THE FATAL FORTRESS
Once upon a time, a king who was also an astrologer
read in a remote pattern of the scattered stars that
a great calamity would overtake him on a certain day,
at a particular hour. He therefore ordered a stronghold
to be constructed of solid rock, and when it was completed
he had numerous heavily armed guards posted outside.
On the day that the stars said he would meet his fate,
he entered his fortress. But when he got inside, he
found that he could still see daylight. He located
the gap in the wall and filled it immediately to prevent
misfortune from entering. He enclosed himself completely,
but by blocking out the last opening against disaster,
he also imprisoned himself without light or air. Needless
to say, without air the king soon died. The stars
had not lied.
We also can become prisoners of fear by our own hands.
We bring about the situations we dread in our lives
because we fall prey to the power of our thoughts.
They are like a magnetic blueprint, possessing the
power to attract the things that we imagine. There
are countless building blocks that our minds use to
construct our personal prisons: anger, resentment,
hate, discrimination, feelings of inferiority, shame,
guilt, impatience, regret of past mistakes, anticipation
of calamities, our fear of our comfortable lives being
changed or challenged and a host of other fears. And
our spirits can be suffocated by the fortresses of
fear that we build around ourselves.
One of our most important spiritual duties is to
keep reducing the height and thickness of these walls
by patience, trust, vigilance, prayer and perseverance.
And the words of Jesus hold the key that opens the
doors of our self-made prisons: "Knock and the
doors will be opened onto you" (Mt. 7:7). If
we knock each day with passion and prayer, those prison
doors will begin to open. As a Lord of Liberation,
Jesus also proclaims the wish and the will of the
God and the great Exodus from Egypt, the Passover,
expressing the divine desire that all the children
of God live in freedom: "If you live according
to my teaching, you are truly my disciples: then you
will know the truth, and the truth will set you free"
(Jn. 8 31-32).
We are like the Israelites who in the midst of the
hardships of crossing the desert often wished for
the comforts they knew in their slavery in Egypt.
Because of the hardships of the work of liberation,
we often reinforce our prison walls to preserve our
comfortable lives. But as we come to taste the fresh
air of freedom from our fears, we realise that we
cannot settle for less than full life. And as we learn
to use truth and prayer as doorways, we will find
our hearts becoming gates through which love can freely
flow outward and return again.
PRAYER GROUP
The contemplative prayer group will meet on Monday
evening 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.
COLLECTION
We acknowledge last Sunday’s
collection of £2168.00. Many thanks.
DEATHS
We offer our deepest sympathy to
the family and friends of:
Jim McBride, Southampton.
Johnny McCay, Mourne Place.
Carmel McBride, Ashgrove Park.
Geraldine Graham, Ardnalee Park.
Rosaleen McDaid, Omagh. May
they rest in peace.
ANNIVERSARIES
John McCullagh, Betty Stewart, John
McBride, Willie McAleer,
Mary Palphrey, Mary Ward, Mary Ann Mullen, John McElhinney,
Hubert Dunnion, Jim Dunnion, Elsie Sharkey, Anna Maria
Livingood (May Sturrock).
PRAY FOR PRIESTS
Last year 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. Anthony Quinn, Retired, 4th May.
Fr. William Rafferty, Retired, 5th May.
Fr. John Ryder, Retired, 6th May.
Fr. Gerard Sweeney CC, Cappagh, 7th May.
Fr. Gary Wade CC, Templemore, 8th May.
Fr. John R Walsh PP, Buncrana, 9th May.
Fr. Alex Anderson, 10th May.
CAPPAGH PILGRIMAGE TO ROME
AND ASSISI 29th AUG - 5th SEPT 2008
There are still a few places left on the above pilgrimage.
If you are interested, please collect a booking form
in Cappagh Parish Office, 14 Killyclougher Road, Omagh,
tel: 02882243375. The pilgrimage will be led by Fr.
Eugene Boland and Fr. Francis Bradley. Price £700.00
(B&B).
DONATIONS TOWARDS STORM GLAZING
AND PA SYSTEM
We very gratefully acknowledge the
recent donation the storm glazing of the stained glass
windows in the church and the PA system:-
£60.00.
Total amount donated £13176.00.
BLESSING OF GRAVES
The Annual Ceremony of the Blessing of the Graves
will take place in this parish on Sunday 15th June
at 3.00pm.
LOURDES HOSPITALITE OF THE
DERRY DIOCESE
The Annual Diocesan Lourdes Hospitalite collection
will take place on the weekend of 17th /18th May.
