Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
30th June 2024
‘Talitha Cum’
In today’s Gospel we hear two healing stories: Jairus’
daughter and the woman with a haemorrhage. At first glance these stories might
not seem to have a lot in common. The woman is a complete social outcast
because of her condition, yet Jesus calls her ‘daughter’. He does not let
social convention dictate who can be called a child of God.
Jesus reminds the
people of this woman’s true identity. The synagogue official surprises us, pleasantly,
with his faith in Jesus and his message. What these two characters have in
common is faith against all the odds as they reach out to Jesus in faith-filled
action. There are those in the story who laugh when Jesus says he can bring
back Jairus’ daughter. They are sent away. Jesus’ healing breaks down the
barriers that isolate us from one another and from God.
We can all recall times when we were struggling. We
needed something to move us, to help us forgive, to help us walk away or to
relieve us of physical pain. In the end it can be the simple gestures that save
us: a kind word, someone praying for us, a gentle touch or we reach out to
someone and like the woman with the haemorrhage we suddenly feel within
ourselves that we are healing. These accounts show us something of how God’s
grace can enter our lives and transform situations.
Mark leaves untranslated Jesus’ native language when
he restores the young girl to life: ‘Talitha cum’ – a beautiful phrase meaning:
‘Little girl, get up!’. Jairus’ daughter has been given new life; the woman has
also been given new life. Both have overcome barriers that were keeping them
from being free. We know what those barriers are for each of us. God’s grace is
gentle yet can bring life to situations of death. What do you need healing from
today? Bring this to prayer.
Jane Mellett
Announcements
Last week’s collection
amounted to £2883.00. 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 1 July after 10.00am Mass until 6.00pm. Please
Note: This will be the last Monday of Exposition of the Blessed
Sacrament until September.
First Friday Friday of this week is the First Friday. Mass will be
at 10.00am. Confessions will take place on the Thursday before the First Friday
after 10.00am Mass and on Saturday at 11.30am.
We congratulate the following couple who were recently
united in the Sacrament of Marriage:
Ursula Kavanagh and Christopher McLaughlin
May they Rest in Peace
Deaths
Bridget Kelly, 4 Chestnut Park
Marie Wallace, 1 Gourleyville Terrace
Charlie McGillian, 58 Bridge Street
Eileen Gallagher, Lifford
Martin Bond, Sydney
Michael
Hunter, Claudy formerly Killygordon
Anniversaries
Sharon McElroy, Maureen
McGillian, Joe Mullen
Dympna King, Joe McGeehan, Mark
McElwee
Marguerite O’Donnell, Frank Dempsey, Kitty McCrossan
Gerard Conwell, Gregory
Kearney, John O’Kane
Martin McDonagh, Annie
McCrory, David Kennedy
Car Park Tarmacing and White Lines We hope to have the Church car park tarmaced and white
lined over the next few weeks, a suitable time because of school summer
holidays and with no weddings until the end of July. The car park is in much need of this work
being done.
Collection Counters The
following are asked to count the collection for the month of July: Cecilia
McDaid, Maureen Hegarty and Robert Brennan.
Baptism Dates
July: Sunday
7.
August: Sunday
4; Saturday 24.
September: Sunday
1; Saturday 14; Saturday 28.
October: Sunday
6; Saturday 12; Saturday 26.
November: Sunday
3; Saturday 16; Saturday 30.
December: Sunday
8; Saturday 14; Saturday 28.
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 July &
August (£10.00 for each person) to the Parish Office on Monday 8 July from
2.00pm - 4.00pm. The Draw for July will take place on Wednesday 10 July at
10.30am in the Parish Office.
Three-Day Pilgrimage to Lough Derg 2024 led by Bishop
Donal McKeown starts on Friday 26 July and concludes on Sunday 28
July. Bus will leave St. Eugene’s Cathedral, Derry on Friday 26 July at 11.00am
and will travel via, Strabane, Lifford and Ballybofey. Cost £80 including
transport. Cost for those making their own way to Lough Derg £70. Pre-booking
is required for those travelling by bus. Please contact Tony Brennan at
tony.brennan@derrydiocese.org or telephone the Diocesan Office on 71262302 for
a booking form. Lough Derg is a sacred place apart to bring burdens and leave
them behind, to seek healing for wounds and to ask for them to be healed. The
Lough Derg Pilgrimage provides a kind of breathing space in which people can
calmly explore and reflect on where they find themselves in their lives at that
moment in time. We look forward to welcoming you!
Vocations We pray that the men called to serve the diocese of
Derry as priests will hear the Lord say in this weekend’s gospel, ‘Do not be
afraid. Only have faith.’
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.
Lough Derg Pilgrimage Season Three
Day Pilgrimages until Thursday 15 August. Admission €80. Booking advised. One
Day Retreats: 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.
St. Patrick’ Church, Murlog Annual Pilgrimage to Knock will
take place on Saturday 3 August led by Fr. Colm O’Doherty. Bus leaves Murlog Church
car park at 7.30am. Mass celebrated by Fr. Colm in the Apparition Chapel at
12.30pm. Cost: €30 per person for bus and evening meal. To book telephone James
on 00353 85 8767999/Louise 00353 86 0567455.
Glenshane Pilgrimage to Rome, San Giovanni and
Montecassino from 6 - 10 November Cost €895. Afternoon flights with Aer Lingus.
Excellent accommodation and dinners. All transport and tours included. For more
information contact Kieran and Laura on 00353 5793 55050.
Pilgrimage to Shrines of Italy 8 Days
including San Giovanni, Shrine of St. Michael the Archangel, Lanciano, Assisi
(including the Tomb of Blessed Carlo Acutis), Loreto, St. Rita of Cascia, Our
Lady of Revelations etc. Departs 28 August ex Dublin. Cost £1090.00. Limited
places. For more information contact Anita on 07769744836.
Pilgrimages to Fatima ex Dublin, Easter 2025 Feast
of Our Lady of Fatima, May 13, 2025, Feast of St. Anthony, June 13,
2025, and October 13, 2025. Contact James Treacy on 00353 61921470 or email: jamestreacyphotography@gmail.com
St. Thérèse International Day at Knock on
Sunday 14 July. Anointing of the Sick at 2.30pm. Concelebrated Mass at 3.00pm.
Blessing with Relic of St. Thérèse and Veneration of the Relics. 10.00am -
5.30pm.
The Priory Institute two-week on-line Summer School is
reflective, informative and interactive and will run from 19 August. The course
includes eight recorded presentations and three on-line zoom discussions and is
very flexible as it is delivered entirely online. For more information and to
register see www.prioryinstitute.com
