| Sunday
1st February 2009
4th
Sunday of the Year
The
Lord, our Teacher
"His teaching
made a deep impression on them because,
unlike the scribes, he taught them
with authority." As Christians
we believe that Jesus is the one above
all others who can teach us about
God. And the God that he reveals to
us is a God of infinite love and compassion.
At times we, as the Church, move away
from this God and create a God of
fear and judgement. Our responsibility
is to move back very firmly to the
God of Jesus. We also believe that
Jesus is the one above all others
who can teach us about the meaning
of human life. He teaches us very
clearly that human life is about love.
We make it about wealth, or importance,
or pleasure and we have to constantly
move back to pinning our hopes on
love: in marriage; in family life;
in our life with one another in the
parish community.
Fr. Johnny
Doherty, C.Ss.R.
Fourth Sunday
of the Year
Sunday 1st
February 2009
First Reading
Deuteronomy 18: 15-20
Moses foretells the coming of a prophet
who will speak God’s word to
the people.
Second Reading
1 Corinthians 7: 32-35
Paul urges everyone, but especially
those who are celibate, to give their
undivided attention to the Lord.
Gospel Mark
1: 21-28
The prophecy of Moses is fulfilled
in Jesus.
Not celebrated this Year: St Brigid,
2nd Patron of Ireland
MASS
TIMES
Monday, 10 am [Feast
of the Presentation -Candles will
be blessed];
Tuesday, 10 am, [Feast
of St Blaise—Throats will be
blessed ];
Wednesday & Thursday,
10 am; Friday, The First Friday of
the Month, 8 pm; Saturday, 10 am.
Anniversary
Masses
Saturday Vigil: Stephen Miller,
Moneydarragh
Sun 11 am: Betty
Ruddy, Dunross.
Saturday, Vigil, 8
pm;
Sunday, 8.30 am & 11 am.
Confessions
Friday, 7.15 pm—7.45 pm; Saturday,
7.15 pm-7.45 pm.
St Bridgid’s Crosses
will be blessed at Sunday’s
Masses.
Weekly
Offering: €1,870; Development
Collection: €1,100. Thank you
for your generosity.
All
the sick of the parish will be attended
on
Wednesday
& Thursday at the usual times.
Sympathy
Ellen Cavanagh, Magherard,
having quietly celebrated her 75th
birthday with her
family last year, died peacefully.
Our deepest sympathy to her husband,
Tommy, her daughters Mary, Maggie,
Anne, Tina, Kathleen and Monica; her
sons, Tommy, Jimmy and Henry; her
sisters, Mary , Teresa and Annie and
her brothers Charlie and Harry and
the wider family circle. May the comfort
that only Jesus can give help those
she has left behind and may her soul
rest in peace.
Vocations
Information Day
In Thornhill Retreat Centre on Saturday,
14th February from 11 am – 4
pm. More information from Fr Paul
Farren on 04871264087 Fr Colm O’Doherty,
048 81661475.
Whist
1st: James McConalogue, Cashel
2nd: Mickey Doherty, Glentogher
3rd: Betty Houten, Culdaff
Tickets
Mickey O’Donnell, Carn; Mary
McDermott, Falmore; John Duffy, Derry.
Other Winners
Seamus Coyle, Buncrana, Fr McGonagle,
Bocan, Dolores O’Donnell, Carn,
Catherine McGilloway, Malin.
Whist every Friday at 8.45pm in Bocan
Hall. Snowball : €160 for 177
or more.
Youth Club
Rota: 06/02/09 George Brennan,
Carmel Lynch, Sally O'Connor, Nonie
Watson, Raymond Putnis, Seamus Doherty
Serenity House
Dance – In
Caiseal Mara Hotel, Moville on Saturday
7th February in memory of Tony Meehan.
Music is by the Cavanagh Brothers
and admission is €10. All proceeds
in aid of Oncology, Letterkenny Hospital.
Doors open at 10 pm.
Classes – Names
are being taken for an ECDL course
for fifth and sixth classes in primary
school and second level students.
More information from 9382945.
Would you
like to attend Painting Classes?
All are welcome, both experienced
painters and those just beginning.
The intention is to start classes
in Malin at the end of February, subject
to demand. More information from Michael
McHugh on 087 6735184.
Inishowen
Development Partnership
The Partnership are holding an open
discussion entitled ‘Responding
to the Recession: Have your Say’
in Greenbank Presbyterian Hall, Quigley’s
Point on Wednesday, 11 February; Strand
Hotel, Ballyliffin, Wednesday 18th
February . Both sessions are at 7
pm and everyone is welcome.
Badminton
Success – Congratulations
to Declan Ruddy on becoming Donegal
Singles Champion [U 13]. Also, congratulations
to Maria Duffy on winning Div 2; Peter
Doherty 2nd [Div 2] and Chloe Ruddy,
Darragh McCullough, Dylan Doherty
and Jane Doherty who played well on
the day.
The
Deep End – The Bits We Miss
Today’s 1st Reading [Deut 18:15-20]
makes me wonder if God still raises
up prophets, or even needs to. Isn’t
our society literate, our Church organised,
or liturgies regular, the word of
God on tap, so to speak? So what do
we need a prophet for? Could it be
for the bits we miss?
When we listen to
God’s word what do we hear?
Words about love, so general, saccharine,
and predictable that they pose no
challenge to anybody? Or, words that
compel us to put faces on those we
must love and see among them some
we hate? Perhaps a prophet could help
us profile those ones. Words about
God that place him way out there;
remote, impersonal, and uncaring?
Or words that enable us to reach God
way in here within our heart? If that’s
too close for comfort perhaps a prophet
could tell us why. Words about having
died with Christ in baptism, full
of imagery but nothing else, and soon
forgotten? Or, words of power to radically
change our way of life?
Perhaps a prophet
could supply that power. Words about
a new heaven and a new earth on their
way, but with luck not today? Or,
words that pump our hearts with hope
and joy? Perhaps a prophet could provide
the pump.
Yes, we do need prophets:
those who have heard God’s word
and taken it to heart. Those who are
comfortable with God up close and
personal. Those who don’t need
to tell others what to do.
Those who proclaim truth simply
by the way they live.
Fr Tom
Cahill SVD
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