Sunday 22nd February 2009

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lord,
take my small offering of self-denial this Lent,
as a sign of my great longing for you.
I hunger for your presence in my life,
and I thirst for your love.
I hunger for justice for those who are wronged and oppressed,
and I thirst for your peace.
I hunger for a glimpse of your glory,
and I thirst for your stillness in my heart.
God of giving, God of longing, God of pain,
I hunger for you. - (A.A.)

Jock, the painter, often would thin his paint so it would go further. So when the Church decided to do some deferred maintenance, Jock was able to put in the low bid, and got the job. As always, he thinned his paint way down with turpentine.

One day while he was up on the scaffolding -- the job almost finished -- he heard a horrendous clap of thunder, and the sky opened.

The downpour washed the thinned paint off the church and knocked Jock off his scaffold and onto the lawn among the gravestones and puddles of thinned and worthless paint.

Jock knew this was a warning from the Almighty, so he got on his knees and cried: “Oh, God! Forgive me! What should I do?”

And from the thunder, a mighty voice: “REPAINT! REPAINT! AND THIN NO MORE!”

Temperance Sunday

Today is Temperance Sunday and the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association (PTAA) is launching a campaign to highlight the issues surrounding the problems caused by excess alcohol in society.

The objectives of the campaign are:

To increase awareness of the issues surrounding excess consumption of alcohol in today’s society.

To inspire people to make a personal commitment to reduce alcohol consumption over the Lenten period or to cut it out completely.

To communicate the contradictions between excess alcohol consumption and a life based on the love of Christ, as expressed in the Gospels.

To increase the visibility and relevance of the PTAA to society at large.

To help make this campaign a success, talk among family and friends about the idea of abstaining from alcohol this Lent, or, at least reducing its consumption for the period.

Recent Deaths

We sympathise with the families of the following who died recently:

Eamon Robinson
Linda McDonald
Helen Barrett

May they rest in peace.

Week beginning Sunday 22nd February
This Week’s Saints

Monday 23 – St Polycarp, bishop and martyr

Mass Intentions - Sacred Heart Church 7.30 pm

Mon Rita McGahan – 1st Anniversary
Tue Angus McDermott – 1st Anniversary
Thur Edward O’Reilly – Month’s Mind
Fri Mary Campbell – Month’s Mind

Baptisms

Adam Thompson, 28 Ashbourne Heights
Julia Zmuda Drugosz, 19 Brookmount Crescent
Matthew Sean McPhillips, 36 Summerfield Court
Tiarnan Padraig McCrumlish, 25A Brookmount Road

Visit of His Eminence Cardinal O’Brien

His Eminence Cardinal O’Brien, Archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh will visit the Diocese on Monday 23rd and Tuesday 24th of February 2009. He will be Principal Celebrant at Mass in St Eugene’s Cathedral on Tuesday 24th February at 10 am to which you are all welcome. Cardinal O’Brien will be available after the Mass to meet those who come along.

Collectors for March

6.00 pm – James Devlin, Cathal Cullen, Aidan Lilly, Thomas McElroy, Colm McLaughlin, Pat McCanny; 8.30 am – Peter Haughey, Gerard Broderick, Fursey Mullan, Billy Henry; 9.45 am – John O’Neill, Eugene Lynam, Sean Mullan, A.K. Kelly, Patrick Devlin, Raymond McGoldrick, John Rafferty, Eugene Turbett; 11 am - Robert Colton, James Murray, Aidan Quinn, Kevin McCrory, Pat McGartland; 12.30 pm – Sean McNamee, John Lagan, Anthony Bradley, Patrick Conway, Dermot O’Kane, Francis Laird.

Counters for March

Tommy Bradley, Michael Donnelly, John Doyle, Hubert Logue, Kevin McCrory, John McNally, John Meyler, Seamus Sheridan, Leo Turbitt.

Cleaners for Drumragh

The cleaners for St Mary’s Church, Drumragh for the month of March are Betty Baxter and Christine McLaughlin.

Eucharistic Ministers for March

Vigil Mass – Gerry Harte, Geraldine Colton, Brigid McGarvey, Anne McCaffrey, Marie Gallagher; 8.30 am – Sean Rodgers, Conrad Darcy, Sinead Slevin; 9.45 am –Peter McCormick, Seamus Sheridan, Shirley Norris, Maureen Miley; 11 am – Gerald McCarney, Regina Gormley, Kathleen McMahon, Geralyn McCusker, Siobhan Taggart; 12.30 pm – Kathleen Winters, Mary Donaghy, Gerard Sharkey, Chrissie Kelly; 10 am Drumragh – Niall Colgan, Anita Hackett.

