Sunday 1st March 2009

1st Sunday in Lent

The Kingdom of God is Close at Hand

Jesus said: "Repent and believe the Good News". At the beginning of Lent, this call of Christ sets the agenda for the next six weeks. The first thing we have to do is 'repent'. What does that mean for us? It simply means 'let go' - let go of the things and the ways of living that limit our freedom to love God with our whole heart and strength and our neighbour as ourselves. Secondly Christ calls us to 'believe the Good News'. This means to live the Good News, to practise being happy, to bring joy and peace and healing to all those we live with and those we meet. This obviously has huge implications for married couples in their relationship; for families in their life together; and for every parish community. Lent is not just about giving things up but rather about changing in ways that will bring life to others. Six weeks practice should make a profound difference to our lives.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R.

Lent

Lent is a holy season, a time for reflection and taking stock of our lives. It originated in the early days of our Church as a preparatory time for Easter, when the faithful rededicated themselves and when converts were instructed in the faith and prepared for baptism. When we observe Lent we imitate Jesus’ withdrawal into the wilderness for forty days.

The three traditional pillars of Lenten observance are prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

Prayer: More time given to prayer during Lent should draw us closer to the Lord. We might pray especially for the grace to live out our baptismal promises more fully.

Fasting: Fasting is one of the most ancient practices linked to Lent. The early Church fasted intensely for two days before the celebration of the Easter Vigil. This fast was later extended and became a 40-day period of fasting leading up to Easter. Fasting is more than a means of developing self-control. It is often an aid to prayer, as the pangs of hunger remind us of our hunger for God.

Almsgiving: Almsgiving, the third traditional pillar, is linked to our baptismal commitment in the same way. It is a sign of our care for those in need and an expression of our gratitude for all that God has given to us. Works of charity and the promotion of justice are integral elements of the Christian way of life we began when we were baptized.

Week beginning Sunday 1st March
This Week’s Saints

Wednesday 4 – St Casimir
Thursday 5 – St Kieran, bishop
Saturday 7 – Sts Perpetua and Felicity, martyrs

Recent Deaths

We sympathise with the families of the following who died recently:

Margaret Moss

Tess Curran

May they rest in peace.

Mass Intentions

Sacred Heart Church 7.30 pm

Mon Patrick Doherty – Month’s Mind

Tue Susan McGlinchey – 1st Anniversary

Thur Kathleen Ferguson – Month’s Mind

Fri Esther Jones – Month’s Mind

Baptisms
Riona Kate Devine, 57 Kevlin Gardens
Emily Jane McCrory, 33 Tattyreagh Road
Fynn Marcel Fox, 2 Coolnagard Hollow
Faolyn Michael Fox,
2 Coolnagard Hollow
Brandon Peter Downey,
14 Edergole Road

St Joseph’s Young Priests’ Society
The monthly meeting of John Paul II Branch will take place in the Pastoral Centre on Monday 2nd March, following the 10 am Mass.

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
There will be Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the Sacred Heart Church every Friday during Lent.

Visitation of the Sick and Housebound
Monsignor Donnelly will visit the sick and housebound on Tuesday 3rd, Thursday 5th and Friday 6th of March. Fr Canning will visit the Hunter Crescent, Castle Street and country areas on Monday 2nd March. He will visit the Brookmount Road area on Friday 6th March. Fr McDevitt will visit on Monday 2nd and Tuesday 3rd March.

Parish Draw
The next Parish Draw is on Tuesday 3rd March after the bingo in St Joseph’s Hall. All promoters are asked to bring their returns to the Hall at the usual times.

Host Families Required
Have you 3 weeks to spare in July? Could you give a Chernobyl child a recuperating holiday? Weekly activities are organised and translators are available at all times. To take a child out of a contaminated area even for a week can boost their immune system up to 1 year. If interested, contact Dominic on 028 7138 3523 or 0798 009 2493.

Omagh Charismatic Prayer Group

Fr Terry Bennett will say Mass in the Pastoral Centre, Brook Street on Thursday 5th March at 8.15 pm. All are welcome.

Reflections on the Creed

Why not spend 50 minutes each Tuesday morning of Lent to explore the treasures of our faith, as expressed in the Nicene Creed? This series features interviews with prominent men and women of faith. The 2nd Session, “How We Believe”, is on Tuesday 3rd March in the Pastoral Centre at 10.30 am. All welcome. Refreshments will be served.

