Parish Details Parish Societies Schools Information Parish Contacts Links to other sites The Parish News Online
 

Sunday 6th July 2008

Parish Missal Readings (Year 1) p 312 & Proper p 1068

First Reading Zechariah 9: 9-10
The Messianic king is portrayed, not as a proud warrior, but as a humble and gentle champion of peace for all peoples.

Second Reading
Romans 8: 9. 11-13

St Paul contrasts life in the Spirit with life in the flesh.

Gospel Matthew 11: 25-30
Jesus reveals the Father to those who are ‘little’ and lightens the burdens of those who are humble.


 

PLEASE NOTE

THERE WILL BE NO

WEEKDAY MASS

UNTIL FURTHER

NOTICE

Saturday 12th July
10.00am & 6.30pm

Sunday 13th July
10.00am & 12 noon

 



 


 

 

Sunday 6th July 2008

Come to me and I will give you rest

“Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened and I will give you rest.” How we need to hear that word from Christ today and to heed it. We have never had so many time saving devices that should make life more enjoyable for us. And yet we have never been so busy! People find it so difficult to relax and be thankful for all the wonderful things of life. Our world needs the witness of people who are willing to take time for their love relationships in ways that say that this is the most important part of life. We give this witness just by taking the time for the Sunday Mass but it is so important to really take the time and not just rush in and out again. We give this witness by married couples taking time regularly for their relationship, especially by doing courses that will help them grow in love. We give this witness when parents give good time regularly to their children instead of having others look after them all the time.

 

 

 

THE LESSON OF ANGER


Anger is a natural emotion, which, in its natural state, should only take a few seconds to a few minutes to externalise. For example, if someone cuts in front of us in line at the movies, it's only natural for us to be angry at him or her for a minute. If we naturally felt our anger by expressing it - if we let it live for a minute in order to move through it - we would be fine. But problems arise when we either express anger inappropriately by blowing up or suppress it so that it accumulates. We end up either giving a situation more of out anger than it deserves, or none of it.

Suppressed anger does not simply evaporate, it becomes unfinished business. If we don't deal with that little bit of anger, it gets bigger and bigger until it has to go someplace, usually the wrong place.

The other problem with accumulating anger is that even if the people who hurt us are willing to take responsibility for their actions, it isn't enough. If they apologise and we believe the apology was sincere yet continue to be angry, that is old anger. And it can rise to the surface over and over again, in different and unexpected ways.

Many people were raised in families where showing any anger was wrong. Others came from families where even the slightest problem escalated to rage. It is no wonder we have no good role models for expressing this natural emotion. Instead of understanding what to do with anger, we question it, wonder if it is valid, misplace it, and do just about everything we can - except feel it. But anger is a normal reaction, useful at the right time and place, and in the proper portions. For example, studies have shown over and over again that angry parents live longer. Whether that's because they externalise their feelings or because they demand better care, we don't know. We do know that anger creates action and helps us control the world around us. It also helps us set appropriate boundaries in our lives. As long as it's not inappropriate, violent or abusive, anger can be a helpful and healthy response.

As one of the body's important warning systems, anger should not automatically be stifled. It warns us that we are being hurt or our needs are not being heard; it can be a normal and healthy reaction to many situations. On the other hand it may, like guilt, br a signal that something is out of line with our belief systems. Occasional anger, registered in proportion to harmful events, is healthy - it's what we sometimes do or do not do with the feeling that causes problems. Often we are so afraid of our own anger and deny it so deeply, we are no longer aware of it.

Anger doesn't have to be a horrible beast that consumes our lives. It's just a feeling. It isn't productive to overanalyse it or ask if it is valid, appropriate, or warranted. To do so is to wonder if we should even have feelings. Anger is just that - a feeling. It's a feeling to be experienced, not judged. Like all our feelings, anger is a form of communication, it brings us a message.

Unfortunately, many of us no longer hear it's message. We often don't know how to feel it. When people in anger are asked "What are you feeling?'' they will begin to answer by saying,''I think ..." That is an intellectual answer to an emotional question. It comes from our minds, not from our guts.

We must get in touch with feelings in our bellies. Sometimes people find this so difficult that it's helpful for them to close their eyes and put one hand on their stomach. This simple motion helps them get in touch with what they are feeling, probably because it uses the body, not just the brain. Getting in touch with our feelings is almost a foreign notion in our society: we forget that we feel with our bodies. We tend to split our minds from our emotions. We are so used to letting our minds dominate that we forget our feelings and our bodies. Notice how Anger tells us that we haven't dealt with our hurt.

 



COLLECTION

We acknowledge last Sunday’s collection of £1752.00 Many thanks.

ANNIVERSARIES

Katie McCrossan, Ernie Hoynes, Betty Wilson(Madden), George Madden,
Eileen Donaghey, Eddie Hegarty, Michael Bannigan, Dermot Dunne, Danny McMackin.

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:

Fr. Eugene Hasson PP, Greencastle, 6th July.
Most Rev. Seamus Hegarty, Bishop of Derry, 7th July.
Fr. John Irwin, Waterside, 8th July.
Fr. Charles Keaney PP, Coleraine, 9th July.
Fr. Stephen Kearney, Limavady, 10th July.
Fr. Lawrence Keaveny, Deceased, 11th July.
Fr. Michael Keaveny CC, Faughanvale, 12th July.

PARISH DRAW

We will be holding 2 Draws in July for the months of July and August. We therefore ask promoters to bring £10.00 per member when making their returns in July to cover both Draws. Please make your returns to the parish office on Tuesday 15th July. Both Draws will take place on Thursday 17th July at 2.30pm in the parish office.


