Sunday 11th May 2008

Pentecost Sunday

Receive the Holy Spirit

“As the Father sent me, so I am sending you.” As we celebrate Pentecost, it is important to remember what it is about. The Holy Spirit is given to us, not as a possession, but as a power. And this power is one that can transform the world. We are given the power of love, which is invested in a special way in the various important relationships of our lives. That power of God is there in the sacrament of marriage, calling couples to love for the sake of the world. The power of love is in our families, making our homes the Domestic Church to the glory of God. And it is this power of God’s Spirit that is at the heart of every parish. All we have to do is practise that power and great things will happen all around us. There can be no doubt that great things need to be made happen in our world today. Receive the Holy Spirit.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R

The Language of Love

I’m not one to criticise God, but I’ve always thought that he got it wrong with the Tower of Babel. When it comes to languages I’m a hard-core pragmatist. Give me one. Any one. For all people. I abhor having to babble incomprehensibly on a trip when trying to communicate in another tongue. Gesticulating with gusto and giggles is no substitute for conversation. Mutually intelligible words are vital for long-term healthy relationships. In his book, ‘Sing a New Song’, Timothy Radcliffe OP claims: ‘Part of our deep social crisis is that we have lost confidence that words really show things as they are.’

Part of the deep spiritual crisis of the disciples, sheltering behind locked doors ‘for fear of the Jews’ (John 20:19), is that the words they have been hearing don’t show things as they are. Feeding on reports, rumours and gossip about a society hostile to them doesn’t really show things as they are. Just as today, feeding from a constant stream of bad news in the media gives a distorted image of society, so too with the disciples at that time. The all-important God-factor has not been pencilled in.

Then it comes. Eyes are opened, tongues are loosed, and words gush forth. Words, whose meaning is clear to all, because they flow from the one language known by all, the language of love.

Fr Tom Cahill SVD, Courtesy of Intercom Magazine

Week beginning Sunday 11th May
This Week’s Saints
Monday 12 – Saints Nereus and Achilleus, martyrs. Also, St Pancras, martyr.
Tuesday 13 – Our Lady of Fatima.
Wednesday 14 – St Matthias, Apostle.
Thursday 15 – St Carthage, bishop.
Friday 16 – St Brendan, abbot.

Mass Intentions - Sacred Heart Church 7.30pm Mass
Tue Polish Mass
Wed Gerard McKeown – Month’s Mind
Thur Rita Mathers – 1st Anniversary
Fri Irene Quinn – 1st Anniversary

Baptisms
Lara Katie Green, 5 Killybrack Mews
Daniel Charles Mailer, 31 Glendore Wood
Brian Edward Stephen McDonagh, 1 Tattykeel Cottages
Alana Christina McDonagh, 8 Tattykeel Cottages
Joseph Patrick McGuigan, 9 Coolnagard Rise
Roisin Ann Hackett, 6 Crocknageeragh Road
Frances Louise McAnenly, 6 Harpur Road

Recent Deaths

We sympathise with the family of the following who died recently:
Maureen Graham. May she rest in peace.

Parish Notes

There will be no 8 am Weekday Mass in the Sacred Heart Church for the next two weeks as there will be some priests going on retreat. The 8 am Mass will resume on Monday 26th May.

Lourdes Hospitalité Collection

The Annual Lourdes Hospitalité Collection takes place at all Masses on 17th and 18th May 2008. This fund is used solely for the purpose of providing medical care and support to people of the Diocese who are sick and are travelling to Lourdes. Your support would be very much appreciated.

Life in the Holy Spirit Seminars
Monday 12th May 2008

“Transformation in Christ”

“By the power of the Spirit, God’s children can bear much fruit. He who has grafted us on to the true vine will make us bear the fruit of the Spirit… We live by the spirit: the more we renounce ourselves, the more we ‘walk by the spirit’.” Catechism 736
The speaker is Thomas Carey. The evening begins at 7.10pm and Mass is at 7.30pm.

Diocesan Youth Mass

There will be a Diocesan Youth Mass today (Sunday) 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.

