THE WEB OF LIFE
Chief Seattle of the Duwamish tribe of the Oregon
Territory very beautifully spoke of the mystery of
life and of communion: "All things are connected.
Whatever befalls the earth befalls the children of
the earth. We did not weave the web of life, we are
merely strands in it. Whatever we do to the web, we
do it to ourselves."
All of creation - women, men plants, animals and
all the earth - is intertwined and interdependent
as are the numerous strands of a spider's web. Not
only is all of creation connected, it is in communion.
Since God created it and shares the divine life with
it, that web is holy. To live in an awareness of that
communion is to believe in these words of St. Paul:
"As the human body which has many parts is a
unity, and those parts, despite their multiplicity,
constitute one single body, so it is with Christ.
God has harmonised the whole body . . . That the body
should work together as a whole with all the members
in a sympathetic relationship with one another"
(Cor. 12: 24-36).
Holy Communion is not simply a religious ritual, it
is a way of life that expresses a belief in the holiness
of the body, the entire body of Christ. The ancient
ritual of going to Holy Communion not only places
us at the very heart of the web, it is meant to lead
to a life lived in communion with all the various
strands of the web of life.
Our communion with God must also extend to all of
life. Sky and earth, oceans and flowers, birds and
animals, the planets and stars are all parts of the
holy web. As we struggle with the problems of the
pollution of the earth, of its water and air, we begin
to see more clearly the mystery of which Chief Seattle,
Paul and Jesus spoke: that whatever we do to the web
of life, we do to ourselves.
St. Paul was concerned about the proper preparation
of those who were about to receive Holy Communion.
"One must test oneself before eating one's share
of the bread and drinking from the cup. For they who
eat and drink, eat and drink judgement on themselves
if they do not discern the Body" (1 Cor. 12:
28-29). To discern the Body is to recognise Christ
throughout the web of life. A reverence for the Body
of Christ in Holy Communion must include a reverence
for the various strands of the web of life, a reverence
for earth, rivers, trees and the air that we and all
of creation breathe. That communion may be as simple
as sitting by a potted plant on a window sill, reverencing
the earth we walk on, the clouds that float overhead
or the trees we pass on our walk. We prepare for Holy
Communion each time we are in communion with the rain
or snow as well as with the poor or imprisoned.
We also prepare to go to Holy Communion by taking
time to be in communion within ourselves. As we take
time to pray, being alone to listen to our needs and
inner struggles, our awareness expands to embrace
the struggles of all the members of Christ's body.
We test our state of preparation by our ability to
see God in the children and the aged, in people who
are like us and those who are very different. When
we reverence the presence of the holy in the suffering,
the sick and the dying as well as in the members of
our own families, then we live in Christ and experience
the fullness of life itself. For Jesus said that all
who abide in him would bear much fruit, and that fruit
is indeed life!
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.
COLLECTION
We acknowledge last Sunday’s collection of
£1745.00. Many thanks.
DEATHS
We offer our deepest sympathy to the family and friends
of:
Ryan Boyce, Sion Mills.
Pat Boyle, Urney Road
Ivan Barr, Bridge Street
Francis McGrinder, Dublin.
Seamus Cairns, Sion Mills. May
they rest in peace.
ANNIVERSARIES
John Gallagher, William Logue, Liam
Logue, Jimmy Logue,
Billy Melly, Lida Duddy, Roseanne Molloy, Edward Duncan,
Mary McColgan, Mary Jo Logue, William Devenney, Archie
Nelson,
Kevin Quigley, Margaret Flanagan, Tommy Diver , Annie
Diver.
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. Brian Brady PP, Malin, 18th May.
Fr. Bernard Bryson, Retired, 19th May.
Fr. Thomas Canning, Omagh, 20th May.
Fr. Michael Canny Adm, Templemore, 21st May.
Fr. John Cargan PP, Steelstown, 22nd May.
Fr. Neal Carlin, Columba Community, 23rd May.
Fr. Walter Carolan CC, Banagher, 24th May.
BLESSING OF GRAVES
The Annual Ceremony of the Blessing of the Graves
will take place in this parish on Sunday 15th June
at 3.00pm.
PARISH DRAW
The Draw for the month of May will take place in
the Parish Office on Thursday 22nd May at 2.30pm.
Promoters are asked to make their returns to the Parish
Office tomorrow Monday 19th May.
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.
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.
ENGAGED ENCOUNTER WEEKEND
Engaged? Getting married within the next year?
