HOLY WEEK
This week is one of the greatest weeks in the Church's
calendar. On Palm Sunday we celebrate the triumphal
entry of Christ into Jerusalem. On Holy Thursday morning
there is the Chrism Mass in St. Eugene's Cathedral,
Derry. At that Mass the priests of the diocese renew
their priestly commitment and ask a blessing on their
ministry. It is a time to pray for your priests, those
who presently serve you, and those who have moved
on to different parishes, not forgetting those who
have gone ahead of us on our journey of faith to God.
On Thursday evening there is the evening Mass of
the Lord's supper when we remember in a special way
the great gift of Jesus in the Eucharist.
On Good Friday we celebrate the Lord's Passion and
on Holy Saturday we celebrate the Easter Vigil where
we proclaim Christ's triumphant victory over death.
We then begin the joyful and hope filled days of Easter.
As this is a special week you are encouraged to participate
in all the ceremonies and to make this a time of opportunity
and grace. Lent is nearly over and it is up to each
one of us to take stock and as a community to celebrate
these very significant events in the life of Christ.
Make this week a kind of mini retreat where we do
our best to stay tuned to the graces we are being
offered. Be renewed individually this week, be renewed
as a family, be renewed as a community. These are
the days the Lord has made, let us be glad and rejoice.
PRAYER GROUP
There will be no prayer meeting
this Monday evening. The prayer group will resume
after the Easter break.
TROCAIRE BOXES
Trocaire boxes can be returned to the church during
any of the Holy Week ceremonies. We would ask that
you would exchange coins for notes where possible.
COLLECTION
We acknowledge last Sunday’s collection of
£1630.00. Many thanks.
DEATHS
We offer our deepest sympathy to the family and friends
of:
Elaine Patterson, Ballycolman Estate.
Bernard Lafferty, Camus Park.
Tim Kelly, Carlton Crescent.
May McDermott, Claudy.
Dolly Patton, Bearney.
Dot McClintock, Liskey Road. May
they rest in peace.
ANNIVERSARIES
Sadie Myers Margaret Dunne, Sean Kavanagh Seamus
McHugh
Annie McHugh Mary McHugh, Kevin Canning Johnny Mohan
Mary Houston Bridget Hendron, John Hendron Susie Campbell
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:
Fr. Noel McDermott CC, Faughanvale, 16th March.
Fr. Eamon McDevitt PP, Dunamanagh, 17th March.
Fr. John McDevitt CC, Omagh, 18th March.
Fr. Michael McEldowney PP, Claudy, 19th March.
Fr. Kevin McElhennon CC, Cappagh, 20th March.
Fr. Brendan McGinn, 21st March.
Fr. Dermott McGirr CC, The Three Patrons,
22nd March.
DONATIONS TOWARDS STORM GLAZING
AND PA SYSTEM
We very gratefully acknowledge all the donations
we have recently received towards the storm glazing
of the stained glass windows in the church and the
PA system:-
£500.00, £250.00, £100.00, £100.00,
£100.00, £100.00, £84.00, £80.00,
£50.00, £50.00.
Total donated to date:- £11030.00.
Thank you for your continuing support.
TAIZE PRAYER AND CHANT
Join us for an hour of meditative Taize Prayer and
Chant on Wednesday 19th March in the Day Chapel, St.
Mary's Church, Melmount from 7.30pm - 8.30pm. Everyone
welcome.
PARISH DRAW
Please Note: As the last Thursday in March coincides
with the Easter break we will hold the March Draw
on Wednesday 19th March at 2.30pm in the parish office.
We therefore ask all our promoters to make their returns
to the parish office on Tuesday 18th March.
Your co-operation in this matter is much appreciated.
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 Savings, Parish
Draw, Sunday and Special Collections etc.) must be
made payable to Church of the Immaculate Conception.
ALZHEIMER'S SUPPORT GROUP
The Group will meet on Wednesday 19th March at 7.30pm
in Melmount Manor Care Home, Orchard Road, Strabane.
Guest Speaker, Deirdre Doherty, Reminiscence Network
Northern Ireland, speaking on, Reminiscence. Everyone
welcome.
STRABANE SIGERSONS G.A.A.
The annual Strabane St. Patrick's Day Parade will
assemble at Melmount Chapel car park at 2.00pm on
Monday 17th March and will proceed to the Score Site
in Canal Street. We are appealing to all Business,
Community, Sporting and School groups from throughout
the Strabane District to play an active role in this
year's Parade.
PARISH ENVELOPES
The new boxes of envelopes will be distributed shortly.
