JOY
ROBBERS
In our increasingly fast-paced world nothing seems
more frustrating than having to wait, since it is
such a waste of time! Waiting in traffic, waiting
in a long line at a checkout counter, waiting on the
telephone when you've been put ''on hold,'' or having
to wait for someone tardy for an appointment. These
difficult waiting situations become thieves of our
happiness. If you desire to live a joyful life, you
will be required to learn that un-American art of
being pleasantly content, even if at the moment that
happens to be wasting time. Being pleasingly satisfied
when you flight has been delayed or road repair work
brings you to a standstill means you've escaped from
those crooks of the clock that steal your time, and
with it, your joy. So how how do you escape from these
and other pickpockets of joy?
Joy robbers are everywhere. Unlike bank bandits, they
brazenly do not wear masks to hide their faces. The
faces of these criminals are clearly recognisable,
for they are the faces on our watches and clocks.
These round, featureless faces ringed in numbers are
not the thieves themselves, but only the scene of
the robberies where the crimes take place. While these
ever-elusive thieves can't be arrested or imprisoned,
they can be disarmed. In the morning before you put
on your wristwatch, pause, holding it briefly in the
palm of your hand, and pray. If you do not wear a
wristwatch, then take your bedside clock and hold
it in your hand and pray.
O You who are timeless,
thank you for the twenty - four new hours
you've generously loaned, without interest,
to me this day.
All the minutes and hours of my clocks
belong to you, the timeless and eternal One.
Remind me to never call a single moment
of it ''my time'' to spend for my personal use.
Inspire me to rejoice when I'm unexpectedly
asked to spend some of it on others' needs.
Help me to count those occasions as blessed moments.
Yielding to what is beyond my control,
I accept what happens to be a waste of time,
yet in truth is that priceless gift of prayer that
you prize so much
the Prayer of Surrender to you
and your holy will for me this day.
I encourage you to create your own
brief watch prayer as you strap it to your wrist,
something as brief as:
Thank you for the hours of this
day -
a gift I've been given to give away.
Commit your prayer to memory so that
it flows freely as you pray it at the beginning of
the day or whenever you are forced to wait. In this
time of frequently being frustrated by having to wait,
let your silent wristwatch be like a chapel bell calling
you to prayer time.
PRAYER GROUP
The contemplative prayer group will
meet on Monday evening at 8.15pm in the Parochial
House. Newcomers very welcome.
ANNIVERSARIES
Patsy McLaughlin, May Duffy,
Carmel McBride, John Devenney,
Molly Hannigan, Margaret Doherty,
Mary McGinley, Patrick McGinley,
Gerald Doran, Josephine McDermott,
Donna Rouse, Willie McAleer.
DEATHS
We offer our deepest sympathy to
the family and friends of:
Thomas Stewart, Newtownkennedy
Street
Teresa Gamble, Ballindrait
May they rest in peace.
PRAY FOR PRIESTS
The diocese published a prayer card
with the names of all the Derry diocesan priests.
Every day a specific priest is named. This week we
ask you to pray for:
Fr. David O'Kane CC, Templemore, 26 April
Fr. Patrick O'Kane PP, Moville, 27 April
Fr. Peter O'Kane CC, Waterside, 28 April
Fr. Seamus O'Kane, 29 April
Fr. Arthur O'Reilly CC, Banagher, 30 April
Fr. Desmond Polke CC, Doneyloop, 2 May
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 Wednesday 29
April starting at 2.00pm: 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 Thursday 30 April
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.
PARISH ENVELOPES
The new boxes of envelopes have now
been distributed. The parish envelope weekly collection
is the main source of income for our parish and it
is vital that as many as possible use them. If it
has not been your custom to use the weekly envelopes
why not begin this year? If you would like a box of
envelopes please contact the parish office, Tel.,
71882215 .
Gift Aid is a very simple method of
helping the parish financially. If you are using a
parish envelope and pay tax, for every £1 you
pay to the Church, if you are in the scheme, the Church
recoups 28p. There are no hidden snags and it doesn't
interfere whatsoever with any other financial arrangements
you may have. If you would like to contribute to the
Gift Aid Scheme please contact the parish office,
Tel., 71882215.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION
First Holy Communion for all P.4 pupils
will take place in the parish on Saturday 30 May.
First confessions will take place
on Thursday 30 April at 7.00pm.
