EXPECTATIONS ARE DANGEROUS

Expectations in life are as dangerous as package bombs or land mines. They are so lethal because very often they cannot be realised, thus setting us up for deflation or even despair. So it's wise to replace expectations with defused desires – with preferences. Instead of saying, "My desire is . . . , try saying, "My preference would be . . . " A preference is different from an expectation or desire since it leaves room for an acceptable alternative. "My preference is chicken" is more freeing than I want chicken." A preference liberates because it doesn't lock us into only one choice. Life is a Wheel of Fortune with both winners and losers: We don't always get what we want when we want it. The really happy winners are those who always spin the Wheel of Fortune with their druthers.

KEEP YOUR APPOINTMENTS NOT YOUR DISAPPOINTMENTS

Life's disappointments are one of the major factors responsible for creating the blues. Yet good appointments generally far outweigh dis (short for dismal) appointments. A typical life is usually filled with 20% disappointments due to failures and disapprovals and 80% good appointments, which come with success, love, friendship and happy times. Surprisingly, we often tend to judge life by tipping the scales in favour of our disappointments and discounting the majority of good things in life. The antidote is to live in reality. Do not live in the illusion that life is not supposed to have its share of disappointments, frustrations and dissatisfactions. Remember the law of day - to - day gravity: What goes up must eventually come down. A wholesome life is one lived in light of that psychological, emotional and spiritual gravity. A wholesome life also knows the dexterity both to soar and decline gracefully. Those who embrace life's rhythms of highs and lows can come down from the high of some success and allow themselves to feel physically drained – and so don't have to sink all the way to mental depression.

DEATHS

We offer our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of:

Michael Quigley, Butcher Street.

Patricia Monaghan, Glen Road.

May they rest in peace.

ANNIVERSARIES

James Duffy, James McKenna

Francis McGillion, Des Gallen

Jim Conroy Snr, Eddie Maxwell

Kathleen Rush, Katie McCrossan, Eileen Donaghey

PRAYER GROUP
There will be no meeting of the contemplative prayer group until after the summer break.

PRAY FOR PRIESTS
This week we ask you to pray for:
Fr. Patrick Grant, Deceased, 4 July
Fr. Karl Haan CC, Garvagh, 5 July
Fr. Eugene Hasson PP, Greencastle, 6 July
Most Rev. Seamus Hegarty, 7 July
Fr. John Irwin, Nazareth House chaplain, 8 July
Fr. Charles Keaney PP, Coleraine, 9 July
Fr. Stephen Kearney PP, Newtownstewart, 10 July

PADRE PIO MASS
Padre Pio Mass will take place in the Church on Wednesday 7 July at 7.00pm. Rosary at 6.45pm. Please Note: There will be no Padre Pio devotions during the month of August.

NATIONAL COLLECTION FOR
THE 2012 EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS
National Collection for the 2012 Eucharistic Congress will take place next weekend. This collection is to help with the costs of planning and hosting the 50th International Eucharistic Congress which is to be held in Dublin in 2012. Anyone wishing to make a contribution to this collection can do so by putting it in the containers at the back of the church.

PARISH DRAW
We will be holding 2 Draws in July for the months of July and August. We therefore ask promoters to bring £10.00 per member when making their returns in July to cover both Draws. We would ask that returns are made as soon as possible. Both Draws will take place on Thursday 22 July at 2.30pm in the parish office.

BISHOP LAGAN'S GOLDEN JUBILEE

Last weekend was a very happy and joyful one for Camus parish as we celebrated Bishop Lagan's Golden Jubilee. It was a great parish event and Bishop Francis was joined by Bishop Daly, his classmates Fr. John Doherty and Fr. Michael Collins, many family members and friends and people from Strabane parish and further afield. It was truly a celebration of priesthood, of fidelity, loyalty and commitment and there was a great sense of joy and celebration throughout the Mass of Thanksgiving and afterwards at St. Patrick's Hall. The weather kept fine and everyone involved thoroughly enjoyed the day, especially the main man himself, Bishop Francis. He wants to thank all the people who made the day possible and the entire parish community who were so generous to him. Words cannot adequately express his sense of gratitude and in the coming weeks at Sunday Mass he will take the opportunity to personally thank the people for all that they did to mark this important milestone in his life.

