A BETTER WAY

Jesus says to us, 'Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.' Love your enemies! We find it hard enough to love our friends, so how can we be expected to love our enemies?

Jesus is telling us to love, not hate. Hatred is a very destructive thing. When we hate we expend more energy than is any other emotion. We mustn't dissipate our strength in hating but save it for better things.

This is why Jesus urges us not to have hatred in our hearts for anyone, not even our enemies. It is not only for the sake of the enemy that he says to us, 'Love your enemies', but for our own sake too. Hatred may not destroy its object, but it will surely destroy the one who hates. 'Ten enemies cannot hurt a person as much as he hurts himself' (Proverb).

Jesus never said that we would have no enemies – there is no lack of realism here. But he offers us a new way of dealing with our enemies, a different way of responding that has the potential to break the endless cycle of retaliation that now threatens us all with ultimate violence.

Jesus' way is not an easy way, but it is a better way. He challenges us to respond to darkness with light. The escalation of evil can be stopped only by one who humbly absorbs it, without passing it on. Revenge and retaliation only add darkness to darkness.

Our hearts were made to love, not to hate. Love is more beautiful than hate. Hate poisons the heart, but love purifies it. At all costs, then, we must keep love in our heart. The image of God is at its best and brightest in us when we love.

If we pray for our enemies, peace will come to us. And when we love our enemies, we can be certain that divine grace dwells in us.

PRAYER GROUP

The contemplative prayer group will meet on Monday at 8.15pm in the

Parochial House. Newcomers very welcome.

PRAY FOR PRIESTS

This week we ask you to pray for:

Most Rev. Seamus Hegarty, 28 February
Fr. John Irwin, Nazareth House, 1 March
Fr. Charles Keaney PP, Coleraine, 2 March
Fr. Stephen Kearney PP, Newtownstewart, 3 March
Fr. Lawrence Keaveny, Deceased, 4 March
Fr. Michael Keaveny CC, Faughanvale, 5 March
Fr. Seamus Kelly PP, Culmore, 6 March

DEATHS

We offer our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of:

Vincent Bonner, Foylevale

Annabella Friel, Hillmount Grove

Packie Arbuckle, Springhill Park

Betty Shearer, Barrack Street

Kathleen Stewart, Derry

May they rest in peace.

ANNIVERSARIES

Jimmy McLaughlin, Josie Harkin
Mary O'Kane, Willie Wray
Tony Kelly, Nora Gallagher
Alice Boggs, Freddie Boggs
Annie Hegarty, Ellen McDevitt
Edward McDevitt, Patrick Maguire
Patrick Mullen, Larry Coyle
Mary Logue, Alice Duffy
Margaret Stewart, Charles Breslin
Michael Devine, David Devine
Una Christy, Katie Madden
Mary Hyndman, Kathleen Brennan

CARMELITE RETREAT CENTRE
The monthly devotions, in honour of Our Lady will take place in the Carmelite Retreat Centre, Termonbacca, Derry on Tuesday 2 March starting with confessions at 7.30pm. followed by Rosary and Mass, finishing around 10.00pm. All are welcome to attend.

PADRE PIO MASS

The Padre Pio Mass will take place in the Church on Wednesday 3 March at 7.00pm. Stations of the Cross at 6.30pm.

LENTEN PROGRAMME 2010

Masses:- Monday 7.00am 10.00am
Tuesday 7.00am 10.00am
Wednesday 7.00am 7.00pm
Thursday 7.00am 10.00am
Friday 7.00am 10.00am
Saturday 10.00am 6.30pm
Sunday 10.00am 12.00 noon

Stations of the Cross:- Wednesday 6.30pm and Friday 6.00pm

Eucharistic Healing Service:- Every Sunday during Lent at 6.00pm. This takes place before the Blessed Sacrament and we pray for the healing of hurts, wounds, depressions, traumas and difficulties of every kind, emotional or physical.

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament:- This takes place all day in the Adoration Chapel (Oasis of Peace). The Adoration Chapel is situated at the back of the church.

Book of Petitions:- This book is situated near the Padre Pio statue and you are invited to write all your prayers and special requests in the book. These requests are remembered at all Masses in the church.