SPECIAL DIOCESAN MASS
The Annual Diocesan Mass for those
with special needs will take place in St. Joseph's
Church, Galliagh on Saturday 9 May at the new time
of 4.00pm. Bishop Hegarty will celebrate the Mass
and everyone will be most welcome.
PARISH DRAW
The Draw for the month of April will
take place in the parish office on Thursday 30 April
at 2.30pm followed by an extra Draw for all fully
paid members. Because we have an extra Draw on Thursday
we would ask all promoters to make their returns to
the parish office no later than Monday 27 April. Your
co-operation is much appreciated.
SENIOR CHURCH CHOIR MEETING
At Easter Ronan our organist indicated
that he would be branching out to form a new youth
choir and would therefore no longer be available to
lead the parish senior choir. This means that we are
now looking for an organist to lead the senior choir
and thus continue the marvellous service they have
provided in Camus parish over the years. It is exciting
to know that we will have a number of choirs operating
in the parish. All this talent can only contribute
to the quality of our liturgical celebrations. To
discuss the new developments there will be a meeting
of all senior choir members in the parochial house
at 7.30pm next Wednesday 29 April. It is important
that as many members as possible should attend this
meeting thus ensuring the continuation of a great
church music tradition. Fr. Boland looks forward to
meeting all the senior choir members at this meeting.
THORNHILL CENTRE
Who is St. Paul?:
This 4 week course will be held in the Thornhill Centre
on Mondays beginning 4 May from 7.30pm - 9.30pm. Cost
£30.00 (payable in instalments). To book phone
71351233.
Poetry Workshop: These Wednesday
Workshops led by Mary Murphy will examine poetry and
help develop poetry techniques as an aid to writing
poetry. Dates: 6 & 20 May, 3 June, 7.30pm - 9.30pm.
Cost £5.00 per night. Phone 71351233 to reserve
a place.
LOURDES 2009
The next meeting of the Lourdes Group
will take place on Wednesday 29 April between 7.30pm
and 8.30pm in 'The Den'.
AL ANON FAMILY GROUPS
If someone you care about has a drink
problem you are invited to come along to a public
information meeting on Monday 27 April ay 8.30pm in
St. Vincent Mews, Barrack Street, Strabane.
AWARE PUBLIC LECTURE
There will be an Aware Public Lecture
in the Mount Errigal Hotel, Letterkenny, on Thursday
30 April at 8.00pm. The lecture is entitled "A
Better Understanding of Depression" and will
be given by Dr. Patrick McKeon, Consultant Psychiatrist,
St. Patrick's Hospital, Dublin. Admission is free
and all are welcome. For more information contact
the North West Regional Office on 00353 749735030.
BUS TRIP TO KNOCK
Bus departs Mulvey House on Sunday
3 May at 8.00am. Fare £12.00. Last few remaining
seats. Contact 02871 886753 for details.
MULVEY HOUSE SOCIAL EVENING
There will be a Social Evening in
Mulvey House on Wednesday 29 April from 8.30pm - 11.30pm.
Music is by Bacon Gallagher and Sean Mor. Admission
£3.00 includes supper. Everyone welcome.
Bingo every Tuesday night.
NORTH WEST REGIONAL COLLEGE
North West Regional College, Derry
Road, Strabane Campus will officially open its new
Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy salons on Monday 27
April from 7.00pm - 9.00pm and you are welcome to
attend. During the evening you can avail of free hair
and beauty treatments, meet staff and students and
take a tour around the facilities and receive guidance
and information about courses which will be offered
in September. Telephone 02871382317 for information.
ST. PATRICK’S HALL
Bingo and Lucky 4 Draw as
usual this Thursday.
All our patrons are very welcome.
A PRAYER FOR HEALING
Healing God,
come to my hidden corners.
open the doors to my soul rooms
that are tightly locked.
Awaken in me.
Bring to life all my deadness.
Enthuse the depressed emotions.
Reenergise my inner weariness.
Bathe the grime of my ego-centeredness.
Clarify my confusions.
Fire my neglected loves.
Brush off my dusty dreams.
Nurture my spiritual hungers.
Ease my sore relationships.
Deepen my sense of self esteem.
Stir up my connection with the world.
Tenderly gather in your arms
all that still needs healing,
all that remains wounded and wanting.
May I grow each day into greater wholeness
with a stronger, purer inner freedom.
PARISH BULLETIN
Please note there will be no parish bulletin until
Sunday 26 April.
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.
