|
3rd August 2008 Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Faiths Strength I’ve just finished reading The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins with my faith intact despite running the gauntlet of rational, and at times seemingly irrational, assault. I think that his approach to eradicating religion is rather like fighting fire with wind. It may blow it out, but then again it may just fan the flames.
Anyway, today’s Second Reading (Rom: 8:35, 37-39) reminds us of a very important fact with regard to faith. It’s not primarily a matter of our relationship with God, but of God’s relationship with us. That’s its strength.
Paul puts it boldly as he asks: Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword separates us from Christ? To which he gives a resounding No! Neither will death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come (including science and Dawkins book?) nothing, simply nothing, can separate us from the love of God. In other words nothing can touch Gods love for us. That’s what we believe, wonderfully unscientific though it may be.
And the faith we have or, more accurately, that has us is not for hoarding but for sharing. It’s a gift to improve the quality of human life by bringing out all that is good within and around us. That’s the point of today’s Gospel reading (Matt 14:13-21) too. The crowds are hungry, in a barren place. Jesus tells his followers those with faith in him to feed the crowds.
Once the faith is present, the miracle happens.
Fr Tom Cahill SVD The Extension of the Abortion Act to Northern Ireland This October British pro-abortion MPs will attempt to extend the 1967 Abortion Act to Northern Ireland. The human cost of the legalisation of abortion, virtually on demand, will be unimaginable for the whole of Ireland. Please pray that this disaster is averted. Abortion kills children but it also hurts women. Anyone who wants to fight the introduction of the Abortion Act can get information on how to help and a free “Little Feet” badge by contacting the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children at 2 Veryan Gardens, Newtownabbey, BT36 7HG – Tel: 90778018 or email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
BAPTISM - We welcome Conor Helferty, Messines Park; Alexandra Laura Jo Goligher, Madison Avenue, Eglinton; Emma McGinley, Woodside Heights. +Rest in Peace+
We offer our sympathy to the family and friend of Pat Kelly, Foyle Crescent. The following are remembered at this time of the Anniversaries of their deaths:
Rosaline Boyle, James Devine, Ruby Devine, Annie Johnston, Alice Brown, Bobby McCorkell, Thomas Callaghan, Patrick McLaughlin, Samuel Wilson. May these and all who sleep in Christ find in God’s presence light, happiness and peace. MONTHLY DEVOTIONS in honour of Our Lady will take place in the Carmelite Retreat Centre, Termonbacca on Tuesday, 5th August starting with confessions at 7.30pm followed by Rosary and Mass, finishing around 10.00pm. All are welcome to attend. ACCORD DERRY
Marriage preparation Workshop 26/27th September 2008 in Thornhill Centre, Culmore Road, Derry on Friday 7pm – 10pm and Saturday 10am – 4pm. Booking forms available from the Pastoral Centre, 164 Bishop Street, Derry Tel: 71362475 or from your local Parochial House. GLENDERMOTT PARISH DRAW WEEK 30
£1,000 (1125) Winner Pat Goan, c/o Promoter
Promoter Chrissie Philson
£200 (3536) Winner Joe Doherty, c/o Promoter
Promoter Margaret Casey
£100 (1037) Winner Clare Welsh, c/o Promoter
Promoter Bridie Gourley
£100 (1884) Winner Colum Cooke, c/o Promoter
Promoter Yvonne McLaughlin
£100 (1604) Winner Kathleen Mclaughlin, c/o Promoter
Promoter Kathleen McLaughlin
£100 (1454) Winner Margaret Hannon, c/o Promoter
Promoter Charlie McDaid
£100 (1958) Winner P Diver, c/o Promoter
Promoter Martina Murray WEEK 31 £1,000 (2561) Winner Ann Frazer, c/o Promoter
Promoter Catherine Browne
£200 (1262) Winner Helen Grey, c/o Promoter
Promoter Sally McCallion
£100 (2954) Winner Jim Smyth, c/o promoter
Promoter Veronica Jackson
£100 (1779) Winner Teresa Kane, c/o Promoter
Promoter Margaret Devenney
£100 (2176) Winner S Howell, c/o Promoter
Promoter Daniel Doherty
£100 (2463) Winner Nellie Gorman
Promoter Bill Monk
£100 (2348) Winner Shea Leonard, c/o Promoter
Promoter Anne Leonard OFFERTORY COLLECTION Glendermott: £3,505.00 Strathfoyle: £660.00 Acknowledgement – Fr Mullan acknowledges with thanks donations of £100 & £50 towards the Parish Building Fund. Slimming World – Weekly Class, normally held on Wednesdays in Parish Hall, Malvern Terrace, for one weekly will be held in Clooney Hall on Tuesday next at the usual time Pilgrimage to Medugorie on Saturday 4th – 11th October 2008. Ex Belfast Airport. Limited places. Bookings and information from Pat Mullan 028 7130 1474. SUNDAY EVENING DEVOTIONS as announced MARRIAGES: Three months notice must be given before the date of marriage. Details for marriage preparation can be obtained from www.gettingmarried.ie. ANNIVERSARIES: If you wish to have the name of your loved one placed in the newsletter, please contact the Parish Office before 3pm on Thursdays. Contact Details
Telephone Email
Rev. Aidan Mullan, PP 028 7134 2303
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Rev. Michael McCaughey, CC 028 7134 8856
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Rev. Peter O’Kane, CC 028 7134 2303
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Rev. Christopher Ferguson, CC 028 7134 2303
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Rev. John Irwin 028 7134 2303
Parish Fax Number: 028 7134 5495
|
