Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

28 August 2022

Humility & Hospitality

Jesus is at table eating and drinking more times in Luke than in any of the other Gospels. In today’s Gospel Jesus is at the house of one of the Pharisees for a Sabbath meal. The parable which Jesus tells them concerns humility as he watched the guests take the places of honour at the table. The host in the parable is obviously the insightful one, one who is able to expose phoniness in the community. This doesn’t always have to be a negative, sometimes we need people like that to show us our weaknesses, to help us grow. In today’s world real humility can be interpreted as low self-esteem or even a false humility. Archbishop of Canterbury William Temple said, ‘Humility does not mean thinking less of yourself than of other people, nor does it mean having a low opinion of your own gifts. It means freedom from thinking about yourself at all.’

Hospitality to the stranger is the next topic of conversation as Jesus urges those present to invite, not those who are known to them, but those who are poor, crippled in some way. Real hospitality is the second lesson of this story, to invite people in and to do so without expecting reward. Through real hospitality to the stranger, humility is there.

‘If we only pride ourselves on our service record and nothing more,

we end up going wrong... We have to be humble, but with real humility, from head to toe.’ Pope Francis.

Jane Mellet

Announcements

Last week’s collection amounted to £2686.00 Thank you.

Those who pay to the weekly collection or any special collections, including Priest’s Collection, by cheque are asked that all cheques should be made payable to ‘Melmount Parish’.

Collection for Sunday 14 August £2510.00. Thank you.

Collection for Sunday 7 August £1910.00. Thank you.

Collection for Sunday 31 July £2739.00. Thank you.

The Priests of the Parish would like to thank you for your generous contributions to the Priests’ Collection on Sunday 24 July.

Parishioners can still leave their contributions in the Parish Office during this time of uncertainty. Contributions can be made by cheque made payable to Melmount Parish or cash. If the Office is closed please use the letterbox.

Baptism Dates

September: Sunday 4; Saturday 10; Saturday 17; Saturday 24.

October:    Saturday 1; Saturday 8; Saturday 15; Sunday 23.   

Baptisms will be at 4.00pm on a Saturday and 1.15pm on a Sunday.

To book a Baptism contact the Parish Office on 71383777 during office hours.

We welcome into God’s Family through the Sacrament of Baptism:

Eoghan Gerard Elliott, Rory Colm Doherty, Sophia Finlay

Daragh Hugh McColgan, Katie Marie Devine, Bella-Rae Joanne Matthews

Lily Margaret Boggs, Conal Joseph O’Boyle, Frankie Ash Brennan

Aodhan Liam Hoynes, Margaret Mary Doherty  

We congratulate the following couples who were recently united in the Sacrament of Marriage:

