Sunday 4th May 2008

Ascension of the Lord

Jesus said to his disciples: “I shall ask the Father and he will give you the Spirit of truth.” If someone ever says to you “I want to tell you the truth about yourself” stand well back because you can be almost certain that you will hear all the things that are wrong with you! That’s what we have done with the notion of truth. God’s idea of truth is just the opposite. It is about all that is good and wonderful about us. This week ban criticism from your life and practice the truth by speaking the good about yourself and also about one another and about those who share your home with you. Go out of your way to notice the good qualities of each person who makes up your life and let each one know the goodness you see in them. And look at your parish this week and make a list of all the good that is being done by your priests and by so many people and let them know what you see. Then you will be God’s people.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R

Three Little Words

Today’s Gospel reading (Matt 28:16-20) puts me in mind of a tongue-in-cheek Irish invention: an inflatable dartboard! For if ever an author seems to score an own goal it is Matthew today. To believe in life after death is difficult enough. To believe that a specific man rose from the dead, lived among us afterwards, then ascended into heaven is gob smacking. At least, it should be.

Therefore, you’d think that Matthew would help us to believe in Jesus’ resurrection. But no! Au contraire! He sneaks in three little words: ‘but some doubted’. Now, how could anyone – knowing that Jesus had died on a cross, yet seeing him before their very eyes – possibly doubt? What did they doubt: their own eyes, that the man before them was Jesus, that he had truly died, or what? Matthew doesn’t say.

Interestingly, these doubters don’t go away. Jesus commissions them too, it seems. Doubt isn’t an obstacle to the mission of making disciples of all nations. And what a relief that is! You don’t have to know it all. You don’t have to be rock-hard certain of everything. You can doubt and follow, perhaps even lead. Your doubting can make you seek out Jesus, until you find him. Matthew’s own-goal is actually his winning strike.

Thank you, Matthew, for those three little words.

Fr Tom Cahill SVD, Courtesy of Intercom Magazine

Questions people ask
Q. In the forty days between the Resurrection and Ascension where was Jesus or what was he doing?
A. Jesus was fully glorified at his resurrection. His earthly body had gone, having served the mission of the incarnation. However, for the sake of his disciples in their transition from knowing him in the flesh to knowing him by faith, he came back to them in various apparitions. In each apparition story a particular aspect of faith is emphasised such as knowing the Lord in personal call (Magdalene), the breaking of bread, the appointment of Peter as shepherd. The Ascension marks the final departure of Jesus and the closure of the transition period. ‘Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.’

Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap

Week beginning Sunday 4th May
This Week’s Saints
Monday 5 – Blessed Edmund Rice.

Recent Deaths
We pray for the families of the following who died recently:
Patrick Gormley
Rosalind Taggart
May they rest in peace.

Mass Intentions - Sacred Heart Church 7.30pm Mass
Tue Eileen Doherty – 1st Anniversary
Wed Ellen Kelly – Month’s Mind
Thur Michael McKernan – 1st Anniversary
Fri – 1st Anniversary

Phyllis Laird

Baptisms
Micah Calvin Cassidy, 3 Drumannon View
Sophie Catherine McDermott, 3 Bracken Vale
Reilly Brian John Crawford, 15 Coolnagard Square

Deaf Chaplaincy
There will be a Mass for the Profoundly Deaf in the Nazareth House Chapel on Sunday 4th May at 3.00pm.

Cemetery Sunday 2008
Our Services of Remembrance for the Dead will take place this year in the Drumragh and Dublin Road Cemeteries on Sunday 1st June.

Visitation of the Sick & Housebound
Fr Canning will visit the sick in the country areas on Monday 5th May. Fr McDevitt will visit the sick in his areas on Monday 5th and Tuesday 6th May.

Life in the Holy Spirit Seminars
Monday 5th May 2008

“Growth”

Jesus says “ I have come so that you may have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10)
The speaker is Fr Stephan Park. The evening begins with music and song at 7.10pm and Holy Mass at 7.30pm. The Mass of the anointing of the sick and infirm will be celebrated.

First Holy Communion Dates
Sunday 4th May: Loreto P.S. in the Sacred Heart Church at 12.30 pm
Sunday 11th May: Omagh Integrated P.S. in the Sacred Heart Church at 12.30 pm
Sunday 18th May: Sacred Heart P.S., Tattyreagh and All Saint’s P.S. at 10 am in St Mary’s Church, Drumragh; St Conor’s P.S. in the Sacred Heart Church at 12.30 pm

Please note that on Sunday 11th and Sunday 18th May baptisms in the Sacred Heart Church will be at the later time of 3 pm.

