Sunday 20th April 2008

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Our Royal Priesthood

Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth and the life.” Because these words are so familiar to us we can easily hear them and move on. What do they mean? Jesus is the way, first of all, to the true God. We can easily reduce God to our own size, into proportions that we can manage. Jesus constantly lifts us out into the vastness of God and we are out of control. He also is the way to the full mystery of ourselves made in the image of God because there too we tend to reduce each other and ourselves down to size. Jesus is the truth about God who loves us with an infinite and passionate love. God adores us like a parent in the presence of a newborn baby. And he is the life. He teaches us that the only true human way of living is the way of love – the love of God and of each other. This has huge implications for us in our homes and in our parish community.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R

Sunday 20th April : Fifth Sunday of Easter

Parish Missal Readings (Year 1) p 259 & Proper p 1040

First Reading Acts of the Apostles 6: 1-7
They elected seven men full of the Holy Spirit.

Second Reading 1 Peter 2: 4-9
You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood.

Gospel John 14: 1-12
I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.

Cornered by the Stone
Today’s Second Reading (1Pet 2:4-9) describes Jesus as a stumbling stone for those who do not believe. Could that include anybody who harbours disbelief – even believers? I think so. Following Jesus is a very varied venture. When he calls us to follow him he doesn’t specify the distance. That’s up to us. And the temptation is to start measuring – especially the closer we get to him.

From a distance, everything Jesus stands for is great. How could any decent human being not be for what Jesus is for: love of God, love of neighbour, especially the weak, the exploited and those on the margins of society and even sanity? But how close to that loving do we want to get and how close do we actually get?

In his book, God of Surprises, Gerard W. Hughes writes: ‘There is a foolish prodigality, too, in the Father who is presented as leaving the ninety-nine sheep to go and hunt for the one that is lost, a foolishness which we so often correct in the Church by concentrating our attention and energies on the one which is safe and leaving the ninety-nine!’

There is no detour. That stumbling stone has us cornered. We must face it in the one who is lost, or become lost ourselves.

Fr Tom Cahill SVD, Courtesy of Intercom Magazine

Week beginning Sunday 20th April - This Week’s Saints
Monday 21 – St Anselm, bishop and doctor of the Church.
Wednesday 23 – St George, martyr. Also, St Adalbert, bishop and martyr.
Friday 25 – St Mark, Evangelist.

Recent Deaths
We sympathise with the families of the following who died recently:
Mary Gould &
Vincent McCrory. May they rest in peace.

Mass Intentions - Sacred Heart Church 7.30pm Mass
Tue Mary McCrumlish – 1st Anniversary
Wed James O’Neill – 1st Anniversary
Thur Rosaleen Grogan – Month’s Mind
Fri Robert Doran – Month’s Mind

Baptisms
Maria Mary Mullin, 12 Brook Valley
Clara Kate McCrory, 8 Glenview Cottages
Erin Lavina Harkin, 3 Mulmona Road
Nathan Jake McGee, 16 Coolnagard Grove

Weddings
We congratulate the following couples who were married here recently:
Joanne McElholm & Fergal McVerry

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

Holy Communion to the 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 10am Mass in St Mary’s Church Drumragh.

First Holy Communion Dates
Sunday 27th April: St Colmcille’s P.S. in the Sacred Heart Church at 12.30 pm
Sunday 4th May: Loreto P.S. in the Sacred Heart Church at 12.30 pm
Sunday 11th May: Omagh Integrated P.S. in the Sacred Heart Church at 12.30 pm
Sunday 18th May: Sacred Heart P.S., Tattyreagh and All Saint’s P.S. at 10 am in St Mary’s Church, Drumragh; St Conor’s P.S. in the Sacred Heart at 12.30 pm

Please note that on Sunday 27th April, Sunday 11th and Sunday 18th May baptisms in the Sacred Heart Church will be at the later time of 3 pm.

Life in the Holy Spirit Seminars - “Receiving God’s Gift”
Why do we need these spiritual gifts or charisms? We are limited in meeting most human needs: we need the power of the Holy Spirit. The speaker is Fr Martin Tierney. Confessions will follow Mass. The evening begins with music and song at 7.10pm and Holy Mass at 7.30pm. On Monday 5th May the Mass of the anointing of the sick and infirm will be celebrated.

