JESUS IN THE LOCAL
ASYLUM
Jesus is in Jerusalem.
He does not go first to places of learning and power
but to the local asylum,
where there was a multitude of
people with
disabilities: lame blind and paralysed
lying around, living in dis-grace.
They were no doubt dirty and ugly,
according to the values of the world,
shunned and despised:
neither beauty nor comeliness in them.
Yet it is to them that Jesus goes first.
Paul realised this with great clarity
when he wrote to the communities he had founded in
Corinth. He affirmed that God had chosen the weak
and the foolish of the world
in order to confound the powerful and the wise.
Many in our societies and churches have difficulty
believing this.
Our cultures favour the clever, the strong,
the productive, the beautiful.
Perhaps now and again they bend down to help
the weak and the poor,
but they do not really believe that the latter are
fully human, children of God,
and that they have something to contribute to society
and to their church.
Our productive cultures see no meaning to their lives.
Today in rich countries,
many elderly people are also put away in homes,
seen as "useless," as no longer productive.
We should of course "be good" to them,
but it is assumed that their time has passed
and they have nothing more to give to others.
Frequently, those who are well positioned
in society
can be so taken up with seeking honour, riches,
power and respectability
that they tend to ignore or avoid the dis-graceful
and the weak.
Those who are shunned and excluded from society,
who are crushed by despair, desperately seek relationship.
It is not power they seek but understanding,
tenderness and friendship.
By entering into the asylum Jesus
is revealing the deep desire of God to bridge the
gap that separates people,
to bring together, in unity and harmony,
people who are different:
the foolish, the wise, the powerful and the powerless.
PRAYER GROUP
The contemplative prayer group will
meet on Monday evening at 8.15pm in the Parochial
House. Newcomers very welcome.
DEATHS
We offer our deepest sympathy
to the family and friends of:
Agnes Devine, Holyhill
Road
Patrick McBride,
Mount Carmel View
Eileen McCafferty,
Artigarvan
Mickey Boyle, Olympic
Drive
May they rest in peace.
ANNIVERSARIES
Tommy Allen, Cassie Duffy,
Liam Kennedy, Rose Walsh,
Timothy McCrossan, Joe Harron,
Joe Caulfield, Maimie Forbes,
Stan O'Connor Jnr, Eileen Gallagher,
James Gallagher, Maggie May Moss,
Robert Devenney.
FR. WILLIAM RAFFERTY
The Months Mind Mass for Fr. William
Rafferty will be held on Wednesday 24 June at 7.30pm
in St. Columba's Church, Doneyloop.
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. 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
Fr. Christopher Ferguson CC, Waterside, 27 June
PARISH DRAW
The winners of the Draw for the month
of June are:
£1000.00 Patsy & Anne Mullen
247
Promoter Anne Mullen
£300.00 Carmel McGarrigle 407
Promoter Carmel McGarrigle
£200.00 Charlie McCafferty 132
Promoter Maura Coyle
£100.00 Noel & Noeleen Gallen
174
Promoter Maisie Boggs
£100.00 Jimmy Duddy 205
Promoter Gertie Duddy
£100.00 Mary O'Neill 506
Promoter Fr. Boland
£100.00 Paddy Coyle 122
Promoter Maura Coyle
£100.00 Mary & Frances 795
Promoter Fr. Boland
CAR PARKING IN CHURCH GROUNDS
At a recent meeting with the Parish
Pastoral Council concern was raised about the volume
of cars parked in the church grounds. It has been
decided that after this weekend 20/21 June only those
vehicles carrying the sick, invalid or immobile will
be allowed into the church grounds. This is necessary
because the paving around the church is being damaged
by the number of cars passing through. We would also
ask that taxis stay at a respectable distance from
the main door so as not to obstruct parishioners on
their way into and out of the church entrance. The
car park at Barrack Street Boys' School will be open
for parking and the full extent of the avenue including
the front of the parochial house is fully available.
We will mention this over the next few weeks to allow
people to be fully informed.