Many people need to be thanked for making the day run so smoothly. The senior choir, and director of music, Maria Cutliffe, St. Joseph's Brass band, organised by Tommy Barr, all those who participated in any way in the Jubilee Mass, Mr Kieran Kennedy of O'Neill Sports for the banner, our sacristan and groundsman Billy Conway and assistant sacristan Columba Gallagher, the Hall staff, Brian, John Francis, Declan, Ted and Jimmy for the bunting and papal flags, the superb floral arrangements in the church from an anonymous donor, the beautiful jubilee cake also from an anonymous donor, The Thornhill Centre, Sr. Perpetua McNulty and Erin for the beautiful booklet, Sr. Carmel and Amanda for the invitations, the sub-committee of the Parish Pastoral Council, Kevin McCrory for the grounds, Patricia McCallion and her excellent staff for a superb meal afterwards, Noel Mc Cafferty and his group for the traditional Irish music, Fr. Paul Farren who acted as master of ceremonies in the church, and indeed anyone else who may have made a contribution, however small. It was lovely to see the community at Church View putting out the bunting also.

Sunday was not only a great day for Bishop Lagan and his family, it was also a parish celebration, a celebration of the dignity of priesthood and a day for the church to celebrate. The fidelity and witness of Bishop Francis spurs all of us in our own respective vocations to be loyal and faithful to the promises and commitments we have made. We wish him every grace, health and blessing in his retirement and we look forward every Sunday to his presence with us at the celebration of the Eucharist.

CARMELITE RETREAT CENTRE
The monthly devotions, in honour of Our Lady, will take place in the Carmelite Retreat Centre, Termonbacca, Derry on Tuesday 6 July starting with confessions at 7.30pm followed by Rosary and Mass, finishing around 10.00pm. All are welcome to attend.

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 Strabane. New members welcome.

TASTER EVENING
Craft Training will be holding an open evening on Monday 5 July from 6.00pm till 9.00pm, Mopack Business Complex, Ballycolman Road, Strabane. You are invited to come and have a look around our custom built workshops and offices. You will have the opportunity to try out some of our practical skills e.g. joinery, bricklaying, plastering or painting and have the chance to talk to some of our current trainees. Feel free to bring along your parent, guardian or friends.

HOLISTIC ARTS AND CRAFTS FAIR
Date: Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 July
Time: 11.00am – 5.00pm
Place: Radisson Hotel, Letterkenny
Admission: €5 (children under 12 free)
Come and mingle, learn, win prizes, sample holistic therapies, laugh & shop!

ST. PATRICK’S HALL

Bingo and Lucky 4 Draw as usual this Thursday.
All our patrons are very welcome.

LUCKY 4 DRAW

There were 3 Match 3 winners in last week's Draw

Jean McGarrigle
Joe McDaid
Nellie McShane

The numbers drawn were:

1, 12, 20, 22

Next Week's Lucky 4 Jackpot is £2375.00

PRAYER CORNER

PSALM FOR PRAYING

Unless You, O Divine Creator, build
the house,
those who build it labour in vain.
Unless You watch over the city,
the watchers stay awake in vain.
For it is in co-operating with You
from morn to evening,
Eating the bread of your Word,
that we rest in peace throughout
the night.

Reverence the sacred gift of life that
nourishes all.
Who will grow in wisdom, abandoning
themselves into the chalice of Love?
Who will open themselves to the
imprint of Love's gifts upon
their heart?
Unless You, O Divine Spirit, make
your home within us,
we wander through life in vain.

***************

PSALM FOR PRAYING

Most gracious Presence, let me not
be arrogant,
nor boast of my virtuous deeds;
Let me not seek fame or set my heart
on the riches of the world.
Help me to calm and quiet my soul,
like a child is quieted at its
mother's breast;
like a child that is quieted,
so be my soul.

I shall hope in You, O Breath
of my breath,
from this time forth and
forevermore.
Amen.