EYE OPENER PRAYER
We are all involved in the wonder of giving and receiving gifts. But gifts generally become possessions of which we take little notice. That's the way it is with gifts - they soon lose their wonder and become commonplace. In Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, Annie Dillard tells of a twenty-two-year-old woman who had been blind since birth. But through the skill of a brilliant surgeon, she was given the gift of sight. When her bandages were removed and she opened her eyes, what she saw was too marvellous. She shut them immediately and refused to open them for two weeks! When she finally had the courage to open her eyes again, she could only repeat over and over, "Oh God, how beautiful, how beautiful."
Our greatest gifts are those which, at this very moment, we are unaware that we possess! Our most priceless gifts are so common that we take them for granted until sickness or accident suddenly awakens us by repossessing them. It is often only by their absence that we become fully aware of their value. The litany of such overlooked gifts is a long one: sight, hearing, taste, smell, good health, the use of hands and feet, even the ability to have a good night's sleep. These are gifts we should never allow to become ignored or commonplace.
The admonition "Don't forget" can be expressed positively by saying, "Be forever grateful." Constant gratitude for common things is uncommon. Prayers of gratitude are the perfect response to the Divine Source of gifts. In such prayers of gratitude is hidden the expression that most delights the heart of the gift-giver - the knowledge that the receiver greatly enjoys the gift.
The paradox is that unless we make room in our crowded lives for prayers of thanks, we usually fail to be truly conscious of the wonder and enjoyment of our eyes and nose, hands and feet, for being able to walk freely or dance around the kitchen. How easily we forget that such common possessions are always gifts.
Prayer is the great eye opener that holds the magic of making us mystics. A mystic is simply one who experiences God poured forth in every moment. When ending our daily period of prayer, perhaps at the conclusion of a time of silent centring prayer, we should open our eyes with the same wonder as that twenty-two-year-old woman. If we do, we will be stunned at what we see, at the marvel of the everyday beauty that surrounds us. And the fitting "amen" to our prayer could be the continual chant of the mystic: "Oh God, how beautiful, how beautiful."
COLLECTION
We acknowledge last Sunday’s collection of £1738.00. Many thanks.
PRAYER GROUP
The contemplative prayer group will meet on Monday night 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. No previous experience of this type of prayer needed.
PARISH DRAW
The next Draw will take place on Thursday 28th June at 2.30pm in the parish office. Promoters are asked to make their returns to the parish office on Monday 25th June.
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 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.
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to all our P.4. children from Evish P.S., Barrack Street Boys' P.S. and St. Anne's P.S. who received their First Holy Communion recently. To all their parents and teachers, - Evish P.S., Mrs Forbes and Mrs Simpson, Barrack Street Boys' P.S., Mrs McCrory, St. Anne's P.S. Mrs McGranaghan and Mrs Daly - we are most grateful for their excellent work. Mrs Kerr and Miss Doherty provided the beautiful music and Hugo had the Church and grounds in excellent condition. WELL DONE EVERYONE!!
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 the following priests:
Fr. John Doherty PP, Leckpatrick 10th June
Fr. Joseph Doherty PP, Retired 11th June
Fr. Michael Doherty PP, Melmount 12th June
Fr. Patrick Doherty PP, Castlederg 13th June
Fr. Andrew Dolan PP, Bellaghy 14th June
Fr. Brian Donnelly CC, Dungiven 15th June
Mgr. Joseph Donnelly PP, Omagh 16th June
MARRIAGES
We congratulate the following couple who were married in our parish recently:
Melisa McGinley and Mark McAnenny.
ANNIVERSARIES
John Connolly (Snr), Tom McGee,
Robert Coyle, Bobby Coyle, John Quinn,
Martha Madde,n Thelma Browne, Paddy Browne,
Eileen Gallagher, James Gallagher,
Rosaleen McGonigle, Eddie Maxwel,l
Patrick McNamee, Alicia McNamee,
Kitty Slevin, Mae Slevin, Grace Brennan,
Jim Brennan, Kathleen Brennan, Carol McCool,
Joe Gallagher, Kathleen Bannigan,
Margaret Kearney, John McGlinchey,
Sarah Hannigan, Mary Ann Conway,
Andrew Curran, Mary Curran
DEATHS
We offer our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of:
Michael Porter Jnr, Innisfree Gardens
May he rest in peace.
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 in your box.
YOUNG PEOPLE - IT'S GOOD TO TALK
Young people are often under huge pressure. They suffer silently and alone and often think that no-one understands them. But there is help available. They can always confide in their local clergy where they will find understanding, sympathy and support. However if they do not want to follow this line of support there are some important numbers they can also get in contact with: 02871266999
SAMARITANS 08457909090
NEW HELPLINE 08456020499
ST. JOSEPH'S HIGH SCHOOL
St. Joseph's High School, Plumbridge will be open to the public on Thursday 14th June from 9.30am - 3.00pm. You will have the opportunity to tour the school. An exhibition of 'School Photographs' will also be on show.