DERRY DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES

Anyone who has not booked their place on the bus for Belfast Airport needs to do so before Wednesday 9th July 2008. Tel: 02871260293.

CLONMACNOIS YOUTH FESTIVAL

Youth 2000 Summer Festival, Clonmacnois, Co. Offaly, Thursday 14th - Sunday 17th August 2008. For young people aged 16-35 years, an opportunity not to be missed to experience the Catholic faith and meet many new friends. Donations only. Free buses available from around the country. For more information, contact
00353 1 675 3690 or check our websites:
www.youth2000.ie, or xx-youth2000-xx.bebo.com

LOUGH DERG ONE DAY RETREATS

August: 19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 31 September: 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Cost: 27 Euro includes boat fare and lunch.
If you would like to find out more information please contact 071 9861518 (ROI) 028 68632391 (N.I.) or e-mail info@loughderg.org

SPIRITUALITY COURSE

A one-year Practical Theology course, "Points of Intersection" will be held in the Thornhill Centre each Monday from 7.30pm - 9.30pm beginning 6th October 2008. This course is an opportunity to search out who we are, who we are called to be and how we relate to God and one another. For more details please telephone 71351233.

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.

 

ST. PATRICK’S HALL

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

Next Week's Lucky 4 Jackpot is £2225.00

N.I. BLOOD TRANSFUSION SERVICE

A team from the N.I. Blood Transfusion Service will be in St. Patrick's Hall on Wednesday 23rd July from 1.30pm - 4.00pm and 5.15pm - 8.00pm. The Blood Transfusion Service would appeal for the support of all existing blood donors and welcome new donors.




PAYMENTS BY CHEQUE

The Bank have reminded us that all payments made to the parish by cheque (for Parish Savings, Parish Draw, Sunday and Special Collections etc.) must be made payable to Church of the Immaculate Conception.

   

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.

STRABANE SIGERSONS GAA

The next games for the Clubs Senior and Reserve teams will be at home to Fintona on Saturday 5th July. All support welcome. The Tyrone Grade 1 Juvenile League will continue next Wednesday night with Sigersons at home to Dromore at 7.30pm. Best wishes to Tyrone minors who play Cavan in the Ulster MFC semi-final this Sunday at Clones.

 



PRAYER CORNER

A PRAYER

Jesus calls us to journey with him,
to journey with him to a woman pouring perfume in a house at Bethany,
to journey with him to a man pouring water, cleaning up after the devastation of war,
to a journey with him to a woman pouring lotion on the bruises of a husband's violence.

Jesus call us to speak out with him,
to speak out for the beauty of a woman's extravagance,
to speak out or the unveiling of rules that deny people's existence,
to speak out for justice for the poorest of the poor.

And Jesus calls us to celebrate in the dance of liberation.
Jesus calls us to celebrate life wherever it is found.
Jesus calls us to celebrate the many gifts offered by women and men.
Jesus calls us to celebrate the dignity and worth of all people.

*************************


A PRAYER

O loving Father, make me like Jesus:
the Jesus who could spend nights in prayer,
the Jesus who went about doing good,
the Jesus who made time to talk to Nicodemeus,
the Jesus who could not bear to see the mother cry at Nain,
the Jesus who took a towel and knelt and washed the feet of the men who were going to deny, betray and forsake him,
the Jesus who could give a patient word when smitten on the face,
the Jesus who could pray for the men who nailed him to the cross,
the Jesus who was strong enough not to answer back when accused unjustly,
the Jesus who could sleep peacefully in a gale and a storm,
the Jesus who would not let the marriage at Cana be spoiled by lack of wine,
the Jesus who would not condemn the woman taken in an act of sin,
the Jesus who could shrink from the cup of suffering yet drink it to the last dregs.
O loving Father, make me like the Jesus who came to the world to show what you were like.


*************************
DON'T TAKE YOURSELF TOO SERIOUSLY

A flea decided to move with his family into the ear of an elephant. So he shouted, ''Mr Elephant, sir, my family and I plan to move into your ear. I think it only fair to give you a week to think the matter over and let me know if you have any objection.''

The elephant, who was not even aware of the existence of the flea, went his placid way, so after conscientiously waiting for a week, the flea assumed the elephant's consent and moved in.

A month later Mrs Flea decided the elephant's ear was not a healthy place to live and begged her husband to move out. Mr Flea begged her to stay on for another month at least so as not to hurt the elephant's feelings.

Finally he put it as tactfully as he could: ''Mr Elephant, sir, we plan to move to other quarters. This has nothing at all to do with you, of course, because your ear is spacious and warm. It is just that my wife would rather live next door to her friends at the buffalo's foot. If you have any objection to our moving, do let me know in the course of the next week.''

The elephant said nothing, so the flea changed residence with a clear conscience.

The universe is not aware of your existence! Relax!


*************************

THE SELF

A worried-looking fellow walks into the psychiatrist's office smoking pot and wearing love beads, frayed bellbottom trousers, and shoulder-length hair.
The psychiatrist says, ''You claim you are not a hippie. Then how do you explain the clothes, the hair, the pot?''
''That's what I'm here to find out, doctor,''

To know things is to be learned. To know others is to be wise. To know the self is to be enlightened.


*************************

NO CLOCKS

There were no clocks in the monastery. When a businessman complained about the lack of punctuality, the Master said, ''Ours is a cosmic punctuality, not a business punctuality.

This made no sense to the businessman, so he added, ''Everything depends on your point of view. From the view point of the forest, what is the loss of a leaf? From the view point of the Cosmos, what is the loss of your business schedule?"