ON NOT JUDGING

When Jesus tells us not to judge, he is not talking about society as a whole. Society has to have judges and courts. And he is not saying we should abandon our critical faculties. We have to judge between good and evil. He is talking about our ordinary relationships with one another.

I was watching a soccer match on television. When the referee disallowed a goal, I was fully convinced that he had made a mistake. However, when they replayed the incident, showing it through the lens of a camera which had a wider view, it became clear that the referee had got it right after all. The scorer was offside.

When others are concerned, we seldom see the wider picture, much less the full picture. Even so, it doesn't stop us from jumping to conclusions and rushing to judgement. Even when we do see the whole picture, we still should refrain from hasty judgements. Even then we are still only on the surface; we can't see into people's minds and hearts. We may see the deed, but we can't see the motives behind the deed.

We should therefore refrain from judging other people because we seldom know all the facts. Even when we do, we still have no right to judge them. At some time or other all of us have been the victims of hasty judgements. We know how hurtful this is. When it happens, it makes us hate all judgement.

All of us can say with the prophet Daniel, 'Lord, we have sinned, we have done wrong, we have betrayed your commandments.' Though we deserve God's judgement, which of us wants to receive that judgement? Do we not all long for, and need, God's mercy and forgiveness?

Conscious of our own abhorrence of judgement, we should refrain from judgement altogether. By our judgements we convict ourselves.

Flor McCarthy

PRAYER GROUP
The contemplative prayer group will meet on Monday at 8.15pm in the Parochial House. Newcomers very welcome.

DEATHS

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

Sheila O'Neill, Church View

May she rest in peace.

ANNIVERSARIES

Michael Connolly, Thomas Moore
Margaret Dunne, Katie Devine
Mickey Joe Forbes, Maureen Casey
Joe McColgan, Kathleen McDaid
Eugene McNulty, Sarah Devenney
Mary Kelly, Grace Brennan
Ellen Kelly, John Francis Gallagher
John O'Brien, Fr. Henry O'Kane
Kathleen O'Brien, Jim Wilson
Phil Madden, Mary Quinn
Willie Wray, Mary Coyle
Frank Wray, Edmund Connolly
James McHugh, Robert Connolly

PRAY FOR PRIESTS

This week we ask you to pray for:

Fr. Edward Kilpatrick PP, Lifford, 7 March
Most Rev. Francis Lagan, 8 March
Fr. Charles Logue CC, Kilrea, 9 March
Fr. Paul McCafferty, Diocesan Office, 10 March
Fr. Bryan McCanny PPVG, Three Patrons, 11 March
Fr. Michael McCaughey CC, Waterside, 12 March
Fr. Andrew McCloskey, 13 March

SACRED HEART MESSENGER
Due to the sad death of Betty Shearer we would ask all those who received the Sacred Heart Messenger magazine from Betty to contact the parish office on 02871882215 as soon as possible.

PARISH DRAW
The Draw for the month of March will take place on Thursday 25 March at 2.30pm in the parish office.

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 8 March starting with 7.30pm Mass. There will be two 1st class relics of St. Pio at the meeting. All are welcome.

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.

PRESENTATION BY FR. OWEN GORMAN
Fr. Owen Gorman from the Clogher diocese shall give a presentation on the work of the charity Mary's Meals in feeding over 390,000 children in their schools in third world countries. The Derry diocese group of this charity have a school in Port au Prince, Haiti. We need help with fundraising. The meeting shall be at the St. Vincent de Paul room in Barrack Street Strabane at 7.30pm on Sunday 21 March. All are very welcome.

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.

FOYLE HOSPICE - BIG WALK WEEK
Hospice Big Walk Week. Step out for Hospice and make a difference. Saturday 17 April - Saturday 24 April. For further information and advice please contact our fundraising office on 02890777123 or visit nihospice.org for all the latest 'walk news'.

FOYLE HOSPICE CARERS GROUP
"Take Timeout" meeting on Tuesday 9 March at 7.30pm in Day Therapy Unit, Foyle Hospice, Culmore Road. Physiotherapist speaking on 'Moving and Handling at Home'. For further details contact Julia or Donna, Tuesday - Thursday on 02871359888.

BENBURB
A Bus to Benburb will leave Barrack Street car park on Sunday 28 March at 8.15am. Tel: 02871886753.

OUR LADY OF KERRY TOWN
A Bus is leaving Barrack Street car park on Sunday 11 April at 11.00am. Cost £12.00. Please bring a packed lunch. Contact Jonathon McGhee on 07563987919 for details. Everyone is welcome.

OUR LADY OF KNOCK
A Bus is leaving Barrack Street car park on Sunday 23 May at 11.00am. Cost £12.00. Please bring a packed lunch. Contact Jonathon McGhee on 07563987919 for details. Everyone is welcome.

SEAN MULRINE TOURS
Forthcoming tours include:
Italian Pilgrimage to San Giovanni, Rotondo and Sorrento - 19 May 11 nights.
Fatima and Lisbon Coast - 8 - 15 July 7 nights
Italian Tour to Lake Maggiore and Tuscany - 31 July 12 nights
Lake Garda and Oberammergau - 13 September
Italian Pilgrimage to Rome, San Giovanni, Rotondo and Pietrelcina - 4 October 7 nights
For further details contact Sean Mulrine, Derry Group Leader on 02871265926.

ST. PATRICK’S HALL

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

LUCKY 4 DRAW

There was 1 match 3 winner in last week's Draw
Margaret Kenny

The numbers drawn were:
7, 8, 9, 12
Next Week's Lucky 4 Jackpot is £2225.00

N.I. BLOOD TRANSFUSION SERVICE
A team from the N.I. Blood Transfusion Service will be in St. Patrick's Hall on Wednesday 24 March from 1.30pm - 4.00pm and 5.15pm - 8.00pm. The Blood Transfusion Service would appeal for the support of all existing blood donors and welcome new donors.

CHARITY THEME NIGHT
Enjoy music from the '60's, '70's and '80's in St. Patrick's Hall on Saturday 27 March. Admission £5.00 or €6.00. Doors open at 10.00pm. All proceeds in aid of Sperrin Room, Altnagelvin Hospital, Derry.

ACRYLIC PAINTING
Discover the joy of acrylic painting in St. Patrick's Hall. Instruction by trained artist, Martin McGrinder. Starting Wednesday 24 March from 7.30pm - 9.30pm.
Course will run for 8 weeks. Course fee £65.00. Everyone welcome. To book your spot call Martin on 02881648924.

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.

LET ME KNOW YOUR LOVE

Lord, let me know your love:
Let my heart feel it,
Let my mind absorb it,
Let my tongue proclaim it,
Let my eyes watch for it,
Let my spirit long for it,
Let it fill my whole being.

Lord, let me know your love:
Until I burn with love for you,
Until I am aflame with you,
Until my life reveals you,
Until my every action proclaims you,
Until I am one with you.
Lord, let me know your love.