CATCH-UP TIME

Jet-lag is a relatively new affliction. This travellers curse, which is endemic to our electronic age, appeared as recently as the second half of the century. Jet-lag is the psychophysical disorientation created by travelling at jet speed across several time zones. Within the escalating tempo of daily life – as we attempt to keep pace with instant global communications, mobile phones, email, the internet, fax messages and the jangle of telephones – we can easily suffer from soul-lag. The common collective curse causes an unhealthy estrangement from ourselves and others. May the following story about soul-lag assist you in understanding this now-expanding affliction.

Is Soul-Lag a reality? Just as jet-lag causes physical and mental disorientation, living at great speed causes a spiritual, soulful disorientation. Perhaps someday science will confirm that we leave behind us a trail of soul flakes as well as skin flakes. The prayer of recollection is the act of gathering up these pieces of our inner-selves that we leave behind as we hurry through our day from one event to the next.

The more emotionally intense an experience, the more of one's soul or inner self that is left behind. If holiness involves striving to do everything with a fullness of attention, then it logically requires pouring our souls, our very inner-selves, into each work and event. If you've been fortunate enough to encounter a person whom you felt has been fully present to you – heart and soul – have you not continued to feel that person's presence after you've parted? After being with the person who gifted you with the totality of his or her attention and love, is not what's left behind more that just a memory of the occasion? Is this lingering presence not part of the profound mystery of the gift of a person's soul? Soul gifts are more intimate than body gifts. Just as the intimacy of making love leaves a potent, lingering and happily haunting imprint, so it is with intimate gifts of the soul.

Recollection of prayer, or catch-up time, could also be called inventory prayer since it's an act of reviewing how we've responded in the various situations of our day. This special period of prayer is set aside to examine our thoughts and emotions particularly the ones we may have neglected as we experienced them. For a variety of reasons we tend to suppress certain emotions and intuitions that spontaneously arise within us. Failure to attend to them makes us deaf to messages from our inner-teacher and soul-guide who speaks to us through intuitions.

DEATHS

We offer our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of:

John James Doherty, Melmount Manor.

Michael Brown, Olympic Drive.

Aiden Friel, Lifford.

Annie Devlin, Castlefinn.

May they rest in peace.

ANNIVERSARIES

Joe Caulfield, Cathy Duffy

Maggie May Moss, Rose Walsh

Joe Harron, Liam Kennedy

Stan O'Connor, Sammy Kearney

PRAYER GROUP

The contemplative prayer group will meet on Monday at 8.15pm in the Parochial House. Newcomers very welcome.

PRAY FOR PRIESTS
This week we ask you to pray for:
Fr. Kevin Duddy, 20 June
Mgr. Austin Duffy, Retired, 21 June
Fr. Jack Farrell, Retired, 22 June
Fr. Seamus Farrelly, Deceased, 23 June
Fr. John Farren PP, Iskaheen, 24 June
Fr. Neil Farren PP, Ardmore, 25 June
Fr. Paul Farren, Catechetical Centre, 26 June

BISHOP LAGAN'S GOLDEN JUBILEE
The Golden Jubilee Mass for Bishop Lagan will take place on Sunday 27 June at 3.00pm. All parishioners are welcome to attend this Mass. There will be refreshments afterwards in the Parish Hall.

PARISH DRAW
The Draw for the month of June will take place in the parish office on Thursday 24 June at 2.30pm. We ask all our promoters to make their returns to the parish office on Monday 21 June.

ACCORD DERRY
Marriage Preparation Workshops 24/25 September and 22/23 October at Thornhill Centre Culmore Road, Derry. Friday 6.45pm - 10.00pm and Saturday 10.00am - 4.00pm. To book a place on any of these courses please contact Rosemary on 02871362475 Monday - Thursday 9.30am - 1.30pm.

CARMELITE RETREAT CENTRE

A one day retreat for Senior Citizens and their friends will take place at the Carmelite Retreat Centre, Termonbacca, Derry on Wednesday 23 June for those from the Derry and Donegal areas. Registration from 10.30am finishing around 5.00pm. Cost £15.00stg or €18.00 Euro includes a four course lunch. Payment at the Centre on the day. To book Tel: Termonbacca Derry 71262512 during office hours only.

