SPACE FOR THE HANDICAPPED
You have probably had the experience of driving
into a parking lot and seeing an empty parking space
close to the door of the store you intended to visit.
But when you reached it you saw a symbol for handicapped
persons painted on the pavement; so you drove on,
seeking another parking place. If this has happened
to you, then you can relate to a strange dream I recently
had.
I dreamed that I was driving into a parking lot of
a giant shopping mall. The parking lot was almost
totally deserted, so I thought I would be able to
park wherever I wanted to. But as I looked around,
I saw that there was a yellow symbol for the handicapped
on every one of the hundreds of spaces! No matter
which side of the shopping mall I tried, every place
was painted with that symbolic person in a wheelchair!
Are we not, each of us, handicapped in one way or
another - psychologically, physically, emotionally,
spiritually or intellectually? Rather than viewing
those who are physically handicapped as a minority,
shouldn't their presence - or even those specially
reserved parking places - call us to acknowledge that
we are all handicapped?
Over the years the word "handicapped" has
undergone several changes in meaning. Originally it
meant a real cloth cap in which bets or forfeits were
kept during a game. Then it came to mean an advantage
given in a race to provide all who entered in it an
even chance to win regardless of physical ability.
And now it refers to a person who has a disadvantage
which makes achievement unusually difficult.
As each of us possesses some kind of disadvantage,
shouldn't we be alert to our own shortcomings? And
if we have a strength that others lack, shouldn't
we make special allowances for those less fortunate
rather than using our advantage to "lord it over"
others? Rather than being creatures of competition,
we would become people of compassion and loving care.
The spiritual quest is not a race which only one can
win, but a strange sort of event in which the aim
is for everyone to win. The virtue of compassion,
so essential for those on the quest, is simply a conscious
sharing in the ten thousand possible disadvantages
- handicaps - of others. Compassion translates into
making constant allowances for others, always remembering
that the majority of handicaps are not immediately
visible to the eye.
In his stories about the end of the world, Jesus
presents a true hand-in-cap theme. The winners are
those who receive the reward at the end of the contest
not because of personal spiritual skills at prayer
or other religious exercises, but because of their
compassion toward the poor, the sick, the naked, the
imprisoned and those with any other disadvantage.
And, as Jesus said, what awaits us, the prize that
God will hand us from the Divine Cap, is far beyond
the wildest dreams of all the handicapped sons and
daughters of heaven!
COLLECTION
We acknowledge last Sunday’s collection of £1562.00.
Many thanks.
PRAYER GROUP
The contemplative prayer group will meet on Monday
night at 8.15pm in the Parochial House. Newcomers
very welcome. This is an opportunity to experiment
with a new form of prayer, especially if you find
that your present methods are unsatisfactory. No previous
experience of this type of prayer needed.
PARISH DRAW
The next Draw will take place on Thursday 28th June
at 2.30pm in the parish office. Promoters are asked
to make their returns to the parish office on Monday
25th June.
SICK AND HOUSEBOUND TO BE ATTENDED
Fr. Boland will visit the sick and housebound in the
following areas on Monday 4th June after 10.00am Mass:
Courtrai Park, Barrack Street, Lower Townsend Terrace,
Mount Carmel Heights, Springhill Park, Mill Street,
Newtownkennedy Street, Lower Main Street, Glenview
Park, Church View, Tristan Road.
Fr. Boland will visit the sick and housebound in the
following areas on Wednesday 6th June starting at
3.00pm Mass: Bearney Road, Camus Road, Conthem Road,
Upper Townsend Street, Townsend Terrace, Marian Park,
Fountain Street and Innisfree Gardens.
PADRE PIO MASS
The Padre Pio Mass will take place in the Church on
Wednesday 6th June at 7.00pm. The Stations of the
Cross will be at 6.45pm.
PILGRIMAGE TO POLAND
All those travelling on the pilgrimage to Poland are
asked to have their final payments made by Tuesday
5th June. Payments can be made any time prior to this
date.
BLESSING OF GRAVES
The Annual Ceremony of the Blessing of the Graves
will take place in this parish next Sunday 10th June
at 3.00pm.
IONA CARMELITE RETREAT CENTRE
The monthly devotions in honour of Our Lady will take
place in the Carmelite Retreat Centre, Termonbacca,
Derry on Tuesday 5th June starting with confessions
at 7.30pm followed by Rosary and Mass, finishing around
10.00pm. All are welcome to attend.
TAIZE PRAYER AND CHANT
Join us for an hour of meditative Taize Prayer and
Chant on Wednesday 6th June in the Day Chapel, St.
Mary's Church, Melmount from 7.30pm - 8.30pm. Everyone
welcome.