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday is this week on 25th February. It is a day of both fast and abstinence. Fasting - having only one meal and two small meals - is obligatory for those aged between eighteen and sixty, with the exception of those are ill or have a medical condition. Abstinence, which means abstaining from meat, is obligatory for all those who are over fourteen years of age. The Masses on Ash Wednesday will be in the Sacred Heart Church at 8 am, 10 am, 1 pm and 7.30 pm. Note: Extra Mass at 1 pm on Ash Wednesday only. Ashes will be distributed after all Masses on Wednesday.

Lenten Stations

Anyone who wishes to have a Lenten Station in their home, please contact the Parish Office on 8224 2092.

Reflections on the Creed

Why not spend approximately 50 minutes each Tuesday morning of Lent exploring the treasures of our faith, as expressed in the Nicene Creed? This is a six part DVD series which features several interviews with prominent men and women of faith. The First Session, “Why We Believe”, begins on Tuesday 24th February in the Pastoral Centre at 10.30 am. All welcome. Tea and refreshments will be served.

Parish Representative Appeal

We are appealing for Parish Representatives to help with the distribution of envelopes in the following areas: Glenard Gardens/Glenard Road & Gortmore Drive. If you are interested please contact the Parish Office and leave your name and telephone number.

ACCORD, Omagh

The only pre-marriage courses still available at the moment are taking place in May (limited places) and June 2009. Call 8224 2439 for further information or for course bookings.

Alcoholics Anonymous

Public Information Meeting
Owenkillew Credit Union Office, Greencastle
Thursday 26th February 2009
All Welcome

St. Joseph’s Prayer Group, Christian Brothers Oratory, Kevlin Road, Omagh

Wednesday nights from 8.10pm
(February Prayer Focus: ‘Increase of God’s Love in All’)
Contact: Siobhan 0788 058 8041

St Joseph’s Hall, Omagh

End of Ballroom Dancing Class

Dance to the music of “Blue Magic”

Monday 23rd February 2009
10 pm – 12.30 am
Everyone Welcome

Who me? Join the SVdP?

Yes - YOU!

To work for those in need.

To use your skills, your experience, your time.

To make a difference.

Find out more at an information evening on Tuesday 24th February 2009 at 8pm in Vincent’s, Castle Street, Omagh

Derry Diocesan Society

The following names have been added to the list of

Deceased Members of the Derry Diocesan Society:

Breda Bradley, Florida
Pat Doherty, 18 Gortrush Park
Gerry Donnelly, 11 Bracken Close
Rebecca McCaffrey, 24 Hunter Crescent
Michael Breen, 35 Kevlin Gardens
John Maguire, Essex, England
Richard Hackett, 4 Starrs Crescent
Alice Daly, London
Dessie Corrigan, 75 Culmore Park
Sally Turner
Jimmy Coyle, 1B Cannondale
Rose Ellen Kirk, 31 Strule Park
Mary McGrath, Hillbank Fold (formerly 28 Lammy Crescent)

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

Drumragh Parish Draw Winners

February 2009

£2,000 – Mike Sweetman, 9 Thornville Park. Promoter – Raymond McNally; £1,000 – Caroline Connolly, 12 Brookmount Crescent. Promoter – Fr Thomas Canning. £500 – E McElhill, 6 Coolnagard Grove. Promoter – K McElhill. £250 – Daniel McCrossan, 63 O’Kane Park. Promoter – Daniel McCrossan. £100 – Deano McNamee, 3 Coolnagard Lane. Promoter – Catherine McNamee. £100 – Phil McGuigan, 15 Ardmore Avenue. Promoter – Phil McGuigan. £100 – Mary Conlon, 3 Clontarf Drive. Promoter – Claire McKeown. £100 – Damian Goligy, Sunningdale. Promoter – Maggie Quinn. £100 – Mary Maguire, 33 Centenary Park. Promoter – A J Turnbull. £100 – Aidan Campbell, 33 Tattykeel Road. Promoter – Marie Campbell. £100 – Collette McCrossan, 51 O’Kane Park. Promoter – Daniel McCrossan. £100 – A Devlin, 16 Kevlin Heights. Promoter – Philomena McNamee. £100 – Eamon Baxter, 17 Johnston Park. Promoter – Margaret Sheridan. £100 – Majella Clarke, c/o Promoter. Promoter – Attracta Kelly. Promoter’s £100 Prize – Barry Mathers.

Please Note: The next draw will take place on Tuesday 3rd March

JW Promotions Proudly Presents:
The Queens of Country Show

St Joseph’s Hall, Omagh

Saturday 7th March 2009

Featuring: Billie Joe Spears, Philomena Begley, Dee Reilly, Louise Morrissey, Jeannie Seely

For Tickets call 07753 936 701 or Usual Outlets

St Joseph’s Hall Grand Refurbishment Draw
Prizes: 1st Prize – New Model Ford Fiesta 5-door Car
2nd Prize – Holiday Voucher worth £3000 with £500 spending money

Could all promoters please return any tickets sold to St Joseph’s Hall on Tuesday 13th January from 7 pm to 9 pm.
These tickets will be entered into a Free £50 Draw after the Bingo.