THE VALUES OF THE KINGDOM
Jesus says: 'Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate.'
The one thing one would expect to find in a religious
person is the virtue of compassion. Without a warm,
compassionate heart one cannot call oneself a true
human being, never mind a truly religious person.
Then he says, 'Do not judge, and you will not be
judged yourselves; do not condemn, and you will not
be condemned yourselves.' Society has to have judges
and courts. Jesus is not talking about that. He is
talking about our ordinary relationships with one
another.
Where others are concerned, we never see the full
picture. In every person there is a dimension that
escapes us. We can't see into the mind and heart of
others. Which means we are not in a position to judge.
We've all been the victims of hasty and unfair judgements.
We know how hurtful that can be.
All of us are sinners, and therefore deserve God's
judgement. But what we long for is not judgement but
mercy and forgiveness. So, as far as possible, we
should refrain from judgement altogether. By our judgements
we convict ourselves.
Finally Jesus says, 'Give a full measure, pressed
down, shaken together, running over. The amount you
measure out is the amount you will be given back.'
He is urging his disciples to be generous with one
another. If we are generous we ourselves will benefit
too. An open, generous heart is a joyful heart. A
miserly heart is a sad heart. Besides, what we give
will come back, multiplied many times over. God will
see to it that the blessings we bestow will be returned
to us, all full measure, pressed down, shaken together,
and running over.
Jesus' vision of human behaviour is at such variance
with the view most people have, that many people regard
it as humanly unachievable, and therefore ignore it.
From a human point of view it is unachievable. Divine
help is needed.
PRAYER GROUP
The contemplative prayer group will
meet on Monday evening at 8.15pm in the Parochial
House.
ANNIVERSARIES
Mary Graham, Sadie Myers,
Sean Cavanagh, Rose Vennard,
Dolly Patton, Kevin Canning (Jnr),
Bridget Harron, Mary Houston,
Betty Wilders, Chris McTigue,
Hugh McCormack, Annie McHugh,
Mary McHugh, Seamus McHugh,
Eileen Quinn, Dot McClintock.
DEATHS
We offer our deepest sympathy
to the family and friends of:
Martin Tourish, Lifford
Mary O'Reilly, Brookvale
Patrick Devine, Dunamanagh
Susie McElchar, Castlefin
John Tzelepis, England
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. John McCullagh, 15 March
Fr. Noel McDermott CC, Faughanvale, 16 March
Fr. Eamon McDevitt PP, Dunamanagh, 17 March
Fr. John McDevitt CC, Omagh, 18 March
Fr. Michael McEldowney PP, Claudy, 19 March
Fr. Kevin McElhennon CC, Cappagh, 20 March
Fr. Brendan McGinn, Deceased, 21 March
THORNHILL CENTRE
Thornhill Centre is at present providing
the following courses: Lenten Thursdays, Lenten Scripture
Course, Dreams Workshop. For details please ring 71351233.
PARISH MUSICIANS: An
afternoon workshop for choirs of the Tyrone Deanery
will be held from 2.00pm - 4.00pm on Saturday 21 March
in St. Patrick's Hall, Castlederg. Music to include
pieces for Holy Week and Easter. Cost £3.00
per person. To book please ring 81661475 or 71351233.
PILGRIMAGE TO THE HOLY LAND
A 10 day pilgrimage to the Holy Land
flying direct from Belfast on Saturday 19 to Tuesday
28 September 2009. Cost £1090.00 or €1240.00.
Spiritual director Fr. Michael Porter. For information
and booking contact Charlie Gillespie on 07533330756.
LENTEN PROGRAMME 2009
Masses:-
Monday 7.00am 10.00am
Tuesday 7.00am 10.00am
Wednesday 7.00am 7.00pm
Thursday 7.00am 10.00am
Friday 7.00am 10.00am
Saturday 10.00am 6.30pm
Sunday 10.00am 12.00 noon
Stations of the Cross:- Wednesday
6.45pm and Friday 6.00pm
Eucharistic Healing Service:-
Every Sunday during Lent at 6.00pm. This
takes place before the Blessed Sacrament and we pray
for the healing of hurts, wounds, depressions, traumas
and difficulties of every kind, emotional or physical.
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament:-
This takes place all day in the Adoration Chapel (Oasis
of Peace). The Adoration Chapel is situated at the
back of the church.
Book of Petitions:- This
book is situated near the Padre Pio statue and you
are invited to write all your prayers and special
requests in the book. These requests are remembered
at all Masses in the church.
