TO BECOME A SHEPHERD LIKE
JESUS
In order to be real shepherds who
lead others,
we have to learn first of all to be good followers.
Jesus is revealed as the "Lamb of God"
before he reveals that he is the Good Shepherd.
He listens to the Father and obeys the Father
before revealing to us what to do.
To be good parents, don't we first of all have to
be
good sons and daughters?
Can we teach others if we have not learned from others?
How can we love if we have not been loved?
Some people, however, have not experienced
the care of others.
Their parents hurt them, abused them,
and did not help them to grow to freedom.
What about these people?
Will they find substitute parents,
people in later life who will understand and appreciate
them
and reveal to them the person they are
and the person they are called to be,
who is hidden under a lot of inner pain, guilt or
violence?
Jesus, Light of the world,
calls his disciples to become light for the world.
Jesus, the Good Shepherd, calls us to become good
shepherds,
to mature spiritually,
to help others in need
and to seek out those who are lost, crushed or oppressed,
who have been pushed to the margins of society.
The qualities of a shepherd
Jesus reveals to us the qualities
of good shepherds:
"The shepherd calls his own sheep by name
and leads them out (of the sheepfold).
When he has brought out all of his own,
he goes before them
and the sheep will follow him
for they know his voice.
A stranger they will not follow."
Shepherds are the ones
who lead those who have been entrusted to them
to inner freedom -
the freedom to make good choices, to take initiative,
and to grow to greater maturity and love.
In biblical language, to know someone
by name
implies a growing understanding of a person,
of his or her unique gifts and weaknesses,
needs and mission in life.
That means taking time with that person, listening,
and above all creating a mutual relationship of communion,
revealing to that person that he or she is loved,
has value and is precious.
One can only guide someone
if there is no desire to possess, control or manipulate
the other,
if mutual trust, respect and love have been born between
the two.
Trust is the basis for all shepherding
and all education.
a man working with kid streets told me
that he is unable to help any of them until trust
is born,
trust that he is there because he cares for them
more than for his salary.
Trust can only come if the shepherds are good models,
living what they teach,
showing the way by the way they live, act and love.
Double messages, whereby a person does not live what
they say, break trust.
DEATHS
We offer our deepest sympathy
to the family and friends of:
Michael O'Hanlon,
Ballindrait
Marcella Edgington,
Newtown Street
May they rest in peace.
ANNIVERSARIES
Fiona Coyle, Eileen McBride
James Mullen, Mary Curran
Mary Roulston, Robert McHugh
Theresa Winters, Andy McGarrigle
Frankie Connolly, Tommy Cullen
Eddie McAteer, Lily McCauley
Catherine O'Brien, Molly O'Kane
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. Gerard Sweeney CC, Waterside,
13 Sept
Fr. Gary Wade, 14 Sept
Fr. John R Walsh PP, Buncrana, 15 Sept
Fr. Alex Anderson, 16 Sept
Fr. Patrick Arkinson PP, Killygordon, 17 Sept
Fr. Patrick Baker CC, Maghera, 18 Sept
Fr. Declan Boland PP, Camus, 19 Sept
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.
PARISH DRAW
The Draw for the month of September will take place
on Thursday 17 September at 2.30pm in the parish office.
Promoters are asked to make their returns to the parish
office on Monday 14 September.
FORTY HOURS ADORATION
The forty hours adoration will begin
next weekend on Saturday 19 September after 10.00am
Mass and continue through until Sunday 20 September
ending with a Healing Service at 6.00pm.
THORNHILL CENTRE
Thornhill Centre has a number of
short and long courses starting in October and November
2009.
Aspects of Faith: ‘So what should we teach them?’
(1 term night course - October/November).
Personal Development: 'Dreams Workshop' (1 term night
course - October/November).
Pastoral Ministry: 'There is a Variety of Gifts' (8
Saturday Seminars - Monthly).
Scripture: Saint Luke (4 week night course - November).
Liturgy: 'Foundations in Liturgy'. Contact the Thornhill
Centre on 71351233.
CARMELITE RETREAT CENTRE
A Mass for the sick with Eucharistic
Blessing will take place in the Carmelite Retreat
Centre, Termonbacca, Derry, on Tuesday 15 September
at 8.00pm. All are welcome to attend.
LEGION OF MARY
The annual Legion of Mary pilgrimage to Knock Shrine
will take place on Sunday 27 September. Bus fare £12.00.
Leaving Bowling Green at 8.15am. For booking please
contact Mrs Margaret Harte 02871883159 or Mrs Frances
Conwell 02871882048.
DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES
July 16 - 21 2010
Cost of the pilgrimage is £629.00
payable in instalments. Forms available from parish
office or pilgrimage office. Forms for those in need
of care or those aged 80+ available only from the
pilgrimage office, telephone 02871260293.
ALZHEIMER'S SUPPORT GROUP
There will be a meeting of the Alzheimer’s
Support Group on Wednesday 16 September at 7.30pm
in Melmount Manor Care Home, 1 Orchard Road, Strabane.
The guest speaker will be Mairead Farrell, speaking
on, Advocacy. Everyone welcome.
HOLY FAMILY PADRE PIO PRAYER
GROUP
The Holy Family Padre Pio Prayer
Group will hold their monthly meeting in the Holy
Family Church, Ballymagroarty, Derry on Monday 14
September, starting with 7.30pm Mass. There will be
two 1st class relics of St. Pio at the meeting. 'Everyone
is welcome'.
CHURCH ROOF
The lower church roof on the Barrack
Street Boys' School side is in need of major attention.
You may have noticed the scaffolding that has been
erected to allow that section to be totally felted
and re slated. This section of the roof has caused
problems for many years with serious leaks occurring
after heavy rain and the time has come for a proper
and comprehensive overhaul. The cost, we are told,
will be around £15,000.00. The work should be
finished at the beginning of October.
We would like to extend thanks and gratitude
to St. Patrick's Bowling Club for their generous donation
of £900.00 towards parish funds. Thank You.
TAIZE PRAYER AND CHANT
Join us for an hour of meditative Taize Prayer and
Chant on Wednesday 16 September in St. Colman's Chapel,
St. Mary's Church, Melmount at 7.30pm.
ST. VINCENT DE PAUL LUCKY LOTTO DRAW
The numbers drawn were 9, 11, 13, 19.
There was no Jackpot winner. 13 matched 3 numbers:
Fr. Pat O'Hagan, Nora Duffy, Isobel McCrea, Patrick
McCallion, Raymond Semple, Sean Crawford, Dympna Boyle,
Gregory Brolly, Anita Tracey, Maura McCormack, Rorie
Porter, Daniel Donaghey, Moya Gallagher. Jackpot for
October is £1100.00. Next Draw will take place
on Sunday 4 October at 9.00pm at Melmount parish bingo.
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.
STRABANE FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY
The new season for members of the Strabane Family
History Society commences on Thursday 17 September
in the local Community Library at 7.30pm. Members
are requested to renew their annual subscriptions
at this meeting and new members can avail of this
opportunity to join.
COFFEE MORNING
Oysters Restaurant are holding a Coffee Morning on
Saturday 19 September starting at 11.00am. Proceeds
are in aid of orphanages in South Africa.
LIAM BRADLEY TOURS
New Year (4 January) Galway 4 days. 3 dinners, B&B,
dancing, £210.00pps. Departs Strabane at 9.30am.
Telephone 71269109 anytime.
ST. PATRICK’S
HALL
Bingo and Lucky 4 Draw as usual this
Thursday.
All our patrons are very welcome.
Bingo Snowball £2500.00
LUCKY 4 DRAW
There was 1 match 3 winner in last week's Draw
Noeleen O'Neill
The numbers drawn were:
3, 11, 12, 21
Next Week's Lucky 4 Jackpot is £1675.00
***************
PRAYER CORNER
REFLECTION
The disciples were sitting on
a bank of a river.
"If I fall off this bank will
I drown?" one of them asked.
"No," said the Master. "It isn't
falling in that causes you to
drown; it's staying in."
FOR SUFFERING
May you be blessed in the holy names
of those
Who, without you knowing it,
Help to carry and lighten your pain.
May you know serenity
When you are called
To enter the house of suffering.
May a window of light always surprise
you.
May you be granted the wisdom
To avoid false resistance;
When suffering knocks on the door of your life,
May you glimpse its eventual gifts.
May you be able to receive the fruits
of suffering.
May memory bless and protect you
With the hard-earned light of past travail;
To remind you that you have survived before
And though the darkness now is deep,
You will soon see approaching light.
May the grace of time heal your wounds.
May you know that though the storm
might rage,
Not a hair of your head will be harmed.
REFLECTION
The Master found it tiresome to speak
with people who were forever bent on
defending the existence of God or
discussing His nature while they neglected
the all-important task of self-awareness
which could alone bring them
love and liberation.
To a group of people who asked him
to
speak to them of God, he said, "What you
seek, alas, is to talk of God rather than
see Him; and you see Him as you think he
is, not as he actually is. For God is
manifest, He is not hidden. Why talk?
Open your eyes and see."
Later he added, "Seeing is the
easiest
thing in the world. All you need to do is
raise the shutters of you God-thoughts."
