THE BOOMERANG PRAYER
The vocabulary of the people of the Old Testament
did not have a word for "thank you." That
does not mean that they were a people who were devoid
of gratitude. For when they felt a need to express
thanksgiving, they pronounced a blessing: "Blessed
be God, who... ." Part of the prayer life of
Jesus' heritage was an almost endless list of such
short blessings that praised God for everything from
rainbows to a good bowel movement. As a devout Jew,
the life of Jesus was saturated with short prayers
of gratitude. This spirit of gratitude carried on
to the prayer and worship of early Christian communities
whose central expression was the "Eucharist,"
a Greek word for thanksgiving.
The prayer of Jesus was simply a response to life.
As such, thanksgiving arose organically from the events
of life, hour by hour, day by day. We usually think
of prayer as something that is done at special times,
such as upon rising or going to bed or before eating
a meal. But prayer for Jesus was a river that flowed
out of life and back into it again. Prayer was a natural,
at times spontaneous, response to a hundred different
aspects of being alive.
Our prayer life also holds the power to awaken within
us a need to live lives of continual gratitude. If
we could acquire a habit of making short expressions
of gratitude to God for the countless daily gifts
of our lives, we would find that such a prayer is
a Boomerang Prayer. When we pray "Thank you for
a beautiful day," we sail our prayer of gratitude
off to God, only to have it come whirling back to
us as we taste the beauty of the day. Each time we
say "thank you" for the gift of a hot shower
or for the faithfulness of a friend, we open ourselves
to the giftedness of hot water or a friend's fidelity,
and all that can so easily be taken for granted.
The person who prays "thank you" tastes
life twice. Those who make their lives a litany of
thanks need never fear that they will be counted among
life's zombies. Their very prayer opens the floodgates
to even more gifts as well as enhancing their enjoyment
and awareness of existing ones.
I have found it of value to pray a thanksgiving rosary.
With each bead I pray "Deo Gratias...,"
or "Thank you, God...," and then add the
gift for which I am grateful. I move from bead to
bead, listing the fifty things, in sets of ten, for
which I am grateful that day. For example : "Thank
you, God, for a clean bed in which to sleep tonight.
Thank you, God, for my parents. For the gift of sight,
thank you, O God... ." Whatever form of prayer
you use, such a litany can awaken you to countless
gifts which we so easily take for granted. And such
a prayer is habit-forming and self generating. You
will soon find yourself making spontaneous responses
- on-the-spot short prayers of gratitude - to life's
perpetual parade of gifts.
Such thanksgiving prayers, I promise you, are blessed
boomerangs which will whirl back to hit you on the
head, awakening you to an amazing fact: "At this
very moment, I am as rich as a millionaire."
COLLECTION
We acknowledge last Sunday’s collection of £1657.00.
Many thanks.
PRAYER GROUP
The contemplative prayer group will meet on Monday
night 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. No previous
experience of this type of prayer is needed.
PARISH DRAW
The Draw for the month of May will be held on Thursday
24th May in the parish office at 2.30pm. Promoters
are asked to make their returns to the parish office
on Monday 21st May.
We will be running
an Extra Draw in May for all fully paid members.
FR. JAMES CLERKIN AND FR. JOHN FARREN
This week we pray for the anniversaries of two of
our former Parish Priests, Fr. James Clerkin whose
8th anniversary is 22nd May and Fr. John Farren whose
10th anniversary is 23rd May. May they rest in peace.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION
First Holy Communion will take place at 11.00am on
Saturday 26th May. We pray a very special blessing
on our P.4 children, their families and all the teachers
involved.
TROCAIRE LENTEN COLLECTION
We would like to thank everyone who contributed to
the Trocaire Lenten Collection. The total amount raised
by the parish was £9130.00 and 916 Euro. A
SINCERE THANK YOU TO EVERYONE.
LOURDES HOSPITALITE COLLECTION
The Annual Lourdes Hospitalite Collection which was
taken up at all Masses last weekend amounted to £378.97.
Thank you for your support.
