The Pope’s Intentions for May

General: That, following the example of the Virgin Mary, all Christians should allow themselves to be guided by the word of God and always remain attentive to the signs of the Lord in his own life.
Missionary: That in Mission territories there may be no lack of good and enlightened teachers in the major Seminaries and in the Institutes of consecrated life.

Questions people ask
Q. I sometimes ask myself wouldn’t heaven be very boring. Eternal rest? Doing nothing? For ever and ever? Absolutely boring!

A. The best answer is what St Paul wrote: ‘Eye has not seen, nor has ear heard, nor has it entered the heart of man what God has prepared for those who love him.’ What he’s saying is that it is totally beyond anything we have ever experienced or even imagined and that we should totally trust God’s love to surprise us. Furthermore, our experience of boredom is proof that nothing in this life can totally satisfy the hungers of the soul.

Another Angle - Departures and Arrivals
As schooldays near an end, and family closeness (and frustration!) beckons over a long (hot?) Summer, today’s Gospel shows us an Ascension. Not the departure gate of an airport with the sounds of jet clawing their way skywards. This is the Mount of Olives, in East Jerusalem; which to this day has a tiny, unadorned chapel of the Ascension, compared to the large Basilica built over Calvary. That is as it should be. Because the Ascension is not an escape from the world but an affirmation of what He has done on the cross.

Schooldays are not a bad parallel either for what takes place on Ascension Day. In every departure of a parent as they leave their offspring off – there is a goodbye but no real leave-taking. The farewell is only temporary. Years later, that same child may well find themselves leaving a now aged and infirm parent in the care of a nursing home. As hearts heave, both child and parent know that again, while there is a goodbye, you have no real leave-taking.

Same for Jesus on Ascension. We find ourselves in the new and frightening surroundings of this life, in a place where we are uncomfortable and often feel ill-equipped to carry on. And yet, we burn the tall new Paschal candle to indicate his closeness, we meet and recognize Him in the breaking of bread, the hearing of the word and hopefully in each other. Hear him bless you and whisper with love ‘goodbye, no one is leaving, I will send you the Holy Spirit.’

Fr Tom Cox, Courtesy of Intercom Magazine

Saints of the Day

Sunday – ASCENSION OF THE LORD

Mass Intentions - Sacred Heart Church 7.30 Mass

Monday – Seamus O’Neill – Month’s Mind
Tuesday - Brian Magee – 1st Anniversary
Wednesday – Mary McCrumlish – Month’s Mind
Friday – Susan McCullagh – Month’s Mind

Child Protection
The second session on issues related to Child Protection will be held in St Joseph’s Hall on Thursday 31st May at 8.15pm. This is directed once again to any adult whose involvement in parish activities brings them into contact with children (young people under 18 years of age) and vulnerable adults are asked to attend. If you did not have an opportunity to attend the first meeting, please come along to this session.

Please Note: Baptisms to take place on Sunday’s the 20th, 27th May will be later than usual. They will take place at 3.00pm. This is due to the Primary four Children from the local Schools receiving their First Holy Communion at the 12.30pm Mass.

Words of Wisdom…..
We the willing, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much, with so little, for so long, we are now qualified to do anything, with nothing.”

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

Altar Society Rota
May: Miss Moira Sharpe (82246594)

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.

Derry Diocesan Society

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

Susan Broderick – Edergole
Mary McCrystal – 4 Bracken Vale
Mary Mulryan – Slieve Na Mon Nursing Home
Rev Fr Alphonse Govindu – India
Denis McGahan – Omagh
Teresa Elizabeth Sayers – 325 Westacres, Craigavon
John Joe Kelly – 55 Rossnareen Road, Colan, Trillick
Brendan Timlin – 15 Brookfield Close
Eddie Donnelly – 74 Dublin Road
Mary Mimnagh – 66 Tattyreagh Road
Kevin McGrath – Breslau, Ontario, Canada
Patricia Maeve Huggins – Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Pat Barrett – 65 Tattysallagh Road

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

St Eugene’s Hall, Clanabogan
An open meeting will take place in St Eugene’s Hall, Clanabogan on Thursday 24th May at 8.15pm to discuss the future of the Hall. All organisations currently using the Hall and all individuals who attend functions of the Hall are invited to attend to express their views.

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

Trocaire – Honduras

Many people in Honduras are poor because they do not have access to land. One such community is Jardin Clonal in northern Honduras. They are a group of 60 families, mostly headed by women, who have been struggling to get legal ownership of the land they live on and farm. They have faced many court cases, attempted eviction and intimidation. Trocaire are working with the community to help them with their legal case and also to help them make the land more productive so that they will have enough food to provide for themselves and for their families. They have recently started a small fish farm to provide extra income in what is a very poor community.

Their case has highlighted the long existing problem in many countries where women do not get access to land and are prevented from holding title of ownership. It is slowly recognised that men and women together need to work to ensure that ownership to land is a right for both men and women, as this is often the reason that people are kept really poor.
The cost of all of this work for this community is €11,000.

Pioneer Outing
The Annual Outing of the Pioneers will take place on Saturday 23rd June with Mass in St Mary’s Limavady10am. We will continue along the Antrim Coast to various places. Evening meal will be in O’Neill Arms Hotel Toomebridge. Booking as soon as possible is necessary to book buses. Telephone 02882 242921 for details.

Day Trip to Loug Derg
Sunday 27th May. Bus leaving Asda Car Park 9.30am
Cost £30 (includes bus fare and island fee)
Limited number of places. Telephone 07767413601

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.