ACCORD DERRY
Marriage Preparation Workshops will
take place on 18/19 September and 23/24 October 2009
in the Thornhill Centre, Culmore Road, Derry. Friday
from 7.00pm - 10.00pm and Saturday from 10.00am -
4.00pm. Booking forms available from the Pastoral
Centre, 164 Bishop Street, Derry, Tel. 02871362475.
LOURDES 2009
The FINAL meeting of the Lourdes Group
will take place in The Den on Wednesday 24 June at
7.45pm. All persons travelling on this pilgrimage
must attend.
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 1
July for those from Derry and Donegal. Registration
from 10.30am finishing around 5.00pm. Cost £15.00stg
or €18euro 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 19 July 2009.
Coach leaves Termonbacca at 7.45am with pick up point
at Melmount Centre at 8.15am. Returning to Derry at
approx 11.00pm. Return coach, snack on the way down
and evening meal, £35.00 stg or €40 Euro.
For further information, telephone Termonbacca, at
Derry 71262512 during office hours only.
HIKE TO CROAGH PADRAIG
Do you fancy a trip to Westport, Co.
Mayo combined with a hike of one of Ireland's most
famous mountains 'Croagh Padraig'. The trip will be
on Saturday 4 July for those aged 16-35 and it will
cost approx £25.00. This fee will include transport
from Derry, a guide and dinner in a hotel in Westport.
For further details or to book a place please contact
the Catechetical Centre on 02871264087 or email ddcc@derrydiocese.org
Places are limited so please book before 29 June.
NORTH WEST TYRONE PIONEER TOTAL ABSTINENCE
ASSOCIATION
The annual outing this year will be
to the Newry, Warrenpoint/Rostrevor area on Saturday
4 July. Buses will leave Strabane at 7.45am picking
up at the usual places to arrive in Omagh at 8.15am
and onwards to Dromantine for 10.00am Mass. The evening
meal has been booked for 5.30pm in Newry. Cost £23.00
includes meal.
STRABANE COMMUNITY UNEMPLOYED RESOURCE CENTRE
It is hoped to start a First Aid class
in the near future.
If you are interested in taking part please contact
the centre by either calling at 13a Newtown Street,
Strabane or telephone us on 02871383927.
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.
RALLY FOR LIFE
Please join the massive pro-life rally
on Saturday 4 July in Dublin City Centre. Coaches
to the rally leaving from various towns across Northern
Ireland. For further details contact the Rally for
Life Committee on 02890278484.
ST. VINCENT DE PAUL LUCKY
LOTTO DRAW
The numbers drawn were 16, 19, 20,
24.
There was no Jackpot winner. 6 matched
3 numbers: Carmel Nelson, Willie Elliott, Joe McCormack,
Maree McColgan, Michael McGlynn, Bernadette Brolly.
Jackpot for July is £1400.00. Next Draw will
take place on Sunday 5 July at 9.00pm at Melmount
parish bingo.
STRABANE & LECKPATRICK
SENIOR CITIZENS ANNUAL OUTING
This year's St. Vincent de Paul senior
citizens annual outing will be held on Wednesday 8
July going to Bundoran to spend a relaxing afternoon.
Buses leaving St. Patrick's Hall at 12.15pm sharp
returning to Strabane for a four course evening meal
at 7.00pm in the Fir Trees Hotel. Any senior citizen
interested in going should leave their name, address
and telephone number at Vincent's Shop by 1 July at
the latest or telephone 02871384488. Tickets will
be issued from 4 July onwards for those who have given
their names.
ST. PATRICK'S LUNCHEON CLUB
St. Patrick's Luncheon Club are having
a Social/Dance on Monday 22 June in St. Patrick's
Hall. Music is by White Lightening. Doors open at
9.00pm. Admission £5.00 (includes a light supper).
Everyone welcome.
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 3 match 3 winners in last
week's Draw
Mark Diver
Tony Finlay
Rosemary Coyle
The numbers drawn were:
6, 10, 18, 24
Next Week's Lucky 4 Jackpot is £1350.00
