LIVING PIETAS
Every life has its share of pain, struggle, and hard
times. Mary's life was no different. The greatest
hurt in Mary's life is artistically expressed in Michelangelo's
marble masterpiece, the Pieta, from the latin word
meaning loyalty and devotion. In this sensual work
of art we see the poignant image of a mother holding
the torn and ravaged body of her executed son. Both
Mary's strength and immense love are portrayed through
the face and posture that Michelangelo gives to her.
In the Pieta, Mary has large, broad shoulders and
a wide, generous lap on which the dead body of her
son rests. The Pieta is a powerful reminder of how
much strength love can have and how much pain it can
evoke.
Mary gathered the dead body of Jesus into her loving
arms, embracing him as one embraces a beloved who
has been through tremendous agony. She not only drew
his dead body to herself; she drew a lifetime of love,
and all that he had suffered, to her heart. His pain
was inside of her. There was an immense oneness between
the mother who had sat there and the crucified son
whose body lay on her lap.
Mary received Jesus as one who compassionately receives
pain of the world or one's own great desolation. She
held him as one who holds the horror of human tragedy
and dreadful grief. She embraced him as one who embraces
the deepest love they have ever known. Mary receiving
the dead body of her son becomes a metaphor for any
one of us, man or woman, when we open the arms of
our love to receive suffering and death into our lives.
By that generous gesture, we become living Pietas.
We can never be with the Pieta for very long before
we begin to resonate with the sufferings of others.
We see Mary as a symbol for our own lives, believing
that we, too, are meant to receive others in their
deep distress. The son whom Mary holds is a symbol
of the suffering people in our lives who need someone
to be with them when they are vulnerable, sorely troubled,
and overwhelmed with the intensity of life's painful
unfolding.
The Pieta is a strong image of compassion. The figure
of this sorrowful mother reflects all those who weep
and grieve as they hold their great loss and pain
close to their heart in a long embracing farewell.
When I gaze upon the Pieta, I see, not just Mary,
but every person who has ever embraced and held the
pain of another in their arms of their care. In Mary
I see each of us, gathering to our hearts the weary
and worn ones of the world. Never have we needed this
inspiration more. Our world is filled with pain and
distress. Everywhere there are hurting ones longing
to be received with this kind of loving embrace.
We can understand the Pieta as a posture of our heart
when we are caught in the grips of goodbye or when
we are tending to others who are suffering grievously.
The experience of the Pieta is everywhere in our world.
Mary receiving the dead body of her son is every parent,
of any age, who has suffered the loss of a child.
Mary holding the crucified Jesus is every sorrowing
person who embraces a loved one and bids a final farewell.
Mary is everyone filled with anguish and sorrow who
has held what has died in their life and wondered
why it happened.
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 £1681.00. Many thanks.
DEATHS
We offer our deepest sympathy to the
family and friends of:
John Walsh, 26 Meenashesk Place.
May he rest in peace.
ANNIVERSARIES
Raymond Logue, Patrick Donnelly, Sean
Donnelly(Jnr), Davy McGavigan,
Oliver Jack Patrick Flanagan, Jim Cooke, Joe Gallagher,
John Mullen(Snr), Robert Coyle(Snr), Bobby Coyle(Jnr),
Mary Anne Conway,
Eileen Gallagher, James Gallagher, Mary Frances Madden,
Martha Madden,
Carol McCool, Tom McGee, Annie Gillespie, Kitty Slevin,
May Slevin, Margaret Kearney, John McGlinchey, Sarah
Hannigan,
Mary Ellen Conway, William O'Brien, Andrew Curran,
Mary Curran.
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.
The dates for our neighbouring parishes
are:
Murlog Monday 16th June at 7.00pm.
Melmount Sunday 22nd June at 3.00pm.
PARISH DRAW
The Draw for the month of June will take place on
Thursday 26th June at 2.30pm in the parish office.
We would ask all our promoters to bring their returns
to the parish office on or before Monday 23rd June.
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.
POPE'S COLLECTION
There will be two collections taken up at all Masses
next weekend. As well as the usual Sunday Collection
there will also be the Pope's Collection. You will
find an envelope for this special collection in your
box.
PARISH SAVINGS
SCHEME
We have now reached the halfway stage of the Parish
Savings Scheme. As in previous years the Scheme is
going very well and we encourage all our savers to
continue their contributions and remind those who
have not saved for a while that they can start up
their savings at any time. We also thank our collectors
for their hard work. The Savings Scheme is vital for
offsetting any interest the parish owes to the bank
as well as being a very practical way of saving for
events at the end of the year. If you would like to
join the Scheme contact the parish office for the
name of the promoter in your area. We also remind
all our savers that they must have either a bank account,
building society account or credit union account so
that cheques can be lodged to their account at the
end of the year.
