.Sunday 5th October 2008

The 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

They Will Respect My Son.

"This was the Lord's doing and it is wonderful to see." Isn't it amazing how we can so easily take all the wonderful things of life for granted? The result is that life becomes boring or difficult or oppressive for so many people. What makes the difference in life is the quality of our thanksgiving and praise of God and of one another. This week Christ asks us to develop this ability in a special way. Make it a week when criticism is banned especially from our homes and community and when we go out of our way to say thanks and to acknowledge the goodness of one another. This is not easy because we are so used to criticising one another either directly or through gossip. When we are like that we are not living our faith in Christ who only sees all that is good in each of us.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R

Gift Aid Declaration Forms

We appeal to anyone who has recently received a Gift Aid Declaration Form to return it to the Parish Office as soon as possible. This can be done, either by using the pre-paid envelope provided, or by placing the completed form in the collection basket this weekend. We thank you for your help in this matter.

Dead Church Story

A new pastor in Topeka, Kansas, USA, spent the first four days making personal visits to each of his prospective congregation inviting them to come to his inaugural services.

The following Sunday the church was all but empty. Accordingly, the pastor placed a notice in the local newspapers, stating that, because the church was dead, it was everyone's duty to give it a decent Christian burial. The funeral would be held the following Sunday afternoon.

Morbidly curious, a large crowd turned out for the 'funeral' .

In front of the pulpit they saw a closed coffin which was covered in flowers. After the priest had delivered the eulogy, he opened the coffin and invited his congregation to come forward and pay their final respects to their dead church.

Filled with curiosity as to what would represent the corpse of a 'dead church' , all the people eagerly lined up to look in the coffin. Each ' mourner' peeped into the coffin then quickly turned away with a guilty, sheepish look.

In the coffin, tilted at the correct angle, was a large mirror.

Week beginning Sunday 5th October

This Week’s Saints

Monday 6 – Saint Bruno, priest.

Tuesday 7 – Our Lady of the Rosary.

Thursday 9 – Saint Denis, bishop, and Companions, martyrs.

Saturday 11 – St Canice, abbot.

Baptisms
Caitlin Una Sadie McDonagh, 53 Gortview
Tom Conel Sheridan, 3 Drumannon Grove
Eimear McGinn, 5 Lambrook Gardens
Lily Grace Connolly, 19 Culmore Park
Cobhlaith Louise Murphy, 9 Kevlin Grove
Mark James Turner, 45 Cannondale

Questions people ask

Q. This year of St Paul bothers me. Wasn’t he an anti-woman chauvinist who regarded women as inferior to man?

A. Quite the contrary. In a society where women were regarded as second class, Paul struck a mighty blow for the equality of the sexes: ‘There is no longer Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female: for you are all one in Christ Jesus’ (Gal. 3:28). When he writes to the Ephesians that the husband is the head of the wife, he is referring to their different roles in the family. This passage taken in its entirety makes greater demands on the husband in asking him to love his wife with the self-sacrificing love which Christ showed for his church.

Fr Silvester OFlynn OFM Cap, Courtesy of Intercom Magazine

Email silvesteroflynn@gmail.com

Recent Deaths

We pray for the family of the following who died recently:

Nora Logue

May she rest in peace.

Mass Intentions

Sacred Heart Church 7.30 pm

Monday Walter Pancott – 1st Anniversary

Tuesday Richard Hackett – Month’s Mind

Friday Gerry McLaren – Month’s Mind

Weddings
We congratulate the following couples who married here recently:

Julie Colton & Barry Glackin
Agnes Mongan & Deaglan Doran
Nuala Murnaghan & Rob Disney

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

Do This In Memory
Parents and Guardians, we have some Good News Bibles available to accompany the ‘Do This In Memory’ Programme. Price £9. Contact the Parish Office on 8224 2092.

Parish Notes
Devotions will resume today (Sunday) at 6 pm. The 8 am weekday Mass will resume on Monday 6th October.

