Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

9th June 2024

Fr John Forbes Golden Jubilee

John Patrick Forbes first saw the light of day on 17 March 1945, the third of four children of Johnny and Mamie (nee Quigley), Melmount Villas. He was brought to the old Melmount Church the following day to be baptised and it was in that same church that he was to receive the sacraments of First Confession, First Holy Communion and Confirmation. 

The young John attended Barrack Street P.S. and then St. Columb’s College, Derry, before moving to London to work in a bank. Feeling that he had a vocation to the priesthood, he applied to study for the diocese of Derry and in 1968 the then Bishop, Dr Neil Farren sent him to St Kieran’s College in Kilkenny to begin six years of seminary training.

That culminated in his ordination to the priesthood in the new St. Mary’s Church, Melmount which had been opened in December 1970.

The big day for John and the Forbes family came on Saturday 8 June 1974, a momentous day not just for them but for the parish of Melmount and the diocese of Derry as this would be the first priestly ordination carried out by Bishop Edward Daly, who had himself just been ordained a bishop a few months earlier.

For the next six years, Fr John served his first appointment as curate in the parish of Drumragh (Omagh), followed by terms in Pennyburn and Foreglen. In 1998 he returned to Derry city as Administrator in Carnhill before becoming P.P. of Banagher in 1999. His final appointment in the diocese was as P.P. in Gortin in 2008 until he retired in 2021.

After fifty years of dedicated and faithful service to preaching the Gospel and living it in very practical ways and in situations which at times were difficult and demanding, we offer Fr. John our congratulations and wish him good health for the years ahead.

Announcements

Last week’s collection amounted to £2936.00. 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 10 June after 10.00am Mass until 6.00pm.

May they Rest in Peace

Deaths

Carmel Quigley, 48 Urney Road                   

Joe McShane, Artigarvan

Patricia McLaughlin, 9 Ballycolman Avenue

Anniversaries

James Magee, Annie Panayi, Una Patton

Danny Shields, Mary McGranaghan, Robert Coyle

Harry Doherty, Brendan McElwee, Philomena Blake

Michael Donnelly, Margaret Haughey, Adrian Doherty

Annie Gillespie, James Norry, Martha Madden

Ann Bell, Rebecca McCosker, Kathleen Perera

Baptism Dates

June: Saturday 22; Saturday 29.

July: Sunday 7; Saturday 13.

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.

Pope’s Collection There will be a second collection on Sunday 16 June for the Pope. There is an envelope marked ‘Pope’s Collection’ in your box of collection envelopes. Anyone contributing to this collection by cheque should make it payable to ‘Melmount Parish’ only. Thank you.

Parish Draw Promoters should make their returns for June to the Parish Office tomorrow Monday 10 June from 2.00pm - 4.00pm. The Draw for June will take place on Wednesday 12 June at 10.30am in the Parish Office.

Vocations When Jesus is told, ‘Your mother and brothers and sisters are asking for you’, he replies, ‘Anyone who does the will of God, that person is my brother and sister and mother.’ We pray for those hoping to serve as priests of the diocese of Derry, that they will do the will of God.

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.

Diocese of Derry 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!

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.

Day Retreat in Honour of St. Anthony will take place in the Carmelite Retreat Centre, Termonbacca on Thursday 13 June from 10.00am - 3.00pm. Cost for the day including a light lunch £20.00. Please bring along some lilies to have blessed in honour of St. Anthony on the day. For bookings telephone 71262512.

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.

Anam Cara, Donegal, the organisation that supports bereaved parents, is holding its monthly Parent Evening for bereaved parents on Thursday 13 June at 7.15pm in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Letterkenny. This event is free and open to all bereaved parents regardless of the age your child died, the circumstances of their death or whether their death was recent of not. We also offer an online service. For more information telephone 00353 1 4045378.

Pilgrimage to Medjugorje Some places are still available for Pilgrimage to Medjugorje leaving from Belfast on 7 August flying direct to Mostar (approximately half an hour from Medjugorje). Cost is £715 per person sharing which includes return flights, accommodation, breakfast and evening meals. Additional charge for single room occupancy. The Pilgrimage is organised through Marian Pilgrimages (Dublin). £100 deposit is required to secure a place. For more information, please contact John Murray on 0780 1105575.

St. Vincent de Paul: Senior Citizens, come and meet your friends for Afternoon Tea and Dance in St. Patrick’s Hall on Friday 14 June from 2.00pm - 5.00pm. Admission by ticket only. Tickets available from Monday 3 June at Vincent’s Shop, Barrack Street.

Lisnafin/Ardnalee/Trust CCDA’s Annual Free Summer Scheme for 7 - 14-year-olds Registration in Lisnafin Community Centre on Monday 10 June from 2.00pm - 3.30pm & from 6.00pm - 7.30pm. Registration will open only for children aged 7 -14 living in Lisnafin Park, Ardnalee Park and Old Trust areas. Places allocated on a first come basis. ID required for registration: Proof of Child’s age (Birth certificate or Passport). Parent’s ID and proof of address.