Second Sunday In Ordinary Time
Today’s Second Reading: ‘you are not your own’ (1 Cor 6-19). You don’t have the final say over what you can and can’t do. I can almost hear howls of protest from those who claim total ownership over themselves, from those who claim the ‘right’ to do whatever they wish provided it’s not illegal, from those who claim the ‘right’ to end their life at a time and in a manner of their choosing – and generally from anybody who doesn’t like being told what to do. And that covers a lot of people. But isn’t it basic to our faith that we belong to God, and are happy with that? Isn’t that what Baptism is about: acknowledging God’s ownership of us? We didn’t make ourselves, cause ourselves to be born, give ourselves life in any way whatsoever. So how can we possibly claim ownership over something we had no hand or act in making? We have been given as a gift unto ourselves – a gift for purpose not whimsy, for freedom not licence, forever not just for a day. But suppose, for the sake of argument, that God’s word in scripture were to tell us that God couldn’t care less what we did here; that God couldn’t be bothered whether we wiped ourselves off the face of the earth, for that matter, how would we feel? I can almost hear howls of protest.
Copyright: Fr Tom Cahill (Intercom) |
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| Daily
Readings
You
can access the daily readings on the
parish website:
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St
Oliver Plunkett Primary School
St
Oliver Plunkett Primary School would
like to invite parents of children
who will become four years of age
on or before 1st July 2009, to an
Open Day on Tuesday 20th January
at 1.15pm.
St Oliver Plunkett Pre-School Playgroup
St Oliver Plunkett Pre-School Playgroup, situated in grounds of
St Oliver Plunkett Primary School, would like to remind parents of children who are 3 or turning 3 before July 2009, that the closing date for completed application forms is
Wednesday 21st January 2009.
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Liturgical
Team
The Liturgical Team (Church Decoration Team) would like to thank all those who gave their time to help put the crib away and tidy the church. A special thank you to all those who volunteered to help with the looking after of the shrines. We are very grateful.
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Open Nights for Primary
7 Pupils
| St
Louise’s Comprehensive College |
Open Night on Wednesday
21st January 2009 at 6.30pm or 7.30pm. |
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Church Heating
During the week it was confirmed by a heating consultant that the iron piping under the church floor had corroded and the piping can no longer be used. At present, quotations to bring the piping from above to existing radiators are being drawn up – once agreed, the work will commence immediately. In the meantime electric heaters are being used before each Mass. |
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Week
Of Prayer For Christian Unity
This
year's Inter-Church Prayer Service
will be held in
St
Peter's Cathedral on Thursday 22nd
January at 8pm
Theme: 'That they may become one.'
Preacher: Bishop Michael Jackson
Church of Ireland Bishop of Clogher
Parishioners
are encouraged to join
St Oliver Plunkett/St Matthew's Ecumenical
Group
in St Peter's on Thursday 22nd January
to pray,
with other Christians, for grace and
enlightenment on the difficult journey
towards that full unity which is Christ's
will.
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Parish Events
| First Confessions |
will be celebrated on Monday
23rd and Tuesday 24th March 2009
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| Confirmation |
will be celebrated on Monday
3th March 2009
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| First Holy Communion |
will be celebrated on Sunday
17th May 2009 |
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Vocation Retreat
Vocation weekend for students and young men will take place in Drumalis Retreat House, Larne on February 13th -15th 2009. The weekend is for anyone (17 and older) who is thinking about the possibility of a vocation to the Priesthood or Religious Life. Anyone interested contact Fr. J. Murray, St Luke’s, Twinbrook, 9061 9459. |
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| Baptisms
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Next baptisms will take place on Sunday 1st February 2009 at 1.30pm. Please note the next date available for Baptism is Sunday
1st March 2009. The next pre-Baptism instruction will be on Thursday 22nd January 2009 at 8pm in the convent.
It is necessary
to attend pre-Baptism preparation before
asking to have your child baptised. To register
for pre-Baptism preparation please contact
the parish office 9061 8180, Mon & Wed
2pm-5pm, Tue & Fri 10am-2pm & Thurs
10am-1pm.
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| We
Loved Them In Life
We offer our sympathy and prayerful support to the families of those parishioners who died recently:
We
pray for
the happy repose of those whose anniversaries
occur around this time:
Patrick Hardy
May & Harry McParland
Sadie Hughes
Brian Knox
Doreen Cunningham
Arthur Sloan
John & Ellen Maxwell
Tony Morgan
John Dinnen
Sheila Devlin
Shelia Toner
Mary McLoughlin
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| Collections
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The Offertory collection
for
amounted to £1,166.75
There will be a second collection today Diocesan Youth Commission
Thank you
all for your generous support
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