The Pope’s Intentions for August
General: That all those who are going through moments inner difficulty and trial may find in Christ the light and support which leads them to discover authentic happiness.
Missionary: That the Church in China may bear witness to ever greater inner cohesion and may manifest her effective and visible communion with Peter’s Successor.

Week beginning Sunday 12th August

Saints of the day
Wednesday 15 – THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY. This is Mary’s day of glorification, her ‘passover’ into the resurrected life of her Son. It honours ‘the fullness of blessedness that was her destiny’ (Marialis Cultis).
Thursday 16 – St Stephen of Hungary (975-1038), first king of Hungary and its patron saint.

Questions people ask
Q. Should the Bible stories like Adam and Eve, the apple, the flood etc. be taken as true or disregarded as primitive myths?
A. These stories were not written as scientific or historical accounts but to answer the great questions about the origin of life, temptation, divisions within people and between people and the punishment of evil. A story can offer deeper insights than a scientific explanation. Similarly, the ancient Greek myths were so full of human insights that they are used by modern psychologists to identify many human conditions such as narcissism or Oedipus complex. The wisdom contained in the biblical stories still offer insights which are helpful today.

Another Angle - Earthly choices – eternal consequences
Most election promises to the electorate centre on tax breaks and lower costs. No earthly politician has dared (yet!) to announce that the Kingdom has been given. The Kingdom is something that is literally priceless. It is about what is at the heart of the matter, literally at the centre of your life. The Sunday readings makes for difficult consumption during Summer. It speaks of things we would rather gently put aside: simple lifestyle, almsgiving, readiness for the return of the Lord, faithful use of the time given us and warnings of punishment.

You have servants who are going around doing peripheral stuff, not giving a lot of thought to the master who has gone off to get married. But when he comes back, even in the middle of the night, oh what a time this will be! This will be a celebration. He will dress up like a servant, get them to recline at table and wait on them hand and foot. In other words, they will be his equals. This is really something! Being raised up all because our head were focused down on the task given.

Each of us in turn need to come to the point when we ask ourselves whether our central concerns have to do with the things that really matter, or with all those matters which are just things. An earthly choice with eternal consequences.
Fr Tom Cox, Courtesy of Intercom Magazine

Mass Intentions - Sacred Heart Church 7.30pm Mass
Friday 17th August - Mary McCrystal - 1st Anniversary

The Feast of the Assumption – Mass Times
Wednesday 15th August
Sacred Heart Church
Tuesday 14th 7.30pm Vigil Mass
WednesdY 15th 8am, 10am, 1pm, 7.30pm

St Mary’s Church, Drumragh
Wednesday 15th 11am

Baptisms
Oran Patrick Barrett – 36 Corradinna Rd.
Katie Rose McCrystal – 187 Redergan Rd, Ballygawley.
Luke Stephen Coney – 79 Coolnagard Lane.

Weddings
Two become one in a life long commitment to each other.
We sincerely congratulate.
Patrick Teague & Mary Quinn
Michael Smith & Suzanne Miley
Nicholas McGuinness & Marie-Louise McLaughlin, who were married recently.

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

Drumragh Church cleaners for August
Marie Campbell, Ann Doherty, Dympna McKay

Altar Society Rota
August: Mrs Bernadette Laird (82244861)

Words of Wisdom…
Love begins by taking care of the closest ones - the ones at home.

Please Note:
Ladies Watch found in Drumragh Graveyard. Contact Parish Office.

Macmillan Cancer Support
"The Annual Macmillan Cancer Support (Macmillan Nurses) Dog Walk will be held on Sunday 19 August at Gortin Glen Forest Park. Omagh at 3.00 pm. All dog owners and walkers are welcome. Sponsor forms from Patsy on 07774607074 or Hazel on 07909 596018. You can also register on the day - £10 per family. Please support the walk and help Macmillan care for those living with cancer in the local Omagh area".

