MISSION
SUNDAY
GO
AND TELL
The following is an extract from the message of
Pope Benedict XVI for Mission Sunday 2008.
Proclaim the Gospel
In this Jubilee Year dedicated to St. Paul, we are
reminded of the urgency to proclaim the Gospel up
to the ends of the world. There can be no slackening
or stagnation in the essential mission of the Church
to evangelise all people thirsting for hope and love
who are still waiting for the proclamation of the
Gospel.
Hope and Love
The Gospel is a life changing communication that gives
hope. Without Christ, humanity is without hope because
it is without God. God is the great hope that sustains
the whole of life.
Paul experienced and understood that redemption
and mission are the work of God and his love. The
love of God for us prods us to missionary activity.
Evangelisers must drink from the original source,
which is Jesus Christ. It is from his pierced heart
that the love of God flows. Only from this source
can care, tenderness, compassion, hospitality, availability
and interest in people's problems be drawn.
Launch Out
In the vast sea of this world, we can launch our nets
without fear, confident in the aid of Jesus. To Go
and Tell is a duty and a joy. Like Paul, each bishop
- consecrated not only for his diocese but for the
salvation of the whole world - is called to reach
out to those who are far away and do not yet know
Christ. Priests, co-operators with their bishops,
are called to be generous pastors and enthusiastic
evangelisers. The vocation of religious is marked
by a strong missionary connotation, involved in bringing
the proclamation of the Gospel to everyone. Laity
are called by the witness for their lives to take
part in an increasingly important way in spreading
the Gospel.
Role of the Pontifical Mission Societies
May the celebration of Mission Sunday lead to a renewed
awareness of the urgent need to proclaim the Gospel.
I thank the Pontifical Mission Societies for their
contribution to evangelising activity. They are a
valid instrument for animating and forming the People
of God in missionary activity. They nurture the communication
of persons and goods between the different parts of
the Mystical Body of Christ. May the collection that
is taken in all parishes on Mission Sunday be a sign
of communion and mutual concern among the Churches.
May prayer be intensified even more in the Christian
faithful, as it is the essential spiritual means for
spreading among all peoples the light of Christ.
COLLECTION
We acknowledge last Sunday’s
collection of £1722.00. Many thanks.
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.
ANNIVERSARIES
Thomas Dunne, Dermot Dunne,
Winnie McCullagh, Mary Catherine Friel,
Patrick Quinn, Anthony Maxwell,
Charlie Flanagan, Rose McHugh,
Kathleen Coups, Andy McGillian.
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. Michael Doherty PP, Melmount,
19th Oct.
Fr. Patrick Doherty PP, Castlederg, 20th Oct.
Fr. Andrew Dolan PP, Bellaghy, 21st Oct.
Fr. Brian Donnelly CC, Dungiven, 22nd Oct.
Mgr. Joseph Donnelly PP VF, Omagh, 23rd Oct.
Fr. Liam Donnelly PP, Garvagh, 24th Oct.
Fr. T Philip Donnelly, Retired, 25th Oct.
BLESSED SACRAMENT CHAPEL
Our Blessed Sacrament Chapel is open
every day from 10.00am until the Church closes. It
is located at the back of the Church - when you come
in the main door, turn left, then left again. This
is a sacred space where you can come and pray, ask
for your special intentions and rest a while in the
midst of a busy world.
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.
PARISH DRAW
The Draw for the month of October will take place
on Thursday 23rd October at 2.30pm in the parish office.
Promoters are asked to make their returns to the parish
office on Monday 20th October.
PARISH SAVINGS SCHEME
All savers, including children who save with the
scheme, are reminded that cheques are crossed therefore
they must have a bank account, building society account
or credit union account into which their savings cheque
can be lodged. The name on the account must be the
same as the name on the cheque. Please contact your
collector now if a name has to be changed as it will
be too late when the cheques are given out.
ANNUAL MASS FOR THE DEAD
Fr. Boland will celebrate the annual Mass for the
dead in the Church on Friday 16th November at 7.30pm.
ANNUAL MASS FOR DECEASED
TEACHERS
Bishop Lagan will celebrate the annual Mass for deceased
teachers of the Derry Diocese in the Church of the
Immaculate Conception, Strabane on Wednesday 12th
November at 7.00pm. Everyone welcome.
DONATIONS TOWARDS SECURITY
AT PAROCHIAL HOUSE
Because of the recent break-in we
have been advised by the police to upgrade our security
immediately - cameras, lights and the present alarm
system at the parochial house. It is regrettable that
this has to be done but we have been left with no
other option.