Parish Draw
The next draw takes place on Tuesday 6th May after the Bingo in St Joseph’s Hall. Promoters are asked to bring their returns to the Hall at the usual times.

Cleaners for Drumragh
The cleaners for St Mary’s, Drumragh for the month of May are Brian McKenna, Anne Kelly and Susan MacNally.

Diocesan Youth Mass
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8) - There will be a Diocesan Youth Mass on Pentecost Sunday, 11th May, in St Columb’s Church, Chapel Rd, Waterside Derry at 6 pm. Bishop Hegarty will be the main celebrant and all young people are invited to attend. The new Diocesan Youth Choir will provide the music at this Mass. All young people studying for their exams this year are most welcome. Refreshments will be held afterwards in the adjacent Parish Centre. Everyone welcome.

St Joseph’s Young Priests’ Society
The monthly meeting of John Paul II Branch will be held on Monday 5th May in the Pastoral Centre after 10 am Mass.

The Diocesan Quarterly Meeting of the Society will be hosted by Omagh Branch on Sunday 25th May in the Pastoral Centre, Brook Street at 3 pm. All members are invited to attend.

Pioneer Meeting
The next Pioneer meeting will be in St Joseph’s Hall on Thursday 8th May at 8 pm. New members are welcome.

ENGAGED? Getting married within the next year?
An Engaged Encounter Weekend is a recognised form of marriage preparation. It is a communication workshop designed for couples preparing for marriage. The weekend is non-residential and will take place in the Thornhill Centre, Derry on 14th-15th June. Early booking is advised. For information contact 02871350612 or 02827638512 (after 4.30 pm).

Friends of Africa Collection
On behalf of Friends of Africa, I wish to express my gratitude to you all for your outstanding generosity to last weekend’s collection. It has realized a total of £5,016.37. My thanks to Monsignor Donnelly for allowing me to hold this collection and also to Fr Canning and Fr McDevitt for their support. I am sure the people in Phokeng, South Africa, to whom this aid will be given, will be very grateful for all you have done for them.
Many thanks, Adrian Haughey

Lough Derg Retreat
The Colmcille Club are organizing a one-day retreat to Lough Derg on Monday 19th May. It is open to all. The cost is £30 (all-inclusive), payable at the time of booking. The bus departs from the front gates of the Loreto Grammar School at 8.45 am, returning at 6 pm. Contact Kathleen on 8224 1991 or Ann on 8224 3094.

World Youth Day Experience in Lourdes July 2008
As an alternative to World Youth Day in Sydney, Lourdes has been nominated the European Centre for WYD and the diocese will be taking a youth group to experience these days of celebration. The trip will be from 16th to 21st July for 20 – 35 year olds and will travel as part of the larger Diocesan Pilgrimage. The cost is £449. There will be a set program for this group for the 5 days, including live screen link-up to Sydney, International Youth Masses, concerts, drama and much more. If you are interested in going or finding out more, please contact the Pilgrimage Office on 7126 0293.

Fr Joseph K Bill VMCA (R.I.P.)
6-Day Silent Healing Retreat
by Fr Anthony (Appointed Successor)
Dromantine, Newry 11th – 17th May
Contact: Neal on 028 2589 2600
Mary on 028 8676 1616

Gamblers Anonymous
Ask yourself: “Has my life become unmanageable because of gambling? Do I want to stop gambling?” If the answer is “yes”, you may suffer from a disease known as ‘Compulsive Gambling’. There is help. You are not alone. You don’t have to suffer. There are meetings every Monday commencing at 8.30 pm in the Probation Office, 11a High Street, Omagh.

St Joseph’s Hall
Mon 6.30pm - Iyengar Yoga
7.15pm - Kellie Aerobics/ Fitball
Tues 3.00pm - Colmcille Club
9.00pm - Bingo - Jackpot £1000
Wed 10.00-12.30pm - Weightwatchers
10.30am - Coffee Morning
6.00pm - Baxter School of Dancing
8.00pm - Ladies Club
Thur 4.30pm - Ballet Dancing
7 - 8pm - Traditional Music class
7.30pm - Bowls
8.30pm - Line Dancing
Sat 1.45pm - Groogan O’Doherty Class

Words of Wisdom
“If a man is called to be a streetsweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the host of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great streetsweeper who did his job well.” — Martin Luther King