Christ the King

Novena to the Sacred Heart Programme

Sunday 25th May 7.30pm Evening Service: “The Compassionate Heart”
Guest Speaker: Fr Peter McVerry SJ
Monday 26th May 7.30pm Evening Service: “The Healing Heart”
Guest Speaker: Sr Consilio Fitzgerald RSM
Tuesday 27th May 7.30pm Evening Service: “The Reconciling Heart”
Guest Speaker: Fr Paul Symonds
Wednesday 28th May 7.30pm Evening Service: “The Merciful Heart”
Guest Speaker: Fr Aidan Troy CP
Thursday 29th May 7.30pm Evening Service: “The Loving & Life-Giving Heart”
Guest Speaker: Fr Paschal McDonnell OFM
Friday 30th May 7.30pm Evening Service: “The Suffering Heart”
Guest Speaker: Dr Frances Robinson

Derry Diocesan Society

The following names have been added to the list of Deceased Members of the Derry Diocesan Society:
Rita McCusker, Omagh
Arthur Maguire, 31 Brookmount Heights
Frank Colton, 55 Tattysallagh Road
Thomas Doherty, 33 O’Kane Park
Teresa McMackin, 29 Lammy Walk
Walter Pancott, 1 Brookmount Crescent
Charlie Mullan, 7 Johnston Park
Eamon Mullin, Georges Street
Hannah McGuire, 127 Drumlegagh Road South
Maureen McGrath, 99 Brookmount Road
Mary Gormley
Peter Gormley
Frank Gormley
Arthur McGonigle, 39 Culmore Park
Darren Harkin, Drumragh Nursing Home
James Conlin, Drumragh Nursing Home
Kathleen Sharkey, 9 Cannondale
Carmel Frances McCausland, 53 O’Kane Park

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

Living Members
James Gormley
Margaret Gormley

St Joseph’s Ladies’ Club
You Are What You Eat!
Come and listen to Twyla Moffit, dietician, discussing good eating habits on Wednesday 14th May on St Joseph’s Hall, Omagh at 8.15 pm. Admission is £3 including supper. Everyone welcome.

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.

Parish Draw Winners May 2008

£2,000 – Bridget Mullan, 11 Ashbourne Heights. Promoter – Kevin Mullan;
£1,000 – Ciara Fyffe, Aughadulla. Promoter – Babs Barrett;
£500 – Maureen Bonner, c/o Promoter. Promoter – A J Turnbull;
£250 – Gerry Heaney, 139 Tamlaght Road. Promoter – Mary Teague;
£100 – Charles Grugan, c/o Promoter. Promoter – Katie McEnhill;
£100 – Michael Cooney, 14 Bracken Close. Promoter – Fr Thomas Canning;
£100 – Elaine Retalic, 135 Clanabogan Road. Promoter – Mary McGlone;
£100 - Rosaleen McLaughlin, 20 Tamlaght Road. Promoter – Raymond McNally;
£100 – Matt McCann, 3 Thornville Park. Promoter – Gertrude McCann;
£100 – Hugh McAleer. Promoter – Siobhán Taggart;
£100 – Marie Burns, 6 Sperrin Park. Promoter – Raymond McNally;
£100 – Brendan Bradley, Lambrook Gardens. Promoter – Raymond McNally;
£100 – Mary O’Hagan, 142 Main Street, Strabane. Promoter – Clare McKeown;
£100 – Roisin Colgan, 5 Castletown. Promoter – Fr Thomas Canning; Promoter’s
£100 Prize – Geraldine McCarney, 15 O’Brien Park.
Next Draw on Tuesday 3rd June 2008.

CHARITY WHIST DRIVE
In aid of
FRIENDS OF AFRICA
Sunday 18th May 2008
St Joseph’s Hall, Omagh
Top Score £100
Tickets £5 (Draw on the night for un-played tickets) Time 8.30 pm

St Joseph’s Hall
Church Street, Omagh
Tel. 8225 2920
8225 2892
Contact: Tommy on 07753 936701

Dance
St Joseph’s Hall, Omagh
Friday 16th May 2008
Music by Country Sensations
Dancing 10 pm – 12.30 am

Ceili
St Joseph’s Hall, Omagh Saturday 17th May 2008 Music by Martin Duggan

Summer Scheme

Anyone 16+ wishing to volunteer for this year’s Summer Scheme at CKS please contact Gerry Mc Cusker at the CKS community centre, O'Kane Park, Omagh, telephone , 028 8224 7560. The summer scheme will run from 30th June to 27th July and will involve volunteering at the community centre and on day trips with young people from ages 5 to 13yrs.

Professor Robert Wicks, Loyola College, Maryland
on a lecture tour to Northern Ireland

Title of Lecture:

‘Overcoming Secondary Stress (the pressures encountered in reaching out to others) in Clinical Practice’
Tara Centre, Omagh
Wednesday 14th May 2008 @ 4 – 5.30 pm
For further information, contact Michael Dunne (Educare) on 7161 1449, Martin Quinn (Western Trust) on 8283 5803 or Mary Linday (University of Ulster) on 7137 5043.

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