PRAYING OUR LIFE

Prayer can happen anywhere, anytime. Not only can we commune with God in Church and in the solitude of our own room but we can also do so in the midst of life's activities whether in an office cubicle, a supermarket line, an airport terminal, a laundry room, the bathroom, or bed. The content of our prayer includes individual talents, night dreams and day dreams, physical, emotional, and psychological health, varied relationships, memories, joys and sorrows, cultural, geographical, and political landscapes, and much more. I did not believe any of this when I first learned how to pray. I thought prayer was meant to be one clean little corner and then there was the rest of my life. Not so.

We do not pray in a vacuum. Always prayer is to touch our life and life is to touch our prayer. Each part of who we are and how we are is what we bring to God. Our lived experience, no matter how commonplace or bizarre, is where our relationship with the divine evolves. Of course, there are always some pieces of our life that we'd definitely like to keep from God due to guilt, shame, pride, or an obsessive desire to be perfect. No part of who we are and how we are can be left out, however, because this is where we receive God's grace. Prayer ought never be separated and strained clean from what is happening in the rest of our life.

Our life experiences are where the Spirit teaches and nurtures us into greater wholeness. This is one reason why it is essential to be aware. Unless we are attuned to life within us and around us, we will miss countless opportunities of knowing how the Spirit is communicating with us. Instead of deleting the external world from our relationship with God, we are to enter it fully.

Joyce Rupp.

PRAYER GROUP
The contemplative prayer group will meet on Monday at 8.15pm in the Parochial House. Newcomers very welcome.

DEATHS

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

Bridget McGillian, Tristan Road

May she rest in peace.

ANNIVERSARIES

Margaret McCullagh, Barney Browne
Tony McGlynn, Paul McCafferty
Patrick McGlynn, Alison Cavanagh
Annie Mary Kearney, Margaret McCunnie
Paddy Farrell, Mickey McGirr
Joseph Connolly, James McGarrigle
James Connolly, Sarah McCauley
Margaret Mullen, Margaret McNally
Tommy Molloy, Gretta Devlin
Barney Forbes, Teresa Burke
George Sproule, Maisie Egan
Eddie Kelly, Veronica Patton

PRAY FOR PRIESTS
This week we ask you to pray for:
Mgr. Joseph Donnelly PPVF, Omagh, 7 February
Fr. Liam Donnelly CC, Limavady, 8 February
Fr. T Philip Donnelly, Retired, 9 February
Fr. John Downey CC, Ballinascreen, 10 February
Fr. Kevin Duddy, 11 February
Fr. Austin Duffy, Retired, 12 February
Fr. Jack Farrell, Retired, 13 February

FEAST OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES
The Rosary will be recited in the Grotto on Thursday 11 February at 7.00pm in honour of Our Lady of Lourdes.

DERRY DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES 16 - 21 JULY 2010
Application forms are now available for any young person aged 14 - 15 years who would like a place on the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes. Special arrangements are made for the youth who will be led by the Pilgrimage Youth Team. For further information please contact: The Pilgrimage Office, 164 Bishop Street, Derry BT48 6UJ or telephone 02871351233.

N. I. CANCER PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES
Northern Ireland Cancer Pilgrimage to Lourdes, accompanied by medical, nursing and other Oncology staff, Thursday 27 May to Tuesday 1 June 2010, ex Belfast. 5 nights full board, £599.00 with insurance. Oncology patients £499.00, recently treated £399.00
Telephone a committee member on 07516759646 or email mail@nicancerpilgrimage.org.uk

PARISH DRAW
All updated Draw lists are now ready for collection. Any promoter who has not yet received their new lists is asked to call at the parish office this week. The Draw for the month of February will take place in the parish office on Thursday 25 February at 2.30pm. Promoters are asked to bring their returns to the parish office on Monday 22 February.

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 12 February to Sunday 14 February. For further details tel: 02871262512 during office hours.

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 20 February in the Thornhill Retreat Centre, Derry from 11.30am – 4.00pm. For further information please contact any of your local priests, RE teachers or
Fr. Paul Farren: tel. 02871264087 e-mail: ddcc@derrydiocese.org or Fr. Colm O’Doherty: tel. 02881661475 e-mail: c.odoherty@btinternet.com

HOLY FAMILY PADRE PIO PRAYER GROUP
The Holy Family Padre Pio Prayer Group will hold their monthly meeting in the Holy Family Church, Ballymagroarty, Derry, on Monday 8 February starting with 7.30pm Mass. There will be two 1st class relics of St. Pio at the meeting. All are welcome.

LEGION OF MARY
The Legion of Mary was founded in Dublin on 7 September 1921. It is a lay Catholic organisation whose members give service to the Church on a voluntary basis, in almost every country. The priority of the Legion is the spiritual and social welfare of each individual. Members participate in the life of the parish through visitation of families, the sick, both in their homes and in hospital and Residential Care Homes. The parish unit of the Legion of Mary is called a Praesidium, which holds a weekly meeting, where prayer is intermingled with reports and discussion.

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.

STRABANE & DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU
Strabane & District Citizens Advice Bureau, with funding from the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme, is rolling out a new project which aims to maximise the income of residents in Neighbourhood Renewal areas through a benefit uptake project. These areas include Ballycolman, Carlton Drive, Lisnafin, Fountain Street and Springhill Park. Over the next year letters will be sent to households in these areas inviting them to take up the offer of a benefit entitlement check. This will identify any additional benefit or assistance clients can receive. Help will be offered with the application process. For further information telephone 71382665 or email Strabanecab@citizensadvice.co.uk

ST. PATRICK’S HALL

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

LUCKY 4 DRAW
Next Week's Lucky 4 Jackpot is £2125.00

BALLROOM DANCING
Ballroom Dancing every Thursday in St. Patrick's Hall from 7.30pm - 9.00pm. New members welcome, with or without partner.

LIVE TRIBUTE SHOW
Get the best of both worlds with Hannah Montana and High School Musical 1, 2, & 3! All your favourite songs and dances. St. Patrick's Hall on Friday 12 February at 7.00pm. Admission £10.00 payable at the door. Door open at 6.15pm. Please come early.

PRAYER CORNER

EMBRACING HOPE

Loving Gardener of Life,
turn my time of sorrow
toward a season of hope.
I long to return to joy.

I yearn to be free from sadness.
May the eyes of my faith
look beyond my loss
and see the promise of spring
that follows every winter.

Never-Ending Source of Hope,
may the power of the Resurrection
assure me of future happiness.

I hold out my downcast spirit to you
and offer you my trusting heart.
I await the healing I need,
confident that your grace
will restore my inner peace.

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

ONE WHO IS LONELY

Eternal Presence,
you are with me on my journey.
You know the loneliness
that wraps around my heart
and leaves a void of sadness.
Comfort me on my dreary days
when emptiness is all I know.

Do not let me succumb
to isolated self-pity.
Let me experience your presence.
Fill my downcast spirit
with your joy.
Keep me close to your abiding love.
with every step I take.