Questions people ask

Q. Could you tell me about the temptations of Jesus.
Was it the way we are tempted to sin?

A. The temptations of Jesus may be understood as attempts by the devil to divert his mission from its real purpose. The devil’s name is diabolos, a Greek word meaning one who misleads people, throwing them off course. Providing free bread or floating on angels’ wings would certainly arouse curiosity, but would it lead to conversion of life? Jesus rejected these diabolical suggestions and chose the way of solidarity with human powerlessness, even death. This showed his total love for us. And then, resurrection from the dead was a sign infinitely more important than miraculous stunts.

Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap, Courtesy of Intercom Magazine

Email silvesteroflynn@gmail.com

Derry Diocesan Development Plan for Charismatic Renewal
Omagh Charismatic Prayer Group will host
(as part of the above plan)

Teachings on the Creed – The Basis of Our Faith

12.03.09 The Development of the Creed 30 – 325 AD

19.03.09 God the Father, Creator, Provider, Lawgiver, God of Justice, Mercy, Forgiveness, Compassion and Love

26.03.09 Jesus Christ, Truly God and Truly Man, Image of God, Teacher, Bringer of the Kingdom of God. “He who has seen me as the Father”

02.04.09 The Holy Spirit Giver of Life, the Holy Catholic Church, the Forgiveness of sins, the

Communion of Saints, the Resurrection of the Body and eternal life.

Venue: St Columba’s Pastoral Centre, Brook Street, Omagh

Time: 8 pm – 9.30 pm

All of these teachings will be given by Ms Julie Zeoli, RE Teacher from Maghera.

All Welcome - Refreshments afterwards

Course Fee - £12 or £5 per session

Workshop on Marriage
Marriage Encounter is a weekend away for married couples of all ages with a stable relationship. Couples explore how to come to a deeper mutual understanding of each other. The dates are 27th – 29th March in the Dromantine Conference Centre, Newry. Telephone 028 9062 6503 or 028 7135 0612.

Coffee Morning & Cake Sale

St Columba’s Parish Hall
Saturday 7th March 2009
10 am – 12.30 pm
In Aid of Children’s Cancer Charities, CLIC Sargent & NICFC

Women’s World Day of Prayer
A Service Prepared by Christian Women of Papua New Guinea
Friday 6th March 2009
Trinity Presbyterian Church @ 8.15 pm
Speaker is Evelyn Whyte, Deaconess Refreshments and fellowship after the service
All Welcome – Men, Women & Young People

St Joseph’s Hall Timetable of Events

Mon 10.30am - Coffee Morning
6.00pm - Iyengar Yoga

Tues 3.00pm - Colmcille Club
9.00pm - Bingo - Jackpot £1000

Wed 10.00-12.30pm - Weightwatchers
6.00pm - Baxter School of Dancing
8.00pm - Ladies Club

Thur 7.30pm - Bowls
8.30pm - Line Dancing

Sat 1.45pm - Groogan O’Doherty Class

Readers for March
6 pm – Lysette Maguinness; 8.30 am – Pauline Breen; 9.45 am – Maeve Campbell; 11 am – Áine Hackett; 12.30 pm – Caroline McKinney.

Collectors for March

6.00 pm – James Devlin, Cathal Cullen, Aidan Lilly, Thomas McElroy, Colm McLaughlin, Pat McCanny; 8.30 am – Peter Haughey, Gerard Broderick, Fursey Mullan, Billy Henry; 9.45 am – John O’Neill, Eugene Lynam, Sean Mullan, A.K. Kelly, Patrick Devlin, Raymond McGoldrick, John Rafferty, Eugene Turbett; 11 am - Robert Colton, James Murray, Aidan Quinn, Kevin McCrory, Pat McGartland; 12.30 pm – Sean McNamee, John Lagan, Anthony Bradley, Patrick Conway, Dermot O’Kane, Francis Laird.

Counters for March

Tommy Bradley, Michael Donnelly, John Doyle, Hubert Logue, Kevin McCrory, John McNally, John Meyler, Seamus Sheridan, Leo Turbitt.

Cleaners for Drumragh

The cleaners for St Mary’s Church, Drumragh for the month of March are Betty Baxter and Christine McLaughlin.

