OPENING TO GOD

Whenever I lead retreats one of the first thing I ask participants to do is "pray to be open." If there is openness, wondrous transformation can take place. If the mind or heart is closed, little can happen. If our spirit remains blocked, we end up holding on to our weaknesses and self-absorptions, misjudging the goodness of God, refusing to trust, and insisting on having our own way. Divine love waits for us to be let go of our hesitancies and resistances so we can freely receive what is being offered.

Growth through prayer requires us to release thoughts, feelings, and behaviours that hold us back from discovering our true self. To be open in prayer is to be willing to acknowledge the totality of who we are, to divest of what no longer adequately serves our life and our God-relationship. In his book With Open Hands, Henri Nouwen describes this movement by telling the story of a woman in a psychiatric centre who would not let go of a coin clutched in her clammy, tight fist. Nouwen comments:

When you are invited to pray, you are asked to
open up your tightly clenched fist and give up
your last coin. But who wants to do that? A
first prayer, therefore, is often a painful prayer
because you discover you don't want to let go.
You hold fast to what is familiar, even if you
aren't proud of it. . . . When you want to pray,
then, the first question is: How do I open my
clenched hands? Certainly not by violence. Nor by a forced decision.
Perhaps you can find your way to prayer by carefully listening to
the words the angel spoke to Zechariah, Mary,
the shepherds, and the women at the tomb:
"Don't be afraid."

Fear can keep us clinging to our old ways. Fear also keeps us from embracing new ways. How well I remember the fear I felt when I moved toward a new way of meditation. For over thirty years my morning prayer focused on pondering the daily scripture passages. Then there came a time when the words of scripture (actually any words at all) crowded the silence that drew me into the stillness of God. Meditation on scripture always seemed the best way. Now there I was, sensing the need to let go of this mode of prayer and move into a non-verbal, non thinking, more contemplative way to be with my divine companion. I was scared I would lose the insights scripture provided. I was frightened to detach from the security of thoughts.

When we acknowledge fear's presence, it does not immediately disappear. For several years, I struggled in and out of meditation and contemplation. Eventually, trust in God became stronger than my hesitations. I was able to let go and enter where I was being led – away from the comfort of inspiring ideas and into the open space of simply being with God. In the process, I discovered that scripture could still reach and teach me but at times other than during contemplative prayer.

In prayer we come with a heart centred on the One we love. We give ourselves as fully as possible to the Great Love but we do not clutch on to the results of that loving relationship. In my situation, I was still fully invested in my relationship with God, but I had to let go of what I expected from it when I moved into another mode of prayer. I had to put my faith in the process, stay open, and leave the outcome to God.

Joyce Rupp.

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. Neal Carlin, Columba Community, 23 May
Fr. Walter Carolan, Retired, 24 May
Fr. Colum Clerkin PP, Ballinascreen, 25 May
Fr. Roland Colhoun Adm, Long Tower, 26 May
Fr. Michael Collins PP, Limavady, 27 May
Fr. Oliver Crilly PP, Greenlough, 28 May
Fr. Patrick Crilly, Retired, 29 May

ANNIVERSARIES

Liam Logue, James Sharkey

Jimmy Logue, Brendan Brady

Willie Logue, Kathleen Nolan

Seamus Logue, Frances Molloy

John Gallagher, Mary Murphy

Margaret Flanagan, Teresa Coyle

Sheila McHugh, Mary Jo Logue

Edward Duncan, Tommy Diver, Annie Diver

PARISH DRAW

The Draw for the month of May will take place in the parish office on Thursday 27 May at 2.30pm. We ask all our promoters to make their returns to the parish office on Monday 24 May.

SICK AND HOUSEBOUND TO BE ATTENDED

Fr. Boland will visit the sick and housebound in the following areas on Wednesday 26 May starting at 12.00 noon: 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 Thursday 27 May after 10.00am Mass: Bearney Road, Camus Road, Conthem Road, Upper Townsend Street, Townsend Terrace, Marian Park, Fountain Street and Innisfree Gardens.

BLESSING OF GRAVES

The annual ceremony of the blessing of graves for the parish

will be held on Sunday 6 June at 3.00pm.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION

First Holy Communion for all P.4 pupils will take place in the parish on

Saturday 29 May at 11.00am.

