NOTICES FOR PARISH BULLETIN
In order to facilitate printing we ask that all notices
and anniversaries for the parish bulletin are either
given to the sacristan or left at the parish office
by Wednesday morning at the latest.
IMPRISONED BY ENVY
Envy and jealousy are often considered to be interchangeable
terms, but they are really distinct emotions. We begin
with envy, which is a desire for and a begrudging
resentment of others' good fortune and gifts. Envy-coated
resentment is often the source of veiled verbal abuse,
crude kidding and malice-laced humour. Envy is a strong
desire to have for oneself what others own.
Envy involves a particularly heart-wrenching imprisonment
since it is a longing to possess what is usually beyond
our reach. As a result, envy typically poisons life
and is self-destructive. Imprisoned by the need to
compare ourselves with others, we are incapable of
being grateful for the unique gifts we've been given.
This is especially crippling and constraining because
being grateful for all things and at all times is
one of the cardinal elements of a liberated lifestyle.
Check your pockets. If you are like most people,
in your pocket you carry around an invisible tape
measure. When we go to a business or social gathering,
we instantly get out our tape measure. We use it to
measure ourselves against those present in a variety
of categories. These tape-measure judgements are made
instantaneously as we check ourselves compared to
others' degree of physical beauty, levels of education,
wealth and social skills. Then we take our measurements
and judge ourselves as being inferior or superior.
Throw away your tape measure and know the freedom
of entering any gathering and being able to enjoy
other peoples' companionship because you no longer
need to measure up. Furthermore, you'll receive the
bonus prize of being eager to learn new things from
each person present. For those who never outgrow learning,
life is jammed with teachers. As you mingle with people,
you can delight in the infinite variety of ways God
is present in time and space. See with the eyes of
love.
Awaken also to the easiest escape route from envy.
It lies in cultivating the consciousness of your incorporation
in the Body of Christ. For when you're connected to
the Body, the good of another is no threat to you
since as a member of the Body it is your good as well.
The entire body rejoices and share in the victory
of a marathon runner whose feet carried him or her
across the finish line first. The arms don't lust
to become feet; the lungs and heart rejoice in their
hidden yet vital part in the victory; nor do the veins
and arteries demand to be acknowledged for their essential
participation. The whole body rejoices. In the same
way another's success does not lessen your status
but truly increases it since you share directly in
the success.
Do not measure and you will not be measured. Indeed,
using the tape measure of comparison as a criterion
of your worth is only another form of judging. Even
when others are competitive and are unaware to their
connection to the Body of Christ, you can escape the
chains of judgement. Even when others are addicted
to their secret tape measure, you can still be free.
Conduct constant tape measure searches, and if you
find one in your hand, throw it away. With practice
and discipline, you can put other things in your pockets
in its place, like gratitude and joy.
DEATHS
We offer our deepest sympathy
to the family and friends of:
Philip McNulty Snr,
Castlefin
John Brady, Drumrallagh
John Breslin, Lr
Main Street
Bridie Connolly,
O'Nolan Park
Maura McCosker, Lifford
May they rest in peace.
ANNIVERSARIES
Kevin MacIntyre, Dilla Doherty,
Mary Kerrigan, Brendan Foley,
Kathleen McGirr, Annie Feeney,
Frankie Hendron, Richard McGavigan,
Gerald McDevitt.
PRAYER GROUP
The contemplative prayer group will meet on Monday
evening at 8.15pm in the Parochial House. Newcomers
very welcome. This is an opportunity to experiment
with a new form of prayer, especially if you find
that your present methods are unsatisfactory.
PRAY FOR PRIESTS
The diocese published a prayer card
with the names of all the Derry diocesan priests.
Many of you have these cards and every day a specific
priest is named.
This week we ask you to pray for:
Fr. Kieran Devlin, Retired, 11 October
Fr. Peter Devlin PP, Malin, 12 October
Fr. Fintan Diggin PP, Clonmany, 13 October
Fr. Brendan Doherty PP, Kilrea, 14 October
Fr. George Doherty CC, Buncrana, 15 October
Fr. James Doherty, Deceased, 16 October
Fr. John Doherty PP, Leckpatrick, 17 October
PARISH DRAW
The Draw for the month of October will take place
on Thursday 22 October at 2.30pm in the parish office.
Promoters are asked to make their returns to the parish
office on Monday 19 October.
CHURCH ROOF
We gratefully acknowledge the following donation towards
the repair of the church roof.