St Vincent de Paul Annual Pilgrimage to Knock Saturday 8th September 2007
Please leave you name at the S.V.d.P Thrift Shop, Castle Street together with of £10 per person.

St Vincent de Paul require good quality Secondary School uniforms
Also cot needed – can be collected, or left in Thrift Shop, Castle Street.

Derry Diocesan Society
The following names have been added to the list of Deceased Members of the Derry
Diocesan Society:

Gerry Sharkey – 3 Railway View
Catherine Slevin – 60 Market Street
Dymphna Hurson – 46 Drumglass Way, Dungannon
Sister Inez Normanly – Loreto, Omagh
Sister Stanislaus Laverty – Loreto, Omagh
Rose Kelly – 50 O’Kane Park
Jimmy Bradley - New York - (formally) 7 Abbey Street
Michael Dillon – Co Mayo
Katie O’Neill – 22 McNairn Ave, Toronto
Danny McCrystal – Dublin
Jack Bradley – 20 Cavanacaw Road
Tommy Moohan – Ederney
Peter Briggs – Gateshead
Jackie McAnea – Brackenvale
Breda McFaul - Larne
Gareth McNamee – 6 Forthill Park Newtownstewart
Hugh Lindsey – Mullan Terrace
Phyllis Laird – 36 Tamlaght Road
Joseph McGale – 2 Coolnagard Lane
Kathleen McElwee – Strabane
Peter Brogan – 8 Sunningdale

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

Accord - Pre Marriage Courses 2007-2008

2007
October 26th & 27th
November 23rd & 24th
December 7th & 8th

2008
January 25th & 26th
February 22nd & 23rd
April 4th & 5th
April 25th & 26th
May 23rd & 24th
June 13th & 14th

Application forms available from Parish Office or apply to:
The Secretary ACCORD - Mount Saint Columba Pastoral Centre
48 Brook Street, Omagh, BT78 5HD
Tel: 028 82242439
Email: accordomagh@btopenworld.com

Readers
Volunteers required to read at the 10am weekday Masses in Sacred Heart Church.
Contact the Parish Office 82242092.

Pathway to Prayer’ – Adult Faith Development
What? An opportunity to explore the Old and New Testaments, Liturgy, Creative Expression, Centering Prayer
When? Mondays from 7.30pm – 9.30pm (One – Year Course)
Starting? 1 October 2007
Where? Thornhill Centre, 121 Culmore Road, Derry
Cost? £160 for the full year. Deposit £40
Details? The Secretary @ Tel: 02871351233

Divine Mercy Prayer Group
First Sunday of every month At 3pm
St Mary’s Church Killyclogher
This is open prayer group and all are welcome to come and pray.

Baxter School of Irish Dancing
Classes will resume in St Joseph’s Hall on Wednesday 15th August from
5.45pm – 7.30pm. All beginners welcome.

Omagh Bomb 9th Anniversary Memorial Service
A short service of music, prayer and reflection will be held on Sunday 12th August
at 3.00pm, in the Memorial Garden.

The service is anticipated to last no longer than 45 minutes. Refreshments will be served following the service in the Omagh Library, which is a short walk from the garden. Everyone is welcome and the whole Community is encouraged to come together in remembrance.

Eucharistic Ministers for August

6.00pm Gerry Harte, Geraldine Colton, Phil Hyndman, Brigid McGarvey
Anne McCaffrey, Marie Gallagher
8.30am Jim McGread, Joanna McElholm, Paula Slevin
9.45am Peter McCormick, Seamus Sheridan, Shirley Norris, Maureen Miley,
11.00am Willie Galbraith, Johanna Gallagher, Maire Conway
Sheila McCusker, Jeanette Fox
12.30pm Eugene McGrade, Mary McGrade, Tracy Nugent, Ann Pearson
10am Drumragh Niall Colgan, Anita Hackett

Collectors for August

6.00 pm Vigil –– Eugene Duffy, Joe O’Donnell, Liam Grugan, Michael Brogan;
8.30 am – John Breslin, Jim Hackett, J L George, Gerard Turbitt, Michael Gilheaney, Liam Nugent, Patrick Slevin;
9.45 am – Hugh Ward, Michael Colton, Liam McGrath, Thomas McGuigan, J F Doyle, Eamon Campbell, Dan Campbell, Francis Bradley;
11.00 am – Sean Lynam, Dermot Groogan, Joseph Mulryan, Michael McGirr, John
McDonnell;
12.30 pm – B Brown, Anthony Higgins, Francis McCrory, Thomas Logue.