We gratefully acknowledge the following
donations towards our new security measures:-
£40.00
Thank you for your continuing
support.
WANT
TO BE PART OF SOMETHING NEW AND EXCITING?
Then why not join our new choir which
will be based in the Immaculate Conception Church,
Strabane. If you are aged between 13 and 20 years
and you want to improve your musical skills, to include:
The opportunity of entering singing
grades
Having singing teachers
Learning to read music
Theory lessons
If you are interested please phone
Eamonn on 07549849432
or email strabaneyouthchoir@googlemail.com
to register or for further information.
All are welcome to join no matter
what level of singing experience you already have!!!
LEGION OF MARY
Could you spare a few hours a week to visit the old
and the lonely? As well as our visits to Greenfield,
Woodmount and Melmount Manor, the Legion also visits
homes in the parish to promote the Rosary and the
Divine Mercy Chaplet. New members are urgently needed.
For further information please contact Margaret Harte
on 02871883159.
COLMCILLE PILGRIMAGES
Cruise of the Lords of the Bible including Egypt,
Holy Land, Turkey and Greece.
March 5th - 14th 2009. Cost £1095.00 per person
sharing. Telephone 07732468511 or email paddyokane@tiscali.co.uk
IONA CARMELITE RETREAT CENTRE
Mass of the sick with Eucharistic Blessing will take
place in the Carmelite Retreat Centre, Termonbacca,
Derry, on Tuesday 21st October at 8.00 pm. All are
welcome to attend.
Sr. Josephine Walsh Weekend Retreat with emphasis
on forgiving, healing and making a new start, will
take place at The Carmelite Retreat Centre, Termonbacca
from Friday 24th October to Sunday 26th October. For
further details tel: Derry 71262512 during office
hours only.
DERRY DIOCESAN PIONEER ASSOCIATION
The Annual Mass for the Derry Diocesan Pioneer Association
will take place on Sunday 26th October at 3.00pm in
St. Mary's Church, Clonmany. Mass will be celebrated
by Bishop Hegarty and everyone is welcome. Bus going
from Strabane. For further details contact Mary Hegarty,
15 Patrick Street, Strabane, telephone no. 02871882886.
Are you aware of older people in your community?
People who are confused, lonely, fearful and cut off
from society. Could you spare 1 - 2 hours per week
with travel expenses and be a friend? Volunteers are
required for this vital work across the area. Please
Contact Danny or Karen at Strabane Community Project
on 02871883102.
ST. PATRICK'S LUNCHEON CLUB
St. Patrick's Luncheon Club are having
a Social/Dance on Monday 20th October in St. Patrick's
Hall. Music is by Vincie Carr and Anne McGrory. Doors
open at 9.00pm. Admission £5.00 or €7.00
(includes a light supper). Everyone is welcome.
ST. PATRICK’S
HALL
Bingo and Lucky 4 Draw as usual this
Thursday.
All our patrons are very welcome.
LUCKY 4 DRAW
There was one match 3 winners in last
week's Draw
Ryan O'Neill
The numbers drawn were:
1, 3, 4, 10
Next Week's Lucky 4 Jackpot is £575.00
PRAYER CORNER
FOR SOLITUDE
May you recognise in your life the
presence,
Power and light of your soul.
May you realise that you are never alone,
That your soul in its brightness and belonging
Connects you intimately with the rhythm of the universe.
May you have respect for your individuality and difference.
May you realise that the shape of your soul is unique,
That you have a special destiny here,
That behind the facade of your life
There is something beautiful and eternal happening.
May you learn to see yourself
With the same delight,
Pride and expectation
With which God sees you
in every moment.
A BLESSING OF ANGELS
May the Angels in their beauty bless
you.
May they turn towards you streams of blessing.
May the Angel of Awakening stir your heart
To come alive to the eternal within you,
To all the invitations that quietly surround you.
May the Angel of Healing turn your wounds
Into sources of refreshment.
May the Angel of the Imagination enable you
To stand on the true thresholds;
At ease with your ambivalence
And drawn in new directions
Through the glow of your contradictions.
May the Angel of Compassion open your eyes
To the unseen suffering around you.
May the Angel of Wildness disturb the places
Where your life is domesticated and safe,
Take you to the territories of true otherness
Where all that is awkward in you
Can fall into its own rhythm.