PROMOTERS MASS
A special Mass will be said in the Church on Friday
20th June at 7.30pm for all the promoters and subscribers
of the Sacred Heart Messenger Magazine and for all
who have devotion to the Sacred Heart. Mass will be
celebrated by a Jesuit priest and everyone is welcome
to come along. Light refreshments will be served in
St. Patrick's Hall afterwards.
DERRY DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE
TO LOURDES 16th - 21st JULY 2008
The closing date for applications for the Pilgrimage
was 31st May 2008. There are still 29 places available.
If you are interested in going please contact the
Pilgrimage Office on 028 71260293. Office hours are
Tuesdays 11.00am - 2.00pm, Thursdays 11.00am - 2.00pm,
Saturdays 11.00am - 1.00pm and 2.00pm - 4.00pm
RUMMAGE CHARITY SHOP
Due to increased sales Rummage Charity Shop require
urgent donations of quality clothing and bric-a-brac.
Shop open Monday- Saturday 10.00am - 4.00pm. This
shop supports activities at St. Patrick's Luncheon
Club.
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. George Doherty CC, Buncrana, 8th June.
Fr. James Doherty, Deceased, 9th June.
Fr. John Doherty PP, Leckpatrick, 10th June.
Fr. Joseph Doherty, Retired, 11th June.
Fr. Michael Doherty PP, Melmount , 12th June.
Fr. Patrick Doherty, Castlederg, 13th June.
Fr. Andrew Dolan PP, Bellaghy, 14th June.
|
 |
ANNUAL OUTING
N.W.T.P.A. annual outing will be to Enniskillen on
Saturday 28th June. Cost £20.00, trip and meal
only. There will be an optional trip to Devenish Island
at a cost of £7.00 per head. This trip will
last approx. 2hrs. We require numbers as soon as possible
to confirm boat bookings so please contact Maura Coyle
on 02881658440.
PILGRIMAGE TO MEDJUGORJE AND
ROME
Three nights in Medjugorje bed & breakfast &
evening meal. One night on ferry including evening
meal. Four nights in Rome bed & breakfast. Flying
from Knock Airport, return Belfast International Airport.
Departs Saturday 4th October 2008, return Sunday 12th
October 2008. All inclusive price £699. For
further information contact Martina O'Neill at 02871358519.
Living life to the full? Looking for something more?
This is what you're looking for! Time out for you.
. . Knock Summer Youth Festival July 24th - 27th,
Our Lady's Shrine, Knock, Co. Mayo, 18-35 years. For
more information and to book your place contact (094)
9388100/0876927850 or check out www.knock-shrine.ie/youthministry
ST. VINCENT DE PAUL LUCKY LOTTO DRAW
The numbers drawn were 5, 13, 21,
23.
There was no Jackpot winner: There
were 5 match 3 winners who shared £300.00: Margaret
Doherty, James Duncan, Rosemary Conwell, Patsy Barrett,
Mary Gallagher. Jackpot for July is £1400.00.
Next Draw will take place on Sunday 6th July at 9.00pm
at Melmount parish bingo.
STRABANE SIGERSONS
GAA
Good luck to the Tyrone senior and
minor teams who play Down in the Ulster Championship
this Sunday at Healy Park, Omagh. Best wishes are
extended to the Sigersons Minor Ladies who play Badoney
in the Tyrone Grade 4 League Final next Wednesday
night at a venue yet to be decided upon. The Clubs
Senior and Reserve teams next games in the O'Neill's
Sportswear Tyrone Division 3 Leagues will be away
to Brockagh on Sunday 15th June.
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
PRAYER CORNER
FOR RETIREMENT
This is where your life has arrived,
after all the years of effort and toil;
Look back with graciousness and thanks
On all your great and quiet achievements.
You stand on the shore of new invitation
To open your life to what is left undone;
Let your heart enjoy a different rhythm
When drawn to the wonder of other horizons.
Have the courage for a new approach to time;
Allow it to slow until you find freedom
To draw alongside the mystery you hold
And befriend your own beauty of soul.
Now is the time to enjoy your heart's
desire,
To live the dreams you've waited for,
To awaken the depths beyond your work
And enter into your infinite source.
Dear Lord,
Help me approach my exams
with a clear head and a calm mind.
Give me your strength
and your peace
and let me do justice to
all that I have learned.
Thank you Lord,
for all my talents and gifts. Amen.