Questions people ask
Q. On a recent radio programme, the Pope was called the Antichrist. What does this name mean or where did it come from?
A. The Antichrist is mentioned in the First Letter of John. The name means one who is opposed to Jesus Christ and denies that he was the Son of God. It is not entirely clear whether John was referring to some particular individual or to unbelievers in general. Fundamentalist sects who carry an anti-Catholic bigotry claim that the term refers to the Pope. This is absolute nonsense, because, whatever faults Popes have had, none of them ever denied the divinity of Jesus Christ.

Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap

Omagh Lions Club Presents
Antiques, Fine Art & Collectables Fair
Omagh College
Sunday 20th April 12.30 – 5.30 pm
Adults £3 – Children Free
Primary Benefactor – Chest, Heart & Stroke Association

Friends of Africa Collection
A special Church Gate Collection in aid of ‘Friends of Africa’ will be held after all Masses on the weekend of Sunday 27th April 2008. On 5th June one of our parishioners will be traveling to Phokeng, a town in the North West Province of South Africa, to work with other young people on a six week project helping to build a new Catholic Church there. Please support this worthy cause.

Omagh Music Society Presents
Stainer’s “Crucifixion”
St Patrick’s Church, Drumquin
Sunday 27th April @ 7.00 pm
Donations £5 in aid of the Parkinson’s Society

Aware Defeat Depression is organising a public talk and information event in the Tara Centre, Holmview Terrace, Omagh on Monday 21st April at 8 pm. Guest speaker is Dr Declan Fox GP and the title of the talk is ‘Overcoming Depression: A Self-help Approach’. Information literature about depression will also be available as will details about Aware’s self-help support group in Omagh. Admission is free and all are welcome to attend. For further information, telephone 0845 202961 or email info@aware-ni.org.

Day Trip to Lough Derg
Sunday 11th May
£35 All Inclusive
Pick-up @ Killyclogher 8.45 am
Pick-up @ Asda 8.50 am
Telephone: 0776 741 3601

Car Boot Sale
Saturday 26th April 2008
10 am – 4 pm
Gortin Road, Omagh (Beside G.A.A. Car Park)
All Gate Proceeds in aid of Alzheimers Society (Omagh Branch)
£5 - £10
Cars & Vans Welcome
Gates Open for Set-up 9 am

Cruse Bereavement Care
Riverside House, Woodvale Avenue, Omagh
Tel/Fax 028 8224 4414

Cruse Bereavement Care offers a free service to all members of the community. Bereaved people can be referred through many different channels, e.g. GPs, self-referrals, through friends, family or social workers. The Omagh office covers Omagh, urban and rural and County Fermanagh. Situated at the back of the Tyrone County Hospital in the same building as Physiotherapy and E.N.T., the service offered is completely confidential and Bereavement Support Workers are fully trained.

12 Hour Jam

Musical Fundraiser for Puddleducks Playgroup
Saturday 26th April 10 am – 10 pm
Come and Join in the Craic and the Music
Children’s Songtime – Folk – Rock- Blues – Jazz – Drumming – Dance – Busking
Artists: The Blue Notes, Elaine Young, Musaic, Jimmy Little, Nouveaux Calls, Alex Atwell and more………..
For further information call Halina on 028 8225 6101

I Can Play
For Children Aged 0 – 4

The Station Centre, James Street, Omagh
Every Thursday 12 pm – 1.30 pm

Continues until end of June
Messy Play for Young Children
Everyone Welcome

St. Colmcille’s P.S. Omagh Presents

JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT
Christian Brothers Grammar School
Monday 21st, Tuesday 22nd & Wednesday 23rd April At 7.30pm
£6.00 adults - £4.00 Children/Concession
Tickets available from Teresa (School Secretary) on 8224 4140

Gamblers Anonymous
Ask yourself: “Has my life become unmanageable because of gambling? Do I want to stop gambling?” If the answer is “yes”, you may suffer from a disease known as ‘Compulsive Gambling’. There is help. You are not alone. You don’t have to suffer. There are meetings every Monday commencing at 8.30 pm in the Probation Office, 11a High Street, Omagh.

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