Parish of Ardstraw East Newsletter

Sunday, 14th January 2018 | 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

CONTACTS AND CORRESPONDENCE

Rev. Roland Colhoun, CC, 41 Moyle Road, Newtownstewart, BT78 4AP

Tel: 028-8166 1445

Email: ardstraweast@derrydiocese.org

Rev. Brian Donnelly, PP, Tel: 028-8164 8283

LITURGIES FOR THIS WEEK

Sunday (14th Jan): Mass, 11.00am, Glenock

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday: Mass, 10.00am, Oratory

Thursday: Mass, 7.30pm, Oratory. Adoration 6.30pm, Confessions 7:05pm

Saturday (20th January): Vigil Mass, 6.00pm, Oratory (Month's Mind for Elizabeth Wilkinson, RIP)

YOUCAT – Youth Catechism on Thursdays at 5:15pm, Sacred Heart Room, Oratory

REQUIESCANT IN PACE

Our prayers are asked for the souls of those whose anniversaries occur at this time: Annie Gallagher, Eugene Glackin

‘CALLED BY GOD’ GOSPEL: ST JOHN 1:35-42

In St John’s Gospel today Jesus invites two of the disciples, who are curious about where He lives, to ‘come and see’. He welcomes them into His home and they stay with Him for the rest of the day. The example of Jesus encourages us to be welcoming, to extend a warm invitation to others and to spend time with them in friendship. This Gospel message ties in with the theme Pope Francis has chosen for World Day of Migrants and Refugees, which the Church celebrates today. The theme is, Welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating migrants and refugees. The Holy Father has spoken often of our ‘brotherly responsibility’ towards fellow-human beings and how our welcome ought to be a response to the Lord’s supreme commandment to love others. In his Message to mark World Day of Migrants and Refugees, His Holiness speaks of our responsibilities as individuals, communities and Church to welcome everyone, particularly those who have been forced to leave their home in search of a better future.

The disciples who visited Jesus had a deep desire to get to know Him better. In summary, that is what our faith calls us to do. We can do so through personal prayer, through receiving the Eucharist regularly and through weaving Jesus’ loving presence into the fabric of our daily lives by living out the values of the Gospel. We ask today for the grace to respond to God’s call to be people of welcome to our brothers and sisters in Christ and to have a constant desire to get to know Jesus better in our lives.

WORLD MEETING OF FAMILIES 2018: Dublin has been chosen by Pope Francis to host WMOF 2018, 21-26 August. Started by Saint John Paul II, and held every three years, this major world event celebrates family as the cornerstone of our lives, and the fundamental building block of society and the Church. People from every part of the world will travel to Dublin for one of the most important events of the Catholic Church including, God willing, Pope Francis, who hopes to join us for the Festival of Families and the final Mass.

DIOCESAN CELEBRATION OF FAMILY – Saturday 3rd February, St Mary's College, Northland Road, Derry. In preparation for the World Meeting of Families, the Diocese of Derry will hold a one-day gathering. Each parish will be represented. Would you like to represent our parish? Please take an application form from the porch (Church or Oratory) and return it to the sacristy or parish office. The parish will cover the cost. (For full details of the event and details of guest speakers, visit www.derrydiocese.org).

SUNDAY COLLECTION £831.

Donation for Glenock: £10.

Thank you very much!

CHOIR – Next practice on Tuesday 23rd January, 7:30pm, in the Oratory. New members always welcome!

BLOOD DONATION SESSION Millennium Centre, 21-27 Moyle Road, Newtownstewart, Thursday 25th January, 2.15-4:00pm and 5.15-8:00pm.

CBS OPEN DAY Saturday 20th January, 9:45am-12:30pm. The school extends an invitation to all Primary 6/7 pupils and their parents to view the facilities.

Wisdom – Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.

SPECIAL NEEDS – Annual Diocesan Mass in Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Steelstown, Derry, Saturday 10th March, 3pm. If you have a child who wishes to receive the Sacrament of First Communion or Confirmation at this Mass, please contact the Catechetical Centre on 028-7126 4087.

SAVE THE FAMILY – The family is threatened as never before; unborn babies, children, the elderly and disabled are all under attack. Voice of the Family, an international coalition of pro-life organisations formed to defend Catholic teaching on the family, will host a meeting to discuss the threats to life and family in Ireland (North and South) in the light of the message of Fatima. Fir Trees Hotel Strabane, Wednesday 24th January, 7-9pm. Everyone is welcome.

MUSIC CCE – Monthly Seisiún in Leo McCullagh's Lounge, Plumbridge on Friday 19th January, 9pm. Everyone welcome. Admission free. Supper served.

Music Classes – Guitar Lessons are now available at the music classes each Monday night in St Peter's PS, Plumbridge. Starting 6.30pm. Accordion, Banjo, Whistle/Flute and Fiddle lessons also available. Singing Classes – resume on Sunday 21st January with Ciara Fox in Leo's Lounge, 2.30pm. Contact Tom Blee on 077-0452 6870 or Roisin Hood on 077-8969 7238.

SUNDAY SCRIPTURE READINGS: Familiarising ourselves with the Word of God before we hear it at Sunday Mass is a good way of giving ourselves a better understanding of what God is saying to us in the Sunday Scriptures. If you are interested in looking at the Scripture Readings in advance of Sunday Mass, you can access them on: www.catholicbishops.ie/readings.

Catholic Television: EWTN on Sky 589