UNLIMITED JOY
Lingering like an echoing mantra is the Master's
promise, " . . . and no-one will take your joy
away from you." This ability of the Master's
joy to be unconquerable, regardless of whether or
not the odds are overwhelmingly against being victorious,
reminds me of the famous Three Musketeers of Alexander
Dumas. The musketeers were a seventeenth century mounted
guard of French gentlemen whose allegiance was exclusively
to the service of the king of France. The names of
the three famous heroes of Dumas' novels, and later
of Hollywood movies, were Athos, Porthos, and Aramis.
They never lost a fight or were outwitted in a conflict
by their enemies. What made these three so invincible
was their fidelity to one another as expressed in
their motto, "All for one, and one for all!"
Joy is likewise invincible whenever it acts "All
for one, and one for all," side by side with
"Pray always, and always be grateful," as
did the three musketeers Athos, Porthos, and Aramis.
Joy will be defeated easily whenever it tries to act
like a lone ranger virtue when outnumbered by a horde
of misfortunes and miseries. Those famous Pauline
three: joy, gratitude, and prayer, are identical triplets
who sustain, protect, and encourage one another when
they are lived side by side.
Always being grateful regardless of the circumstances
requires a gift-giver to whom you express thanks.
Continuous gratitude is simultaneously prayer to the
endlessly generous gift-giver: God. Praying incessantly
isn't perpetual recitation of prayers; it is simply
abiding in the presence of the Beloved in every place
and time. Being conscious of this holy habitat in
which you live, breathe, and act will naturally express
itself by viewing everything as a gift, and this giftedness
will burst out as loving thanksgiving. To receive
gifts, especially unexpected gifts, is always a most
joyous experience. Being awakened to daily life, as
an endless avalanche of undeserved gifts, is to find
to your delight that you are living a joyous life.
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:
Margaret McDaid,
Artigarvan
May Ferguson, Mulvey
House
May they rest in peace.
ANNIVERSARIES
Fr. James Clerkin, Kathleen Nolan,
Fr. John Farren, Brendan Brady,
Monsignor Agnew, James Conway,
James Sharkey, Brendan Kelly,
Frances Molloy, Mary Murphy,
Tommy Diver, Sheila McHugh,
Annie Diver, Sarah Furey,
Michael Furey, Roseanne Hill,
Nora O'Neill.
FR. JAMES CLERKIN AND FR. JOHN FARREN
This weekend we pray for the anniversaries
of two of our former Parish Priests, Fr. James Clerkin
whose 10th anniversary is 22 May and Fr. John Farren
whose 12th anniversary is 23 May. May they rest in
peace.
BLESSING OF GRAVES
The annual ceremony of the blessing
of graves for the parish of Camus will be held on
Sunday 14 June at 3.00pm.
SICK AND HOUSEBOUND TO BE
ATTENDED
Fr. Boland will visit the sick and
housebound in the following areas on Monday 25 May
after 10.00am Mass: Bearney Road, Camus Road, Conthem
Road, Upper Townsend Street, Townsend Terrace, Marian
Park, Fountain Street and Innisfree Gardens.
Fr. Boland will visit the sick and
housebound in the following areas on Monday 25 May
starting at 2.30pm: 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.
PARISH SAVINGS CHEQUES
We wish to remind all those who have
not yet cashed their parish saving cheques that they
should do so before 26 May as cheques are only valid
for 6 months. If you present your cheque to the bank
after this date it will not be accepted for payment.
Please contact the parish office on 02871882215 if
you have any queries.
PARISH DRAW
The winners of the Draw for the
month of May are:
£1000.00 Iosbel Moore 1012
Promoter M Cooke & E McNulty
£300.00 O Burrows, R, A & C Madden 437
Promoter Mary McAleer
£200.00 Kevin McCrory 599
Promoter Mary & Danny O'Hagan
£100.00 Damien Caldwell 382
Promoter Sheila McGonagle
£100.00 Isobel Moore 1012
Promoter M Cooke & E McNulty
£100.00 Mary O'Neill 506
Promoter Fr. Boland
£100.00 Brian Boggs 472
Promoter Maisie Boggs
£100.00 Roisin O'Kane 389
Promoter Sheila McGonagle
PRAY FOR PRIESTS
This week we ask you to pray for:
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 PP, Desertmartin, 29 May
Fr. Brendan Crowley CC, Malin, 30 May
HOLY CROSS COLLEGE - TRANSFER
2010
There will be an information evening
for parents of P.6 children in Holy Cross College
on Thursday 28 May at 7.30pm. All parents are welcome.
PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL REPORT
The Pastoral Council met on Wednesday 20 May. The
following members were present:- Anne Marie Mc Mackin,
Carmel Maybin, Carmel Gallagher, Sr. Benedict, Sr.
Carmel, Declan McMenamin, Jim Devlin, Bernie McQuillan,
Stephen Kennedy, Leo Mc Dermott, Catherine O'Kane,
and Fr. Boland. The Council discusses many matters
concerning the parish. It was decided that an advertisement
should be put in the local papers looking for a church
organist, thus allowing the senior choir to flourish
as before. Concerns were raised about the number of
cars getting into the church grounds during weekend
Masses and the paving around the church is suffering
because of this. It was also decided that in the near
future only those cars carrying the invalid or immobile
will be allowed into the church grounds during Mass.
An announcement in this regard will be made shortly.
It was also proposed that, due to the great success
of the Come Dancing Event in the Hall, a monthly dance
should take place there on a Friday night. If there
are any issues you want discussed at the Pastoral
Council meetings, please contact any of the above
members or Amanda at the parish office.
DIOCESAN YOUTH MASS & BLESSING
FOR YOUNG DRIVERS
On Pentecost Sunday 31 May there will be a Diocesan
Youth Mass and Blessing for Young Drivers in St. Columb's
Church, Chapel Road, Waterside, Derry at 7.00pm. All
young drivers are invited to bring their license or
car keys to this Mass for a special blessing. 'Rejoice'
the Diocesan Youth Choir will lead the music and Bishop
Hegarty will be the main celebrant. Refreshments will
be served in the parish centre after Mass. Everyone
welcome.
BUS TO KNOCK
A bus will leave Abercorn Square on Sunday 7 June
for the Derry Diocesan Pilgrimage to Knock at 8.00am
sharp. Fare 12.00. Contact Mary Hegarty 15 Patrick
Street on 02871 882886 for details.
LOURDES 2009 22 - 29 JULY
The next meeting of the Lourdes Group will take place
in "The Den" on Wednesday 27 May between
7.30pm and 8.30pm. Please Note any outstanding forms
(Booking or Medical) must be returned at this meeting.
Any queries contact G. McBrearty on 02871884029.
CARMELITE RETREAT CENTRE
Termonbacca Community Funday will be held on Sunday
31 May 2009. We would be grateful for any items you
may wish to donate, e.g.; clothes, toys, bric a brac,
books etc., for our Funday Stalls. If you are willing
to help in anyway please contact us during office
hours. Tel: 71262512.
ADOPTION
Could you make a child happy again after a difficult
start in life? Family Care Society is presently seeking
adoptive families for children aged between 2 - 6
years and who need the love and attention of a caring
and understanding family. For more information contact
Family Care Society on 90691133 or 71368592. Email:
email@family-care-society.org.
Website: www.family-care-society.net.
STRABANE SIGERSONS GAA
The Club wish to extend its warmest thanks to everyone
who supported the recent 125 Club Day held at the
Club grounds. The Mass, parade, sports and fun activities
and the official opening of the Gearald O'Doherty
Memorial Garden all added to the many events that
were held to mark this important milestone.
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 4 match 3 winners in last
week's Draw
Bridie Melaugh
Sheila Klam
A J Gallagher
Maura McElroy
The numbers drawn were:
6, 11, 14, 23
Next Week's Lucky 4 Jackpot is £1250.00
Heartiest congratulations to all those who contributed
in any way to the outstanding success of the Come
Dancing event in the Hall on the 15 and 16 May. It
was not only hugely successful (a sum of over thirteen
thousand pounds has been raised, half of which goes
to the Foyle Hospice and the other half to the parish
of Camus) but those who attended it had two wonderful
evenings of fun and entertainment. A big Thank You
to all our sponsors, the dancers, the dancing tutors,
the Hall committee and the people from far and near
who supported it. The list is open for all you Fred
Astaire hopefuls for the next series which we will
have in the not too distant future. The Hall is a
marvellous facility and we encourage you to avail
of its facilities for your parties, special events,
birthdays, anniversaries etc. The Hall number is 71882483.
PRAYER CORNER
OPEN MY EYES
God open my eyes so I may see
And feel your presence close to me...
Give me strength for my stumbling feet
As I battle the crowd on life's busy street,
And widen the vision of my unseeing eyes
So in passing faces I'll recognise
Not just a stranger, unloved and unknown,
But a friend with a heart
that is much like my own...
Give me perception to make me aware
That scattered profusely on life's thoroughfare
Are the best gifts of God
that we daily pass by
As we look at the world with an unseeing eye.