Everyone associated with St. Joseph's is also invited to a Mass of Thanksgiving at 7.00pm in the Sacred Heart Church, Plumbridge.
A light finger buffet will follow in the School Hall.
ST PATRICK’S HALL
Bingo & Lucky 4 Draw Every Thursday
There was one Match 3 winner in last week's Lucky 4 Draw
2, 9, 13, 18
The Devine Twins
Next Week's Lucky 4 Jackpot is £925.00
BAND NIGHT
St. Patrick's Hall is hosting Band Night on Friday 15th June from 9.00pm - 12.00pm.
Admission £4.00. Featuring:
Iron Cross,
Safedrive,
Urban Enemy,
Jammin Gypsy Experience,
First Comes The Fire.
ST. PATRICK'S LUNCHEON CLUB
St. Patrick's Luncheon Club are holding a dance/social on Monday 18th June in St. Patrick's Hall. Music is by Reflections and supper is at 9.00pm. Admission is £3.00 or 5 Euro (includes supper). Everyone is welcome.
ST. VINCENT DE PAUL LUCKY LOTTO DRAW
The numbers drawn were 10, 17, 18, 24. There was no Jackpot winner. There were 3 match 3 winners who shared £300.00: Sally McColgan, Isobel Dunnion, Marie McElroy. Jackpot for July is £1100.00. Next Draw will take place on Sunday 1st July 2007 at 9.00pm at Melmount parish bingo.
PRAYER CORNER
REAL PRAYER
Prayer confronts us with our own truth. Everything that moves us will emerge: past conflicts, the hurts and wounds of our childhood. The things that are currently preoccupying us emerge: concerns about the financial future, fears regarding the development of the children, the suffering from our own fears, inner discontentment, restlessness. Or perhaps the people whom we have hurt in the past emerge. We must put an end to our obsessive inward going around in circles, trying to cope with our guilt, our concerns and problems. Rather we should hold them out to God, directing our eyes to him. Then he will calm our hearts amid the turbulence of our lives, amid the feelings of guilt that would otherwise devour us.
Prayer is not an escape from reality. I cannot try to fool myself in prayer, wishing to run away from the not so pleasant reality. In prayer the truth of my life becomes apparent. This truth is not always pleasant. Everything that I have done wrong emerges: where I have hurt others, where I have failed to act justly towards them; and my disappointments will stir within my heart.
Many therefore flee from the silence of prayer. They prefer to launch themselves into hectic activity in order to avoid the truth of their hearts. One form of escape is to use many words in prayer, thus preventing any dialogue with God and not giving him a chance to lead us into the truth. The prayer in which our truth becomes apparent, is a prayer of silence, a prayer in which we expose ourselves to God without protection, in which we bring everything that is within us before God, for him to transform and heal.
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PRAYER CORNER
PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
Come, Creator Spirit,
visit the minds of those who are yours;
fill with heavenly grace
the hearts that you have made.
You who are named the Paraclete,
gift of God most high,
living fountain, fire, love
and anointing for the soul.
You are sevenfold in your gifts,
you are finger of God's right hand,
you, the Father's solemn promise
putting words upon our lips.
Kindle a light in our senses,
pour love into our hearts,
infirmities of this body of ours
overcoming with strength secure.
The enemy drive from us away,
peace then give without delay;
with you as guide to lead the way
we avoid all cause of harm.
Grant we may know the Father through you,
and come to know the Son as well,
and may we always cling in faith
to You, the Spirit of them both.
Take, bless, break and give
In the Eucharist bread is taken, blessed,
broken and given.
In life we are taken, blessed, broken and given.
The priest takes the bread in his hands and blesses
it during the eucharistic prayer ;
then he breaks it and it is given to us as the body
of Christ.
Through our birth and baptism we are taken into God's
hands;
as the bread is taken, so too are we.
In life we are blessed by family, friends, love and
joy;
as the bread is blessed so too are we.
We are broken by failure, sin, pain and heartbreak;
as the bread is broken so too are we.
In death we are given back to the mystery from which
we came;
as the bread is given so too are we.
When we take, bless, break and give bread to one another,
we believe the Lord to be especially present in our
midst.
But we must learn to accept that in his memory we
will be taken blessed, broken and given for the life
of the world.
PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
Holy Spirit, I want to do what is right.
Help me
Holy Spirit, I want to live like Jesus. Guide me.
Holy Spirit, I want to pray like Jesus. Teach me.
GRIEVING FOR CHILDREN
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing
for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you they belong not to you.
********
You are the bows from which your children as living
arrows are sent forth.
The Archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and he bends you with His might that His arrows may
go swift and far.
Let your bending in the Archer's hand be for gladness,
For even as he loves the arrow that flies, so he loves
also the bow that is stable. (Kahlil Gibran)
BE PATIENT
"Be patient in the absence of answers,"
the wise person would say.
Stop harassing your heart and your spirit.
They are unable or unwilling to answer you.
They know that some of those answers
may be unbearable to you at this time.
For now, welcome these questions without trying to
find answers. Let yourself experience the questions.
One day you will find yourself living the answers.
