Sunday 5th July 2009

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus said to them: “A prophet is only despised in his own country among his own relations and in his own house”. One of the mistakes we easily and often make is to think that what we see is all there is to see; what we know is all that there is to know. We do this about ourselves as well as about those close to us. There is always so much more to know about ourselves and certainly about each other. In marriage and family life, for example, we need to constantly look for and acknowledge the goodness that is there and set it free. Our homes should be places of praise instead of criticism as is so often the case. The same is true in a parish community. There is so much richness in every parish that never gets a chance to come to the surface. This is a week for letting that happen.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R.

St Joseph’s Hall Grand Refurbishment Draw

Congratulations to the winners:

1. The new model five door Ford Fiesta car: Dorea Quinn, 18 Bracken Walk, Omagh

2. Holiday voucher (£3000 and £500 spending money): Ann Colton, 194 Clanabogan Road, Omagh

3. £2000: Mai Murray, 13 Lismore Park, Omagh

4. £500: Noel McCarter, 33 Woodbank Road, Arvalee

5. 900 litres heating oil: Shane Devenney, 70 O’Kane Park, Omagh

6. 42" Plasma Television: Brendan Morrison

7. Family Season Swimming Ticket: Edel Moore, 1 West Lake, Derry

The promoter who sold the winning ticket and who won £500 was Blanche Hughes.

The promoters’ prize of £500 went to Aidan Quinn, 65 Brookmount Road, Omagh

We thank all who bought tickets and supported the draw. We thank especially the promoters who sold the tickets. We also thank the Draw Committee for their dedication and commitment to the Draw. The Draw has raised £70,820.00 for the Refurbishment of St Joseph’s Hall. Thank you for your generosity.

Saints of the Week

Week Beginning Sunday 5th July 2009

Monday 6 – St Maria Goretti, virgin and martyr; St Monnine of Killeavy, virgin
Tuesday 7 – St Maelruain, Bishop and abbot
Wednesday 8 – St Kilian, bishop and martyr
Thursday 9 – Sts Augustine Zhao Rong, priest and Companions, martyrs
Saturday 11 – St Benedict, Abbot and Patron of Europe

Baptisms

Cai Patrick Maguire, 2 Coolnagard Court

Eve Mary Maguire, 2 Coolnagard Court

Jack James Campbell, 17 New Brighton Terrace

Ellie McGuigan, 7 Lissan Court

Sophia Lily O’Reilly, 37 Strule Park

Weddings

We congratulate the following couples who were married recently:

Leah Gormley & Aidan McAleer

Sinead McGlone & Fergal McNicholl

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

Polish Mass

The next Polish Mass will be said on Thursday 9th July at 7.30 pm in the Sacred Heart Church. All are welcome.

Parish Notes

Please note that the 8 am weekday Mass has finished for the summer.

It will resume in the autumn.

Parish Draw

The next Parish Draw will be on Tuesday 7th July after the Bingo in St Joseph’s Hall. All promoters are asked to bring their returns to the Hall at the usual times.

Prayer for Priests

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

Sunday 5th July – Fr Karl Haan
Monday 6th July – Fr Eugene Hasson
Tuesday 7th July – Bishop Séamus Hegarty
Wednesday 8th July – Fr John Irwin
Thursday 9th July – Fr Charles Keaney
Friday 10th July – Fr Stephen Kearney
Saturday 11th July – For All Priests

Cleaners for Drumragh

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

Coffee Morning

Sally O’Brien’s, John Street, Omagh
Monday 6th July @ 10 am – 12 pm

All proceeds go to St Joseph’s Hall Grand Refurbishment Fund

Everybody welcome.

Questions people ask

Q. Why do people call Mary ever virgin since the gospel clearly speaks of the brothers and sisters of Jesus?

A. The gospel identifies Mary as the mother of Jesus but the evangelists never refer to her as the mother of the brothers and sisters of Jesus. They may have been step-brothers and sisters, as children of Joseph from a previous marriage. Or, more likely, they were close cousins. In the local language of Jesus’ time, because of the close bonds of the wider family, cousins were regularly called brothers and sisters. For instance, in the Old Testament, Tobias refers to his cousin Sarah as his sister.

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

Email silvesteroflynn@gmail.com

Knock Summer Youth Festival

This year’s festival will take place from July 23rd to July 26th and is for those aged 18-35. The festival will include inspiring talks, workshops, a reconciliation and healing service, mime, drama, dancing, music and lots of free time. The theme is 'You are the Light of the World' and the weekend will have a variety of guest speakers. The weekend costs 70 euro and this includes meals and accommodation. There is some transport available from the diocese. If you would like more information contact the Catechetical Centre on 028 7126 4087 or book online at www.knock-shrine.ie/youthfestival.