SICK AND HOUSEBOUND TO BE ATTENDED
Fr. Boland will visit the sick and
housebound in the following areas on Thursday 19 March
after 10.00am Mass: Courtrai Park, Barrack Street,
Lower Townsend Terrace, Mount Carmel Heights, Springhill
Park, Mill Street, Newtownkennedy Street, Lower Main
Street, Glenview Park, Church View, Patrick Street
and Tristan Road.
Fr. Boland will visit the sick and
housebound in the following areas on Friday 20 March
after 10.00am Mass: Bearney Road, Camus Road, Conthem
Road, Upper Townsend Street, Townsend Terrace, Marian
Park, Fountain Street and Innisfree Gardens.
PARISH DRAW
The Draw for the month of March will
take place in the parish office on Thursday 26 March
at 2.30pm.
Promoters are asked to bring their returns to the
parish office as soon as possible.
LEGION OF MARY
Legion of Mary meets each Thursday
morning after Mass at 10.30am in the Church Conference
Room. Work consists of Rosary promotion in the parish,
also visitation of residential nursing homes in town
and Lifford hospital. New members welcome.
WELL DONE STRABANE
Last week Fr. Joe McMenamin, Missionaries
of Africa, made an appeal on behalf of the people
of Zambia and during the week we received the following
letter:
Dear Fr. Declan,
I arrived back safe in Dublin
full of joy and happy memories of my visit to your
parish. I will always remember the kindness and lovely
welcome I received. The response to the appeal was
exceptionally generous. The total for the three Masses
was £2770.00 stg and €564.00 euro. The
people of Strabane have shown outstanding generosity,
moreover, their welcome and friendliness was for me
a very beautiful experience. I would like to convey
to you and them my deepest appreciation and sincere
thanks. May the good Lord bless all who responded
to our Mission appeal.
Yours sincerely,
Joe McMenamin, m.afr.
I would like also to express my deep gratitude to
the people of the parish for their outstanding generosity
last weekend. With the Mission collection and the
Sunday collection (£1895.00) the amount contributed
by our people to the Church last week was £5000.00.
Such generosity is simply breathtaking particularly
in difficult economic times and I say to one and all,
you were simply magnificent. Well Done!
Fr. Declan Boland P.P.
TAIZE PRAYER
Join us for an hour of meditative
Taize Prayer and Chant on Wednesday 18 March in St.
Colman's Chapel, St. Mary's Church, Melmount at 7.30pm.
CARMELITE RETREAT CENTRE
A Mass for the sick with Eucharistic
Blessing will take place in the Carmelite Retreat
Centre, Derry, on Tuesday 17 March at 8.00 pm. All
are welcome.
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.
STRABANE FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY
Strabane Family History Society will
meet in Strabane Community Library, Abercorn Square
on Thursday 19 March at 7.30pm. All members are requested
to attend. New members very welcome.
ALZHEIMER'S SUPPORT GROUP
There will be a meeting of the Alzheimer’s
Support Group on Wednesday 18 March at 7.30pm in Melmount
Manor Care Home, 1 Orchard Road, Strabane. The guest
speaker will be Dr. Singh, Locum Consultant Psychiatrist.
Everyone welcome.
FAVOURITE BUILDINGS OF THE YEAR AWARD 2009
Holy Cross College building has been
nominated for favourite building award. Please vote
for us at
http://www.derryjournal.com/CustomPages/Custom Page.aspx?pageid=72508
Readers can cast their final choice by voting either
by post using the Finalist Voting Form published in
Friday's Journal, or you can email your favourite
to Julieann.campbell@derryjournal.com
Closing date noon Monday 16 March 2009.
STRABANE SIGERSONS G.A.A.
Strabane Sigersons are encouraging
the people of Strabane and the surrounding areas to
come out and show their support for the annual St.
Patrick's Day parade in the town. This year's parade
will have a special G.A.A. theme owing to the 125
celebrations.
ST. PATRICK’S HALL
Bingo and Lucky 4 Draw as usual this
Thursday.
All our patrons are very welcome.
LUCKY 4 DRAW
There were 3 match 3 winners in last
week's Draw
Brian Donnelly
Angela O'Neill
Sinead McGarrigle
The numbers drawn were:
1, 3, 17, 20
Next Week's Lucky 4 Jackpot is £1025.00
THANK YOU
We gratefully acknowledge the proceeds
from the ceili which was held in St. Patrick's Hall
on Sunday 1 March. Many thanks to Mr Neil Gallagher.
PRAYER CORNER
PANIC AND ANXIETY
Source of tranquility,
be a peaceful presence for me.
Calm and settle my anxious spirit.
Set me free from my turmoil and fear.
Give me a perspective on my life.
Help me to trust that all shall be well.
Loosen my grip on my need to control.
May I live in this moment now,
instead of looking into the vast journey ahead.
You are here, Peaceful One, you are here.
I rest in you.
