Sunday 3rd January 2010

Second Sunday after Christmas

The book of Genesis tells us that when God spoke, the world was created. “Let there be light – and there was light”. The Gospel of John echoes this when we read through the word of God all things came to be. The Word of God is creative and life-giving and brings light out of darkness. The Word was made flesh in the person of Jesus, and lived among us. He spoke the message of eternal life and we hear to this day his words of compassion, truth and love.

May the words we speak also be words that are creative and life-giving; words of faith, hope and love that truly reflect the glory, grace and truth of God’s eternal Word. “O Lord, open my lips and my tongue shall announce your praise”.

Painting Peace

Father Paulo Turturro, parish priest in Palermo, launched a children’s competition for a poem or painting dedicated to peace. There were 120,000 entries, including some from outside Sicily. The winner was a poem entitled

‘Painting peace’

I had a box of colours.
There was no red for the blood of my wounds.
There was no black to paint the mourning of my loved ones.
I didn’t have yellow for the world’s jealousies.
I had blue:
I sat and painted Peace.

Turturro used the title Painting Peace for an organisation he founded to help the youths of Palermo and keep them out of the hands of the Mafia.

Saints of the Week

Week Beginning Sunday 3rd January 2010

Tuesday 5 – St Charles of St Andrew, priest

Wednesday 6 – The Epiphany of the Lord

Thursday 7 – St Raymond of Penyafort, priest

Sacred Heart Church - Mass Intentions 7.30 pm

Mon John McGirr – Month’s Mind

Tue Raymond McCaugherty – Month’s Mind

Thur Cathal Doherty – 1st Anniversary

Weddings

We congratulate the following couple who were married recently:

Alison Johnston & Richard Kerr

May the grace of the sacrament remain with them all their lives.

Words of Wisdom
“May all your troubles last as long as your New Year's resolutions.” ~ Joey Adams

The Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord

Wednesday 6th January is the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord. It is a holy day of obligation. Confessions will be heard in the Sacred Heart Church on Tuesday 5th January at 10.30 am – 12.30 pm and at 6.30 – 7.15 pm. Masses will be in the Sacred Heart Church at 7.30 pm (Vigil) on Tuesday evening and 8am, 10 am, 1 pm and 7.30 pm on Wednesday. Mass will be at 11 am in Drumragh on Wednesday.

Visitation of the Sick

Monsignor Donnelly will visit the sick on Tuesday 5th, Thursday 7th and Friday 8th January at the usual times. Fr Canning’s sick will be attended in the second week of January: Brookmount Road and Hunter Crescent on Thursday 14th and the country areas and Castle Street on Friday 15th January. Fr McDevitt will visit the sick on Monday 4th and Tuesday 5th January.

Parish Notes

The Parish Office reopens on Monday 4th January at 9 am.

The 8 am Mass resumes on Monday 4th January.

Sunday Devotions will not resume until 17th January as we have the Service for Baptised Children on 10th January.

The Baptism of Our Lord

Service for Children Baptised in 2009

The Parish of Drumragh is hosting a liturgical celebration for all babies baptised in our parish during the year 2009. The celebration will take place in the Sacred Heart Church at 3 pm on Sunday 10th January – the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. It is hoped that all of these babies will be able to attend with their parents, godparents, grandparents and all family members. It is our prayer that this ceremony will bring great blessings upon the families concerned.

Cleaners for Drumragh

The cleaners for Drumragh for the month of January are Marie Campbell, Ann Doherty and Dympna McKay.

Foundations in Liturgy

12 Week Course

Beginning Tuesday 19th January 2010

Tuesdays 7.30 – 9.30 pm

Venue: Meeting Room, St Theresa’s Parish, Sion Mills

For further information, contact the Secretary at the Thornhill Centre,on 028 7135 1233 or email thornhillcentre@derrydiocese.org

Dates for Your Calendar

First Confessions

All take place in the Sacred Heart Church at 7.30 pm:
Monday 8th March 2010 – St Colmcille’s P.S.
Tuesday 9th March 2010 – Loreto P.S.
Wednesday 10th March 2010 – St Conor’s P.S.
Thursday 11th March 2010 – All Saint’s P.S. / Sacred Heart P.S. / Integrated P.S.

First Holy Communion

Sunday 25th April 2010 – St Colmcille’s P.S. in the Sacred Heart @ 12.30 pm
Sunday 9th May 2010 – St Conor’s P.S. in the Sacred Heart @ 12.30 pm
Sunday 16th May 2010 – Loreto P.S. in the Sacred Heart @ 12.30 pm; All Saint’s P.S. and Sacred Heart P.S. in St Mary’s Church, Drumragh @ 10 am
Sunday 23rd May 2010 – Integrated P.S. in the Sacred Heart @ 12.30 pm

Confirmation - Saturday 27th March 2010

11.00 am in the Sacred Heart Church – St Conor’s P.S. & Omagh Integrated P.S.
3.00 pm in the Sacred Heart Church – Loreto P.S., St Colmcille’s P.S., Sacred Heart P.S. & All Saints P.S.

