A NEW NAME FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT
On Pentecost, Jesus gave his infant community a rare
gift, the gift of the Holy Spirit. But two thousand
years removed from that event, it is too common to
think about that divine gift of Spirit as something
which is the opposite of matter. We might have a better
understanding of the Holy Spirit, which each of us
has also received, if we would change our name for
the Third Person of the Trinity.
Change the name of the Holy Spirit? How unthinkable!
Yet when many of us were growing up, we called the
Third Person of the Trinity the "Holy Ghost."
Within the past twenty-five years, however, that term
has fallen from our vocabulary because of the negative
connotation of the word "ghost." But now,
perhaps, because we have grown accustomed to change,
we could make another one. To assist us in understanding
the full implications of our gift, I would propose
that we would not say "the Holy Spirit"
but rather "the Spirit of the Holy." The
shift may seen slight, but it is significant.
The Risen Christ continues to give to us, as he imparted
to the first disciples, the gift of the Spirit of
Holiness. Becoming saintly people, becoming holy,
is the real work of our lives. But we often think
that our efforts to create a daily prayer life are
doomed from the beginning. We feel constricted by
our jobs, commitments and the constant lack of time
to pray or do spiritual reading. But we have been
given the gift that helps us make holiness a reality
in our lives.
If you see a need to create a nourishing daily prayer
life but lack enough desire to carve out time for
it, take out the gift of the Spirit of the Holy given
to you by the Risen Christ and use it. Pray to the
Spirit for a hunger and thirst for holiness, and you
may be surprised at what happens.
When you are caught in one of those dry deserts of
prayer, devoid of any emotional nourishment or inspiration,
when you are tempted to get up and walk away from
what seems to be failure at prayer, that is the time
to reach inside your heart for your personal gift
of the Spirit of Holiness, the time to pray for perseverance
and discipline.
This proposed change in the name of the Third Person
of the Holy Trinity will probably never happen in
church worship. But as we begin our personal prayer
times, we might find it to be of great assistance
to make the sign of the cross with these words:
In
the name of the Father,
and of the Son
and of the Spirit of the Holy.
COLLECTION
We acknowledge last Sunday’s collection of £1480.00.
Many thanks.
The collection for the Diocesan Purposes amounted
to £515.00. Many thanks.
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. No previous
experience of this type of prayer needed.
PARISH DRAW
The winners of the Draw for the month of May are:
£50.00 Kathleen Melaugh Promoter
Carmel McGarrigle
£50.00 Hoynes Family Promoter
May Stewart
£50.00 Patrick McDaid Promoter
Fr. Boland
£100.00 Pascal Kelly Promoter
Kathleen Kelly
£100.00 Kathleen Connolly Promoter
Kathleen Connolly
£100.00 Ann Casey Promoter
Mary McAleer
£100.00 Mary Brogan Promoter
Fr. Boland
£100.00 Pat Stewart Promoter
May Stewart
£200.00 Harry McDonnell Promoter
Maura Coyle
£1000.00 Lorraine Gardiner Promoter
Fr. Boland
The winners of the Extra Draw are:
£100.00 Kathleen Connolly Promoter
Kathleen Connolly
£100.00 John McGranaghan Promoter
Fr. Boland
£100.00 Breidge Conway Promoter
Marian Cooke & Eileen McNulty
£200.00 Patricia McCrossan Promoter
Michelle McMackin
£500.00 Deirdre & Roisin McMenamin Promoter
Kathleen Kelly
The next Draw will take place on Thursday 28th
June at 2.30pm in the parish office.
LOURDES TRIP 1st - 8th AUGUST 2007
The next meeting of the Lourdes Group will take place
in 'The Den' on Wednesday 30th May from 7.30pm - 8.30pm.
PILGRIMAGE TO POLAND
All those travelling on the pilgrimage to Poland are
asked to have their final payments made by Tuesday
5th June. Payments can be made any time prior to this
date.
BLESSING OF GRAVES
The Annual Ceremony of the Blessing of the Graves
will take place in this parish on Sunday 10th June
at 3.00pm. The Annual Services in the neighbouring
parishes are as follows:
Cloughcor: Sunday 27th May at 3.00pm.
Murlog: Monday 28th May at 7.00pm.
Melmount: Sunday 3rd June at 5.00pm.
IONA CARMELITE RETREAT CENTRE
Termonbacca Community Funday will be held today Sunday
27th May. With indoor and outdoor fun for all the
family. Everyone welcome.
LEGION OF MARY
The ACIES will be held on Wednesday 30th May with
Rosary at 6.45pm followed by Mass at 7.00pm. All auxiliary
members are asked to attend. Everyone welcome.
ANNIVERSARIES
Mary Elliott, James Conway, Nancy McClintock,
Brendan Kelly, Frank McNamee, Noel Parke,
Susie McHugh, Richard Porter, Rachel McElwee,
Frances Molloy, John Nelson, Eddie Patton Mary Murphy
Owen Gallagher Catherine Gallagher Nora O'Neill, Hugh
Devine (Jnr).
ST
PATRICK’S HALL
Bingo & Lucky 4 Draw Every Thursday
There were no winners in last week's
Lucky 4 Draw
4, 8, 15, 21
Mary Brown won £100.00 in the
draw.
Next Week's Lucky 4 Jackpot
is £850.00
SHINE A LIGHT CHARITY NITE
Come and shine with our local stars in St. Patrick's
Hall on Monday 28th May. With special guest appearance
by Mr. Billy McCorry, founder of Shine A Light. Other
guests include, Mr Men, Friends, Crazy G, Terry McCafferty,
Terry Boyle & Glen Neeson. Doors open at 8.30pm.
Tickets £5.00 or pay on the night.
DERRY DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO KNOCK 2007
Derry Diocesan Pilgrimage to Knock is on Sunday 3rd
June. Bus leaving Abercorn Square at 8.00am sharp.
Fare £12.00. For details and booking please
contact Mary Hegarty, 15 Patrick Street, Strabane,
telephone 02871882886.
NORTH WEST TYRONE PIONEER OUTING
The Annual Outing around the Antrim Coast takes place
on Saturday 23rd June. Cost including evening meal
is £20.00. For further details contact Maura
Coyle, telephone number 02881658440.
JOAN HOUSTON MEMORIAL WHIST DRIVE
The Joan Houston Memorial Whist Drive will be held
in St. Patrick's Hall on Friday 1st June commencing
at 8.00pm. sharp. £300.00 in prizes. Admission
£5.00 or 7.50 Euro. Proceeds in aid of St.Vincent
de Paul Society.
LEGION OF MARY
Legion of Mary meets each Thursday morning after Mass
at 10.30am in the Church Conference Room.
Work consists of Rosary promotion in the parish, also
visitation of residential nursing homes in town and
Lifford hospital. New members welcome. Contact 02871883159.
STRABANE SIGERSONS G.A.A.
The Clubs Senior and Reserve footballers will play
at home to Aghaloo in the O'Neill's Sportswear Tyrone
ACL Division 2 & Reserve this Sunday 27th May.
Throw-in times are 1.30pm & 3.00pm. Coaching for
all the Club teams (male and female) continues as
usual, please check for full details on the club website
at www.strabanegaa.org