October Stations
If anyone would like to have a Station Mass in their home during the month of October please call the Parish Office and leave your name, number and station area.

Anonymous Donation
We would like to thank a parishioner for their anonymous donation to the parish of £6,000, which was greatly appreciated.

Indian Sponsored Children
Fr Balashowry from India will attend the 10 am Mass in the Sacred Heart Church on Monday 6th October and also the Coffee Morning afterwards in St Joseph’s Hall. Sponsors or anyone wishing to meet and talk with him are very welcome to come along.

The Church has designated this year as a Year of Prayer for Vocations. The Rosary will be recited in the Sacred Heart Church each morning during the month of October for this intention at 9.30 am.

THE IRISH PILGRIMAGE TRUST
TRIP TO LOURDES, EASTER 2009
Applications are welcome from young people with a physical disability or illness (aged 9 – 18 years) or a learning disability (aged 11 – 21 years). Young adults between the age of 20 and 25 with a disability or illness are welcome to apply. There are places for seriously ill children under the age of 9 years accompanied by a parent/carer. There is no cost for the young person selected to travel. Closing date for applications is 31st October 2008. If interested, please contact Maureen on 0771 773 2550 (anytime) or at 028 7133 7441 after 6pm.

Pioneer Meeting
The next meeting will take place in St Joseph’s Hall on Thursday 9th October at 8.15 pm. New members welcome.

Colmcille Club
There is no meeting of this club on Tuesday 7th October in St Joseph’s Hall. Members are attending a function in Carrickmore.

Coffee Morning

In Aid of

National Eye Health Week 2008

McCanney Opticians, Georges Street
Wednesday 8th October @ 10 am – 12 pm

QUB Catholic Chaplaincy
28 Elmwood Avenue, Belfast
Freshers’ Welcome Night
Tuesday 7th October @ 7 pm
Dedication of Studies Mass
Sunday 12th October @ 8 pm
Students and their Families Welcome

St Joseph’s Young Priests’ Society
The monthly meeting of John Paul II Branch will be held in the Pastoral Centre following 10 am Mass on Monday 6th October.

N.I. Blood Transfusion Service

The next blood donation sessions will be in Omagh College on : Monday 13th October
1.30 – 4 pm & 5.30 – 8pm
Tuesday 14th October
1.30 – 4 pm & 5.30 – 8pm
Wednesday 15th October
1.30 – 4 pm & 5.30 – 8pm
Please come along – you could save a life!

“Challenging Arthritis” Course

The Community House, Drumragh Avenue

Thursday 9th October 2008 @10 am – 1 pm

“Challenging Arthritis” is a six-week self-management course which focuses on skills to help people manage their arthritis on a day-to-day basis. It covers pain management, relaxation, exercise, diet as well as offering people support and information on dealing with specific difficulties related to living with arthritis. If anyone is interested in attending, please call the Training Team on 028 9078 2940 as places are limited.

Come and Pray
There will be Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the Pastoral Centre on Thursday 9th October at 8.15 pm.

Parish Draw
The next Parish Draw takes place on Tuesday 7th October after the Bingo in St Joseph’s Hall. Promoters are asked to bring their returns at the usual times.

Correction of Eucharistic Ministers Rota
Last week there was an error made in the rota for the 11 am Mass in October. The minsters should have been: George Johnson, Helen Johnson, Eugene Teague, Alice McNamee and Joe Mulryan. Apologies for any confusion this may have caused.

Disabled Children’s Calamity Appeal

Fr Donal Bennett says: The generosity of the people of my home parish of Drumragh will be greatly appreciated by the disabled young people in my former parish in the Philippines in their efforts to rebuild their simple homes. They assure me they pray for all their benefactors. The amount raised was £5035.44. The generous help of SVdP and volunteers is also greatly appreciated.

