Sunday 24th May 2009

The Ascension of the Lord

Jesus said to his disciples: "Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation". Because of all that has been happening in the Church in recent years we can feel despondent about the future. Today's feast of joy and gladness is a call to us to look up with confidence and know the power of Christ for the world in which we live. In spite of the sinfulness of his people, Christ is at work and can overcome. Our task is to let the world know his love and his salvation, not just by word but especially by the way we live with joy and hope and love. Although these qualities are best developed in our homes and families, they need to be seen and experienced in our parish community. This can only happen when we are all taking our responsibility for the health and well-being of our parish and its future.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R.

Seven Wonders of the World

A group of students studied the “Seven Wonders of the Modern World.” At the end of the lesson, the students were asked to list what they considered to be the seven wonders:

1. Suez Canal
2. Dneproges Dam on the Dnepr River (USSR)
3. Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell, England
4. Alaska (ALCAN) Highway
5. Golden Gate Bridge
6. Eiffel Tower
7. Empire State Building

While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student, a quiet girl, hadn’t turned in her paper yet. She asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list. The girl replied, “Yes, a little. I couldn’t quite make up my mind because there were so many!” The teacher said, “Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help.” The girl hesitated, then read, “I think the ‘Seven Wonders of the World’ are:

1. To touch
2. To taste
3. To see
4. To hear.

She hesitated a little, and then

5. To run

6. To laugh

7. To love

It is far too easy for us to look at the exploits of man and refer to them as “wonders” while we overlook all God has done, regarding them as merely “ordinary.” May you be reminded today of those things which are truly wondrous.

Author Unknown.

Saints of the Week
Week Beginning Sunday 24th May

Monday 25 – St Bede the Venerable, priest and doctor of the Church. Also St Gregory VII, pope & St Mary Magdalene de’Pazzi, virgin

Tuesday 26 – St Philip Neri, priest

Wednesday 27 – St Augustine of Canterbury, bishop

Sacred Heart Church - Mass Intentions 7.30 pm

Wednesday Josephine Sloan – Month’s Mind

Baptisms

Finbar James Darcy, 25 Letfern Road, Tattyreagh

Ruairí Eoghain Daniel Donnelly, 4 Lambrook Close

Weddings

We congratulate the following couple who were married recently:

Christina McLaughlin & Brian Cassidy

Bernadette McCanny & Joseph McLaughlin

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

Words of Wisdom
“A perfect summer day is when the sun is shining, the breeze is blowing, the birds are singing, and the lawn mower is broken.” : James Dent

Cemetery Sunday 2009

Our Services of Remembrance for the Dead will take place this year in the Drumragh and Dublin Road Cemeteries on Sunday 7th June. The Drumragh Cemetery Service will be at 3 pm and the Dublin Road Cemetery Service at 5 pm.

Pledge Ceremony

The Mass for those Primary Seven children who are taking their Confirmation pledge will take place on Monday 1st June in the Sacred Heart Church at 7.30 pm. All welcome.

Voluntary Work in Kenya

Amanda McCaffrey, a parishioner of Drumragh is hoping to volunteer on a Community Development Project in Kenya through the international volunteer group i-to-i. In order to raise funds necessary for this project, a Church Door collection will take place on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th June after all Masses in this parish. All proceeds raised will go towards an orphanage where all children have HIV/AIDS. The money will be used to buy food, clothes, medicine and general equipment for the orphanage. All help would be greatly appreciated.

Questions people ask

Q. What does the Ascension add to the Resurrection of Jesus? Surely it means something more than his body floating up into the sky?

A. Forty days in the Bible is a block of time when something important is happening. These days from Easter to Ascension were an important transition period for the disciples. Jesus was no longer physically present with them but in various appearances he showed that he had not deserted them, and he prepared them to continue his mission. The Ascension, on the fortieth day, marks the closure of this period of transition. After some days of prayerful preparation they would receive the power of the Holy Spirit to commence their new mission.

Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap, Courtesy of Intercom Magazine

St Vincent de Paul
Senior Citizens Party
St Joseph’s Hall, Omagh
Sunday 24th May 2009
2.30 pm – 5.30 pm

Prepare for Pentecost

Holy Mass will be celebrated by Fr Michael Ross SDB on Thursday 28th May at 7.30 pm in the Sacred Heart Church, Omagh. Praise music and song will begin at 7.10 pm with Holy Mass at 7.30 pm. The theme of the evening will be ‘The Gifts of the Holy Spirit’. Come and pray.

Fun Day

Fun day at All Saints' P.S., Tattysallagh on Sunday 24th May from 2 p to 6 pm. There will be a Bouncy castle, games, penalty shoot, sausage sizzle and fun for all. Everyone welcome.

St Joseph’s Ladies’ Club

Cancellation

A talk by Mary Toughy and Mary Daly of the Tara Centre, scheduled for Wednesday 27th May in St Joseph’s Hall, has been postponed to a later date.

Diocesan Youth Mass & Blessing for Young Drivers

On Pentecost Sunday 31st May there will be a Diocesan Youth Mass and Blessing for Young Drivers in St Columb’s Church, Chapel Road, Waterside, Derry at 7 pm. All young drivers are invited to bring their license or car keys to this Mass for a special blessing. ‘Rejoice’, the Diocesan Youth Choir will lead the music and Bishop Hegarty will be the main celebrant. Refreshments will be served in the Parish Centre after Mass. Everyone welcome.

‘Musical Moments’

Next week the girls of Loreto Convent Primary School present their upcoming show “Musical Moments”. This spectacular production encompasses extracts from The Wizard of Oz, High School Musical, Annie and Mamma Mia and promises to be a wonderful night’s entertainment for all the family.

Don’t miss the opportunity to catch this wonderful show which will be staged next

weekend in St. Joseph’s Hall, Omagh on Thursday 28th, Friday 29th & Saturday 30th May 2009 at 7.30pm. Patrons pay at the door and all seats cost £5.00 each

Omagh Community Youth Choir

The choir has organized a fashion show for Wednesday 27th May at 8 pm in the Omagh Golf Club. Fashions by Tempest, Napoleon @ Kells and Jewellery by Argento will be on show. Admission £5. The choir will also sing at a Praise Service in Mountjoy Presbyterian Church on Sunday 31st May at 7.30 pm.

Charity Table Quiz

A Charity Table Quiz will be held in McGinn's Village Inn, Killyclogher on Thursday 28th May 2009 in aid of the African Missions (S.M.A Fathers). The quiz starts at 9 pm and everybody is welcome.

Adoption

Could you make a child happy again after a difficult start in life? Family Care Society is presently seeking adoptive families for children aged between 2 – 6 years and who need the love and attention of a caring and understanding family. Could this be you?
Please contact Family Care Society on 9069 1133 or 7136 8592 or email@family-care-society.org. Our Website is www.family-care-society.net

Omagh St Enda’s GAC

Bingo continues as usual at 9pm in Healy Park with £4000 in prize money. The Club are organising a drugs and alcohol awareness talk, for our youth, at Healy Park on Monday 25th at 7 pm for boys and girls aged under 14 and 8pm for boys and girls over 14. Tyrone star, Stephen O'Neill, will be present and all St Enda's youth players are asked to attend.

Omawest Community Development Assoc.

Are you between 12 and 18yrs? Live in the Omawest area? Want to develop your skills? Have fun? Meet new friends? Have a say in your community? Develop your ideas? Places are limited to 15 young people and we would ask all those interested to come to the Station Centre on Thursday 28th May @ 6.30 pm to register. Call Gerry on 0792 594 8245.

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, contact Michele in the Advice Centre on 028 8224 3252.

St Joseph’s Bookshop
Open Saturdays
10.30 am - 4 pm

Wide variety of Books, Holy Ornaments, Medals, Rosaries & Cards available.

Omagh Independent Advice Centre
Omagh Independent Advice Centre offers a free and confidential advice service to anyone in financial difficulty. If you would like to speak to someone about your financial difficulties, please call Michele in the Advice Centre on 028 8224 3252.

Coming Soon to St Joseph’s Hall, Omagh

JW Promotions Presents one of Country Music’s Greatest Talents

Collin Raye

Friday 22nd May 2009

Support Act – Gary Quinn

Call 07753 936 701 for ticket sales