TO GROW IN FRIENDSHIP WITH
JESUS TAKES TIME
This life with and in Jesus takes
time to grow.
It is a gift of Jesus that we can ask for,
a gift that comes after many inner struggles and inner
conflicts.
Paul talks of our flesh being crucified
so that we are no longer slaves to our compulsions
for power, love, success:
slaves to self-centredness and egotism.
We become free:
"It is so that we be free that Christ has set
us
free." Gal 5:1
Free to live simply this friendship with Jesus in
the Spirit.
Jesus has already spoken of his leaving
and his returning.
His leaving refers to his death; his return refers
to his resurrection.
But at the same time he is referring to his presence
and his absence in our lives.
There are times when his presence is more deeply felt,
when we feel guided and held in his love and friendship,
when peace permeates our hearts.
At other times we feel lost, in anguish, as we struggle
with inner pain.
Sometimes feelings of guilt and unworthiness rise
up in us.
Faith and trust become difficult.
We struggle with ourselves.
These are all signs of our being pruned, stripped,
purified by the Father.
Our faith and trust are being deepened.
The sails of our little boats are not filled with
the winds of the Spirit.
We have to row hard,
sometimes against heavy winds of discouragement.
Jesus appears to be sleeping in the boat.
We must learn to wait for Jesus to wake up
and to reveal once again his friendship and his presence
to us.
DEATHS
We offer our deepest sympathy
to the family and friends of:
Gerard Kelly, Colman
Fold
Alex Carlin, Lifford
Betty Caffrey, nee
McGuinness, Dublin
May they rest in peace.
ANNIVERSARIES
Danny McCrossan, Arthur Friel,
Rose Hoynes, Thomas McCauley,
Rosaleen Caulfield, Sheila Gallagher,
Denis Devlin, John Kerr,
Josephine Melaugh.
PRAYER GROUP
The contemplative prayer group will meet on Monday
evening at 8.15pm in the Parochial House. Newcomers
very welcome.
PRAY FOR PRIESTS
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. Eugene Boland PP, Cappagh, 20
Sept
Fr. Francis Bradley, Diocesan Pastoral Centre, 21
Sept
Fr. Manus Bradley, Canada, 22 Sept
Fr. Brian Brady PP, Garvagh, 24 Sept
Fr. Bernard Bryson, Retired, 25 Sept
Fr. Thomas Canning CC, Omagh, 26 Sept
SICK AND HOUSEBOUND TO BE
ATTENDED
Fr. Boland will visit the sick and housebound in the
following areas on Monday 21 September after 10.00am
Mass: Courtrai Park, Barrack Street, Lower Townsend
Terrace, Mount Carmel Heights, Springhill Park, Mill
Street, Newtownkennedy Street, Lower Main Street,
Glenview Park, Church View, Patrick Street and Tristan
Road.
Fr. Boland will visit the sick and
housebound in the following areas on Wednesday 23
September starting at 10.00am: Bearney Road, Camus
Road, Conthem Road, Upper Townsend Street, Townsend
Terrace, Marian Park, Fountain Street and Innisfree
Gardens.
HOLY CROSS COLLEGE
A Parent Teachers Association is
being set up in Holy Cross College. To help raise
funds there will be a Table Quiz in the Fir Trees
Hotel on Thursday 24 September at 9.30pm. All welcome.
PARISH DRAW
The winners of the Draw for the
month of September are:
£1000.00 Sharon Maxwell
588
Promoter Doreen Diver
£300.00 Jim Kelly 246
Promoter Anne Mullen
£200.00 Theresa Logue 797
Promoter Mary Christy
£100.00 Michael Harron 930
Promoter Eileen Canning
£100.00 Toby Wilders 794
Promoter E McNulty & M Cooke
£100.00 Patrick McAteer 144
Promoter Fr. Boland
£100.00 Patsy Barrett 828
Promoter Mary Christy
£100.00 Betty McCrossan 1025
Promoter Sheila McGonagle
CHURCH ROOF
We gratefully acknowledge the donations
of £100.00 and £60.00 towards the repair
of the church roof. Many thanks.
DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES
July 16 - 21 2010. Cost of the pilgrimage is £629.00
payable in instalments. Forms available from parish
office or pilgrimage office. Forms for those in need
of care or those aged 80+ available only from the
pilgrimage office, telephone 02871260293.
IHCPT
Young People’s Pilgrimage
to Lourdes Easter 2010
Around five hundred young people from all over Ireland
spend a week in Lourdes with the IHCPT (The Irish
Pilgrimage Trust) every Easter. Experienced adult
carers visit the young people prior to the pilgrimage
and accompany them throughout the week in Lourdes.
The Irish Pilgrimage Trust welcomes
applications from young people of any religious denomination
with:
A physical disability or illness (aged 9-18)
A learning disability (aged 11-21)
Very seriously ill children under the age of 9 (accompanied
by a parent or close relative)
Young adults between the age of 20 and 25 with a disability
or illness.
The IHCPT covers the cost of young
people selected to travel. If there is a young person
that you feel would be eligible and would benefit
from this trip please contact the IHCPT office at
0035391796622. Closing date for applications is 31
October.