St Vincent de Paul

The Annual Sale is on Saturday 15th November in St Joseph’s Hall. We need your support. Please donate your unwanted gifts, bric-a-brac, books, toys, etc at 10 Castle Street – Vincent’s Shop. Baked items can be left nearer the sale day. Many thanks.

Coffee Morning

St Joseph’s Hall, Omagh
Monday mornings at 10.30 am
All Welcome

Coffee Morning

In Aid of

National Eye Health Week 2008

McCanney Opticians, Georges Street
Wednesday 8th October @ 10 am – 12 pm

RNIB – White Cane Walk

10th Celebration!
Saturday 11th October 2008
5 Mile Walk to support the work on RNIB in Northern Ireland.
Start Point: Main Street, Omagh @ 11 am
(Formerly Royal Arms Mews)
Registration: Ostlers Arms, Main Street from 10 am – 10.45 am
Ways to get involved:
• Take a sponsor sheet and walk
• Give a donation and walk
• Get a team together for the walk
• Give a donation towards RNIB NI
Maps of the route are available at the centre.
For more information, contact RNIB NI, 10 James Street, Omagh on 8225 0220 or email Ian.Ross@rnib.org.uk

Pro-Life Rally

A group of pro-abortion MPs in Westminster have put forward a proposal to extend the 1967 Abortion Act to Northern Ireland. In response to this, a Pro-Life Rally will take place at Parliament Buildings, Stormont in Belfast on Saturday 18th October at 1 pm. A bus will leave Omagh Bus Depot on Saturday 18th October at 9.30 am for this Rally for Life. Please contact Kate on 0790 700 3613 or Mary Rose on 8224 5631.

John Michael Talbot

An Evening of Music and Reflection led by the world’s foremost Christian recording artist takes place in the Playhouse, St Columb’s Theatre, Orchard Street, Derry on Sunday 12th October at 8.30 pm. Tickets are £10 and are available from Veritas Bookshop, Butcher Street, Derry (7126 6888) or Thornhill Centre, Culmore Road, Derry (7135 1233). Admission is by ticket only.

Cleaners for Drumragh
The Cleaners for Drumragh for October are: Dympna McKay, Marie Campbell, Ann Doherty and Patricia Muldoon.

Eucharistic Ministers for October

Vigil Mass – Gerry Harte, Geraldine Colton, Phil Hyndman, Brigid McGarvey, Anne McCaffrey, Marie Gallagher; 8.30 am – Kay Clarke, Peggy Tierney, Bro Tom Gough; 9.45 am – Peter McCormick, Seamus Sheridan, Shirley Norris, Maureen Miley;11 am – Paula McCann, Roisin McKenny, Elizabeth Broderick, Deirdre Timoney, Colette Breslin; 12.30 pm - Mary Campbell, Liz Doran, Sonya McAnulla, Michelle Lagan; 10 am

Drumragh – Niall Colgan, Anita Hackett.

Readers for October

6 pm - Lysette Maguinness; 8.30 am -Michele Rafferty; 9.45 am - Dominic Pinto; 11 am - Mary Haughey; 12.30 pm - Gerard McDonagh

Counters for October

Brendan Cunningham, Frances Cunningham, Gerard Haughey, Dermot McCann, J McDonnell.

Collectors for October

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

St Joseph’s Hall

Mon 10.30am - Coffee Morning
6.00pm - Iyengar Yoga
7.15pm - Kellie Aerobics/ Fitball
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 4.00pm - Ballet Dancing
7.00pm - Traditional Music Class
7.30pm - Bowls
8.30pm - Line Dancing
Sat 1.45pm - Groogan O’Doherty Class

Coming Soon to St Joseph’s Hall

KINGS OF COUNTRY

Featuring: Roly Daniels, Jim Ed Brown, Stonewall Jackson, Vernon Oxford, Frank McCaffrey & Robert Mizzell!

Friday 31st October 2008

More Details Available Soon