Sunday 11th November 2007

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Is Resurrection For All?

Will everybody experience resurrection? No, if you take at face value what you hear in this Sunday’s first reading: But for you there will be no resurrection to life! (2 Macc 7:14). The ‘you’ is a despotic king and his sadistic torturers. One suspects the list could easily be lengthened. Again at face value, today’s gospel reading reinforces this view: those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead … (Lk 20:35). The implication is clear: some won’t be considered worthy of resurrection. So, what happens to those?

Basing its views on Jn 5:28-29 the Catechism of the Catholic Church states: ‘All the dead will rise, those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment.’ (Par. 998).

We describe death as the separation of soul and body – not knowing really what either is. The body decomposes conveniently, but what about that soul? Where is it until it rises with its glorified body? Why does it need one? Do those who ‘rise’ to judgment also have one? If not, what do they have? Silly questions? Maybe. But allow me one more: what’s the difference between unquestioned faith and fundamentalism? Over to you!

You are Invited to Our Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour
In St Columba’s Church, Long Tower. The Novena takes today, Sunday at 6.00 pm and will continue every Sunday leading up to Christmas. Devotions will take the form of Rosary, a short talk given by a guest speaker, novena prayers and benediction.

BAPTISMS
We welcome:
Aoife Maria O’Hagan, 86 Rossnagalliagh
Ava Mae Collett, 10 Mary Street, who were both baptised recently.

DEATHS
We wish to express our deepest sympathy to the relatives and friends of
Kathleen Robinson, 268 Lecky Road, who died recently.

LAST WEEK’S ENVELOPE COLLECTION £1961.00

LAST WEEK’S RENOVATION COLLECTION £ 744.00

We Gratefully Acknowledge
The Anonymous Donations To The General Renovation Fund: £20, £10, £10, £10, £5, £10.

MASS FOR BLESSED ALEXANDRINA will take place in Termonbacca today, Sunday at 7.30 pm. Everyone welcome.

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 Thursday 15th November. Registration from 10.30 am finishing around 5.00 p.m. Cost £12 or €18 includes a four course lunch. Payment at the Centre on the day. To book telephone 7126 2512 during office hours only.

ACCORD DERRY – MARRIAGE PREPARATION WORKSHOP on Friday 23rd November from 7.00 pm and Saturday 24th from 10.00 am in the Thornhill Centre. Booking forms available from the Pastoral Centre, 164 Bishop Street or tel: 7136 2475.

MASS FOR THE DECEASED
St Joseph’s Boys’ School will be holding a Mass for deceased relatives, staff and past pupils of the school on Thursday, 15th November at 7.30 pm in the Assembly Hall. Please contact the school on 7126 2923 if you wish to add names to the list.

DIOCESAN MASS FOR DECEASED YOUNG PEOPLE
There will be a Special Diocesan Mass on Sunday 25th November at 3.00 pm in Holy Family Church. All welcome.

DIOCESAN MASS FOR DECEASED TEACHERS will be celebrated in Immaculate Conception Church, Strabane on Monday, 12th November at 7.30 pm. Bishop Hegarty will celebrate the Mass and all are welcome.

ON THE OCCASION OF THEIR 10TH ANNIVERSARY, LUMEN CHRISTI COLLEGE are presenting the musical OKLAHOMA in their school Assembly Hall each night from Monday 3rd to Thursday 6th December at 7:30 p.m. Tickets: £7 for adults; concessionary £5; family (2 adults & 2 children) £20. Available in school from 9:30 a.m. until 4:20 p.m. Telephone 7136 2595.

THORNHILL 75TH ANNIVERSARY
The College presents ‘Honk’ on 13th/14th/15th November in the Assembly Hall at 7.30 pm. Please contact the school office on 7135 5800.

MASS BOUQUET ASSOCIATION
Today we are launching the Long Tower Mass Bouquet Association: a card and weekly Mass to be offered for the LIVING. It is suitable to give to someone who is sick or someone praying for a particular intention or as a birthday gift or just for a person’s well-being.

8am Mass every Friday: The people enrolled in this Association will all be living members and the 8 o’clock Mass will be offered for them every Friday morning for one year. NO particular names will be read out.

Cost: The cost will be £2 for the card and the twelve month enrolment. The cards will be available from the Sacristy and the Parochial House.

Thanks: Our sincere gratitude goes to the Restoration and Projects Committee for producing the card as a Long Tower initiative in preparation for the centenary of the church in 2009.

ST JOSEPH’S YOUNG PRIESTS SOCIETY AGM will be held in the Nazareth House, Bishop Street on today, Sunday at 3.00 pm. Everybody welcome. The Society would like to thank all those parishioners who supported them throughout the year. Your support enabled the Society to forward £2750.00 to the main branch.

COMHALTAS CEOLTÓIRÍ ÉIREANN GRIANAN BRANCH
The Annual General Meeting of the above Branch will be held in the A.O.H. Social Club, 23 Foyle Street, on Monday 12th November 2007 @ 8.00pm. All members are invited to attend. New members welcome! Music, dancing, singing , craic, every Monday night from 9.00 pm.

CALLING ALL PAST PUPILS AND FRIENDS
Netball course from 7.30 pm in St Cecilia’s College. Please contact the school on 7128 1800.

BIG HALLOWEEN BINGO
ST EUGENE’S PARISH HALL SUNDAY 25th NOVEMBER 2007 AT 8.30 PM

NI ASSOCIATION FOR MENTAL HEALTH – BRING AND BUY SALE and Tea & Coffee Morning at The Beacon Centre, 20 Clarendon Street, Derry on Friday 16th November from 11.00 am.

“I do not judge myself in terms of successes.” – Pope Benedict XVI
“Success is not one of the names of God.” – Ancient proverb