An Engaged Encounter Weekend is a recognised form
of marriage preparation. It is a communication workshop
designed for couples preparing for marriage. The weekend
is non-residential and will take place in the Thornhill
Centre, Derry on
14th - 15th June. Early booking is advised.
For information contact 02871350612 or 02827638515.
ALZHEIMER'S SUPPORT GROUP
The Group will meet on Wednesday 21st May at 7.30pm
in Melmount Manor Care Home, Orchard Road, Strabane.
Guest Speaker, Dr Michael Williams, Belfast City Hospital,
speaking on, Alzheimers and The Eye. Everyone welcome.
ONE DAY RETREAT
There will be a one day retreat in Lough Derg on
Tuesday 27th May. Bus departs from Mulvey House at
8.00am. Fare £30.00. For bookings telephone
02871886753.
BUS TO KNOCK
Sunday 25th May, bus departs from Mulvey House at
8.00am. Pick up at Abercorn Square at 8.05am. Fare
£15.00. For bookings telephone Anne on 02871886753.
AL ANON
Are you concerned about someone's drinking?
If so, then you are invited to come along to a public
information meeting in the Pastoral Centre, Letterkenny
on Monday 19th May at 8.30pm.
STRABANE SIGERSONS G.A.A.
Best wishes to Sigersons Minor Ladies who will play
Edendork in the Tyrone Grade 4 Championship Final
at Drumragh Monday 19th May at 7.00pm. All support
welcome. The Club's Senior and Reserve teams will
play Beragh this Sunday 18th May in the O'Neill's
Sportswear Tyrone Division 3 Leagues. All support
welcome.
There will be a Night at the Races in Sigersons
Social Club on Friday 23rd May to raise funds for
the Club's forthcoming youth trip to play in the International
Féile in Birmingham. Please come along and
lend your support.
ST. PATRICK’S HALL
Bingo and Lucky 4 Draw as usual this
Thursday.
All our patrons are very welcome.
LUCKY 4 DRAW
Next Week's Lucky 4 Jackpot is £2050.00
BARRETT SCHOOL OF IRISH DANCING
Classes each Tuesday and Friday at 4.00pm in St.
Patrick's Hall. Age - from 3 years upwards. New pupils
welcome.
N.I. BLOOD TRANSFUSION SERVICE
A team from the N.I. Blood Transfusion Service will
be in St. Patrick's Hall on Wednesday 21st May 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.
ST. PATRICK'S LUNCHEON CLUB
St. Patrick's Luncheon Club are having a Social/Dance
on Monday 19th May in St. Patrick's Hall. Music is
by Country Traditions and supper is at 9.00pm. Admission
£5.00 or €7.00 (includes supper). Everyone
is welcome.
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PRAYER CORNER
A TIME FOR EVERYTHING
There is a time for everything
a time for every season under heaven:
a time to be insecure and a time for security
a time to have strong opinions and a time to let them
go
a time to be confused and a time to have clarity
a time to be healthy and a time to be sick
a time to experience success and a time to know failure
a time to be young and a time to grow old
a time to feel at peace and a time to face conflict
a time to have friends and a time for loneliness
a time to be weak and a time to be strong
a time to feel lost and a time to find the way home
a time to shed the skin and a time to welcome a new
one.
(This prayer is based on Ecclesiastes
3: 1-8).
A PRAYER FOR HEALING
Healing God,
come to my hidden corners.
open the doors to my soul rooms
that are tightly locked.
Awaken in me.
Bring to life all my deadness.
Enthuse the depressed emotions.
Reenergise my inner weariness.
Bathe the grime of my ego-centeredness.
Clarify my confusions.
Fire my neglected loves.
Brush off my dusty dreams.
Nurture my spiritual hungers.
Ease my sore relationships.
Deepen my sense of self esteem.
Stir up my connection with the world.
Tenderly gather in your arms
all that still needs healing,
all that remains wounded and wanting.
May I grow each day into greater wholeness
with a stronger, purer inner freedom.
BEWARE OF WORDS
Rarely was the Master so eloquent
as when
he warned against the bewitching power of words:
"Beware of words," he said,
"The moment you look away
they will take on a life of their own;
they will dazzle,
mesmerise,
terrorise
-- lead you astray
from the reality they represent --
lead you to believe they are real.
"The world you see
is not a Kingdom seen by children
but a fragmented world,
broken into a thousand pieces
by the word . . .
It is as if each ocean wave
were seen to be distinct and separate
from the body of the ocean.
"When words and thoughts
are silenced
the Universe blossoms forth
-- real and whole and one --
and words become
what they were always meant to be:
the score -- not the music
the menu -- not the food
the signpost -- not the journey's end."