Omagh St Enda's GAC

Bingo recommences this Thursday 7th January at Healy Park at 9 pm with £4,000 in prize money. Gaelic Start for P1, P2 and P3 boys recommences on Saturday 16th January.

Al-Anon Family Group

Christmas and New Year is a time when problems with alcohol become highlighted. Some families dread the festive season. Will he or she be more drunk and aggressive than usual? The children will be upset and confused listening to all the arguing and shouting.
Al-Anon Family Groups, which has been established over 50 years, is a worldwide fellowship for families and friends of problem drinkers. Everything is confidential. For details of local groups, call Belfast 9068 2368.

Eucharistic Ministers for January

We are in the process of restructuring the Eucharistic Minister Rotas. In the meantime, we would appreciate if ministers could follow the rotas printed in the newsletter. New rotas will be sent out as soon as possible.

Vigil Mass – Gerald McCarney, Caroline Hannigan, Kathleen Fox, Donna Shiels, Claire Murray; 8.30 am – Sean Rodgers, Conrad Darcy, Sinead Slevin; 9.45 am – Peter McCromick, Seamus Sheridan, Shirley Norris, Maureen Miley; 11 am – Paula McCann, Roisin McKenny, Elizabeth Broderick, Deirdre Timoney, Colette Breslin; 12.30 pm – Sonya McDermott, Mary Camobell, Liz Doran, Michelle Lagan, Charles Colton; 10 am Drumragh – Niall Colgan, Anita Hackett.

Counters for January
Peter Davies, Gerard Haughey, Dermot McCann, J McDonnell, Patrick McMahon, John McGale.

Readers for January
6 pm – Marie Gallagher; 8.30 am – Gerard Haughey; 9.45 am – Mary Prunty; 11 am – Mary Haughey; 12.30 pm – Emmett Murray.

Collectors for January
6.00 pm – Thomas Logue, John Rafferty; 8.30 am – Phil McGovern, Sean McKenna, Linus Nugent, Patrick Cleary; 9.45 am – Liam McGrath, Tony Brogan, Eamon Prunty, Seamus Sheridan, Dr Pat O’Neill, Paddy McGowan; 11 am – James Murray, Thomas Bradley; 12.30 pm – Eugene McGrade, Tony McGarvey, Kevin Gallagher, Anthony Higgins, Patrick Gallagher.

Parish Draw 2010

Our thanks again to all the promoters who have helped with the running of our Parish Draw in 2009. As you may now be aware the draw will run again in 2010 to continue to pay for the cost of the redevelopment of the Drumragh Graveyard. The registration day will take place on Saturday 9th January in the Pastoral Centre, Brook Street between 3 pm and 5 pm. All promoters are asked to come along to register their draw cards. If you are still interested in becoming part of the draw please contact Fr Canning at the Parochial House. The first draw will be held on Tuesday 12th January, following the Parish Bingo in St Joseph’s Hall. All successive monthly returns will be made at St Joseph’s Hall on the first Tuesday of each month.

Week of Guided Prayer

Sunday 10th – Friday 15th January

Would you like to soften your heart for the Word of God? This is the week for you.

There will be praying with scripture on Sunday 10th January, when all participants meet in the Pastoral Centre at 7 pm for about an hour. There will also be an explanation of the week’s format. From Monday 11th to Thursday 14th there will be one-to-one half hour sessions with a trained prayer guide to reflect on a scripture passage. On Friday 15thJanuary at 8 pm all participants come together to share experiences and conclude the retreat.

The time spent alone with God, reflecting on Scripture, is the most important part of this week. The prayer guide helps but God alone is the guide.

Gortmore Residents Group

The next meeting of the Gortmore Residents Group will be held in the Station Centre on Tuesday 5th January at 7 pm. All current and former residents are invited to attend this meeting in order to help prepare for the 60th Anniversary Celebration in June 2010

St Joseph’s Bookshop
Open Saturdays 10.30 am - 4 pm
Wide variety of Books, Holy Ornaments, Medals, Rosaries & Cards available.

What is Shopmobility Omagh?

Shopmobility Omagh is a registered charity and offers free daily hire of electrically powered scooters and wheelchairs to people with limited ability to help them get around. Limited ability could be as a result of a broken limb, a hip replacement, shortness of breath, Heart problems, stroke, pregnancy or sports injury.

We are based in the Community House on Drumragh Avenue and we currently have 8 scooters (6 of which can be dismantled and carried in the boot of a car) 2 motorised wheelchairs (1 left & 1 Right hand drive) and manual wheelchairs.

Membership and daily hire is free.

A small fee applies to short and long term hire.

The scooters are serviced regularly and are fully charged.