Sunday 25th November 2007

Christ The King

FROM PRAYING TO LIVING

Young people in their teens are very sensitive to the contradiction between the way adults go to church and pray, and want young people to behave, and the way they live themselves.

Nothing is said more often by teenagers than that they are "turned off" religion by what they see as the the "hypocrisy" in the religion of many adults.
Admittedly, some young people can be too critical of adults and not critical enough of themselves, but then, some adults are also too critical of young people and not critical enough of themselves.

It is noteworthy that the only people who made Our Lord angry were those, like the Pharisee, who saw the faults of everybody else but never saw their own.

The reactions of teenagers should make us all conscious of the need to close the gaps between our devotions and our lives, between our prayers and our behaviour, between our Sunday Christianity and our Monday to Saturday living.

In an age of unending radio and television chatter, people, especially young people, have become cynical about words. They are impressed only by deeds. The biggest obstacle to Christian faith today is not intellectual doubt. It is, quite simply, the un-Christian life-style of so many of us who think we are good Christians.

Parents cannot be content just to tell our children the right way to live; they must set the example themselves. It's no use parents warning teenagers about the dangers of drink if parents cannot control the use of drink themselves. It's no use expecting children to be responsible about food, money or clothes if parents are self-indulgent and spendthrift themselves. Instead of just telling children what the Christian way is, parents must live the Christian way with them.

Dear parents, you are the parents over your children. You are also Christians with them. Children will get their ideas about what it means to be a Christian much more from how they see their parents living than from what their parents tell them, or from what they are taught in school, or even what they hear in church.

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COLLECTION
We acknowledge last Sunday’s collection of £1880.00. Many thanks.

ANNIVERSARIES
Jennie Quinn , Tom P Mullen, Pat Milligan, Sheila Duffy, Anthony McBrearty,
Frances Hannigan, Rebecca Duffy, James Duffy, Joe Elliott, Packie McAnenny,
Bridget Wilkie, David Fleming, Maurice McColgan, Billy Canavan, Mary Gallagher,
Annie Duddy, Tommy Sharkey, Harry Deans James McHugh, Leo McHugh

PRAY FOR PRIESTS
Last year 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 the following priests:
Fr. Michael McCaughey CC, Waterside, 25th Nov
Fr. Andrew McCloskey, on sabbatical, 26th Nov
Fr. James McCrory, Retired, 27th Nov
Fr. John J McCullagh, Retired, 28th Nov
Fr. Noel McDermott CC, Faughanvale, 29th Nov
Fr. Eamon McDevitt PP, Dunamanagh, 30th Nov
Fr. John McDevitt CC, Drumragh, 1st Dec

PRAYER GROUP
The contemplative prayer group will meet on Monday night at 8.15pm in the Parochial House. Newcomers very welcome. This is an opportunity to experiment with a new form of prayer, especially if you find that your present methods are unsatisfactory.

PARISH DRAW
The winners of the Draw for the month of November are:
£50.00 Mary Brogan
£50.00 Anna McKenna
£50.00 Pauline Kelly
£100.00 Bridie Gallagher
£100.00 Ann Marie Duddy
£100.00 Jennie Maxwell
£100.00 Muriel Callaghan
£100.00 Deirdre & Roisin McMenamin
£200.00 Bernie Doran
£1000.00 Sadie Gallagher

DIOCESAN MASS FOR DECEASED YOUNG PEOPLE
There will be a special Diocesan Mass this Sunday 25th November at 3.00pm in the Holy Family Church, Ballymagroarty, Derry. The Mass will be an opportunity for family and friends who have lost loved young ones to come together in a spirit of prayer and hope. If you have been bereaved or affected by a young death we invite you in faith to come remember the life of your loved ones.

YOUTH TEAM - DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES 16th - 21st JULY 2008
Places are available for those aged 14 or 15 years old in July who would like to be members of the Youth Team. Places are available for those aged 17 or 18 in July who would like to be members of the "Leaders - in - Training Group" (LIT). Application forms are available from the Pilgrimage Office, tel, 02871260293. Cost £449.00 stg.

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.

ANNIVERSARY MASS
1st Anniversary Mass for Charlotte Moore will be held on Thursday 29th November at 7.30pm in the Sacred Heart Church, Derry Road.

SUPPORT FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF ADULT SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ABUSE
Has someone you know been sexually abused, assaulted or hurt? - a family member, relative, close friend.
Confused, distressed, angry, unable to understand, unsure what to say or do but want help and support.
For information in confidence telephone, 66326044 or email interagencygroup@btconnect.com or visit our website www.sexualabuseiag.co.uk

TROCAIRE GLOBAL GIFT
This Christmas, you could really show friends and family how much you care, and make someone's year, by purchasing from the Trocaire Global Gift range. From the Gift of Chicks to the Gift of a House or Water, each one will give a family or a community something they truly need, something that will change the world this Christmas. When you buy any of these gifts, a family or community overseas will receive the gift you have purchased. We'll then send you a gift pack within one working day. Inside you'll find an illustrated card and a beautifully illustrated gift certificate. Simply choose the gifts you wish to purchase. Then you can either call 0800 912 1200 or visit www.trocaire.org and make your purchase straight away. Alternatively you can complete our order form or call into a Trocaire centre Veritas or Avoca store and pick up your Global Gift. Please allow up to 7 days for delivery if you are ordering by post. We will need to receive your order before December 17th. Order forms are available at the back of the church.

