CONFESSIONS
Saturdays: 10.30am - 12.30pm; 5.45pm
- 6.20pm
Thursday before First Friday after
morning Mass
BAPTISMS
Friday: 6.30pm Sunday 12.45pm
CONTACTS
Parish Administrator: Mrs Amanda Cairns
Parish Office: 02871 882215
Email: info@strabaneparish.com
Website: www.strabaneparish.com
Parish Hall: 02871 882483
A NEW YEAR RESOLUTION
We wish all our parishioners and friends of the parish
every blessing and happiness in the year which has
just begun. It is important not to make too many resolutions
because you know that they will not be kept. But there
is one resolution we would like you to make this year
and it is this:
PLEASE JOIN OUR 2009 PARISH
DRAW
As you know the loss of our parish savings has left
our finances very exposed and if we can broaden the
base of our Draw members it will go in some way towards
alleviating our problems. The subscription is £5.00
a month or £60.00 for the year. The prizes are:
1st prize £1000.00
2nd prize £300.00
3rd prize £200.00
4th prize £100.00
5th prize £100.00
6th prize £100.00
7th prize £100.00
8th prize £100.00
The Draw promoters are
as follows:
Fr. Boland, Carmel McGarrigle,
Kathleen Connolly, Eileen Canning,
Siobhan McDevitt, Jonathon McGhee,
Mary McAleer , Elizabeth Harper,
Mary & Danny O'Hagan, Patricia McCrossan,
Maura Coyle, Colette McKane,
Maisie Boggs, Neil Gallagher,
Sr. Carmel, Mary Christy,
Nuala Kerr, Kevin Gallen,
Andrew McIntyre, Kathleen Kelly,
May Stewart, Josie Gallagher,
Doreen Diver, Kathleen Morris,
Ann Mullen, Veronica Dunne,
Pat McColgan, Olivia O'Kane,
Gertie Duddy, Sheila McGonigle,
Marian Cooke & Eileen McNulty
If you wish to join the Draw please contact any of
the promoters above or ring Amanda at the parish office.
We are particularly asking the parish savings collectors
of last year who have many contacts to help us in
this regard. This year above all years we are making
a big plea for your assistance as we need as many
new members as possible.
COLLECTION
We acknowledge last Sunday’s
collection of £1670.00. Many thanks.
PRIEST'S CHRISTMAS COLLECTION
Fr. Boland would like to thank everyone for their
very generous Christmas Collection which was taken
up at the Masses on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
It is very much appreciated.
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:
Tony McSorley, Springhill
Park
Rosemary McGuigan,
Urney Road
Margaret Patton,
Ballycolman Estate
May they rest in peace.
ANNIVERSARIES
Terry Logue, Tom Mullan
Mary Mullan, Lizzie Logue
Bertie Casey, James McGarrigle
Catherine McGillion, Kevin McGillion
Margaret Kilbride, Denis Connolly Jnr
Seamus McAteer, Michael Harron
Michael Conway, Frank McElwee
Jim McDermott, Jimmy Harkin
Agnes Connolly, Christina Gallagher
Willie McGillian, Ignatius Dunne
Edward McElhill Jnr, Vera McElhill
Michael Campbell, Crissie Melaugh
Bertie Casey, Baby Sarah Wilders
PRAY FOR PRIESTS
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. Thomas Canning CC, Omagh, 11 Jan
Fr. Michael Canny Adm, St. Eugene's Cathedral, 12
Jan
Fr. John Cargan PP, Steelstown, 13 Jan
Fr. Neil Carlin, Columba Community, 14 Jan
Fr. Walter Carolan, Retired, 15 Jan
Fr. Colum Clerkin PP, Ballinascreen, 16 Jan
Fr. Roland Colhoun Adm, Long Tower, 17 Jan
WEEK
OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY
18 - 25 JANUARY 2009
The observance of the 'Church Unity Octave' was initiated
by Rev. Paul Wattson, an Episcopal priest, and took
place at Our Lady of the Angels chapel, Graymoor,
Garrison, N.Y. in 1908. It was developed by Abbe Paul
Couturier in 1935 as the 'Universal Week of Prayer
for Christian Unity'. This year's theme was chosen
by the churches in Korea. The biblical text for this
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is taken from Ezekiel
37:17 "Join them together into one stick, so
that they may become one in your hand".