The Lourdes Hospitalite Fund is very dependent on
the monies raised from this one collection to support
people from the diocese who are sick and in need of
medical care. Thank you for having generously supported
us in the past. We hope we can rely on your support
this year again.
YOUTH MASS
There will be a Diocesan Youth Mass on Pentecost
Sunday, 11th May in St. Columb's Church, Chapel Road,
Waterside, Derry at 6.00pm. Bishop Hegarty will be
the main celebrant and all young people are invited
to attend. The new Diocesan Youth Choir will provide
the music for the Liturgy at this Mass. All young
people studying this year for their exams are also
most welcome. Refreshments will be served afterwards
in the adjacent Parish Centre. Everyone welcome.
GIFT AID
Gift Aid is a very simple method of helping the parish
financially. If you are using a parish envelope and
pay tax, for every £1 you pay to the Church,
if you are in the scheme, the Church recoups 28p.
There are no hidden snags and it doesn't interfere
whatsoever with any other financial arrangements you
may have. Forms are available at the back of the Church
this week.
PADRE PIO MASS
The Padre Pio Mass will take place in the Church
on Wednesday 7th May at 7.00pm. Rosary at 6.45pm
PAYMENTS BY CHEQUE
The Bank have reminded us that all payments made
to the parish by cheque (for Parish Savings, Parish
Draw, Sunday and Special Collections etc.) must be
made payable to Church of the Immaculate Conception.
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
TIME TO PRAY
This Sunday 4th May, Thornhill Centre is open from
3.00pm to those who wish to use the Centre's facilities
for quiet time and prayer. Concludes with Evening
Prayer of the Church. Everyone welcome.
AWARE DEFEAT DEPRESSION
Aware Defeat Depression needs volunteers in the
Strabane area. By volunteering you will be supporting
people experiencing or at risk of experiencing depression
and their carers. We are looking for volunteers to
facilitate support group meetings in your local community
and provide information about depression and the work
of the organisation. Full training and support is
provided. Contact Pat Lynch on 02871260602 for details.
OPEN INVITATION TO GALA CONCERT
Today, Sunday 4th May at 7.15pm, St. Joseph's Brass
Band will be hosting a Gala Concert in our Church.
This will be a showcase of the various aspects of
the band's work and the concert will close the Band's
60th Anniversary celebrations. Also playing at the
concert will be members of Confraternity Brass, Wexford,
City of Waterford Brass, Strabane Concert Brass and
from Yorkshire, the Grange Moor Colliery Brass Band.
There will also be violin and vocal soloists. All
proceeds and donations from the concert will be donated
to the Church Restoration Fund. Everyone is welcome
to come along.
STRABANE SIGERSONS G.A.A.
The Clubs Senior and Reserve teams will travel to
play Brackaville this Sunday in the O'Neill's Sportswear
Tyrone Division 3 League. All support welcome. The
Clubs minor footballers will play at home to Omagh
in the league on Wednesday 7th May. There will be
a Night at the Races in Sigersons Social Club on Friday
23rd May to raise funds for the Clubs forthcoming
youth trip to play in the International Féile
in Birmingham. Please come along and lend your support.
ST. PATRICK’S HALL
Bingo and Lucky 4 Draw as usual this
Thursday.
All our patrons are very welcome.
LUCKY 4 DRAW
There was 1 match 3 winner in last
week's Lucky 4 Draw
David & Ross Wilders.
The numbers drawn were:
6, 17, 21, 23.
Next Week's Lucky 4 Jackpot is £2000.00
CHARITY DANCE
North West Tyrone Pioneer Association
will hold a Charity Dance for The Oncology Unit, Altnagelvin
& White Oaks Rehabilitation Centre, Derry, in
St. Patrick's Hall on Friday 9th May 2008, commencing
at 9.00pm. Music by Country Legends.
Ticket £6.00. Supper served before Dance.
BARRETT SCHOOL OF IRISH DANCING
Classes each Tuesday and Friday at 4.00pm in St.
Patrick's Hall. Age - from 3 years upwards. New pupils
welcome.
DANCE CLASSES FOR BEGINNERS
AND OLD-TIMERS
Enrolment will take place on Tuesday 6th May in St.
Patrick's Hall from 7.30pm to 9.00pm. Fee £25.00
for 5 weeks. Classes begin on Thursday 8th May in
St. Patrick's Hall at 7.30pm. Everyone welcome.
N.I. BLOOD TRANSFUSION SERVICE
A team from the N.I. Blood Transfusion Service will
be in St. Patrick's Hall on Wednesday 21st May 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.
