Sunday 19th July 2009

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

“Jesus took pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd.” We are all aware of a lot of turmoil and trouble in the world in general and often in our own communities and even our own families. The temptation is to either despair or to ignore. For us as followers of Christ, the only way is to see the opportunity rather than the problem and to work together at bringing Christ into our world ever more fully. We do this firstly in our homes through love and prayer. Our homes should be places where each one is glad to be. This can only happen when we make it happen for each other. We do it in our community by working together to make the parish a community of faith and hope. And we do it for our world by becoming a sign of hope because we are a people among whom Christ lives.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R.

Precious Time

With a timid voice and idolising eyes, the little boy greeted his father as he returned from work, "Daddy, how much do you make an hour?" Greatly surprised, but giving his boy a glaring look, the father said, "Look, son, not even your mother knows that. Don't bother me now, I'm tired." "But Daddy, just tell me please! How much do you make an hour, "the boy insisted. The father, finally giving up, replied: "Twenty dollars per hour." "Okay, Daddy? Could you loan me ten dollars?" the boy asked. Showing his restlessness and positively disturbed, the father yelled, "So that was the reason you asked how much I earn, right? Go to sleep and don't bother me anymore!"

It was already dark and the father was meditating on what he said and was feeling guilty? Maybe he thought, his son wanted to buy something. Finally, trying to ease his mind, the father went to his son's room. "Are you asleep, son?" asked the father. "No, Daddy. Why?" replied the boy, partially asleep. "Here's the money you asked for earlier," the father said. "Thanks, Daddy!" rejoiced the son, while putting his hand under his pillow and removing some money. "Now I have enough!! Now I have twenty dollars!" the boy said to his father, who was gazing at his son, confused at what his son had just said. "Daddy, could you sell me one hour of your time?"

Time is too precious to spend it all on work! Appreciate your loved ones and don't take them for granted.

Recent Deaths

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

Kathleen Gormley

Eugene McElroy

Stephen Doherty

May they rest in peace.

Baptisms

Conor Kiss, 29A Campsie Avenue
Maisie Ann Donnelly, 47 Kevlin Glen

Prayer for Priests

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

Sunday 19th July – Fr Michael McCaughey
Monday 20th July – Fr Andrew McCloskey
Tuesday 21st July – Fr James McCrory
Wednesday 22nd July – Fr John J McCullagh
Thursday 23rd July – Fr Noel McDermott
Friday 24th July – Fr Eamon McDevitt
Saturday 25th July – Fr John McDevitt

Saints of the Week

Week Beginning Sunday 19th July 2009

Monday 20 – St Apollinaris, bishop and martyr
Tuesday 21 – St Lawrence of Brindisi, priest and doctor of the Church
Wednesday 22 – St Mary Magdalene
Thursday 23 – St Brigid of Sweden, Religious, Patron of Europe
Friday 24 – St Declan, Bishop
Saturday 25 – St James, Apostle

Holy Communion to Sick & Housebound

The Eucharistic Ministers will bring Holy Communion to the sick and housebound who have requested it today (Sunday) after 9.45am Mass and 11am Mass and after 10 am Mass in St Mary’s Church, Drumragh.

Parish Notes

The Parish Office will be closed from Monday 20th July until Friday 24th July. It will reopen on Monday 27th July.

National Grandparents Pilgrimage

Sunday 13th September 2009

Our Lady of Knock Shrine, Knock, Co. Mayo
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

Youth 2000 Summer Festival

Clonmacnoise, Co Offaly
Thursday 13th August – Sunday 16th August 2009
Young People Aged 16 – 35
This is a lively 4 day festival with workshops, concert, inspiring talks, great music and prayer. And plenty of time for relaxing, chilling out and meeting new people! During the festival, you can get some spiritual R&R, meet other young Catholics in the same boat and give your faith a boost. It will take place near the ruins of Clonmacnoise, Co Offaly. There are FREE buses from various locations around the country. The theme for the festival is “Know that the Living God is with You" Jos 3:10. For more information call 0792 909 5820 or check the website www.youth2000.ie.

