Sunday 30th September 2007

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reflection - If I Were You

One of the healing ministries of great value that is open to every Christian is that of compassionate listening. In everyone's life there exist difficulties and also decisions that must be made. The need to share our heart's burdens with someone we trust is essential to good emotional, physical and even spiritual health. And what a holy, prayerful and healing action it is to listen to another person's concerns.

But if there is one enemy that prevents this exchange from being healing, it surely must be our human compulsion to give advice. For when advice is given without it being requested, it is "a-vice." Hidden, beneath the expression, "If I were you..." is a form of domination, a hidden sense of superiority. Indeed, if our opinion is requested, it may be of real service to give it. But usually when someone drops by for a cup of coffee and starts talking, he or she is not seeking advice but rather a listening and non-judgmental heart.
Set a guard over that desire to tell others how to get their marriages, children or business back in order and simply sit back and listen - and perhaps put yourself in a prayerful inner attitude. As people hear themselves expressing what's inside them, they may be surprised. For it is often simply in the "talking out" of an issue that they discover and clarify their own feelings or, as is sometimes happily the case, the escape route from their problem.

A frequently heard complaint from parents is that their teenage children do not share their problems with them. The reasons could be many for such a reluctance on the part of young people, but parents can ask themselves if they listen to the burdens of their children - if they truly listen. Or do they feel that the role of parents is to give advice or even to unilaterally dictate behaviour? It is not surprising that most young people seek elsewhere for a listener.

We all need good listeners to help us hear ourselves and to assist us in finding relief from the inner burdens we carry - especially if that person is a praying listener. But the next time a friend stops by "just for a cup of coffee," remember a word of wisdom from the Orient, "People who give advice when it is not requested, need advice."

CHANGE OF MASS TIMES

SUNDAY MASS TIMES
The Sunday Mass times will be 8.00 am, 10.00 am and 12 noon today, Sunday, 30th September 2007. The same times will apply for Holydays of Obligation. The Vigil Mass will be at 6pm on Saturday evenings as usual.

WEEKDAY EVENING MASS will be at 7.30 pm, as always.

READERS ST MARK’S TEAM AND EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS
TEAM B will serve for the month of October, beginning on Monday, 1st October.

FIRST FRIDAY 5th October is the First Friday of the month.

VISITATION OF THE HOUSEBOUND
Father Colhoun will visit the sick in his care on Thursday/Friday, 4th/5th October.

THANKS to the Lumen Christi students (Years 13 and 14) who are taking part in the Parish Outreach Programme every Wednesday and Thursday afternoon. Their activities include visitation of the elderly and the schools, secretarial work, providing adult education in language and IT, liturgy and caring for the church.

VOLUNTARY CLEANERS NEEDED for the interior of Long Tower. Could you give one hour of your time each week to clean the church? Men and women needed. Either on Mondays 8.00-9.00 pm (Saint Mary’s Group) or on Tuesdays 10.30-11.30am (Saint Martha’s Group.) Please give your name and number to the Sacristy or Parochial House. The pay is non-existent but the benefits are out of this world! And God would be very grateful.

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

LAST WEEK’S ENVELOPE COLLECTION £2613.00

LAST WEEK’S RENOVATION COLLECTION £ 719.00

BLESSING OF THE ROSES Mass and Blessing of Roses in honour of St Therese of Lisieux will take place in the Carmelite Retreat Centre, Termonbacca, Derry on Monday 1st October at 8.00 p.m. Please bring a rose with you.

THE MONTHLY DEVOTIONS IN HONOUR OF OUR LADY will take place in the Carmelite Retreat Centre, Termonbacca, Derry on Tuesday 2nd October starting with confessions at 7.30 p.m. followed by Rosary and Mass, finishing around10.00 p.m. All are welcome to attend.

MASS IN HONOUR OF ALEXANDRINA MARIA DA COSTA will be celebrated in Carmelite Retreat Centre on Sunday 7th October at 7.30 pm.

DIABETIC ASSOCIATION MONTHLY MEETING on Wednesday, 3rd October at 8.00 pm in the Multi Disciplinary Unit of Altnagelvin Hospital.

NEW RELIGIOUS ORDER COMES TO DIOCESE OF DERRY
The Sisters of St John have established a new convent in our diocese. They will be formally welcomed by Bishop Hegarty on Monday 1 October at 10.00 am Mass in St Eugene’s Cathedral. There will be a cup of tea after Mass. All are welcome to attend. The Sisters have a temporary convent at 10 Belvoir Park, Culmore, Derry (tel 7135 3414 from 2.00 pm until 4.30 pm and from 7.30 pm until 9.00 pm.) The Sisters also welcome visitors from Monday to Friday from 2.00 pm until 5.00 pm. Sisters are contemplative – their lives are dedicated to prayer, rather than pastoral ministry. Their intention is to build a new convent in the diocese.

RESIDENTS OF THE BRANDYWELL AREA
There will be a meeting in Ann Street Youth Centre on Sunday 7th October between 1.30 pm and 5.00 pm. There will be a display and discussion on the regeneration of the football ground and all related matters. This is an important issue and needs resident involvement at this stage to deal with the effect of this major development. There will be a draw for Match tickets.

DIABETIC ASSOCIATION MONTHLY MEETING on Wednesday, 3rd October at 8.00 pm in the Multi Disciplinary Unit of Altnagelvin Hospital.

STUDY CENTRES
ST CECILIA’S COLLEGE – Maths GCSE beginning on Wednesday 2nd October from 7.00 pm to 9.00 pm. Boxercise (with Glenda Fleming) on Wednesday from 5.15 pm to 6.15 pm.

LUMEN CHRISTI COLLEGE – ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES, fortnightly on Wednesdays, 2:30-3:30pm in Computer Skills, including the use of the internet. Also, language classes available, including beginners Irish, holiday French and holiday Spanish. If interested please contact Stephen on 078-1210 8558.

ST MARY’S COLLEGE – ADULT COMPUTER COURSES starting on 17th October from 5.00 pm to 7.00 pm. No experience necessary. Courses in Microsoft Office Specialist & IC3. Registration on Monday 8th October from 3.30 pm to 5.00 pm. For further information telephone 7137 6931.

CALLING ALL PAST PUPILS! St Cecilia’s College is celebrating its 40th Anniversary and is keen to form a past pupils committee to help organize a variety of events. Pupils from the first year of establishment and all past performers of school musicals are particularly being urged to attend. This will be a wonderful opportunity to walk down memory lane, renew acquaintances and even perform on stage with your musical friends once again. A calendar of events will be arranged.

Lasco Lotto
Numbers Drawn 8, 11, 17, 21.
No Jackpot Winner. 5 £10 Winners
Next weeks Jackpot £2,550
Anyone wishing to join, please contact LASCO 028 7137 4443