Kirstin O’Kane and John Carlin

Jordan Kennedy and Liam McNamee

Kirstie Conwell and Aaron Mullen

Aimee McElwee and Callen McGarrigle

Niamh Hegarty and Shane McGonigle

Emma Coulter and Gavin McElroy

May they Rest in Peace

Deaths

Teddy Quigley, 35 Laurel Drive             

Mary Doherty, 18 St. Mary’s Drive 

John Stewart, 37 Church View               

Fr. Hugh Behan, Lifford

Columba Burns, 18 Townsend Street              

Denise Henderson, 157 Ballycolman Estate

Mark McCartney, 14 Melmount Villas      

Billy Flanagan, Clady

Pat Woods, 40 Lisnafin Park                 

Robert Winters, 110 Ballycolman Estate

Martin McBride, Sion Mills                     

Bernadette Gallagher, Clady

Lily Devine, 38 Koram Road                  

Martin Duffy, Lifford

Charlie McCafferty, Drumkeen              

Barney McLaughlin, Dunamanagh

Tony Connolly, 7 Laurel Drive       

Tony Burns, 124 Belldoo

Pat Rice, 87 Laurel Drive                      

Betty McLaughlin, 21 Melmount Villas

Rosemary McElwee, 19 Orchard Road     

Nora O’Hagan, 21 Melmount Gardens

Kitty McCallion, 23 Bridge Street           

Jim Kelly, Colman Fold

Eddie O’Kane, Lifford                   

Mary McCafferty, 304 Ballycolman Estate

Anne Quinn, 4 St. Mary’s Place

Anniversaries

Patrick Holland, Mickey Doherty, Cecilia Burns

Mark McGrath, Jessica Duffy, Daniel Mallon

Philomena Brennan, Ken McCrory, Danny Carlin

Damian McGrath, Michael O’Kane, Kevin Harkin

Tony McAleer, Elizabeth Devine, Alice Flanagan

Owen Sweeney, Arthur O’Kane, Willie Christy

Geraldine McBrearty, Raymond Allen, Chris Doherty

Parish Draw

Promoters should make their returns for September to the Parish Office on Monday 19 September from 2.00pm - 4.00pm. The Draw for September will take place on Thursday 22 September at 10.30am in the Parish Office.

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will resume on Monday 5 September after 10.00am Mass until 6.00pm.

Pilgrimage to Knock in Honour of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal on Saturday 10 September. Bus leaves Abercorn Square at 8.00am Sharp. To secure your seat contact Denis Hegarty, 15 Patrick Street, Strabane. Telephone 71882886. Cost £15 per person. Please bring a packed lunch.

Graveyards: We would ask that when you are having headstones and surrounds erected in the graveyards or having any work carried out to existing graves that you put any ornaments or flowers etc that are on the grave in a safe place while the work is being carried out. The parish is not responsible for any damage or loss of these items. A reminder that there are specific measurements for surrounds and headstones in the newest of our graveyards and benches are not permitted.

Lough Derg – One Day Retreats have resumed. Dates for September are 3, 7, 10, 13, 17, 18, 24 & 25. Booking is essential. Admission €45pp includes refreshments, lunch, return boat service, full retreat programme, free car & coach parking. Boats available from 9.15am on the day. Retreat begins at 10.30am and finishes at 4.30pm. For booking and more information Tel. 00353 71 9861518, online: www.loughderg.org or email: info@loughderg.org.

Dog Fouling

We would ask that anyone walking their dog in any of the Cemeteries or on Parish Grounds to please keep their dog on a lead and clean up after them out of respect for other people’s graves and because of the health risk posed by dog faeces. Thank you for your help in this matter.      

The Derry Diocese has invited the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland to conduct a review of safeguarding practice. This review is due to commence with the Safeguarding Sunday Mass on 18 September in St. Columb’s Church, Waterside at 3.00pm Everyone is welcome. The review will continue on Monday 19 September - Friday 23 September. If you have any views about Safeguarding in the Derry Diocese we invite you to come forward to Teresa Devlin, Chief Executive Officer, National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland, prior to the review dates. She can be contacted on 00353 1 5053124 or by email Teresa.devlin@safeguarding.ie

Blessing of Motorbikes and Bikers: St. Aengus’ Church, Burt (N13. Derry-Letterkenny Road) on Sunday 11 September at 1.00pm. All are very welcome. We will also remember all our biker friends who have died since our last time together, September 2019, before Covid. Collection on the day for RNLI. Usual bike run to Ned’s Point RNLI Station to present the donation and for refreshments. For more details contact Fr. Gerry Sweeney: gerardsweeney@ymail.com or Facebook.

The Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre, working in partnership with St. Mary’s University, Twickenham, offers a Masters in Catholic School Leadership. This is a post-graduate degree dedicated to the professional development and spiritual formation of Catholic school leaders. It is a great opportunity for those currently in leadership roles and those who aspire to, or have an interest in, leadership roles within the Catholic School system. Applications for the Autumn intake close on 30 September 2022. If you require any further information, contact the Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre on 71264087 or email: tferry@derrydioces.org.