BACK TO SCHOOL

THORNHILL Wednesday 27th August: Year 13 Registration Day Thursday 28th August: Year 14 Registration Day Monday 1st September: Year 8 Pupils Tuesday 2nd September: All pupils except Year 8 Wednesday 3rd September: Whole School

St Joseph’s Boys’ School Thurs28th August at 9.00 am – Year 13 1.10 pm Year 14 Registration Friday 29th August at 8.45 am – 12.00 Year 10, Year 12 and Year 14 Induction Monday 1st September at 8.45 am – 12.00 noon – Year 8 and Year 13 Tuesday 2nd September at 8.45 am – 12.00 – Year 9 and Year 11 Induction

St Cecilia’s College Thurs 28th August Year 8, 12 & 13 . Friday 29th August Year 14 pupils . All pupils expected to attend school on Monday 1st September. School will begin at 8.45 a.m.

ST MARY’S COLLEGE Thursday 28th August Year 8 only All Day Friday 29th August Year 8, 13 and 14 from 8.45 a.m. – 12.30 p.m. Monday 1st September All Pupils

HOLY FAMILY CHURCH

Sun 24 August 2014 Vol.31 No 33

MASSES Saturday Vigil 6.00pm Sunday 9.30am 11.00am, 12.30pm Weekdays 10.00am, 7.15pm

CONFESSIONS Saturday 10.30am, and before evening Mass Eve of Holydays & eve of First Fridays: 10.30am. and before evening Mass BAPTISMS DATES: Every Saturday at 7.00pm Parochial House 71267070

Email:office@holyfamilyparish.com Parish Sisters 71260398 Holy Family School 71267798 St. Eithne’s School 71377077 www.holyfamily-parish.com

PARISH GROUPS Tues: 8pm Choir Practice Wed 8.00pm Adult Education Thurs 7.45pm Scripture Group New members welcome!

HOLY FAMILY PRIMARY AND NURSERY SCHOOL will reopen for pupils at the following times: Nursery Pupils – Open day for all pupils on Monday 1st September anytime between 9am and 1pm Tuesday 2nd September Nursery pupils commence class at the times/dates arranged with the class teacher P1 Pupils – Monday 1st Septem-ber at times/dates arranged with the class teacher P2 – P7 - Monday 1st September at 8.50am

POPE FRANCIS The election of Cardinal Bergoglio, represented a string of firsts: he was the first pope from outside Europe in a millennium; the first from Latin America; the first Jesuit; and the first to take the name Francis after St Francis of Assisi who turned his back on a wealthy upbringing and lived with the poor.

There were two conflicting assessments of his record in his native Argentina. The son of a railway worker, he was known to be a simple man who shunned the limousines and smart palace he was entitled to as archbishop in favour of public transport and an ordinary flat. But he was also accused of being too cosy with the brutal military dictators.

On his first appearance on the balcony of St. Peter’s after his election the 76 year old refused to wear the red cape or papal slippers normally expected of the occasion or the bejewelled gold cross.

Francis turned his back on the white papal Mercedes for a Ford Focus and opted to say in the Vatican ‘Bed and Breakfast’ where he and his fellow cardinals lodged for the conclave, rather than live in the official apartments.

‘I’m visible to people and I lead a normal life—public Mass in the morning, I eat in the refectory with everyone else’. All this is good for me and prevents me from being isolated’. There are many other stories I could share on how our new pope is a breath of fresh air. As we celebrate the primacy of Peter in this weekend’s Gospel let us give praise and thanks for the blessings our new pope has brought our church.

SYMPATHY We offer our sympathy to the family of Anna McQuilkin Belfield Park who died during the week. May she rest in peace, BAPTISMS Our parish family welcomes: Coragh Marie McLaughlin Rossnagalliagh Sophia Lauren Kelly 59 The Meadows

Anniversaries We pray for Ella Burns, Fr. Pat McBride, Fr. Joe Carolan Tony McGrellis, Frank Harkin, Lily McGrenaghan, James McGinty

SUNDAY COLLECTION 10 August amounted to £ 1417.03 and €140.94 Thank you. Catechism Course Unit 2 – Do you want to understand your faith more deeply? Could you commit to doing a little reading each day and meeting each Tuesday evening for 13 weeks to explore what the Catechism has to say? The study notes have been prepared by Maryvale Institute. Spiritual Director: Fr Roland Colhoun. Introductory meeting: Tuesday 2nd September, 7:00-9:00pm, in Parish Hall (downstairs), at St Columb’s Church, Waterside. Cost of course: £35. For further information please phone Parish Office, 71342303 or email roland@derrydiocese.org.

ACCORD DERRY – Marriage Preparation Workshops September 5/6th 2014 October 3/4th 2014 Venue: Ardmore Parish Centre Booking www.accordni.com or Tel Accord Derry 71362475

TROCAIRE LENTEN CAMPAIN MATCHED FUNDING INITIATIVE: Trocaire are delighted to inform you that they have reached, and, indeed, surpassed their target for matched funding by the UK government, in the Trocaire Lenten Campaign. Trocaire ask you to accept their sincere gratitude to you for your crucial role in helping them to achieve this successful outcome. Response to crisis in Iraq: Trócaire has committed an initial €300,000 to support their Caritas partners in responding to the evolving emergency and assess the needs of vulnerable populations, the most pressing of which are food, water and essential living supplies.

COSY CLUB Winter is coming. Would you like company and learn some new skills? Are you over 50.Then contact COSY Club 12a Farland Way, Hazelbank or phone 71370196 Upcoming events: Big Quiz, bus trip to Lifford Courthouse & Asda in September Halloween party, Email us for more details on cosyclub@yahoo.co.uk

NATIONAL GRANDPARENTS PILGRIMAGE to Our Lady's shrine at Knock takes place on Sunday 14th September. Blessing of the sick 2.30 pm Mass 3pm.Chief Celebrant Archbishop Charles Brown Papal Nuncio. Everyone welcome. Children are invited to compose a prayer for their Grandparents and send it to CGA office Castlebar St Westport Co Mayo. All prayers will be displayed in the basilica and blessed during the Mass. For further info phone 098 24877or email info@catholicgrandparentsassociation.com PROJECT JUSTICE: The Justice Committee of the Northern Ireland Assembly is currently running a public consultation on a proposed amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill that will ensure that private clinics, such as the Marie Stopes centre in Belfast, cannot legally carry out abortion. Please sign a ‘submission postcard’ and show your support for the amendment and make clear your opposition to Marie Stopes. Closing date for written submissions is Friday 12th September 2014. For ‘submission postcards’ or further information on PROJECT JUSTICE, please contact Precious Life on 028 9027 8484 or email us at info@preciouslife.com.

CULLEN SCHOOL OF IRISH DANCING Beginners classes resume on Monday 1st Sept at 4.45 Shantallow Community Centre. All new beginners welcome. Other classes resume for 1st Sept at usual times. Tel 71264548 UNIVERSITY OF ULSTER welcome applications for our part-time Irish language courses, Diploma at Magee and Degree in Letterkenny. Please call 71675277 for further information or email nm.mccaul@ulster.ac.uk Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin is delighted to announce a new schedule of classes for Irish language learners at all levels, as well as a range of musical instruments, commencing on September 8th. For details, please contact + 44 (0)28 71 264 132 or eolas@culturlann-doire.ie. LIAM BRADLEY TOURS Galway 6th Oct. Tel 07707166717 The Cairn Theatre Group presents "Moville, The Bishop and The Big House" in The Cairn every Tuesday until end Sept. Drama and song combine to make a story to remember Show starts 8pm Enquiries Tel 00353 074 9381104