ARDS ADVENT RETREAT
Why not make Christmas meaningful this year. We often lose sight of the real meaning of Christmas and the birth of Our Lord Jesus. This retreat will bring you closer to Jesus through his birth and allow you time to reflect upon the deeper and more important things in life. Let the Spirit work and join us on this retreat to celebrate the birth of Christ. Directed by Fr. Sean Donohoe OFM Cap in Ards Capuchin Friary, Co. Donegal. Commences Saturday 1st December at 9.30am. Ends Sunday 2nd December with Mass at 5.30pm. Accommodation, meals and retreat €85 or £60. All enquiries to 00353749138909 or email info@ardsfriary.ie

BUS TRIP TO KNOCK
There will be a bus going to Knock on Saturday 8th December at 10.00am. This will mark the opening of a small church which some local people have helped to build. This is an outreach from the Cenacolo community in Medjugorje which helps people addicted in any way to find a new spiritual base in their lives. Contact Stephen Carlin tel., 00353868175069.

EVISH PRIMARY SCHOOL
There will be a special meeting for parents of all Evish Primary School pupils, P.1 - P.7, in the school in Wednesday 28th November at 7.45pm. As this is a very important meeting a full attendance is expected.

ST PATRICK’S HALL

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

THE WIZARD OF OZ DVD
A DVD of the recent production of "The Wizard of OZ" is available to purchase now in St. Patrick's Hall. Price £8.00.

ST. PATRICK'S LUNCHEON CLUB
St. Patrick's Luncheon Club are holding a dance/social on Monday 26th November in St. Patrick's Hall. Music is by The Big Cannon and Ramsey Band and supper is at 9.00pm. Admission is £5.00 or 7 Euro (includes supper). Everyone is welcome.

RUMMAGE
During the summer St. Patrick's Luncheon Club's new charity shop opened its doors. "Rummage" as it is known has been a phenomenal success, receiving very positive feedback. The Luncheon Club are totally indebted to the parishioners and others for their help and support and as a parish project we are looking for your continued support in donations of quality clothing, bric-a-brac, jewellery and small furniture items. Thank you again for your support. Call at the shop in Butcher Street or phone 02871883102 to arrange collection.

STRABANE SIGERSONS G.A.A.
Many thanks are extended to all those who attended the Club's Annual Mass in Sigersons clubrooms last Monday night with a special word of thanks to Fr. Michael Doherty P.P. Melmount. The Club's Annual General Meeting will take place on Tuesday 4th December in the Sigersons Clubrooms at 7.00pm. Anyone with an interest in the future of the G.A.A. in Strabane is very welcome to attend.

PARISH WEBSITE
Visit our website at www.strabaneparish.com

PRAYER CORNER



PSALM FOR PRAYING

O, Beloved, Heart of my heart,
I call to You for my help by day;
I cry out in the night.
Let my prayer come before You,
bend your ear to my cry!
For my soul is full of troubles, and my life sees like dust,
I have fallen into a pit of despair;
I have no strength and I feel powerless,
Like one from whom You have turned, like the soil people walk upon.
You alone can comfort me in the deep pit,
in the darkness of fear.
Separation from You is an agony,
hopelessness threatens to overwhelm me.
Through You alone can I pray for my enemies, for those who ignore my plight.
I am in a prison chained by fear;
I am weary of tears.
Every day I call upon You, O Beloved;
I lift up my hands in supplication.
Will You raise me from this living death?
Will You mend a broken heart?
Let not your steadfast love pass me by;
have mercy on me, O Comforter!
Reach Your hand into the darkness of my fears,
by your saving grace forgive my unholy ways.
O Merciful Redeemer, I cry to You;
each day my prayer comes before You.
Let not separation keep me from your Heart;
be my strength as I face the darkness inside.
Too long have I let fear control me,
projecting onto others the demons dwelling within.
Let Your Love circle and envelop me;
in Your mercy raise me up.
Let peace become my companion all day long;
By night free me from the bonds of fear.
Let me be reconciled with family and friends;
and may I know You
as Loving Companion Presence
as in days of old.
Amen.

SPIRITUAL THOUGHTS

There is a difference between silence and emptiness. Silence is a very busy thing. It opens us to the exploration of the self. Emptiness is the vacuum we find when something is missing from our lives and needs to be replaced.

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Everyone is struck down by something in life. It is the detour that determines the definition of the journey. We can lose our way then and there, stay stuck in unfamiliar territory, stall and give up. Or we can take the new direction confident that in the end we will end up exactly where we were meant to be whether we can see how that is possible right now or not.

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"All sins," Simone Weil wrote, "are attempts to fill voids." When something important - love, dignity, respect - is missing in life, we find something to replace it. Young people find the gangs that will include them. Adults find the drugs that will numb them. When I find myself grappling with any kind of excess, the question must be, For what emptiness in me am I trying to compensate.