CONFESSIONS
Saturdays: 10.30am - 12.30pm; 5.45pm
- 6.20pm
Thursday before First Friday after
morning Mass
BAPTISMS
Friday: 6.30pm Sunday 12.45pm
THE MANY FACES OF FORGIVENESS
Forgiveness is restoration and reconciliation.
Forgiveness demands that we view others through the
eyes of mercy.
Forgiveness restores what has been damaged and brings
healing where there has been alienation.
Forgiveness restores unity where there has been division.
Forgiveness attempts to foster reconciliation where
oneness ceases to exist.
Forgiveness is right relationships with God and neighbour.
Forgiveness means loving genuinely with a love that
goes beyond the problem and extends to the person(s)
involved.
Forgiveness demands a well-developed level of maturity.
Forgiveness comes slowly. When the injury is deep,
layers are peeled back gently, compassionately, and
slowly.
Forgiveness is never easy.
"Forgive and forget." Though a classic
admonition, it is rarely helpful and often harmful.
Painful memories of the past are never completely
expunged, so the task is to refuse to let those memories
control and unduly influence one's behaviour in the
present. Holding on to anger and resentment is paralysing.
It retards growth and interferes with one's capacity
to grow as a loving person. On the other hand, forgiveness
creates freedom to move into the newness of life.
Lewis Smedes has described this process accurately,
''The test of forgiving lies with healing the lingering
pain of the past, not with forgetting that the past
ever happened.''
Reasons for Forgiving
There are many valid reasons to choose forgiveness
as a response to hurt or injury. Two of note are theological
and personal.
Some of the most compelling theological reasons were
articulated, surprisingly, in Time magazine. This
secular magazine reported on Pope John Paul 11's visit
in jail with Mehmet Ali Agca, the man who shot him.
The Time authors in a series of challenging statements
articulate sound theological reasons for forgiveness.
In describing the Pope's action they declared, "This
startling drama of forgiveness and reconciliation
was not just a private act, but was also a message
to the world,'' a witness to the essence of Christianity.
The writers challenged their readers by recalling
that forgiveness is not a normal human reaction: to
err is human, to forgive is divine. The choice to
forgive another reflects Jesus who forgave his enemies
from his cross.
Time declared that loving one's enemies is at the
"centre of the New Testament." To forgive
one's enemies was a constant message of Jesus Christ.
To hold forgiveness as a value distinguishes Christians
from many other religions and cultures.
Time continued: "Forgiveness is actually a profound
transaction. It is the working model for human relationship
with God ... Not to forgive is to condemn oneself
to a stuttering repetition of evil."
It may seem strange that these powerful theological
reasons for forgiveness were detailed in a secular
news magazine. However, the concept of forgiveness
is increasingly presented in the so-called secular
media. The television news magazine "20/20"
recently produced a segment extolling the value of
forgiveness and indicating that forgiveness therapy
has had phenomenal success.
The study tracks an understanding of forgiveness
through a variety of cultures and religions and concludes
that forgiveness is a uniquely Christian value.
In addition to theological reasons, there are numerous
practical considerations that support forgiveness.
COLLECTION
We acknowledge last Sunday’s
collection of £1663.00. Many thanks.
PRAYER GROUP
The contemplative prayer group will
meet on Monday evening at 8.15pm in the Parochial
House. Newcomers very welcome.
DEATHS
We offer our deepest sympathy to the
family and friends of:
Jennie Patton, Church
View
Tony McGlynn, Dunamanagh
May they rest in peace.
ANNIVERSARIES
Teresa Doherty, Patsy McAnenny,
Margaret Gallagher, James Sturrock,
George Sproule, Maxine McMenamin,
Margaret Mullen, Margaret McNally,
Jim Kennedy, Paddy Farrell,
James McGinley, Mary Egan,
Francis Dixon, Charles Love,
Rosie Wray, Laurence Walters.
PRAY FOR PRIESTS
The diocese published a prayer card
with the names of all the Derry diocesan priests.
Many of you have these cards and every day a specific
priest is named.
This week we ask you to pray for:
Fr. John Doherty PP, Leckpatrick, 1 Feb
Fr. Joseph Doherty, Retired, 2 Feb
Fr. Michael Doherty PP, Melmount,
3 Feb
Fr. Patrick Doherty PP, Castlederg,
4 Feb
Fr. Andrew Dolan PP, Bellaghy, 5 Feb
Fr. Brian Donnelly CC, Dungiven, 6
Feb
Mgr Joseph Donnelly PP VF, Omagh,
7 Feb
PADRE PIO MASS
The Padre Pio Mass will take place
in the church on Wednesday 3 December at 7.00pm. Rosary
6.45pm.
PARISH DRAW
The winners of the Draw for
the month of January are:
£1000.00 Charlie McBride 730
Promoter Kathleen Connolly
£300.00 Vera McGillian 583
Promoter Mary McAleer
£200.00 Kirk Family 612
Promoter Josie Gallagher
£100.00 Mary McAleer 450
Promoter Mary McAleer
£100.00 Mary Semple 637
Promoter Josie Gallagher
£100.00 Andrew MacIntyre 557
Promoter Andrew MacIntyre
£100.00 Hubert O'Neill 762
Promoter Fr Boland
£100.00 Fidelma Devine 905
Promoter Eileen Canning
NOTICES FOR PARISH BULLETIN
In order to facilitate printing we
ask that all notices and anniversaries for the parish
bulletin are either given to the sacristan or left
at the parish office by Wednesday morning at the latest.
PAYMENTS BY CHEQUE
The Bank have reminded us that all
payments made to the parish by cheque (for Parish
Draw, Sunday and Special Collections etc.) must be
made payable to Church of the Immaculate Conception.