PASTORAL YOUTH MINISTRY LEADER
The parishes of St Eugene's Cathedral, St Mary's Creggan, and Holy Family in Derry City are embarking on an exciting new project. Investing in our young people, we are looking to employ an enthusiastic person to lead and direct youth in the three parishes in the ways of faith. The Pastoral Youth Ministry Leader will be employed for a one year contract. The successful candidate must fulfil the following criteria:

• Be an active member of a Catholic Parish Faith Community
• Have experience of skilled leadership in a Youth Setting
• Have a third level qualification in a relevant discipline e.g. education, theology, youth work, community work OR One Year's experience of Youth Project Management
• Be competent in the use of ICT

The Pastoral Youth Ministry Leader will be based within the parishes of St. Eugene's Cathedral, St. Mary's Creggan and Holy Family in Derry City.
The above criteria may be enhanced to facilitate short listing of candidates.

Application Form, Job Description and Personnel Specification may be obtained by telephoning (028) 71264087 during normal office hours and completed applications must be returned to: Derry Diocesan Youth Commission, Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre, The Gate Lodge, 2 Francis Street, Derry, BT48 7DS not later than 5.00pm on 3 June 2010.

LOURDES HOSPITALITE
The Annual Diocesan Lourdes Hospitalite collection is scheduled to take place next weekend 29/30 May. The Fund is very dependent on the monies raised from this one collection to support people who are sick and in need of medical care. It is a vital source of revenue that makes the work of the Lourdes Hospitalite possible.

LOURDES 2010
The next meeting of the Lourdes Group will take place on Wednesday 26 May in 'The Den' from 7.30pm - 8.30pm.

HOLY CROSS COLLEGE
Primary 6 Parents Information Evening regarding Transfer 2011 will be held in Holy Cross College on Wednesday 26 May at 7.30pm.

FOYLE HOSPICE MIDNIGHT WALK
Foyle Hospice’s Strabane Midnight Walk will take place on Friday 25 June. The walk is a 3.5 mile sponsored walk around the bypass and will start/finish at Heaton’s Car Park, Railway Road. The walk will commence at midnight and be a ladies only event. The registration fee is £6.00/€7.00. Participants will receive a Strabane Midnight Walk T-Shirt, Medal, and on completion of the walk a Bacon Bap!

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

BELFAST ZOO
A bus is leaving Barrack Street Car Park at 9.00am on Sunday 4 July for Belfast Zoo. Admission to Zoo: Adults £14.45, Children £10.70, over 65 years admission Free (proof of ID required). All names for trip to be given to Jonathon McGhee before 31 May. Telephone 07707916327.

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.

PAYMENTS BY CHEQUE
All payments made to the parish by cheque (for Parish Draw, Sunday and Special Collections, etc.) must be made payable to Church of the Immaculate Conception.
PLEASE NOTE: All payments for St. Patrick's Hall should also be made payable to Church of the Immaculate Conception.

ST. PATRICK’S HALL

Bingo and Lucky 4 Draw as usual this Thursday.
All our patrons are very welcome.

LUCKY 4 DRAW
There was 1 match 3 winner in last week's Draw
Brenda Breslin
The numbers drawn were:
1, 11, 18, 23
Next Week's Lucky 4 Jackpot is £2225.00

ST. PATRICK'S LUNCHEON CLUB
St. Patrick's Luncheon Club are having a Social/Dance on Monday 24 May in St. Patrick's Hall. Music is by White Lightening. Doors open at 9.00pm. Admission £5.00/€6.00 (includes a light supper). All welcome.

RUMMAGE
Rummage Charity Shop urgently requires donations of good quality clothes, clothes for recycling, furniture, unwanted gifts and bric-a-brac. All proceeds from donations go towards the care and support of older people in Strabane. Rummage is a charity shop of Strabane Community Project - providing Luncheon Club, Meals on Wheels, and Good Morning service. For more information or to arrange a collection telephone 02871 883102.

PRAYER CORNER

FLAME OF THE SPIRIT
Flame of the Spirit, burn within us,
Set our hearts on fire, and we shall be changed.
Wind of the Spirit, blow through us,
Move us by your power, and we shall be changed.
Breath of God, fill our lives,
Inspire our actions, and we shall we changed.

When the shutters are down and the doors are closed,
Come. Fill us, Holy Spirit.
When we are dried up and all hope is gone,
Come. Fill us, Holy Spirit.
When chaos rules and we live in fear,
Come. Fill us, Holy Spirit.
When our resources are gone and we cannot cope,
Come. Fill us, Holy Spirit.
When we are restricted and it feels like the grave,
Come. Fill us, Holy Spirit.
Come inspire, refresh, renew us.