£140.00 £100.00 £100.00 £40.00
Many thanks.
MISSION SUNDAY
Next Sunday is Mission Sunday and the theme this year
is Reach Out. A special envelope is provided in you
envelope box for this collection which will be taken
up all all Masses next weekend.
ANNUAL MASS FOR THE DEAD
Fr. Boland will celebrate the annual Mass for all
our families and friends who have died in the past
year on Friday 13 November at 7.30pm.
JEAN VANIER
'Choosing your Future' - a conference with Jean Vanier
will be held in the Millennium Forum, Derry on Wednesday
21 October from 10.00am - 1.30pm. This conference
is for young people but there are a limited number
of tickets available for adults costing £15.00.
Please contact the Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre
on 02871264087 or email ddcc@derrydiocese.org
HOLY FAMILY PADRE PIO PRAYER
GROUP
The Holy Family Padre Pio Prayer Group will hold their
monthly meeting in the Holy Family Church, Ballymagroarty,
Derry on Monday 12 October, starting with 7.30pm Mass.
There will be two 1st class relics of St. Pio at the
meeting. 'All welcome'.
THORNHILL CENTRE
Poetry Evenings - Mary Murphy will lead a four-session
exploration of favourite poems we learned at school.
Dates: Wednesdays 14 / 28 October and 11 / 25 November.
Time: 7.30pm - 9.30pm in the Thornhill Centre. Cost
£5.00 per night. Please phone 02871351233 to
reserve a place.
Children in Crossfire are recruiting enthusiastic
individuals to participate in the Barcelona half marathon
in February 2010 and Cycle Vietnam in April 2010.
A registration fee is requested and the minimum sponsorship
applies. Please contact Sarah 02871269898 or email
events@childrenincrossfire.org
DIOCESAN COORDINATOR OF YOUTH
MINISTRY
Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre
invites applications for the post of
Diocesan Coordinator of Youth Ministry
The successful candidate will
have to have:
* a recognised qualification in a
relevant discipline - Education, Theology, Religious
Education or Pastoral Studies.
* a recognised qualification to teach
Religious
Education.
* active involvement in the spiritual
and
sacramental life of the Catholic Church at
parish and/or diocesan level.
Application Form, Job Description
and Personnel Specification may be obtained by telephoning
02871264087 and completed applications must be returned
to:
The Director, Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre,
The Gate Lodge, 2 Francis Street, Derry BT48 7DS not
later than 1.00pm on 15 October 2009.
INDEPENDENT LITERACY CENTRES
Opportunity for individuals to run
their own Computer Based Literacy Programme for children
and adults with Dyslexia and other learning difficulties.
Touch, Type, Read and Spell (TTRS) currently operates
in several training centres throughout the U.K. and
Ireland. Please contact TTRS on 02841738413 or 07811355462
if you are interested in setting up a TTRS centre
in your area. Training and start-up help provided.
DIOCESAN PIONEER MASS
The Diocesan Pioneer Mass will be
held in Ardmore Church on Sunday 18 October at 3.00pm.
BALLYCOLMAN HAUNTED HOUSE
Anyone available to help out with
the Haunted House at Ballycolman Community Centre?
It starts on 23 October and runs to 30 October inclusive.
There are 2 sessions, the first begins at 6.00pm and
finishes at 7.30pm and the second starts at 8.00pm
and finishes at 9.30pm. We need a total of 40 characters
for each session so any help we can get would be greatly
appreciated. If anyone is available please contact
Robbie Winters, Caroline Devine or Claire O'Kane.
You must be 17 or older to help out.
ST. PATRICK’S
HALL
Bingo and Lucky 4 Draw as usual this
Thursday.
All our patrons are very welcome.
Bingo Snowball £2500.00
LUCKY 4 DRAW
There were 4 match 3 winners in last
week's Draw
Kathleen Gillespie
Angela McNeill
Ursula Melaugh
Brian Donnelly
The numbers drawn were:
1, 9, 17, 24
Next Week's Lucky 4 Jackpot is £1750.00
PRAYER CORNER
OPEN MY EYES
God open my eyes so I may see
And feel your presence close to me...
Give me strength for my stumbling feet
As I battle the crowd on life's busy street,
And widen the vision of my unseeing eyes
So in passing faces I'll recognise
Not just a stranger, unloved and unknown,
But a friend with a heart
that is much like my own...
Give me perception to make me aware
That scattered profusely on life's thoroughfare
Are the best gifts of God
that we daily pass by
As we look at the world with an unseeing eye.
***************