National Grandparents Pilgrimage

Sunday 13th September 2009

Our Lady of Knock Shrine

Chief Celebrant: Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland
Guest Singers: Fr. Liam Lawton & Dana
Children's Prayer Appeal: Invitation to all Grandchildren to write a prayer for their Grandparents. All prayers will be blessed at the pilgrimage.
Choral singing by Mayo School of Music Youth Choir, Cill Aodáin Choral Society & Our Lady’s Choir, Castlebar
2.00pm - Anointing of the Sick with music and song
3.00pm - Pilgrimage Mass followed by Eucharistic Adoration
Email: info@nationalgrandparentspilgrimage.com

Last Two Places for New York Marathon
Children in Crossfire have two places left for the 2009 New York Marathon on 1st November. Join Richard and a great group, some who are walking and some who are running the marathon. For more information phone John Ryan on 028 7126 9898.

Organist Wanted

Organist required to play in the Sacred Heart Church for Saturday night Mass at 6 pm. Please contact Finola on 8225 0537 or 0773 154 0414; Anita on 079 2286 8732 or Siobhan on 0787 321 6778.

Youth 2000 Summer Festival
Clonmacnoise, Co Offaly
Thursday 13th August – Sunday 16th August 2009
Young People Aged 16 – 35
Buses available from around Northern Ireland
For more information call 0792 909 5820 or check the website www.youth2000.ie

Graduation Prayer

Father, I have knowledge, so will You show me now,
How to use it wisely and find a way somehow
To make the world I live in a little better place,
And make life with its problems a little bit easier to face.
Grant me faith and courage and put purpose in my days,
And show me how to serve Thee in effective ways.
So my education, my knowledge and my skill
May find their true fulfilment as I learn to do Thy will.
And may I ever be aware in everything I do,
That knowledge comes from learning, and wisdom comes from You.

Amen

Omagh St Enda’s GAC

The Seniors, who are fourth in the league, perform at Healy Park this Sunday, playing Donaghmore at 2.15 pm (Reserves) and 3.45 pm (Seniors). Bingo continues every Thursday at 9 pm in Healy Park with substantial prize money every week.

Words of Wisdom

"The most important moment in your life is this one - right now. Truly it's the only moment that you have. All other moments are either over and are now just a memory or they are yet to be - a mere speculative thought about some future moment."
Richard Carlson & Joseph Bailey (1997)

St Joseph’s Hall

Timetable of Events

Tue 9.00pm - Bingo - Jackpot £1000
Wed 10.00-12.30pm - Weightwatchers

All other classes and weekly events have now finished for the summer period.

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

Counters for July
Peter Davies, Gerard Haughey, Dermott McCann, J McDonnell, Patrick McMahon, John McGale.

Eucharistic Ministers for July
Vigil Mass – Gerry Harte, Geraldine Colton, Brigid McGarvey, Anne McCaffrey, Marie Gallagher; 8.30 am –John O’Neill, Fionnuala Quinn, Joan Conaghan; 9.45 am – Seamus Maguire, Aidan Quinn, Jean McGowan, Anne Mullan; 11 am – Gerald McCarney, Regina Gormley, Kathleen McMahon, Geralyn McCusker, Siobhan Taggart; 12.30 pm – Sonya McDermott, Mary Campbell, Liz Doran, Michelle Lagan, Charles Colton; 10 am Drumragh – Aidan Campbell, Ann Doherty.

Readers for July
6 pm – Maureen Bonner; 8.30 am – Gerard Haughey; 9.45 am – Mary Prunty; 11 am – John Magennis; 12.30 pm – Cathal Lynch

Rally For Life – Keep Ireland Abortion-Free!
Saturday 4th July @ 1 pm in Dublin
A bus will leave Omagh Bus Depot Car Park at 9 am
Please contact Mary Rose on 8224 5631, Anne on 8224 6973 or Siobhán on 0788 058 8041

St Vincent de Paul Senior Citizen Annual Summer Outing to Bundoran
Thursday 23rd July 2009
Bus Departs: Loreto Convent Gates @ 9.30 am & Omagh Bus Depot @ 10.00 am. A deposit of £5 secures seat. This will be refunded on the day.

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 about your financial difficulties, please contact Michele on 028 8224 3252.