Cappagh Parish, Derry Diocese, Ireland.

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Jesus said to his disciples: “I give you a new commandment: love one another; as I have loved you, you also must love one another”. It is said that familiarity breeds contempt. Maybe contempt is too strong a word when we apply this statement to the command of Jesus; it is more likely to be indifference. We hear it and leave it. But this commandment, if it were to be lived out by us, would revolutionise the world. The most obvious place for living it is in marriage and family life. There continues to be far too much mediocrity in marriage and family relationships and this spills over rather than the passionate love of Christ. This power of love is to be lived in our faith community. But again mediocrity is more the flavour of our community than joy and gladness. And the love of Christ, lived by us his followers, knows no bounds but is destined to reach the ends of the earth to heal the divisions of humanity.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R.

The month of May is the "month which the piety of the faithful has especially dedicated to Our Blessed Lady," and it is the occasion for a "moving tribute of faith and love which Catholics in every part of the world pay to the Queen of Heaven. During this month Christians, both in church and in the privacy of the home, offer up to Mary from their hearts an especially loving homage of prayer and veneration.

Remember, most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection,
implored your help or sought your intercession was left unaided.
Inspired with this confidence, I fly to you,
Virgin of virgins, my Mother.
To you I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful.
Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions,
but in your mercy hear and answer me.

The monthly devotions, in honour of Our Lady, will take place in the Carmelite Retreat Centre, Termonbacca, Derry on Tuesday 4th May starting with confessions at 7.30 p.m. followed by Rosary and Mass, finishing around 10.00 p.m. All are welcome to attend.

Gerard Kennedy, Old Mountfield Road
Patrick Meenan, Loughmacrory Road
Gerry Slattery, Strathroy
Sammy Gormley, Derry Road
Joe Harding, Knocknamoe Road
Mary Donaghy, McIvor Villas
May McSwiggan, Lisanelly Park
Jane Browne, Half Way House
Ann Ward, Loughrey
James Blaney, Glendore Wood
Patrick Mullin, Centenary Park
Kathleen O’Neill, Centenary Park
Maureen Windsor, Belfast
Michael Coyle, Fecarry MF

Fr. William Rafferty Wednesday 05th May
Fr. John Ryder Thursday 06th May
Fr. Gerard Sweeney Friday 07th May
Fr. Gary Wade Saturday 08th May
Fr. John R. Walsh Sunday 09th May

The Blessing of the Graves this year will take place in Killyclogher on Sunday
5th September and in Knockmoyle on Sunday 12th September.

Divine Mercy Group meet today Sunday 2nd May at 3 pm in St. Mary’s Church Killyclogher. All are welcome to join us in this Community Prayer.

Ulster Project Table Quiz: Thursday 6th May @ 8 pm in the Silver Birch Hotel.
All Welcome. Last Question of the Night: “Who won the election?”

Knockmoyle Notes: AGM to be held in Knockmoyle Hall on Wednesday 5th May at 8pm. Come along to hear the latest update on your community hall.
Refreshments served. First Friday night dance on May 7th with Country
Cousins. Supper served.

Termonbacca Community 16th annual Fun day will be held on Sunday 30th
May 2010. We would be grateful for any items you may wish to donate, e.g.; clothes, toys, bric a brac, books etc, for our Fun day stalls. Please bring them along to the Retreat Centre. If you are willing to help in anyway you can contact us during office hours. Tel: Derry 71262512

Trocaire: A special word of congratulations to the following schools for their magnificent contributions to the Trocaire/Haiti collections. Gaelscoil na gCrann £700; St. Mary’s P.S. £941 and Recarson P.S. £300.

A. The Rosary is a way of asking Mary to lead us to her Son, Jesus Christ, as she did at Cana. Each decade recalls an event from the early life of Jesus, the light of his ministry, his passion or his glorification. We meditate on these events so as to imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise. It is Jesus who is at the centre of the Rosary, just as the centre of the Hail Mary is the name of Jesus. It is a way of keeping the gospel fresh in our minds.

SMA Pilgrimage to Knock takes place on Saturday 22nd May 2010 to ask the intercession of Our Lady of Knock for Missionaries, Vocations and personal
intentions. The programme begins with Confessions from 10.30am-noon; Mass in the Basilica at 12 noon followed by Stations of the Cross and Rosary. The anointing of the sick takes place at a con-celebrated Mass at 3.00pm.

Lough Derg: ‘A Day of Friendship and Prayer’ takes place on Saturday 17th
April 2010. The guest speaker will be Bishop Ken Good. Boats run from 10.30am. Bishop Good will give his address at 12noon followed by lunch (soup and sandwiches) with free time to explore the island after lunch. Departure from 2.00pm. Suggested donation €15. Book now to avoid disappointment call
071 9861515 or from N.I. 686 32391.

Day Trip to Lough Derg on Sunday 9th May. Bus leaves Mountfield at 8.30am via Killyclogher and Omagh. Fare for bus and boat £35. Call 07767413601.

GAA Weekly Bingo: Each Monday evening in Cappagh Parish Hall at 9 pm. Weekly Lotto Numbers 4, 6, 13, 22 & 29. Twenty winners each received £5. Two jackpots have now been capped at £5,000. New jackpot now stands at £3,150.

Last week’s collections: Church collection £3,241.
Bishop Collection £1,342.
Trocaire £20,647.