18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sunday, 1st August 2010

Jesus said to the crowd: “Watch, and be on your guard against avarice of any kind, for your life is not made secure by what you own, even when you have more than you need”. What a difficult message that is for us to listen to today, and yet what a vitally important one. Our lives are governed more and more by the need to get on so that we increasingly have less and less time for the really important things of life. And Jesus is very clear about what those important things are; the things that can give us true security. These are, of course, love of God with our whole hearts so that we can know where we came from and where we are going, and love for one another so that we can know the true joy of journeying through this life. That is our message of hope for our troubled world. We have to work at living it ourselves as followers of Christ.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R

The Two Wolves

An old Cherokee chief was teaching his grandson about life:

“A fight is going on inside me,” he told the boy. “It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, self-doubt and ego.

The other is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.

This same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person, too”.

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?”

The old chief simply replied, “The one you feed.”

Saints of the Week

Week Beginning Sunday 1st August

Monday 2 – St Eusebius of Vercelli, bishop; St Peter Julian Eymard, priest

Wednesday 4 – St John Vianney, priest

Friday 6 – The Transfiguration of the Lord

Saturday 7 – Sts Sixtus II, pope, and Companions, martyrs; St Cajetan, priest

Sacred Heart Church

Mass Intentions 7.30 pm

Monday Violet Harkin – 1st Anniversary

Wednesday Annie Friel – 1st Anniversary

Anniversary Masses

There will be an Anniversary Mass for Patrick McCarney in St Mary’s Church, Drumragh on Friday 6th August at 7 pm.

There will be a Mass for the First Anniversary of Terry McGread in St Mary’s Church, Drumragh on Friday 6th August at 8 pm.

Baptisms

Catriona Irene McKenna,3 Coolnagard Court

Kadyn Patrick McGoldrick, 79D Tattysallagh Road

Conan John Daly, 24C Dromore Road

Dearbhaile Erin McLaughlin, 5 Kylemore Court

Cassie Ann Duffy, 57 Sperrin Park

Prayer for Priests

We ask for your prayers for the following priests this week:

Sunday 1st August – Fr Neil McGoldrick
Monday 2nd August – Fr Patrick McGoldrick
Tuesday 3rd August – Fr James McGonagle
Wednesday 4th August – Fr James McGrory
Thursday 5th August – For All Priests
Friday 6th August – Fr Edward McGuinness
Saturday 7th August – Fr Kevin McKenna

First Friday Devotions
Friday is the First Friday of the month. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will be in the Sacred Heart Church from after 10 am Mass until 7.15 pm.

Visitation of the Sick
Monsignor Donnelly will visit the sick on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday of this week. Fr McDevitt will visit the sick on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. Those who are normally visited on Monday will be visited on Wednesday and Tuesday’s visitation will be as normal.

Parish Pilgrimage to Lough Derg
Micheál McGavigan, a student for the Diocese will be in the Parish for the month of August. He is organising a Parish 3 Day Pilgrimage to Lough Derg. It leaves on Tuesday 10th August 2010, and returns on Thursday 12th August. The cost is £60, including bus, boat and admission to the island. To book, please call the parish office on 8224 2092 and leave your name and number.

Parish Draw
The next Parish Draw will take place on Tuesday 3rd August after the Bingo in St Joseph’s Hall. Promoters are asked to bring their returns to the hall at the usual times.

St Joseph’s Parish Hall

St Joseph’s Hall is a busy parish hall with numerous events throughout the whole year, such as the Senior Citizen’s Club, the Bingo, the Coffee Morning and other parish events. To ensure that these valuable parish events continue, more help is needed. In particular there is a need for more active committee members who are willing to give a few hours to help when required. There is also a need for new committee members who could help in the future running of the Hall. If you have a few hours to spare and wish to become involved, please contact Tommy on 0775 393 6701 or Fr McDevitt on 8224 2092.

Questions people ask
Q. Where are the original manuscripts of the Gospels and letters of St Paul?
A. There are no surviving original manuscripts of any part of the Bible, just as there are no original fragments of any of the famous Greek or Roman writers of that period such as Virgil or Cicero. We depend on copies of all these writings and copies of copies. Copyists were far from perfect and there are thousands of variations among the documents. The oldest surviving fragments of New Testament texts date from about 150 AD. The oldest complete New Testament dates from the fourth century. Some of the oldest fragments, dating from 250 AD are lodged in the Chester Beatty Library in Dublin.

Courtesy of Fr Silvester O’Flynn, Intercom Magazine

Email silvesteroflynn@gmail.com

Omagh Community Youth Choir

The Omagh Community Youth Choir will present their Summer Concert of popular music in the Strule Arts Centre on Wednesday 4th August at 8 pm.

Clonmacnois Youth 2000 Summer Festival
12th – 15th August 2010
For young people aged 16 to 35, an opportunity not to be missed to experience the Catholic faith and meet many new friends. Donation only. Free buses available from around Northern Ireland. For more information, contact 0751 482 0572 (from Northern Ireland) or check our website:www.youth2000.ie

Grandparents’ Pilgrimage
The 4th National Grandparents' Pilgrimage will take place at The Shrine of Our Lady of Knock on Sunday 12th September. Anointing of the Sick will be at 2pm, Pilgrimage Mass at 3pm, followed by Eucharistic Adoration. Special guest singers are Michael English, Dana and Chloe Coyle. For further information, visit the website www.catholicgrandparentsassociation.com or telephone 00 353 98 24877.

Cleaners for Drumragh
The cleaners for St Mary’s Church Drumragh for the month of August are Louise Kirwan, Brian McKenna and Susan MacNally.

Derry Diocesan Society
The following names have been added to the list of Deceased Members of the Derry Diocesan Society:

Deceased Members
Jim Clarke, 1 Fairmount Road
Charlie Grugan, 40 Sunningdale
Sean McKenna, Sedannan. Omagh
Patricia Cassidy, 12 Randall Drive
Mark Doherty, Scotland
Mary Craig, 9 O’Kane Park
Mary Monaghan, 48 Gortrush Park

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

Omagh Charismatic Prayer Group
The Omagh Charismatic Prayer Group meets every Thursday in the Pastoral Centre, Brook Street at 8.15 pm. There is praise music and song and prayers of thanksgiving and intercession. All welcome to come and pray.

Omagh St Enda's GAC

Big Monster Summer Bingo returns to Omagh St Enda's at Healy Park next Thursday 5th August at 9 pm. There are many huge prizes including three £1,000 houses and three £500 houses. Omagh St Enda’s Gaelic Football summer camp for boys and girls aged 4 years to 14 years old will take place from Monday 16th to Thursday 19th August. Camp fee is £15 per child which also includes a hoody and wristband. In attendance will be our own Tyrone senior players Joseph and Justin McMahon and Jason McAnulla, a number of our senior players and Tyrone minor players. Registration forms can be obtained from any youth coach or out at Clubrooms.

Omagh Independent Advice Centre
Omagh Independent Advice Centre offers a free and confidential advice service to anyone in financial difficulty on all aspects of debt or any associated financial problem. If you would like to speak to someone, please contact Michele on 8224 3252.

St Joseph’s Hall
Timetable of Events

Tue 9.00pm - Bingo - Jackpot £1000
Wed 10.00-12.30pm - Weightwatchers
Thur 8 pm Line Dancing - Beginners
9.15 pm Regular Line Dancing Class
Contact Tommy on 07753 936 701

All Other Hall Activities Have Now Finished for the Summer

Words of Wisdom
“Never miss an opportunity to make others happy, even if you have to leave them alone in order to do it.” - ~ Author Unknown