions after 10 am Mass, 12.30 – 1.00 and 6.15 – 6.45. Vigil Mass at 7.00.

Father O’Hagan will attend the sick and housebound on Tuesday and Wednesday at the usual times.

Last week’s collection amounted to €3597. Thank you.

We welcome into God’s family Aoibheann Therese Doyle, Ard na Guala Duibhe and Ava Grace Phillips, Carrowhugh.

Sympathy ~ we offer sincere sympathy to the family and friends of Kathleen McLaughlin (nee Lally), Greenock who died recently. May she rest in peace.

Readers for Sat/Sun 11/12 February
St Pius X Vigil Mass – Bernard Baker 9.30 am and 12 noon – Children
Ballybrack Gerry McQuillan (Co-ordinator Aisling Ward Tel 9381158)

Serenity House

Telephone 074 9382945 or serenityhouse@eircom.net

• Serenity House afternoon Tea Dance will now take place in the Redcastle Hotel on Sunday 12 February from 3 to 7 pm. Music by Ed Sweeney. Raffle and spot prizes galore. Everyone welcome. Admission €5.

• Serenity House with Foyle Coaches is organizing a trip to see The Willoughby Brothers in concert at the Mount Errigal Hotel, Letterkenny on Saturday 25 February. Price €30 (tickets/bus).

• The following classes have resumed as usual: Irish Crochet, Knitting, Oil Painting and Watercolours, Patchwork and Woman’s group. New members welcome.

• The following classes will begin shortly: Computer Maintenance, Computerised Payroll, Web Page Design, Kids ECDL, Food Hygiene, Dressmaking, Adults ECDL(Monday mornings), after school Irish and Math classes for secondary school students, a Book Club and a course organized by Arthritis Ireland.

• Serenity House Savings Scheme for 2012 has started. Everyone welcome to join.

• Health and fitness including walk, blood pressure recording and personal training continues every Monday morning at 10.30 am. New members welcome.

• GROW meets every Wednesday at 8.00pm.

Enrolment forms are now available for any parent/guardian who wishes to enrol their child in Scoil Cholmcille, Greencastle in September 2012. These can be collection at the school 9.30am to 3pm. or by contacting the school on 9381201. All forms should be returned to the school by Friday 16th March with a copy of the child's Birth Certificate/Baptismal Certificate.

Greencastle Community Centre: Contact 9381054 /info@greencastlecentre.ie We are looking for small good quality second hand circuit training equipment i.e. skipping rope, yoga ball, stepper etc. If you have any of these items we would appreciate it if you would donate them to the Centre.

Indoor Car Boot Sale next weekend 11 February from 11am to 3pm. Everyone welcome to come and pick up a few bargains.

Congratulations to the winners of the January Parish Draw:
Number Name Promoter
€700 415 Ashleen McDaid Margery McDermott
€400 277 Carol Bourke Anna Gillespie
€250 359 Breege Gill Kathleen & Maura Kearney
€150 518 Teasie McCann Sally Cavanagh
€70 273 Catherine McDermott Bridie McGonigle

New members, men and women, are urgently needed for the Care of Aged Committee which meets on first Tuesday of each month. Please come along on Tuesday 7 at 9pm.

Donegal Multiples Meeting invites all parents/expectant parents to our next meeting: Saturday 11 February in Spraoi agus Sport Carndonagh from 2pm - 4pm/ Cost €3 per family.

Moville Retirement Club has a dance in new Glencrow Hall on Thursday 9 February at 8.45pm with Eamon’s 3 Piece Country Music. Admission €5.

Have you any Irish and would like a time to use it? An Irish conversation circle will be starting in Teach McGowan (Redcastle Bar) on Monday 6 February at 8pm. All welcome.

Moville Well Women is having a six week cookery course beginning on Thursday 9 February at 8pm. Chef will be Rosemary O’Connor. Cost is €5 per night. To book, call 9383072.

Moville Tidy Town Committee is looking for men and women (with own spades if possible) to gather at upper pier Moville at 10am on Saturday 11 February to clean up the Derry Road through the town as far as the Garda Station. Gloves, Bags and Hi Vis vests etc will be provided. In the interests of safety we are asking for adults only. More details from 0861520513.

In need of help/support financially or otherwise? Then contact Ballinacrae SVDP on 0870959056. All calls treated confidentially.

The organising committee of the Public meeting held in the Colgan Hall Carndonagh on Friday 27 January, would like to thank everyone who turned out in such large numbers. It is hoped from the outcome of the meeting to set up a committee representative of the whole area.

Good morning Inishowen provides a free telephone link service to older people. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer please contact Frances or Deirdre at 9321598 or alternatively call into our office at 6 Ardaravan Square,Buncrana.

The Monastery of` St Catherine of Siena, The Twenties, Drogheda invites single women who are thinking of a religious vocation to attend a vocation weekend. Contact by writing, calling 0419838523, email siena3@eircom.net or visit website www.dominicannuns.ie

Note new email address movilleparish@gmail.com