The parish envelope weekly collection is the main
source of income for our parish and it is vital that
as many as possible use them. If it has not been your
custom to use the weekly envelopes why not begin this
year? If you would like a box of envelopes please
contact the parish office, Tel., 71882215 or leave
your name and address on the sheet provided at the
back of the church. Alternatively you can write you
name and address below and return it to the parish
office.
Name:________________________________
Address:______________________________
_____________________________________
MEDJUGORJE IRISH CENTRE
Located beside St. James Church, the Irish Centre
is the meeting place or all Medjugorje's Irish Pilgrims.
The Centre provides information, laundry, phone, internet
and foot massage services. Apartment accommodation
available for as little as €20 per night. We
will arrange airport transfers from Split or Dubrovnik.
We can also provide details on buying property in
Medjugorje. Contact us for details: 02882241888, email
darren@mdejugorje-properties.com or visit website
www.medjugorje- properties.com
ST. PATRICK’S HALL
Bingo and Lucky 4 Draw as usual this
Thursday.
All our patrons are very welcome.
Next Week's Lucky 4 Jackpot is £1900.00
N.I. BLOOD TRANSFUSION SERVICE
A team from the N.I. Blood Transfusion
Service will be in St. Patrick's Hall on Tuesday 25th
March from 1.30pm - 4.00pm and 5.15pm - 8.00pm. The
Blood Transfusion Service would appeal for the support
of all existing blood donors and welcome new donors.
TUESDAY CLUB
Members please note that the Tuesday
Club is cancelled until after Easter.
COME DANCING
In aid of Altnagelvin Breast Screening
Unit.
Come Dancing will take place in St.
Patrick's Hall on Friday 25th April 2008.
Starring
Deirdre's Dancers
The Devenney Family
And Featuring
Natasha Sharma
Music By : FONTANA
Doors Open at 9.00pm. Ticket £8.00.
PRAYER CORNER
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.
LORD, MAY YOUR SPIRIT BURN
WITHIN ME
Lord, you burn like a flame within
us,
Flame of energy and inspiration,
Living flame of love.
Yet like a flame you can be quenched
by our pride,
Smothered by our selfish ways, our sins.
There are times we prefer other things,
When we prefer to live without
The glow of your love within,
The flame of your goodness shining on us,
The light of your presence,
Times when we prefer
The ways of darkness.
Yet how can we live without your love,
Lord?
Help me to hold on to what is good.
Help me not to quench your Spirit.
May your Spirit burn within me.
PRAYER OF ST. PATRICK
May the strength of God pilot us,
May the power of God preserve us,
May the wisdom of God instruct us,
May the hand of God protect us,
May the way of God direct us,
May the shield of God defend us,
May the host of God guard us,
against snares of evil
and the temptations of the world.
PSALM FOR PRAYING
You take delight , O Radiant One,
in gracing me with new life!
O Beloved, come and renew me!
Let me face my weaknesses and all
that confuses me, that keeps me from joy!
I seek forgiveness for my wrong doings,
I desire only You!
Let me begin anew, a as child
at its mother's breast, who basks in love.
May all who seek You rejoice and be glad!
May all who surrender to You say evermore,
"My joy is in the Beloved!"
Yet I am lowly and fear-filled;
hasten to me, Beloved!"
You are my strength and my joy;
O Beloved, come and renew me!
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.
PSALM 71
In You, O my Beloved, do I take refuge;
Let me never feel separated from You!
In your compassion come and refresh me;
listen to my cry,
answer my plea!
Be to me a rock, a tower of strength,
a strong arm to uphold me,
as I abandon myself into your hands.
Be a very Presence to me as fear grips
me.
For You, O Friend, are my hope,
my strength, since I was but a child.
Upon you have I trusted from my birth,
You, whom I knew before my mother's womb.
I continually sing praises to you.
I have been a burden to many;
In you alone will I trust.
I am filled with gratitude and
sing your praises all the day.
Do not abandon me in my old age;
desert me not when my strength is
spent, or
when my mind plays tricks with me.
For fears rise up to confuse me,
doubts and forgetfulness
band together,
And say,"the Beloved no longer dwells with you;
there is no one to stand by you."
O Friend be not far from me;
O Beloved come and enfold me
in your Presence!
Help me to release my fears.
Hear my prayer that they may be transformed,
O You, who are my Counsellor.
As I surrender myself into your hands,
I praise you more and more.
I tell others of your goodness
of your compassion and grace
all the day;
for your glory is beyond my understanding.
As I grow in inner peace and serenity,
I sing songs of praise,
to You my Friend!
You who have done wondrous things.
O Beloved, who is like You?
You who have seen me through many fears,
strengthen me again:
From the depth of despair
You renew my spirit,
You increase my trust, and You comfort me.
Blessed be the Beloved, who dwells
in all hearts!