Church Cleaners for May – St Mary’s Church, Drumragh
Brian McKenna, Susan McNally, Ann Kelly, Geradline McCarney

Pilgrimage to Knock
Bishop Hegarty will lead the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Knock on Sunday 3rd June 2007. The ceremonies will begin at 2.30pm with the Blessing of the Sick.

Pilgrimage to Our Lady’s House of Prayer Achill
A bus will travel to Our Lady’s House on Saturday 19th May. Leaving Castle Street Omagh at 7am sharp.
For bookings please ring: Mary Rose 82245631 or Marie: 82244349.

Dun Uladh — Old Tyme Dance
(Proceeds going to the local Care for Cancer Branch)
In Remembrance of Pat Kelly
On Saturday 26 May
Music by Cannon & Ramsey
Dancing 10pm – 12.30am
Doors open at 9.15pm
Admission £5
Everyone welcome in order to support this very worthy cause.

Knockmoyle

The organisers of the sponsored walk and cycle would sincerely like to thank everyone who participated, supported and gave of their time in many ways for this successful event that raised £1,400.00 for the Special Olympics.

PAST PUPILS
of
St. Joseph’s High School, Plumbridge

Past pupils who started from September 1969 and left before June 2000 are invited to collect their personal file/record from the school between
Monday 21st May to Friday 25th May.
After 25th May all unclaimed records
will be destroyed.
NB Proof of identity must be shown on collection of a record.

Pupils records between Sept 2000 to June 2007 will be archived at WELB Headquarters, Omagh.

Loreto Girls Dream of West End Stage!!!!

The Saturday night BBC programme ‘Any Dream Will Do’ has gripped the nation as Andrew Lloyd Webber searches for a leading man to play ‘Joseph’ in his new West End production. To coincide with the search for a new Joseph, Andrew Lloyd Webber is offering one lucky school choir the opportunity of a lifetime i.e. to perform live on the BBC final show of ‘Any Dream Will Do’ and to appear in the West End for a special ‘Children in Need’ performance.

Loreto Primary School choir are taking up the challenge and are competing with other primary school choirs across the United Kingdom for this once in a lifetime opportunity. All choirs entered are depending on votes from the public in order to place them in the top 20 choirs across the British Isles. From this prestigious top 20, Andrew Lloyd Webber himself will select the winning choir and make their dreams come true with a West End performance.

To make their dream come true, the young aspiring stars from Loreto Primary are looking for the help and support of their local community. They are asking YOU, your friends and family to register your vote for Loreto Primary choir online at www.bbc.co.uk/joseph/competition. Get voting now to see children from our local area tripping the light fantastic in the West End. The deadline for registration of votes is Friday, 25th May.

Drumragh Parish Draw – List of Winners for May

£2,000 – Patricia Brady – 3 Rosslyn Close, Derry
- Promoter – Fr Canning
£1,000 – Bernie McCusker – 40 Centenary Park
– Promoter – Ronald Oddy
£500 – Mary McSwiggan c/o promoter
– Promoter – Rozella Kelly
£250 – Fiona Gallagher – 21 Rodgers Road
- Promoter– Maggie Quinn
£100 – Padraig McCabe – 48 Gortin Road
– Promoter – Mary Mullin
£100 – Ann Donaghy – 5 Lismore Park
– Promoter – Raymond McNally
£100 – Mary Maguire – 175 Clanabogan Road
–Promoter – Jim McGread
£100 – Kathleen McGale – 61 Corradina Road
– Promoter – Marie Campbell
£100 – Breda Campbell – 33 Tattykeel
– Promoter – Marie Campbell
£100 – Angela Bradley – 31 Gortrush Park
- Promoter – Teresa McCance
£100 – Alice Duggan – Johnston Park
– Promoter – Rozella Kelly
£100 – Lorraine McSorley - 29 Lambrook Heights
– Promoter – Claire Grugan
£100 – Mary McQuaid – 6 Townview Avenue
Promoter – Mary McQuaid
£100 – Ciaran Johnston – 16 Brookmount Heights
Promoter – Fr Canning

Promoter’s £100 Prize – Claire McKeown – 10 Starrs Crescent

Please Note: The next Parish Draw will take place on Tuesday 5th June 2007.

Eucharistic Ministers for May

6.00pm – Tony McBride, Matt Kelly, Louise Kirwin, Maura Cox,
Catherine Mimnagh, Elizabeth O'Boyle
8.30am – Sean Rodgers, Conrad Darcy, Sinead Slevin
9.45am – Joe McElholm, Susan McCanney, Mary Tierney, Kevin Miley
11.00am –Paula McCann, Roisin McKenny, Elizabeth Broderick, Deirdre Timoney, Mary Donaghy, Collette Breslin
12.30pm – Eugene McGrade, Mary McGrade, Tracy Nugent, Ann Pearson
10am Drumragh- Mary McGlone, Betty Baxter

Collectors for May

6.00 pm Vigil –– Eugene Duffy, Matthew Kelly, 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, Terry McGoldrick, Francis McCrory, Thomas Logue.

Counters for May

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

Ballet Class
Ballet Class in St Joseph’s Hall every Thursday at 4.30pm. Contact Tracey Cassidy on 07719446194.

Knockmoyle Hall
Irish speaking Workshop coming soon.
Are you interested in learning some Irish, and Prayers in Irish?
Contact: 07870576034

Aerobics
In the Station Centre
Every Tuesday and Thursday nights
From 8 to 9pm
Everyone welcome. For more information Tel: 82259411