Carmelite Pilgrimage to Knock, Sunday 18 July. Coach leaves Termonbacca at 7.30am with pick a up point at Melmount Centre at 8.00am. Returning to Derry at approx.11.00pm. Return coach, snack on the way down and four course evening meal. Fare £35.00stg or €40.00 Euro. For further information, telephone Termonbacca, at Derry 71262512 during office hours only.

Children in Crossfire are recruiting volunteers to assist them with a bag pack in Asda Strabane on Friday 25 June between 5.00pm and 10.00pm. If you would like to help and can spare some time, please contact Sarah on 71269898 or email events@childrenincrossfire.org The money raised will go towards our projects in Tanzania and Ethiopia.

Children in Crossfire are recruiting 20 runners for the Barcelona Half Marathon on the 13 February 2011.

For more information, please contact Sarah on 71269898 or email events@childrenincrossfire.org

RALLY FOR LIFE
A bus taking people to the Rally for Life in Belfast will leave from the Melmount Centre on Saturday 3 July at 8.45am. There will be Mass in St. Patrick’s Church, Belfast. For further details contact 71882048.

HEARING AID CLINIC
Hearing Aid Clinic will take place on the last Thursday of each month in Ballycolman Community Centre from 10.00am - 12.00noon. Telephone 02871320132 for details.

FOYLE HOSPICE MIDNIGHT WALK
Foyle Hospice’s Strabane Midnight Walk will take place on Friday 25 June. This is a ladies only 3.5 mile sponsored walk start/finishing at Heaton’s Car Park, Railway Road and will commence at midnight! Come along for a fun night out on the town with a difference! For further information and entry forms please contact Foyle Hospice Fundraising Centre (028)71359888, Strabane Foyle Hospice Shop (028)71886241, visit www.foylehospice.com or you can email Rachel at rachelbruce@foylehospice.com.

FREE HEARING AID SUPPORT SESSIONS
Do you wear a hearing aid or know someone who does? RNID is running a free monthly hearing aid support session in St. Patrick’s Hall, Barrack Street, Strabane. It will be held on the last Thursday of every month from 1.00pm – 2.30pm, starting 24 June. If you’re having trouble with your hearing aid, or need new batteries, or just need some advice, come along and talk to a trained RNID volunteer.

NORTH WEST REGIONAL COLLEGE
North West Regional College at Strabane, Derry, and Limavady is now offering an exciting range of part-time courses, commencing in September. A number of new courses will be offered this year in a range of subject areas. For a copy of the new Part-Time Prospectus contact the College on 02871276000 or email info@nwrc.ac.uk

ST. PATRICK'S LUNCHEON CLUB
St. Patrick's Luncheon Club are having a Social/Dance on Monday 28 June in St. Patrick's Hall. Music is by Country Features. Doors open at 9.00pm. Admission £5.00/€6.00 (includes a light supper).

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
Pat Mullen
Ethel McGinley
Nora McCrory
The numbers drawn were:
4, 11, 16, 22
Next Week's Lucky 4 Jackpot is £2325.00

PRAYER CORNER

Be merciful to me , O Beloved!
I open my heart to You,
for in You is Love and Wisdom.
In the shadow of your wings I will
find peace.
until the fears that bind me
are transformed.
I cry to the source of all life,
to the Eternal One whose Plan
is wholeness for all.
Send in your angels to awaken me,
put to rest all that keeps me
in darkness.
The Beloved will send forth steadfast
Love and Light!

I lie at night in the midst of dragons,
fears that seek to overpower me;
They rise up to taunt me,
they seek to control my life.

Be exalted, O Holy One,
Creator of the galaxies!
Let your glory be over all the earth!

My fears have woven a web;
like a spider
they seek to entrap me.
They live within me, gnawing at my bones,
they bring only suffering and despair.

Yet in my heart I know, Beloved, that
Love is the healing balm for fear,
I will sing and make melody!
Awaken my soul!
Awaken to Love's song!
I will awaken the dawn!
I will give thanks to You
among the peoples,
O Heart of my heart;
I will sing praises to You among
the nations.
For your steadfast love fills the universe,
and makes a home in my heart!

Be exalted, O Holy One,
Creator of the galaxies!
For your Glory reigns over
all the earth!