BLESSING OF GRAVES
The Annual Ceremony of the Blessing of the Graves
will take place in this parish on Sunday 10th June
at 3.00pm. The Annual Services in the neighbouring
parishes are as follows:
Cloughcor: Sunday 27th May at 3.00pm.
Murlog: Monday 28th May at 7.00pm.
Melmount: Sunday 3rd June at 5.00pm.
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. Contact 02871883159.
ANNIVERSARIES
Kathleen Nolan, Mary Jo Logue, Sheila McHugh,
Archie Nelson, James Sharkey, Fr. James Clerkin,
Fr. John Farren, Peter Farrell.
Please note: 1st anniversary
Mass for Peter Farrell will be held
in the Sacred Heart Church, Derry Road on Saturday
26th May at 7.00pm.
Deaths:
We offer our deepest sympathy to the family and friends
of
Christina Patton, Melmount Road,
and
Terence Sharkey, Dublin Road, who
died during the week. May they rest in
peace.
ST PATRICK’S
HALL
Bingo & Lucky 4 Draw Every Thursday
There was 1 Match 3 winners in last week's Lucky 4
Draw
5, 6, 8, 10
Philomena Gallagher
Next Week's Lucky 4 Jackpot is £825.00
ST. PATRICK'S LUNCHEON CLUB
St. Patrick's Luncheon Club are holding a dance/social
on Wednesday 23rd May in St. Patrick's Hall. Music
is by White Lightening and supper is at 9.00pm. Admission
is £3.00 or 5 Euro (includes supper). Everyone
is welcome.
SHINE A LIGHT CHARITY NITE
Come and shine with our local stars in St. Patrick's
Hall on Monday 28th May. With special guest appearance
by Mr. Billy McCorry, founder of Shine A Light. Other
guests include, Mr Men, Friends, Crazy G, Terry McCafferty,
Terry Boyle & Glen Neeson. Doors open at 8.30pm.
Tickets £5.00 or pay on the night.
DERRY DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO KNOCK 2007
Derry Diocesan Pilgrimage to Knock is on Sunday 3rd
June. Bus leaving Abercorn Square at 8.00am sharp.
Fare £12.00. For details and booking please
contact Mary Hegarty, 15 Patrick Street, Strabane,
telephone 02871882886.
ONE DAY RETREAT
There will be a One Day Retreat to Lough Derg on Saturday
26th May. Bus leaving Abercorn Square at 8.00am sharp.
For details and booking please contact Mary Hegarty,
15 Patrick Street, Strabane, telephone 02871882886.
SMA FATHERS PILGRIMAGE TO KNOCK
Pilgrimage takes place on Saturday 26th May. Bus leaving
Strabane at 8.30am. For further enquiries contact
Ann Maguire, telephone, 02871886753.
NORTH WEST INSTITUTE INFORMATION DAYS
North West Institute will hold Information Days at
its Strand Road Centre, Derry, on Tuesday 22nd May,
and Strabane Centre, Derry Road, on Wednesday 23rd
May, from 11.00am - 8.00pm both days. Find out more
on the wide range of full-time and part-time options
now on offer. Tel:, 71276022 for details.
OMAGH COLLEGE
As part of Adult Learners Week from 21st - 25th May,
Omagh College will have an information stand with
details of Essential Skills courses. If you are interested
in improving your reading, writing and maths, and
gaining a qualification, please call to the college,
or contact Michelle Mullan on 02882245433.
STRABANE SIGERSONS G.A.A.
The Clubs Under 14 footballers will play Naomh Mhuire
in the quarterfinals of the Tyrone Grade One league
at Páirc Mhic Sioghair on Tuesday 22nd May
at 8.00pm. Sigersons Senior ladies commence their
league campaign away to Fintona next Tuesday night.
Good Luck to the Senior and Minor footballers of Tyrone
will play Fermanagh in the opening round of the Ulster
Championship this Sunday in Clones. The Club are holding
a Night at the Races in Sigersons Social Club on Friday
25th May in aid of the Youth trip to Birmingham for
the International Féile on the first weekend
in June.
