Sunday, 31st October 2010

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Wisdom 11: 22 – 12: 2
You are merciful too all because you love all that exists.

Second Reading: 2 Thessalonians 1: 11-22
By his power – fulfill all your desires for goodness.

Gospel: Luke 19: 1-10
Catch a glimpse of Jesus.

 

Chapel - Mary Mother of God

Mon, (All Saints) 10.00 am & 7.30pm

Tues (All Souls) 10.00 am & 7.30 pm

Wed, Thurs & Fri 10.00 am

 

Saturday Vigil 6.30pm

 

Confessions 7.00 pm Tuesday & Saturday

Sunday 10.30am St. Eugene’s Glenock

Our Prayers are requested for the Souls of

William Reid, Margaret Maguire, Vera Willis, James,

Annie & John Coyle, Isabella O’Malley, Frances Morris,

Jeannie Browne & Sean Gallagher

Whose anniversaries occur at this time

I hate being small, everybody is bigger than me, even my wee sister is bigger than me” These words of a 7 year old in some way they tell us something of what every small person feels at some time in their life. Maybe that is why Zacchaeus is such a favourite with children. If there was one thing that might tempt me to go back to primary school it would be that story. To hear it for the first time as a child, thinking of all the BIG people who see more, run faster, push wee people about and get there first, and how that wee man with the funny name came up with a plan that worked, and he didn’t get scolded for it! Jesus came to his house and made him happy. Then he helped the poor people. The story with the happy ending. The ideal world for the child.

The Book of Wisdom, is a very adult reflection on life. Today’s reading reflects on the love of the Creator for all that He has made. It is full of the awe and wonder of one who has thought deeply about, and has a sense of, the privilege of having been created under the protection of this Great Good God. The Psalm has the same theme and St Paul continues this in his prayer for his beloved people of Thessalonica. “the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ will be glorified in you and you in him”. Words of gentle comfort, and brave challenge. Those who followed Jesus and had come to hope and believe in him must often have experienced that sense of awe and wonder, and then confusion and even disbelief. “He has gone to stay at a sinner’s house”

All Saints - 1st Nov.

“Come to me ——-”

Can you finish this line? Yes , it is “all you who labour and are overburdened” but when Jesus talks about the “Blessed” or the Saints He uses the word “Happy”. We may have been conditioned through our parents and school to believe that we could be saints only when we did nothing wrong, were quiet, hard working, helpful to everyone else, and bore all suffering or injustice in silence. Maybe that’s part of the reason why the Feast of All Saints is one that passes almost unobserved. We seem to prefer to give our full attention to the other dead people, our brothers and sisters whom we number among the “holy Souls”. We remember their goodness but we seem to honour them with something of the same gentle care we have for the non-achievers, who are a bit slow, or can only make the subs bench on the football team.

Remember visits for the Holy Souls, going to Confession specially for the “poor suffering souls”. Maybe we have rightly toned down our devotions, but we have to question why so many “turn up” for Funerals, anniversaries, and Blessing of Graves. Could we not give as much attention to celebrating the blessedness of those alive among us who, by their good deeds and prayer, live and celebrate life before death.

November Counters

Gerard McLaughlin, Joe Doherty, Conor O’Kane & Kevin Hargan.

Please be at the Parochial House on Mon Evenings@ 7pm.

Youth Forum

Talk Talk Digital Heroes Awards Final

http://www.talk-talk.mirror.co.uk/vote.html

Centre 2000: 4th Nov
Juniors:- 7-8pm;
Seniors 8-9pm: Indoor Football
Residential Weekend 5th-7th Nov with Donemana, Castlederg and Strabane Youth Council.

Church Finances
Offertory Collection £730.00
Mission Collection (total) £1106.00

Parish Draw Week 39

£100 Grainne Gallagher (452)

£ 50 Anne Teague (483)

£ 25 Anne Stewart (299)

£ 25 Tishy O’Goan (349)

£ 10 Coll Prize— Laura McKenna

St. Eugene’s Parochial Hall

Bingo - Wed @ 9pm

Irish Dancing

Whist Thurs @ 8.30 pm.

St. Eugene’s G F C.

Wk 24 Winner - Francess Arnold (130).

AGM Monday 22nd November at 7.30pm

Traditional Music Group on Saturday from 10.30 to 11.30am,
Traditional Singing Group on Tuesday at 7.30pm - No cost.

Irish classes on Wednesday nights at 7.30pm in the clubrooms - price £30 for six weeks.

Well done to everyone who represented the club in Scor na nOg on Sunday.

Thanks to all who helped at the event.

Bulletin Notices

N.B. All notices, inc. Anniversaries must be delivered before 2 pm

Thursday in writing or e-mail : ardstrawparochial@btinternet.com

before 2.pm on Thursday.

USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS

Accord - 8224 2439
Al-Anon Fmly 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