IF
I WERE YOU
One of the healing
ministries of great value is that open to every Christian
is that of compassionate listening. In everyone's
life there exist difficulties and also decisions that
must be made. The need to share our heart's burdens
with someone we trust is essential to good emotional,
physical and even spiritual health. And what a holy,
prayerful and healing action it is to listen to another
person's concerns.
But if there is one enemy that prevents this exchange
from being healing, it surely must be our human compulsion
to give advice. For when advice is given without it
being requested, it is "a-vice." Hidden,
beneath the expression, "If I were you..."
is a form of domination, a hidden sense of superiority.
Indeed, if our opinion is requested, it may be of
real service to give it. But usually when someone
drops by for a cup of coffee and starts talking, he
or she is not seeking advice but rather a listening
and non-judgmental heart.
Set a guard over that desire to tell others how to
get their marriages, children or business back in
order and simply sit back and listen - and perhaps
put yourself in a prayerful inner attitude. As people
hear themselves expressing what's inside them, they
may be surprised. For it is often simply in the "talking
out" of an issue that they discover and clarify
their own feelings or, as is sometimes happily the
case, the escape route from their problem.
A frequently heard complaint from parents is that
their teenage children do not share their problems
with them. The reasons could be many for such a reluctance
on the part of young people, but parents can ask themselves
if they listen to the burdens of their children -
if they truly listen. Or do they feel that the role
of parents is to give advice or even to unilaterally
dictate behaviour? It is not suprising that most young
people seek elsewhere for a listener.
We all need good listeners to help us hear ourselves
and to assist us in finding relief from the inner
burdens we carry - especially if that person is a
praying listener. But the next time a friend stops
by "just for a cup of coffee," remember
a word of wisdom from the Orient, "People who
give advice when it is not requested, need advice."
COLLECTION
We acknowledge last Sunday’s collection of £1885.00.
Many thanks.
PRAYER GROUP
The contemplative prayer group will meet on Monday
night at 8.15pm in the St. Vincent de Paul Conference
Centre. 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 is needed.
PARISH DRAW
The winners of the Draw for the month of April are:
£50.00 Declan Gallagher Promoter Neil Gallagher
106
£50.00 Kaitlyn Gallagher Promoter Neil Gallagher
124
£50.00 Diane Christy Promoter Mary Christy 798
£100.00 Marion O'Goan Promoter Eileen McNulty
& Marian Cooke 352
£100.00 Jim Kelly Promoter Anne Mullen 246
£100.00 Elizabeth Diver Promoter Colette McKane
448
£100.00 Colette Mullen Promoter Veronica Dunne
725
£100.00 Marion Timoney Promoter Maura Coyle
114
£200.00 Geraldine McDonnell Promoter Eileen
McNulty & Marian Cooke 355
£1000.00 Sadie Doherty Promoter Mary McAleer
551
We would like to remind our promoters that we will
be running an Extra Draw in May for all fully paid
members.
PADRE PIO MASS
The Padre Pio Mass will take place in the Church on
Wednesday 2nd May at 7.00pm. The Stations of the Cross
will be at 6.45pm.
PARISH REGISTERS
Quite frequently parishes get requests for the inspection
of Parish Registers from people interested in tracing
their family history. However, access should not be
given to registers where the information is less than
100 years old, to protect the privacy of those whose
names and details appear. Even for information more
than 100 years old, unsupervised access should never
be given, as a number of registers have been damaged
by people surreptitiously removing pages or parts
of pages. In any case the parishes of this diocese
have provided the information to a number of genealogical
services. The following website identifies the genealogical
services which hold copies of parish registers, www.ireland.com/ancestor/browse/counties/remaps/index.htm
IONA CARMELITE RETREAT
CENTRE
The monthly devotions in honour of Our Lady will take
place in the Carmelite Retreat Centre, Termonbacca,
Derry on Tuesday 1st May starting with confessions
at 7.30pm followed by Rosary and Mass, finishing around
10.00pm. All are welcome to attend.
Termonbacca Community Funday will
be held on Sunday 27th May. We are now collecting
items/donations for our Bric-a-Brac stalls and other
areas. If you can help please contact 028 71265212.
PRE-MARRIAGE COURSE
There will be a Pre-Marriage course in St. Patrick's
Hall on Sunday 20th May. A light lunch will be provided.
For further information and booking telephone 028
71383777.
SICK AND HOUSEBOUND
TO BE ATTENDED
Fr. Boland will visit the sick and housebound in the
following areas on Thursday 3rd May 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, Tristan Road.
Fr. Boland will visit the sick and housebound in the
following areas on Friday 4th May after 10.00am Mass:
Bearney Road, Camus Road, Conthem Road, Upper Townsend
Street, Townsend Terrace, Marian Park, Fountain Street
and Innisfree Gardens.
ANNIVERSARIES
May Duffy, Harry McDevitt, Seamus Mullen, Anna Maria
Livingood, Jim Hoynes
Deaths:
We offer our deepest sympathy to the family and friends
of
Margaret Hanna, Magirr Park,
Geraldine Gallagher, Newtown Street
and
Patsy Dunnion, Ballycolman Estate
who died during the week. May they rest
in peace.
ST
PATRICK’S HALL
Bingo & Lucky 4 Draw Every Thursday
There were 2
Match 3 winners in last week's Lucky 4 Draw
8, 12, 15, 17
Padraic McShane
Sadie Porter
Next Week's Lucky 4 Jackpot is £775.00
CHARITY
DANCE
North West Tyrone Pioneer Association will hold a
Charity Dance for Guide Dogs for the Blind and Foyle
Hospice in St. Patrick's Hall on Friday 11th May 2007,
commencing at 9.00pm. Music by CASCADES.
Ticket £6.00. Refreshments available.
PILGRIMAGE TO KNOCK
2007
Bishop Hegarty will lead the Diocesan Pilgrimage to
Knock on Sunday 3rd June. The Ceremonies will begin
at 2.30pm with the Blessing of the Sick.
BALLINASCREEN PILGRIMAGE
TO ROME AND SAN GIOVANNI
Led by Fr. Peter Madden from 3rd - 10th August 2007,
staying at the Irish College. Audience with the Holy
Father. For information telephone 00353 579355050,
mornings only.
FIRST CONFESSIONS
First Confessions will take place in the Church on
Thursday 3rd May for all children making their First
Holy Communion on Saturday 26th May.
CHURCH TOILETS
The outside toilets have now been completely refurbished
and everyone is delighted with the result. There was
a problem with renovating the upstairs toilet as it
was discovered that there was no connection to the
main sewer. This meant additional expensive work and
the problem has been fully resolved. The overall cost
of the renovation amounted to £17696.68.
STRABANE SIGERSONS
G.A.A.
The Clubs Senior and Reserve footballers travel to
play Augher this Sunday in the O'Neill's Sportswear
Tyrone ACL Division 2 & Reserve. All support welcome.
The Minor footballers travel to play Ardboe on Saturday
5th May in the first round of the Grade One Championship.
Coaching for all the Ladies teams continues as normal,
please check out the website for details.
THORNHILL CENTRE
May Flower Workshop: Patricia McCormick will facilitate
a practical workshop for decor in the home at this
time of the year on Tuesday 8th May from 10.30am to
1.30pm. The workshop will provide an opportunity for
participants to create a floral arrangement and to
learn from demonstration. Cost £20.00 which
includes a light lunch. Places are limited to 20 so
early booking is advisable. Telephone 71351233 for
details.
