THE MOTHER OF JOY IS TRUST
Faithful trust is the mother of the joy that Jesus
promised, and also of his freedom from anxieties and
fear. To live a joyous life challenges your faith
and your conviction of God's endlessly unbounded and
personal love for you. A deep faith sends up green
sprouts into every aspect of your daily life. With
time these grow into branches that bend low, heavy
with fruit.
Mary's song of gratitude rejoices extraordinarily
in the God who placed her in the embarrassing circumstance
of being pregnant without being married! So, regardless
of your circumstances, positive or negative, let your
smile externalise that joy of your awareness of Divine
Mystery within you and also of the hidden purposes
unfolding in your life. In spite of what may be the
unpleasant circumstances of your day, and of how seemingly
absent God is from your life, sing a canticle of joyous
gratitude. You can compose an actual prayer-song or
you can simply sing a silent song by smiling. Let
your smile be an expression of your joyful gratitude
and, like Mary's actions, let it magnify the hidden
presence of God within you. An example of such a Prayer
of Magnifying might be:
O God, you, the constantly invisible
One,
have done great things for me this day.
May my gratitude-soaked soul magnify you
so expansively that by my smile all will know
of your abiding presence in me
and in them.
Rejoice also that you are no clay vessel or tabernacle
holding the Nameless One, for along with Jesus, you
also can say, "The Father and I are one."
Let your belief in that intimate unity with the Divine
Mystery become so real that it will be unbreakable
by sin or human mistakes. We are conditioned by religious
instruction - if not by our own inability to believe
in such an impossible reality - to experience God's
indwelling and that of Christ, as something "spiritual",
akin to that which happens in the reception of Holy
Communion. If, however, the presence of God is so
integrated in us as to saturate the totality of our
person, would not such a reality elicit from us ecstatic
joy and unflappable conviction? Only a great personal
love for you could explain God's desire to be infused
in every cell of your body. Even to begin to grasp
the implications of being so loved should stun us
with drunken joyfulness.
Unquestioned conviction of this divine indwelling
would erase itching worries about tomorrow; wipe clean
the grime of daily anxieties and fretfulness. Jesus'
taproot arose upward branches reaching into his daily
life. Because of his conviction of this inner reality,
he could call us also to join with him in living the
unflinching conviction in God's abiding love and care
for our every need.
Belief and faith are not the same things. Faith is
usually something we hold to be true, while belief
is a trust wedded to conviction. Like all nuptials,
this marriage is a union created by love. For the
Master, the cardinal rule of life was a total love
of God: body, soul, mind and heart, since only by
such an encompassing love of God do we become like
God. Love then has the power to awaken us to who we
truly are, and this mystical awareness should skyrocket
us into bliss.
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:
Katie Kerrigan, Dunamanagh
Raymond Timoney,
Artigarvan
May they rest in peace.
ANNIVERSARIES
Lily Tobin, Pat Boyle,
Joseph Doherty, Hubert Dunnion,
Lila Duddy, Jim Dunnion,
Billy Melly, Bridget O'Donnell,
Pat Maguire, Billy Canning,
Margaret McCrossan, Elizabeth O'Kane,
Daniel McCrossan, James O'Kane,
John McCrossan, Patrick McQuaid,
Susan Boyle, Mary Gallagher,
Annie Sproule, Art Connolly.
BLESSING OF GRAVES
The annual ceremony of the blessing of graves for
the parish of Camus will be held on Sunday 14 June
at 3.00pm.
PARISH DRAW
The Draw for the month of May will
take place in the parish office on Thursday 21 May
at 2.30pm. Promoters are asked to make their returns
to the parish office on Monday 18 May.
PRAY FOR PRIESTS
The diocese published a prayer
card with the names of all the Derry diocesan priests.
Every day a specific priest is named. This week we
ask you to pray for:
Fr Alex Anderson, 10 May
Fr Patrick Arkinson PP, Killygordon, 11 May
Fr Patrick Baker CC, Maghera, 12 May
Fr Declan Boland PP, Camus, 13 May
Fr Eugene Boland PP, Cappagh, 14 May
Fr Francis Bradley, Diocesan Pastoral Centre, 15 May
Fr Manus Bradley, Canada, 16 May
CHARISMATIC RENEWAL
Diocese of Derry Charismatic Renewal
One-Day Conference will be held in the Broomhill Hotel,
Derry on Saturday 16 May from 9.00am - 5.00pm. Contact
Mona on 02871269549 for details.
KNOCK CELEBRATES 130th ANNIVERSARY
On Sunday 7 June the people and priests
of the Diocese are invited to lead the prayers and
worship at Knock Shrine starting at 2.30pm. It would
be great if as many as possible could travel to Knock
in that day.