THE CATHOLIC CHAPLAINCY QUB
The Catholic Chaplaincy QUB will re-open with Sunday
Mass on 27 September at 8.00pm. Chaplains Food Bar
and other Chaplaincy facilities will re-open on Monday
28 September at 10.00am. Mass Monday-Friday at 12.15pm.
Please remember to enrol with the Catholic Chaplaincy
as part of the Queens on-line enrolment procedures.
Dedication of Studies Mass will take place on Sunday
11 October at 8.00pm. Check out website for further
information www.qubcc.org
SCHOOL MASS
Fr. Boland will celebrate Mass for the new school
year for all our Primary School pupils on Thursday
24 September at 10.00am. There will be a Coffee Morning
after Mass in St. Anne's P.S. Proceeds in aid of Foyle
Hospice. Everyone is welcome.
Please Note: St. Anne's P.S. will be closed on Friday
25 September for staff training.
YOUTHLIFE
Youthlife is offering a new residential programme
for young people who have been bereaved by suicide
in the Residential Centre, Ulster American Folk Park
from 8.00pm on Friday 25 until 5.00pm on Sunday 27
September 2009. The loss of a loved one through suicide
brings with it many different feelings and emotions.
These can appear so unbearable that young people may
feel they cannot cope. Young people need to know that
it's all right to show their grief in their own way
without feeling guilty or wrong. The weekend is open
to young people from the age of 11 upwards. For further
information and application forms please contact Bridie
or Pat at 71377227, email youthlife_be@hotmail.com
or access our website on www.youthlife.btik.com
TROCAIRE
Trocaire's annual Global Gifts offers the chance to
purchase real Christmas gifts for the poor in developing
countries which are also items vital to simple survival
- such as, food, water, shelter, farm animals and
many more. In 2009 Trocaire is looking for volunteers
in the Derry diocese to help promote these life-changing
gifts in your parish or community. If you or a friend
can give a day or two to this rewarding opportunity,
please contact Trocaire's new North West representative
Lawrence McBride on 0287135788 or email lmcbride@trocaire.ie
OPEN NIGHT IN NEWTOWNSTEWART LIBRARY
Renowned storyteller Aussie Bryson will be telling
his stories at an open night in Newtownstewart Library
on Tuesday 22 September at 7.30pm. Light refreshments
will be provided. Admission free.
The community library has been recently transformed
from a dilapidated building, into a state of the art,
21st century facility. The open night will provide
an opportunity to visit and explore what’s on
offer. Looking forward to see you there.
STRABANE UNEMPLOYED CENTRE
Free Adult Essential Skills classes in conjunction
with the North West Regional College.
Pre - GCSE Maths and Pre - GCSE English.
Help your child with Maths and English.
First Steps in Maths and First Steps in English.
Contact 02871383927 for details.
STRABANE HISTORY SOCIETY
The first meeting of the 2009/10 season of the Strabane
History Society will be held in Strabane Library on
Thursday 24 September at 8.00pm. There will be a talk
on 19th century Strabane writer and traveller, John
Gamble, and speaker on the evening will be Breandan
Mac Suibhne from Dublin University. New members are
welcome.
STRABANE YOUTH ASSOCIATION
A full programme can be obtained by contacting SYA
at Melvin Hall. Cost is 50p per night and younger
members may be collected at 9.00pm if preferred.
Mon 7.00pm - 9.45pm Age 6, 7, 8
Tues 7.00pm - 10.00pm Age 8+
Thur 7.00pm - 10.00pm Age 8+
Fri 7.00pm - 9.45pm Age 3 - 7
ST. PATRICK’S HALL
Bingo and Lucky 4 Draw as usual this Thursday.
All our patrons are very welcome.
Bingo Snowball £2500.00
LUCKY 4 DRAW
There were 2 match 3 winners in last week's Draw
Luke Milligan
Nadia Hoynes
The numbers drawn were:
11, 13, 15, 22
Next Week's Lucky 4 Jackpot is £1700.00
***************
PRAYER CORNER
REFLECTION
The disciples were sitting on
a bank of a river.
"If I fall off this bank will
I drown?" one of them asked.
"No," said the Master. "It isn't
falling in that causes you to
drown; it's staying in."
FOR SUFFERING
May you be blessed in the holy names
of those
Who, without you knowing it,
Help to carry and lighten your pain.
May you know serenity
When you are called
To enter the house of suffering.
May a window of light always surprise
you.
May you be granted the wisdom
To avoid false resistance;
When suffering knocks on the door of your life,
May you glimpse its eventual gifts.
May you be able to receive the fruits
of suffering.
May memory bless and protect you
With the hard-earned light of past travail;
To remind you that you have survived before
And though the darkness now is deep,
You will soon see approaching light.
May the grace of time heal your wounds.
May you know that though the storm
might rage,
Not a hair of your head will be harmed.
REFLECTION
The Master found it tiresome to speak
with people who were forever bent on
defending the existence of God or
discussing His nature while they neglected
the all-important task of self-awareness
which could alone bring them
love and liberation.
To a group of people who asked him
to
speak to them of God, he said, "What you
seek, alas, is to talk of God rather than
see Him; and you see Him as you think he
is, not as he actually is. For God is
manifest, He is not hidden. Why talk?
Open your eyes and see."
Later he added, "Seeing is the
easiest
thing in the world. All you need to do is
raise the shutters of you God-thoughts."