PARISH DRAW

The winners of the Draw for the month of February are:

£1000.00 Paul & Pauline Hoynes 913
Promoter Eileen Canning
£300.00 Rhonda McShane 962
Promoter Eileen Canning
£200.00 Marie Doherty 338
Promoter E. McNulty & M. Cooke
£100.00 Doreen Diver 709
Promoter Doreen Diver
£100.00 Martine Strawbridge 724
Promoter Veronica Dunne
£100.00 Patsy & Anne Mullen 247
Promoter Anne Mullen
£100.00 Teresa Clarke 109
Promoter Maura Coyle
£100.00 Hughie Doherty 399
Promoter Carmel McGarrigle

FOYLE HOSPICE
Foyle Hospice presents Borderland Reunion Night with music by Midnight Showband! Saturday 27 March in the City Hotel. Tickets £8.00 available from Foyle Hospice Fundraising Centre on 02871359888 or the City Hotel on 02871365800.

THE YARD PROJECT
The Columba Community, Columba House, 11 Queen Street, Derry, in conjunction with the YARD Project, will be hosting a 2 day Family Support Programme on the 13 and 14 March at Columba House. The programme is for anyone over 18 years who has been affected by or is concerned about the abuse of alcohol, drugs or gambling of a family member or friend. The programme will help people understand addiction and through support, encouragement and information it aims to help you learn new ways to cope and improve the quality of your life. This is an introduction to the 12 Step programme way of living. For more information or to book a place on the course please contact Claire on 02871 269113 (RoI 04871 269113) or email the yardproject@btinternet.com

THE CATHOLIC CHAPLAINCY QUB CENTENARY DINNER DANCE
Tickets now available for the Centenary Dinner Dance, which is taking place on 22 April 2010 in the Whitla Hall at Queen’s. If you remember the Chaplaincy Discos, Ceili or Mrs Mac famous sandwiches, Liam, Noel, Mary or Anne, Lough Derg pilgrimages, packed Ash Wednesday Masses or a wealth of other Chaplaincy memories then come along and celebrate with us. The Dinner is open to past and present students and staff of the University, their families and friends and all consider themselves friends of the Chaplaincy. Take the opportunity to arrange to meet with classmates and friends. The tickets cost £40.00 each and can be purchased from the Chaplaincy at 28 Elmwood Ave or from the Welcome Centre at QUB (or if your send a stamped addressed envelope and a cheque made payable to “The Catholic Chaplaincy” we will post your tickets to you.)[Open seating will be the norm but Tables of 8 can be arranged] For any further inquiries please contact the Chaplaincy on 02890669737 or email cc@qubcc.org.
Checkout the website: www.qubcc.org

If you have any Chaplaincy related photos we would love to have copies of them for the Centenary Display!

POP SENSATION DANCE CLASS
New Pop Sensation Dance Class beginning on Thursday 5 March in Riversdale Leisure Centre from 7.30pm - 8.30pm. All boys and girls aged 5 - 13 years are welcome to join. Admission £5.00 payable at the door on the night.

NORTH WEST REGIONAL COLLEGE
North West Regional College invites you to its Open Night on Thursday 11 March 5.30pm - 8.30pm, running at its three main campuses in Strand Road Derry, Main Street Limavady, and Derry Road Strabane. Guidance and information on courses starting this September, college tours, and talks from college staff will be available. To attend please provide your name, address, subject interest and choice of college location to:
email: opennight@nwrc.ac.uk
text: NWOPEN to 86122
telephone: 02871276022.

ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE
Strabane St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee will hold meetings on Thursday 4 March and Thursday 11 March at 7.30pm in Strabane Community Library, Railway Street to finalise plans for this year’s parade. An invitation to attend these meetings is extended to all community groups, sports bodies, businesses and all organisations.

ST. PATRICK’S HALL

Bingo and Lucky 4 Draw as usual this Thursday.
All our patrons are very welcome.

LUCKY 4 DRAW

There were no winners in last week's Draw

The numbers drawn were:

13, 17, 20, 21

Next Week's Lucky 4 Jackpot is £2200.00

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.

PAYMENTS BY CHEQUE
The Bank have reminded us that all payments made to the parish by cheque (for Parish Draw, Sunday and Special Collections, etc.) must be made payable to Church of the Immaculate Conception.

PLEASE NOTE: All payments for St. Patrick's Hall should also be made payable to Church of the Immaculate Conception.

PRAYER CORNER

REFLECTION FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANS

Lent is not an obligation,
it is a choice, and it is an
opportunity.
It is a choice
because Jesus himself
invites us to it.
It is a difficult choice to live with,
marked by the Cross.
It is a choice to give ourselves
to deep reflection.
It is also an opportunity to seize:
Lent offers us a time
to confirm our decision
and to strengthen it.
It carries us to life.
Lent opens with a radical choice
but it gives us a share in the life
of Resurrection.
Our Lenten walk expresses our
will to live.