Third Sunday of Easter

14th April 2024

‘You are Witnesses of these things’

Today’s Gospel is one of the resurrection accounts from St. Luke’s Gospel. It begins with the disciples recalling their experience on the road to Emmaus and how they recognised Jesus in the breaking of bread. The Gospel continues into another account of the Risen Jesus with his disciples. Jesus interrupts the disciple’s story and greets them with ‘Peace’ (Shalom) yet, in this account, they are terrified by this. Jesus shows them his wounds and Luke tells us that they are full of joy, but they still can’t believe it and think it is a ghost. 

Jesus shows them that he is no ghost as he asks for food and eats fish with them. Jesus then journeys with them back through the scriptures in order to open their minds. He speaks to them compassionately, trying to relieve their anxiety and fear.

Jesus tells the disciples that ‘you are witnesses of these things’. Luke wants to establish an important point, that these disciples are witnesses to the Resurrection, they ate with Jesus after his death and he opened their minds. The Resurrection accounts in the Gospels are not fantasy, they are the actual experiences of Jesus’ disciples. 

So often in Luke’s Gospel Jesus conveys his message through food and banquets, moments of celebration. The Risen Christ brings compassion and joy into difficult spaces. Today let us share with Jesus the situations in our lives which need an injection of compassion and Easter joy.

‘Every year the dull and dead in us meets our Easter challenge: to be open to the unexpected, to believe beyond our security, to welcome God in every form, and trust in our own greeting.’

(Joyce Rupp)                                                                               

Jane Mellett

Announcements

Last week’s collection amounted to £3162.00. Thank you.

The collection for Sunday 31 March amounted to £3900.00. 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’.

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

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will take place in the church on Monday 15 April after 10.00am Mass until 6.00pm.

Blessing of Graves The Annual Ceremony of the Blessing of Graves will take place here in Melmount on Sunday 19 May 2024 at 4.00pm.

First Holy Communion for the pupils of St. Mary’s P.S. will take place on Saturday 20 April. Confessions will be at the usual time of 11.30am.

Holy Hour for Vocations will take place on Sunday 21 April, Good Shepherd Sunday, in St. Theresa’s Church, Sion Mills at 5.00pm. Everyone is welcome.

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

Brea Anna Cooke           

Harriott Eve Arbuckle                        

Amari Raya Plaatjies

May they Rest in Peace

Deaths

Neil McBeth, 81 Laurel Drive              

Oonagh Burns, 26 Brookvale             

Donna Murphy, 13 St. Colman’s Drive 

Ronan McGowan, 20 Fountain Park       

James Doherty, Newtownstewart                 

Alice (Leish) Boyle, 40 St. Colman’s Drive

Bridie Gamble, Sion Mills                   

Mary Devine, Glenmornan         

Michael Maguire, 142 Main Street                

Mary McGarvey, 145 Castlegrange Park

Anne Murphy, 12 Brookvale                        

Jordan Gallagher, 257 Ballycolman Estate

Thomas McGarrigle, 49 Innisfree Gardens

Anniversaries

Betty O’Hagan, Grace Sweeney, Alex Curry

Pat Smyth, Tish Smyth, Lizzie Haughey

Isobel McColgan, Kathleen Kennedy, Margaret Holland

Bernadette Kelly, Eileen McNulty, Robert McNulty

Katie Quinn, Grace Shields, Francis McElwee

Ruby Gallagher, Kathleen Coate, Robert Moore

Michael Duffy, Colm MacRory, Tommy Brennan

May Gorman   

Baptism Dates

April: Sunday 21.

May: Sunday 5; Saturday 11.

June: Sunday 9; Saturday 22; Saturday 29.

July: Sunday 7; Saturday 13; Saturday 27.

August: Sunday 4; Saturday 10; Saturday 24.

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.

Parish Draw Promoters should make their returns for April to the Parish Office tomorrow Monday 15 April from 2.00pm - 4.00pm. The Draw for April will take place on Thursday 18 April at 10.30am in the Parish Office.

Vocations As we approach the end of the Year of Prayer for Vocations to the diocesan priesthood we continue to pray for the men of our own diocese who are discerning God’s will for them, that they will be witnesses to the Resurrection of Jesus and to His presence in the Church and the world, preaching the message of ‘repentance for the forgiveness of sins.’ Anyone interested in serving the Church as a priest of the diocese of Derry should contact Fr. Pat O’Hagan, diocesan Director of Vocations, at pgoh2111@gmail.com or on 79386259.

St. Eugene’s Cathedral Pilgrimage to Fatima from 19 - 24 October. Cost £770 per person sharing, with a single room supplement of £150 (subject to availability). For more information please contact Anne Marie Hickey on amhickey@derrydiocese.org or telephone 71262894.

Residents & Staff of Greenfield invite you to our Coffee Morning on Thursday 18 April at 10.30am. Everyone welcome. All proceeds will go towards the Residents’ Comfort Fund.

Accord Derry Marriage Preparation Courses (Pre-Marriage Courses) will take place on 19/20 April; 17/18 May and 14/15 June. Courses can be booked online at www.accordni.com. Please note that all courses are now in person and NOT virtual.

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. Please ensure that whoever is erecting the headstone and surround for you in this graveyard, contact the Parish Office on 71383777 before any work commences.

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. If you are interested in registering for the Masters in September 2024 or require more information, contact the Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre on 71264087 or email: tferry@derrydiocese.org

All Ireland Rosary Rally, Knock on 1 June. The All-Ireland Rosary Rally is back this year on Saturday 1 June in Knock. The day begins with a Marian Conference at 9.30am in St. John’s Centre. Speakers include Fr. Michael Donnelly, Sr Ana Margarita Lanzas SCTJM and Fr. Joseph Maria Deane CFR. Then there will be an opportunity to meet over 20 apostolates from around Ireland at approximately 11.30am in St. John’s Centre. A well-renowned speaker from Miami, Mother Adela Galindo, will deliver the keynote Rosary talk at 1.00pm in the Basilica. There will be Stations of the Cross outside at 2.00pm followed by the Rosary Procession. Bishop Phonsie Cullinan will be the main celebrant of the 3.00pm concelebrated Mass which will include the Anointing of the Sick. Confessions are available throughout the day and there will be Rosary and scapular making workshops in the marquee. For more information visit www.AllIrelandRosaryRally.com

Lough Derg Pilgrimage Season

Three Day Pilgrimages from Friday 31 May - Thursday 15 August. Admission €80. Booking advised. One Day Retreats: May 5, 6, 12, 14, 18, 25, 27. August 17, 20, 25, 26, 31. September 4, 7, 10, 14, 15, 21, 22. Admission is €45 and booking is essential.

For more information contact Lough Derg on info@loughderg.org or telephone 00353 7198 61518.

Muckamore Abbey is having a service of Thanksgiving and Prayer in the Moyola Building for staff, past and present on April 18 at 7.30pm.

Mary’s Meals – Crisis in Ethiopia Mary’s Meals provides school meals to over 2.4 million children every day. At this time, we ask you to remember in your prayers families facing extreme food insecurity and hunger in Ethiopia and we invite you to a special online session, where our founder Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow will share more about this urgent under-reported crisis, on Tuesday 16 April at 7.00pm. For more information log on to www.marysmeals.org.uk or email info@marysmeals.org