Words of Wisdom
“No man needs a holiday so much as the person who has just had one.” ~ Elbert Hubbard

ACCORD Marriage Preparation Courses

2009

October 16th & 17th
November 13th & 14th
December 4th & 5th

2010

January 15th & 16th
February 5th & 6th
March 5th & 6th
April 16th & 17th
May 14th & 15th
June 11th & 12th

Application forms available from The Secretary, ACCORD, Mount St. Columba Pastoral Centre, 48 Brook Street, Omagh. BT78 5HD or telephone 028 8224 2439 or email accordomagh@btopenworld.com

Courses are limited to 15 couples. It is advisable to take part in the course 6 months before your wedding.

Pax Christi

Pax Christi are organising a Peace Academy Conference Retreat in Knock from 9th to 13th August 2009. It is to mark the 30th Anniversary of the visit of Pope John Paul II to Ireland and to endorse his repeated calls for a culture of peace. There will be a number of speakers in attendance, including Bishop Donal McKeown, Fr Alex Reid CSSR, Nuala O’Loan, Fr Brian O’Toole and Rev Ruth Patterson. For further information call 003531 496 5293 or email tdcl@paxchristi.ie

Slim4Life

6-week Summer Program
Strule Arts Centre
Monday 20th July – Monday 24th August
Cost £30 for 6 weeks
Contact Bernie Canavan 85568673/ 07941994815

Omagh St Enda’s GAC

Best wishes to Tyrone and our players Justin McMahon, Joseph McMahon and Jason McAnulla as they play Antrim in the Ulster Final on Sunday. Bingo continues at Healy Park every Thursday at 9 pm with thousands in prize money.

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.

ACCORD Marriage Preparation Courses

2009

October 16th & 17th
November 13th & 14th
December 4th & 5th

2010

January 15th & 16th
February 5th & 6th
March 5th & 6th
April 16th & 17th
May 14th & 15th
June 11th & 12th

Application forms available from The Secretary, ACCORD, Mount St. Columba Pastoral Centre, 48 Brook Street, Omagh. BT78 5HD or telephone 028 8224 2439 or email accordomagh@btopenworld.com

Courses are limited to 15 couples. It is advisable to take part in the course 6 months before your wedding.

Drumragh Parish Draw Winners – July 2009

£2,000 Agnes Kelly, 5 Ardmore Avenue. Promoter – Jean McCrystal

£1,000 Mrs P Kerr, c/o Promoter. Promoter – Monica Baxter

£500 Oliver O’Kane, Tattysallagh. Promoter – Babs Barrett

£250 Frank Kirk, c/o Promoter. Promoter – Bernadette Smyth

£100 Mrs S Gallagher, c/o Promoter. Promoter – Clare McKeown

£100 Malachy McCarney, Trillick. Promoter – Geraldine McCarney

£100 John McGoldrick, 36 Brackenvale. Promoter- Kathleen Quinn

£100 Niall McNamee, 162 Kevlin Road. Promoter – Geraldine Gallagher

£100 Phyllis Alexander, c/o Promoter. Promoter – Fr Thomas Canning

£100 Marie Campbell, 28 Tattykeel Road. Promoter – Marie Campbell

£100 Kathleen Doherty, Drumquin. Promoter – Terry McGread

£100 D Goligy, c/o Promoter. Promoter – Gerry Quinn

£100 Teresa Hutchinson, 5 Randal Drive. Promoter – Fr Thomas Canning

£100 Mr & Mrs T Campbell, Thornville Park. Promoter – Mary Quinn

Promoter’s £100 Prize: Fr John McDevitt

Please Note: The next Parish Draw will take place on Tuesday 4th August 2009.

Summer Safety Tips

1. Never leave children unattended in or near the water. Use approved life vests, also known as personal flotation devices (PFDs), on boats, docks, and around deep or swift water.
2. Make sure children always wear a helmet and protective elbow and knee pads when riding a bicycle or scooter, Heeley’s, rollerblading or skateboarding.
3. Protect children from excessive exposure to sun -- especially from 12 noon. to 4 p.m. Use a sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or higher.
4. Supervise children whenever they use play equipment such as making sure children stay clear of the front and back of swings while in use.
5. Keep children away from areas where any lawn mowers are being used. Never allow children to ride on mowers.

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

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.