Counters for August

Daniel Campbell, James Cunningham, John Doherty, Kathleen Fox, John McGale, Marie McGirr, Eugene McGrade, Gerard McSorley, Mary Quinn, Pat Vaugh.

Pub Quiz – Ulster Cancer Foundation
There will be a pub quiz in aid of Ulster Cancer Foundation in the Hogs Head
On Wed. 15th August starting at 10pm. All welcome.

North West Regional College (formerly North West Inst. and Limavady College) is now taking enrolments for full-time and part-time courses commencing in September. Enrol in person (Strand Road Derry, Main Street, Limavady or Derry Rd. Strabane). by post or by phone, 02871 276000.
Forms can also be downloaded at www.nwrc.ac.uk
Newsletter Resources & Regular Notices

Please Note: Notice regarding Baptism
We are not permitted to baptise children from another Parish without the expressed permission of the Parish Priest of that Parish. All requirements for baptism in the home parish must be completed before we carry out the baptism

Sunday and Weekday Readers
We are looking for volunteers to read at Sunday and weekday Masses in Sacred Heart Church.
Sundays – 6pm Vigil, Sunday 8.30am, 9.45am, 11 am and 12.30pm
Weekdays 8am, 10am and 7.30pm
Practice will be given beforehand.
Please contact the Parish office giving name, address, telephone number and preferred mass time.

Offertory Procession
Volunteers requested for offertory procession in the Sacred Heart Church.
Two people for each offertory procession.
Masses - 6pm Vigil, Sunday 11am and 12.30pm. Contact parish office giving name, address, telephone number and preferred mass time.

Disabled Parking, St Joseph’s Hall Grounds
We would ask the general public to please observe disabled parking spaces at the hall at all times, weekdays and Sundays. Any car parking in these spaces should display a disabled sticker.

Please Note: Volunteer Cleaners Urgently to help clean Sacred Heart Church. Please contact the Parish Office.

Drumragh Parish Draw – List of Winners for August 2007

£2,000 – Vera O’ Doherty – 32 Hunter Crescent
- Promoter – Joe Mulyran
£1,000 – Edel Griffin – 123 Clanabogan Road
– Promoter – Joanne Colton
£500 – Sister Marie Wyle – Thornhill Centre, Derry.
– Promoter – Msg. Donnelly
£250 – Michelle McNamee – 166 Sperrin Pk.
– Promoter – Teresa McCance
£100 – Vincent McCourt – c/o Promoter
– Promoter – Rozella Kelly
£100 – Cathal McNamee – c/o Promoter
– Promoter – Geraldine Gallagher
£100 – Kathleen Galbraith – 40 Hillbank Fold
–Promoter – Gladys Martin
£100 – Paddy McDonagh – c/o Promoter
– Promoter – John Rafferty
£100 – Sean McAleer – 6 Mullin Park, Mountfield
– Promoter – Violet Sweeney
£100 – Eamon Miley – c/o Promoter
– Promoter – Patrick McCaul
£100 – Dermott McCann – 321 Lammy Walk
– Promoter – Fr. Canning
£100 – Mary McAleer – Hastings E. Sussex
– Promoter – Kathleen Quinn
£100 – Kathy O’ Neill – 24 Beagh Road
– Promoter – Charlie McLaughlin
£100 – Sally Baxter – 17 Johnston Park
– Promoter – Raymond McNally

Promoter’s £100 Prize – Violet Sweeney – 22 Brookmount Road