Eucharistic Ministers for March

Vigil Mass – Gerry Harte, Geraldine Colton, Brigid McGarvey, Anne McCaffrey, Marie Gallagher; 8.30 am – Sean Rodgers, Conrad Darcy, Sinead Slevin; 9.45 am –Peter McCormick, Seamus Sheridan, Shirley Norris, Maureen Miley; 11 am – Gerald McCarney, Regina Gormley, Kathleen McMahon, Geralyn McCusker, Siobhan Taggart; 12.30 pm – Kathleen Winters, Mary Donaghy, Gerard Sharkey, Chrissie Kelly; 10 am Drumragh – Niall Colgan, Anita Hackett.

Reflections on the Creed

Why not spend approximately 50 minutes each Tuesday morning of Lent exploring the treasures of our faith, as expressed in the Nicene Creed? This is a six part DVD series which features several interviews with prominent men and women of faith. The First Session, “Why We Believe”, begins on Tuesday 24th February in the Pastoral Centre at 10.30 am. All welcome. Tea and refreshments will be served.

ACCORD, Omagh

The only pre-marriage courses still available at the moment are taking place in May (limited places) and June 2009. Call 8224 2439 for further information or for course bookings.

Alcoholics Anonymous

Public Information Meeting
Owenkillew Credit Union Office, Greencastle
Thursday 26th February 2009
All Welcome

Who me? Join the SVdP?

Yes - YOU!

To work for those in need.

To use your skills, your experience, your time.

To make a difference.

Find out more at an information evening on Tuesday 24th February 2009 at 8pm in Vincent’s, Castle Street, Omagh

Derry Diocesan Society

The following names have been added to the list of

Deceased Members of the Derry Diocesan Society:

Breda Bradley, Florida
Pat Doherty, 18 Gortrush Park
Gerry Donnelly, 11 Bracken Close
Rebecca McCaffrey, 24 Hunter Crescent
Michael Breen, 35 Kevlin Gardens
John Maguire, Essex, England
Richard Hackett, 4 Starrs Crescent
Alice Daly, London
Dessie Corrigan, 75 Culmore Park
Sally Turner
Jimmy Coyle, 1B Cannondale
Rose Ellen Kirk, 31 Strule Park
Mary McGrath, Hillbank Fold (formerly 28 Lammy Crescent)

That these and all who sleep in Christ find in your presence, light, happiness and peace.

Drumragh Parish Draw Winners

February 2009

£2,000 – Mike Sweetman, 9 Thornville Park. Promoter – Raymond McNally; £1,000 – Caroline Connolly, 12 Brookmount Crescent. Promoter – Fr Thomas Canning. £500 – E McElhill, 6 Coolnagard Grove. Promoter – K McElhill. £250 – Daniel McCrossan, 63 O’Kane Park. Promoter – Daniel McCrossan. £100 – Deano McNamee, 3 Coolnagard Lane. Promoter – Catherine McNamee. £100 – Phil McGuigan, 15 Ardmore Avenue. Promoter – Phil McGuigan. £100 – Mary Conlon, 3 Clontarf Drive. Promoter – Claire McKeown. £100 – Damian Goligy, Sunningdale. Promoter – Maggie Quinn. £100 – Mary Maguire, 33 Centenary Park. Promoter – A J Turnbull. £100 – Aidan Campbell, 33 Tattykeel Road. Promoter – Marie Campbell. £100 – Collette McCrossan, 51 O’Kane Park. Promoter – Daniel McCrossan. £100 – A Devlin, 16 Kevlin Heights. Promoter – Philomena McNamee. £100 – Eamon Baxter, 17 Johnston Park. Promoter – Margaret Sheridan. £100 – Majella Clarke, c/o Promoter. Promoter – Attracta Kelly. Promoter’s £100 Prize – Barry Mathers.

Please Note: The next draw will take place on Tuesday 3rd March

JW Promotions Proudly Presents:
The Queens of Country Show

St Joseph’s Hall, Omagh

Saturday 7th March 2009

Featuring: Billie Joe Spears, Philomena Begley, Dee Reilly, Louise Morrissey, Jeannie Seely

For Tickets call 07753 936 701 or Usual Outlets

St Joseph’s Hall Grand Refurbishment Draw
Prizes: 1st Prize – New Model Ford Fiesta 5-door Car
2nd Prize – Holiday Voucher worth £3000 with £500 spending money

Could all promoters please return any tickets sold to St Joseph’s Hall on Tuesday 13th January from 7 pm to 9 pm.
These tickets will be entered into a Free £50 Draw after the Bingo.