A service to mark the Week of Prayer for Christian
Unity will take place in the Church of the Immacualte
Concepion on Sunday 18 January at 5.00pm. Everyone
is welcome.
CHILD PROTECTION FORMS
Would all those who have completed the forms required
for the child protection vetting process please come
along to the parish office on Monday 12 January between
6.00pm and 7.00pm to have the forms signed off by
the Child Protection Representatives.
PARISH DRAW
We would ask all the promoters of the parish Draw
to collect their lists and cards for the 2009 Draw
at the parish office as soon as possible. Any new
promoters should bring their list of names to the
parish office at their earliest convenience.
CONFIRMATION AND FIRST HOLY
COMMUNION 2009
Confirmation will take place on
Saturday 21 February 2009 at 11.00am for all Primary
7 pupils.
First Holy Communion for all Primary
4 pupils will take place on Saturday 30 May 2009 at
11.00am.
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.
ST. VINCENT DE PAUL LUCKY LOTTO DRAW
The numbers drawn were 6, 9, 14, 22.
There was 1 Jackpot winner who received
£1200.00:
Martin French, Melmount Road. Jackpot for February
is £1000.00. Next Draw will take place on Sunday
1 February at 9.00pm at Melmount parish bingo.
STRABANE FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY
The first meeting of the New Year of Strabane Family
History Society will take place on Thursday 15 January
in Strabane Community Library, Abercorn Square at
7.30pm. A full turnout of members new and old is earnestly
requested and others most welcome.
NORTH WEST REGIONAL COLLEGE
NEW YEAR, NEW CHALLENGE
North West Regional College, Derry, Limavady and
Strabane is now offering an exciting range of new
part-time courses, beginning January or February 2009.
So, if you think you would like to try a new challenge
in the New Year, then call 028 71276000 or visit www.nwi.ac.uk
for the course options now on offer.
STRABANE SIGERSONS GAA
There will be a meeting in the Clubrooms on Monday
12 January at 7.00pm for all those interested in playing
with the Clubs Senior or Reserve teams this season.
All new players are welcome. There will be a meeting
in the Clubrooms on Wednesday 14 January at 7.30pm
for the Minor and Juvenile girls. New players are
welcome. Club Membership Fees for 2009 are now due
for renewal. These can be paid to Aidan McGrath, Cha
Stewart or left at the Social Club.
ST. PATRICK’S HALL
Bingo and Lucky 4 Draw as usual this
Thursday.
All our patrons are very welcome.
***************
PRAYER CORNER
THE NEW YEAR
Ever Faithful God
in this new year I pray:
to live deeply with purpose,
to live freely, with detachment,
to live wisely, with humility,
to live justly with compassion,
to live lovingly with fidelity,
to live mindfully with awareness,
to live gratefully with generosity,
to live fully, with enthusiasm.
Help me to hold this vision
and to daily renew it in my heart,
becoming ever more one with you,
my truest Self.
I ARISE IN THE NEW YEAR
I arise with amazement at the presence
of the Holy One.
I arise with gratitude for life.
I arise with hope that all shall be well.
I arise with courage to meet what will be difficult.
I arise with conviction to do what is life-giving.
I arise with eyes ever alert for beauty.
I arise with openness to greater truth.
I arise with desire for continued transformation.
I arise with compassion for the hurting ones in the
cosmos.
I arise with grief still settled in my spirit.
I arise with a sense of kinship with all whom I love.
I arise with determination to make good choices in
using my time.
I arise with willingness to help those who will need
my care.
I arise with hesitation as I think about the pain
that may come.
I arise with longing for ever greater inner freedom.
I arise with happiness, knowing that I am invited
to live life more fully.
I arise with love for the Holy One, my Intimate Companion.
Compassionate God and faithful Friend,
thank you for the opportunity to walk into another
year of life. Help me to be faithful, to be generous,
to be yours.
PRAYER
The purpose of all prayer is to uplift
the words,
to return them to their source above.
The world was created
by the downward flow of letters:
The task of man is to form those letters into words
and take them back to God.
If you come to know this duel process,
your prayer may be joined
to the constant flow of Creation -
word to word, voice to voice,
breath to breath, thought to thought.
The words fly upward and come to Him.
As God turns to look at the ascending word,
life flows through all the worlds
and prayer receives its answer.
All this happens in an instant
and all this happens continually;
Time has no meaning in the sight of God.
The divine spring is ever-flowing;
one who is ready can make himself into a channel
to receive the waters from above.
