HOLY WATER
Water is a mysterious thing. It is so clear and frictionless,
so ''modest'', as St. Francis called it. It hardly
pretends to any character of its own. It seems to
have no other end or object than to be of service,
to cleanse what is soiled and to refresh what is dry.
But at some point you must have gazed down into the
still depths of a great body of water, and felt it
tugging to draw you in, and have got a glimpse of
the strange and secret thing water is, and of the
marvels, terrors and enticements that lurk in its
depths. Or, at another time when it was whipped to
a boiling torrent by a storm, you have heard it rushing
and roaring, rushing and roaring, and watched the
sucking vortex of a whirlpool and felt a force so
grim and dreary that you had to tear your thoughts
away.
It is indeed a strange element. On the one hand smooth
and transparent, as if it hardly existed in its own
right, ready at hand to wash away dirt and satisfy
thirst; and on the other a restless, foundationless,
enigmatic force that entices us on to destruction.
It is a proper image for the secret ground-source
from which life issues back into which death recalls
it. It is an apt image for this life of ours that
looks so clear and is so inexplicable.
It is plain why the Church uses water as the bearer
of the divine life of grace. We emerge from the waters
of baptism into a new life, born again of water and
the Holy Spirit. In those same waters the old man
was destroyed and put to death.
With this elemental element, that yields no answer
to our questioning, with this transparent, frictionless,
fecund fluid, this symbol and means of the supernatural
life of grace, we make on ourselves, from forehead
to breast, from shoulder to shoulder, the sign of
the cross.
By her concentration of it, the Church has freed
water from the dark powers that sleep in it. This
is not a form of language. Anyone whose perceptions
have not been blunted must be aware of the powers
of natural magic inherent in water. And are they only
natural powers? Is there not present a dark and preternatural
power? In nature, for all her richness and beauty,
there is something demonic. City life has so deadened
our senses that we have lost our perception of it.
But the Church knows it is there. She ''exorcises''
out of water those divinities that are at enmity with
God. She blesses it and asks God to make of it a vehicle
of his grace. Therefore the Christian when he enters
Church, moistens forehead, breast and shoulders, all
his person, with the clean and cleansing water in
order to make clean his soul. It is a pleasing custom
that brings grace and nature freed from sin, and man,
who so longs for cleanness, into the unity of the
sigh of the cross.
At evening also we sign ourselves in holy water.
Night, as the proverb says, is no friend to man. Our
human nature is formed and fashioned for light. Just
before we give ourselves over into the power of sleep
and darkness, and the light of day and consciousness
is extinguished, there is a satisfaction in making
the sign of the cross on ourselves with holy water.
Holy water is the symbol of nature set free from sin.
May God protect us from every form of darkness! And
at morning, when we emerge again out of sleep, darkness
and unconsciousness, and life begins afresh, we do
the same thing. But in the morning it is to remind
ourselves of that holy water from which we have issued
into the light of Christ. The soul redeemed and nature
redeemed encounter one another in the sign of the
cross.
COLLECTION
We acknowledge last Sunday’s
collection of £2187.00 Many thanks.
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.
DEATHS
We offer our deepest sympathy to the
family and friends of:
Annie McSheffrey,
Bridge Street.
Patrick Gillespie, Mulvey House.
May they rest in peace.
ANNIVERSARIES
Mary Devlin, Cissy McCrossan,
Thomas Cooke, Catherine Hanna,
Rita O'Neill, Gerard Hill,
Susan Carlin, Packie Dunne,
Annie Harron, Phine Porter.
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. Eamon Graham PP, Banagher, 9 Nov.
Fr. Patrick Grant, Deceased,10 Nov.
Fr. Karl Haan CC, Garvagh, 11 Nov.
Fr. Eugene Hasson PP, Greencastle, 12 Nov.
Most Rev. Seamus Hegarty, Derry, 13 Nov.
Fr. John Irwin, Waterside, 14 Nov.
Fr. Charles Keaney PP, Coleraine, 15 Nov.
VACANCY FOR PARISH ORGANIST
Due to heavy working commitments Ronan
is unable to continue playing the organ and leading
the senior choir. It is with deep regret that we have
to let him go but we are very aware of the huge workload
he is carrying. The news is not all bad though, because
he will play on Sundays alternating at the 10.00am
and 12.00 noon Masses. We thank him sincerely for
his work done and his continuous commitment to the
parish.
This now means that we are looking for someone to
play the organ at the 6.30pm Mass and to lead the
choir. Those interested please contact Fr. Boland
at the parochial house or Amanda at the parish office.
ANNUAL MASS FOR THE DEAD
Fr. Boland will celebrate the annual
Mass for the dead in the Church on Friday 14th November
at 7.30pm.
ANNUAL MASS FOR DECEASED
TEACHERS
Bishop Lagan will celebrate the annual
Mass for deceased teachers of the Derry Diocese in
the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Strabane
on Wednesday 12th November at 7.00pm.
DIOCESAN MASS FOR DECEASED
YOUNG PEOPLE
There will be a special diocesan Mass
this Sunday 9th November at 3.00pm in Holy Family
Church, Ballymagroarty, Derry. The Mass will be an
opportunity for family and friends who have lost young
loved ones to come together in a spirit of prayer
and hope. If you have been bereaved or affected by
a young death we invite you in faith to come and remember
the life of your loved one.
CONFIRMATION AND FIRST HOLY
COMMUNION 2009
Confirmation will take place on Saturday
21st February 2009 at 11.00am for all Primary 7 pupils.
First Holy Communion for all Primary 4 pupils will
take place on Saturday 30th May 2009 at 11.00am.
IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR PARENTS
OF P.4 AND P.7 CHILDREN
There will be a meeting for parents
of P.4 and P.7 children from St. Anne's, Evish, and
Barrack Street Boys' Primary Schools on Wednesday
12th November at 8.00pm in St. Anne's P.S. At that
meeting Fr. Paul Farren and his team from the Derry
Diocesan Catechetical Centre will give a talk on the
three Sacraments. Because of the importance of this
event we encourage a full turn out from our parents.
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK
There will be a Mass to celebrate
Catholic Schools Week in St. Eugene's Cathedral on
Thursday 29th January 2009. All are welcome to attend.
The theme will be ''Catholic Schools - a Vision for
Life''. Representatives from all primary and post-primary
schools in the diocese will be invited to attend this
Mass.
PARISH SAVINGS SCHEME
We have now reached the final three
weeks of the Parish Savings Scheme. As in previous
years the Scheme has gone very well and we encourage
all our savers to continue their contributions. We
also thank our collectors for their hard work. We
would like to take this opportunity to thank all those
who saved in our Parish Savings Scheme for their support
over the past year and we look forward to that same
continued support next year.
BLESSED SACRAMENT CHAPEL
Our Blessed Sacrament Chapel is open
every day from 10.00am until the Church closes. It
is located at the back of the Church - when you come
in the main door, turn left, then left again. This
is a sacred space where you can come and pray, ask
for your special intentions and rest a while in the
midst of a busy world.
IMPORTANT UPDATE ON VETTING
FOR CHILD PROTECTION
As a result of information recently
received the following volunteers are now exempt from
the vetting process:
Savings Collectors
Draw Collectors
Money Counters
Choir Members
Eucharistic Ministers who do not take Holy Communion
to houses, nursing homes.
A poster containing details of the
Diocesan Policy Statement and important contact details
is now on display at the front door of the Church.
DONATIONS TOWARDS SECURITY
AT
PAROCHIAL HOUSE
Because of the recent break-in we
have been advised by the police to upgrade our security
immediately - cameras, lights and the present alarm
system at the parochial house. It is regrettable that
this has to be done but we have been left with no
other option.
We gratefully acknowledge the following
donations towards our new security measures:-
£300.00 £100.00 £50.00
Thank you for your continuing support.
DERRY DIOCESAN LOURDES PILGRIMAGE
2009
Why not give someone an opportunity
to go on the Lourdes Pilgrimage 16th- 21st July 2009
as your Christmas gift. Gift vouchers (£25/£50)
are now available from the Pilgrimage Office 164 Bishop
Street Derry. Office opens Thursday 11.00am - 2.00pm
and Saturday 11.00am - 1.00pm and 2.00pm - 4.00pm.
STRABANE UNEMPLOYED CENTRE
Have you the drive?
Would you attend a male only class?
Improve your maths and english and get help to pass
your driving theory test.
Interested? Contact the Strabane Unemployed Centre
on 71383927 for details on this free course.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
The Sion Mills Area are holding a
Public Information Meeting on Wednesday 12th November
at 8.30pm in the Community Centre, Main Street, Sion
Mills.
ST. VINCENT DE PAUL LUCKY
LOTTO DRAW
The numbers drawn were 3, 16, 19,
23.
There were 5 match 3 winners who shared £300.00:
Mary Barrett, Kirsty Henry, Fidelma Kennedy, Joe McCormack,
Frank McKinney.
Jackpot for December is £1100.00. Next Draw
will take place on Sunday 7th December at 9.00pm at
Melmount parish bingo.
JOHN MCNICHOLL CHRISTMAS CONCERT
Concert will be held in the Millennium
Forum, Derry on Wednesday 3rd December. Tickets on
sale from the box office.
STRABANE PARISH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS
1000 DRAW
1st Prize £1000.00
2nd Prize 1000 litres of petrol
3rd Prize 1000 litres of oil
4th Prize 1000 20p's
Draw will take place on Sunday 23rd November.
Tickets £10.00 each.
SOCIAL EVENING
There will be a social evening in
St. Patrick's Hall on Monday 24th November at 9.00pm.
Music is by Country Features and admission is £5.00
or €7.00 (light supper provided). Proceeds are
in aid of St. Patrick's Luncheon Club.
DANCE DANCE DANCE
Are you tired of sitting at parties?
Want to put your skills to the test and learn how
to jive, waltz or even cha cha cha?
Then come along and learn how to ballroom dance.
Lessons in St. Patrick's Hall every Thursday night
from 7.30pm - 9.00pm. Admission £5.00.
Come along and join in the fun.
ST. PATRICK’S HALL
Bingo and Lucky 4 Draw as usual this
Thursday.
All our patrons are very welcome.
Next Week's Lucky 4 Jackpot is £650.00
PRAYER CORNER
FOR SOLITUDE
May you recognise in your life the
presence,
Power and light of your soul.
May you realise that you are never alone,
That your soul in its brightness and belonging
Connects you intimately with the rhythm of the universe.
May you have respect for your individuality and difference.
May you realise that the shape of your soul is unique,
That you have a special destiny here,
That behind the facade of your life
There is something beautiful and eternal happening.
May you learn to see yourself
With the same delight,
Pride and expectation
With which God sees you
in every moment.
A BLESSING OF ANGELS
May the Angels in their beauty bless
you.
May they turn towards you streams of blessing.
May the Angel of Awakening stir your heart
To come alive to the eternal within you,
To all the invitations that quietly surround you.
May the Angel of Healing turn your wounds
Into sources of refreshment.
May the Angel of the Imagination enable you
To stand on the true thresholds;
At ease with your ambivalence
And drawn in new directions
Through the glow of your contradictions.
May the Angel of Compassion open your eyes
To the unseen suffering around you.
May the Angel of Wildness disturb the places
Where your life is domesticated and safe,
Take you to the territories of true otherness
Where all that is awkward in you
Can fall into its own rhythm.