PROVISION OF CARE FOR KNOCK
PILGRIMS
Anyone who has poor mobility or is
in need of assistance who would like to participate
in the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Knock on Sunday 7 June
is invited to register for assistance by telephoning
the Pilgrimage Office Derry, 71260293. Staff from
the Lourdes Hospitalite will be available in Knock
to provide care.
MUSIC AT KNOCK
Any individual, choir members or musicians
who would like to contribute to the music at Knock
on Sunday 7 June please contact Sr. Perpetua, 71351233
for music and rehearsal details.
CARMELITE RETREAT CENTRE
Termonbacca Community Funday will
be held on Sunday 31 May 2009. We would be grateful
for any items you may wish to donate, e.g.; clothes,
toys, bric a brac, books etc., for our Funday Stalls.
If you are willing to help in anyway. Please contact
us during office hours. Tel: 71262512
FR PATRICK PEYTON CSC MEMORIAL
CENTRE MAYO
A bus will leave Barrack Street Car Park, Strabane
on Sunday 5 July 2009 at 9.30am for Mass at the Centre
at 1.30pm. Meals must be booked. Teas and coffees
will be served courtesy of the Centre. Fare £26.00
to be paid within 1 week of booking your seat. Contact
bus leader Jonathon McGhee on 07881510043.
DERRY DIOCESAN CHILD PROTECTION
ANNUAL UPDATE
A lot of work has been accomplished in the area of
Child Protection in the Diocese over the past number
of years due to the commitment of personnel at all
levels in the diocese from the Bishop through to dedicated
Parish Representatives working on the ground in all
parishes.
The Diocese of Derry continues to put in place those
structures, personnel, policies and procedures that
will try to ensure the protection and welfare of children
and young people in a manner consistent with statutory
requirements and Church guidelines. In the light of
the teaching of the church, Civil Legislation and
Guidance, every part of the Church community must
be committed to taking the necessary steps to:
*Demonstrate that the
right of the child to protection from harm is paramount
*Cherish and safeguard
children and young people.
*Foster better practice
*Support Church organisations
and personnel in safeguarding children
*Establish safe recruitment
and vetting practices - aimed at preventing those
who pose a risk to children from holding positions
of trust
*Maintain codes of behaviour
- having clear guidelines that set out what is and
what is not acceptable behaviour as an essential part
of keeping children safe
The Diocese now has a Child Protection Committee,
Diocesan Co-ordinator, 2 Diocesan Trainers and a network
of Parish Representatives.
The trainers deliver information on "best practice"
and raise awareness of child protection issues; they
also provide support to parishes within the Diocese.
In turn the Parish Representatives will pass on this
information and raise awareness within their local
parish communities. This is done though information
evenings that have been and continue to be held throughout
the Diocese.
Notices are displayed in our churches which include
the Diocesan Policy Statement, contact numbers for
statutory authorities of anyone with a concern in
relation to child protection or who wish to make an
allegation as well as the names and contact numbers
of the diocesan delegates.
STRABANE SIGERSONS GAA
Strabane Sigersons GAA in association with Melmount/East
Bank Estates Community Association Forum will host
an Inter Community Sports & Fun Day at Páirc
Mhic Sioghair this Sunday 10 May that will also coincide
with the GAA Club Day to mark 125th anniversary of
the GAA and we are appealing to all Club members past
and present and supporters to help play their part
in this special event. The day will start at 2.00pm
with Raising of the 125 GAA Flag and Club Mass which
will commemorate all deceased members of the GAA in
Strabane and will also commemorate what the Club is
about in the local community and a rededication of
the Club grounds. The day will continue with a full
schedule of sports, music, awards ceremonies and fun
activities for all the family.
JOE WALSH TOURS
Fatima and Estoril - accompanied by a Spiritual Director.
Ex Belfast departure 2 July - 9 July 2009. Fare €769.
Contact Sean Mulrine on 02871265926.
ST. VINCENT DE PAUL LUCKY LOTTO DRAW
The numbers drawn were 8,
13, 15, 17.
There was no Jackpot winner. 9 matched
3 numbers: Sally Quinn, Luke Kavanagh, Paul McMullen,
Kathleen McHugh, Enda McDonnell, Ryan Fleming, Betty
McKenna, Maureen Doherty, Brian O'Brien. Jackpot for
June is £1300.00. Next Draw will take place
on Sunday 7 June at 9.00pm at Melmount parish bingo.
ST. PATRICK'S LUNCHEON CLUB
St. Patrick's Luncheon Club are having
a Social/Dance on Monday 18 May in St. Patrick's Hall.
Music is by Ally Harron & Marian Curry. Doors
open at 9.00pm. Admission £5.00 (includes a
light supper).
ST. PATRICK’S HALL
Bingo and Lucky 4 Draw as usual this
Thursday.
All our patrons are very welcome.
STRICTLY COME DANCING
This year's event will take place
in St. Patrick's Hall on Friday 15 and Saturday 16
May. Music is by "Blondie & Friends".
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.