CARMELITE RETREAT CENTRE
Sr. Josephine Walsh Weekend Retreat
with emphasis on forgiving, healing and making a new
start, will take place at The Carmelite Retreat Centre,
Termonbacca from Friday 6 to Sunday 8 February. For
further details tel: Derry 71262512 during office
hours only.
VOCATIONS INFORMATION DAY
Could you be called to serve God and
his people as a priest in the Diocese of Derry? A
day of reflection on the theme of Vocation will take
place on Saturday 14 February in the Thornhill Retreat
Centre, Derry from 11.00am – 4.00pm. For further
information please contact Fr. Paul Farren: tel. 028
71264087 e-mail: ddcc@derrydiocese.org or Fr. Colm
O’Doherty: tel. 028 81661475 e-mail collydoc2000@hotmail.com
CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS -
ST. PATRICK'S NATIONAL SCHOOL,
MURLOG, LIFFORD
Did you go to Murlog School? If so
join us as we celebrate our centenary on Saturday
23 May 2009. There will be an open day in the School
from 12.00noon until 4.00pm. At 4.30pm there will
be a prayer service in St. Patrick’s Church,
Murlog and later in the evening at 9.30pm the celebrations
will move to St. Patrick’s Hall, Strabane for
dancing and supper will be served. So if you are a
past pupil please come and join us for a day of celebrations
and craic and who knows who you might meet. For any
information contact the School on 0035374 91 41450.
THE DERRY DIOCESAN COMMISSION FOR JUSTICE
AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS
The Derry Diocesan Commission for
Justice and Social Affairs was established in 2007.
Its objective is to support the Bishop in promoting
the social teaching of the Church and to advise on
issues of social concern both nationally and internationally.
The group is keen to ensure that it is informed by
a wide range of views and opinions. Would you be interested
in making a contribution? If so, you are welcome to
come along to a meeting on Tuesday 10 February in
the Thornhill Centre, Culmore Road, Derry at 7.30pm.
LUMEN CHRISTI COLLEGE OPEN DAY
Lumen Christi College Open Day will take place on
Sunday 8 February in the College in Bishop Street
Derry. The College Principal, Mr P. O’Doherty,
will address P.7 pupils and their parents at 3.00pm
and 4.00pm. Visitors will be given a short guided
tour of the College by current pupils. Light refreshments
will be available in the canteen.
STRABANE SIGERSONS GAA
The opening game of the 2009 Ladies NFL Division 1A
- Tyrone v Mayo will be played at Páirc Mhic
Sioghair Ballycolman this Sunday 1 February at 2.00pm.
Strabane Sigersons have entered the Ulster Senior
Football League and the first game will be away to
Antrim side Portglenone on Sunday 8 February.
ST. PATRICK’S
HALL
Bingo and Lucky 4 Draw as usual this
Thursday.
All our patrons are very welcome.
Bingo Snowball £2500.00
LUCKY 4 DRAW
There were 2 match 3 winners in last
week's Draw
Anna McGranaghan
Niamh Burns
The numbers drawn were:
1, 2, 8, 21
Next Week's Lucky 4 Jackpot is £875.00
N.I. BLOOD TRANSFUSION SERVICE
A team from the N.I. Blood Transfusion
Service will be in St. Patrick's Hall on Monday 2
February from 1.30pm - 4.00pm and 5.15pm - 8.00pm.
The Blood Transfusion Service would appeal for the
support of all existing blood donors and welcome new
donors.
THE CORY BAND
Strabane Concert Brass proudly presents
The Cory Band in concert in St. Patrick's Hall on
Saturday 7 February. Admission £15.00 - Concessionary
£12.00. Tickets available from Holy Cross College
or any member of Strabane Concert Brass. Curtain up
at 8.00pm sharp.
PRAYER CORNER
A PRAYER FOR PATIENCE
God, teach me to be patient -
Teach me to go slow -
Teach me how to "wait on You"
When my way I do not know. . .
Teach me forbearance
When things do not go right
So I remain unruffled
When others grow "uptight". . .
Teach me how to quiet
My racing, rising heart
So I may hear the answer
You are trying to impart. . .
Teach me to let go, dear God,
And pray undisturbed until
My heart is filled with inner peace
And I learn to know Your will!
CHANGE OF HEART
The Master deplored the evils of competition.
"Doesn't competition bring out the best in us?"
he was asked.
"It brings out the worst because it teaches you
to hate."
"Hate what?"
"Yourself - for you allow your activity to be
determined by your competitor, not by your own needs
and limitations. Others - for you seek to get ahead
at their expense."
"But that would sound the death-knell of change
and progress,'' someone protested.
Said the Master, "The only progress there is,
is love-progress. The only change worth having is
a change of heart."
PARABLES AND SILENCE
The Master held that the loyalty of
theologians to their belief systems made them all
too prone to turn a blind eye to the truth - and reject
the Messiah when he appeared.
Philosophers fared better at his hands.
Being unfettered by beliefs, they were more open in
their quest, he said.
But even philosophy, alas, was limited
for it was relied on words and concepts to penetrate
a Reality that was susceptible only to the non-conceptualising
mind.
"Philosophy," he once remarked,
"is a disease that is cured only by enlightenment.
Then it gives way to parables and silence."
ACCEPTANCE
"How can I change myself?''
"You are yourself - so you can no more change
yourself than you can walk away from your feet."
"Is there nothing I can do then?''
"You can understand and accept this."
"How will I change if I accept myself?''
"How will you change if you don't?
What you don't accept you do not change,
you merely manage to repress."