MARRIAGES
We congratulate the following couples who were married
in our parish recently:
Leanne McHugh and Kenneth Melaugh
Stephanie Mullen and Eoghan Daly
Claire McDonnell and Eoin Quigley
Louise Brolly and Ciaran McGrath
ANNIVERSARIES
Tony O'Goan, John Gallagher, Patrick McCrossan, Michael
Hannigan, John Barr, Sarah Furey, Michael Furey, Annie
Kirk, Mary Ellen Conway, Edward McDevitt, Nellie McDevitt,
Elma McDevitt, William O'Brien, Liam Maguire, Ann
Smith.
DEATHS
We offer our deepest sympathy to the family and friends
of:
Charlie Lynn, Marian Park
Eddie Mc Garrigle, Drumman Court
Annie Kelly, Hollyhill Road - May
they rest in peace.
LOUGH DERG RETREATS
August: 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 September:
1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22,
23 Cost: 27 Euro/£18.50stg includes boat fare
and lunch. Reservations are essential for the One
Day Retreats.
THREE-DAY PILGRIMAGE
You may commence your pilgrimage on any day from Friday
1 June to Monday 13 August. Pilgrims must be at least
15 years of age, in normal good health and able to
walk and kneel unaided. They must fast from midnight
prior to arrival. Pilgrims are advised to bring warm
and waterproof clothing. Boats available from 11.00am
until 3.00pm daily. Cost: 45 Euro/£32.00stg
includes boat fare and accommodation. For bookings
and further information telephone 0035371 9861518
or email: info@loughderg.org
LEGION OF MARY
Legion of Mary meets each Thursday morning after Mass
at 10.30am in the Church Conference Room. Work consists
of Rosary promotion in the parish, also visitation
of residential nursing homes in town and Lifford hospital.
New members welcome. Contact 02871883159.
ST PATRICK’S
HALL
Bingo & Lucky 4 Draw Every Thursday
There was one Match 3 winner in last
week's Lucky 4 Draw
4, 8, 14, 20
Stiofan Hoynes
Next Week's Lucky 4 Jackpot is £850.00
BAND NIGHT
St. Patrick's Hall is hosting Band
Night on Friday 15th June from 9.00pm - 12.00pm.
Admission £4.00. Featuring:
Iron Cross,
Safedrive,
Urban Enemy,
Jammin Gypsy Experience,
First Comes The Fire.
NORTH WEST TYRONE PIONEER OUTING
The Annual Outing around the Antrim Coast takes place
on Saturday 23rd June. Cost including evening meal
is £20.00. For further details contact Maura
Coyle, telephone number 02881658440
STRABANE SIGERSONS G.A.A.
Best wishes to the Clubs Under 13 footballers who
are the sole Tyrone representatives at the International
Féile being held in Birmingham this weekend,
we have no doubt that the boys will do Strabane and
Tyrone proud both on and off the pitch. The Clubs
Under 14 girls will play at home to kildress on Monday
night at 7.30pm in what will be a dress rehearsal
for the Grade Three Tyrone Championship Final between
both sides.
PRAYER CORNER
Take, bless, break and give
In the Eucharist bread is taken, blessed,
broken and given.
In life we are taken, blessed, broken and given.
The priest takes the bread in his hands and blesses
it during the eucharistic prayer ;
then he breaks it and it is given to us as the body
of Christ.
Through our birth and baptism we are taken into God's
hands;
as the bread is taken, so too are we.
In life we are blessed by family, friends, love and
joy;
as the bread is blessed so too are we.
We are broken by failure, sin, pain and heartbreak;
as the bread is broken so too are we.
In death we are given back to the mystery from which
we came;
as the bread is given so too are we.
When we take, bless, break and give bread to one another,
we believe the Lord to be especially present in our
midst.
But we must learn to accept that in his memory we
will be taken blessed, broken and given for the life
of the world.
PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
Holy Spirit, I want to do what is right.
Help me
Holy Spirit, I want to live like Jesus. Guide me.
Holy Spirit, I want to pray like Jesus. Teach me.
GRIEVING FOR CHILDREN
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing
for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you they belong not to you.
********
You are the bows from which your children as living
arrows are sent forth.
The Archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and he bends you with His might that His arrows may
go swift and far.
Let your bending in the Archer's hand be for gladness,
For even as he loves the arrow that flies, so he loves
also the bow that is stable. (Kahlil Gibran)
BE PATIENT
"Be patient in the absence of answers,"
the wise person would say.
Stop harassing your heart and your spirit.
They are unable or unwilling to answer you.
They know that some of those answers
may be unbearable to you at this time.
For now, welcome these questions without trying to
find answers. Let yourself experience the questions.
One day you will find yourself living the answers.
