Sunday 27th April 2008

Sixth Sunday of Easter

The Spirit of Truth

Jesus said to his disciples: “I shall ask the Father and he will give you the Spirit of truth.” If someone ever says to you “I want to tell you the truth about yourself” stand well back because you can be almost certain that you will hear all the things that are wrong with you! That’s what we have done with the notion of truth. God’s idea of truth is just the opposite. It is about all that is good and wonderful about us. This week ban criticism from your life and practice the truth by speaking the good about yourself and also about one another and about those who share your home with you. Go out of your way to notice the good qualities of each person who makes up your life and let each one know the goodness you see in them. And look at your parish this week and make a list of all the good that is being done by your priests and by so many people and let them know what you see. Then you will be God’s people.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R

Pie in the Sky?

To an atheist – once described as someone with no invisible means of support – Christian hope must seem like a cry to on high for pie in the sky. What Christians hope for, i.e. a new heaven and a new earth, has no scientific basis. Indeed it can’t have. At present, all that science can ultimately foresee is a frozen waste of nothingness. The heart-warming prospect of blissful eternal life has no basis other than in the word of God (Rev 21:1).

In today’s Second Reading (1Pet 3:15-18) Peter exhorts us to be ready always to defend that hope. And we do that basically by showing how God has kept his promises historically and by showing that his promises continue to be fulfilled today.

Historically, God promised the seemingly impossible only to fulfill it: Abraham and Sarah in advanced age beget a son, down-trodden Hebrews gain freedom from their super-power slave-masters, an eagerly awaited Messiah comes, but in the most unexpected manner. Killed and seemingly defeated, he rises from death to fulfil his mission. Today, God’s promises continue to be fulfilled. He blesses us with new life, with freedom from slavery to sin, with the promise and hope of resurrection.

Yet, perhaps there is one other way to defend that hope: by allowing it to put a pep in our step.

Fr Tom Cahill SVD, Courtesy of Intercom Magazine

Week beginning Sunday 27th April - This Week’s Saints
Monday 28 – St Peter Chanel, priest and martyr.
Also, St Louis Marie Grignon de Montfort, priest.
Tuesday 29 – St Catherine of Siena, virgin and doctor of the Church.
Thursday, May 1 – St Joseph the Worker.
Friday 2 – St Athanasius, bishop and doctor of the Church.
Saturday 3 – Sts Philip and James, apostles.

Mass Intentions - Sacred Heart Church 7.30pm Mass
Tue Peter Brogan – 1st Anniversary
Wed Moya O’Reilly – Month’s Mind
Thur Rebecca (Ro) McCaffrey – Month’s Mind
Fri Jack Bradley - 1st Anniversary

Baptisms
Connor Edward Harkin, 53 Tullycunny Road
Cara Siobhán Mullin, 63 Mullaghmore Drive

Weddings
We congratulate the following couple who were married here recently:
Donna Campbell & Conor McCabe
May the grace of the sacrament remain with them throughout their lives.

Deaf Chaplaincy
There will be a Mass for the Profoundly Deaf in the Nazareth House Chapel on Sunday 4th May at 3.00pm.

First Friday Devotions
Friday is the First Friday of the month. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will be in the Sacred Heart Church from after 10 am mass until 7.15 pm.

Visitation of the Sick & Housebound
Monsignor Donnelly will visit the sick on Tuesday (Tuesday and Thursday’s sick will both be attended on Tuesday) and Friday of this week. Fr Canning will visit the sick in the Derry Road, Brookmount Road and Castle Street areas on Thursday 1st May. He will visit the country areas on Monday 5th May. Fr McDevitt will visit his areas on Monday 5th and Tuesday 6th May.

Life in the Holy Spirit Seminars - Monday 28th April 2008

“Baptised in the Holy Spirit”

“Make love your aim, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts” (Cor.14:1)
The speaker is Tony Hanna. 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. For further details of Seminars please see notices in Church porches.

Recent Deaths
We sympathise with the families of the following who died recently:
Leo O’Neill
Robert Patton. May they rest in peace.

Questions people ask
Q. What is meant by calling the Holy Spirit the Advocate?
A. An Advocate literally means somebody called to (ad-vocatus) ones aid. In the legal world the Advocate is called to plead ones case. In the writings of John, the term refers both to Jesus and the Holy Spirit: ‘If anyone does sin, we have our advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the upright. He is the sacrifice to expiate our sins’ (I John 2:1-2). But Jesus spoke of the coming of the Holy Spirit as ‘another Advocate, to be with you forever, that Spirit of truth …’ (John 14:15). Advocate is a direct Latin translation of the Greek name, Paraclete.
Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap

Nazareth House
The Sisters of Nazareth House send this message: “Thank you very much for your most generous church collection of £2,765 received recently. Our project this year is to replace the minibus for the residents and to purchase a wheelchair accessible vehicle instead. Thanks to your generous support this is now possible. May God bless and reward each one of you in His own special way for your generosity.

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

Collectors for May
6.00 pm – Eugene Duffy, Joe O’Donnell, Liam Grugan, Michael Brogan; 8.30 am – Gerard Turbitt, Liam Nugent, Michael Gilheaney, Patrick Slevin, John Breslin; 9.45 am –  Eamon McClorey, Michael Colton, Liam McGrath, Thomas McGuigan, J F Doyle, Eamon Campbell, Dan Campbell, Hugh Ward, Francis Bradley; 11 am – Leo Quinn, Dermot Groogan, Sean Lynam, Joseph Mulryan, Michael McGirr, Jim Joe Campbell, John McDonnell; 12.30 pm – B Brown, Anthony Higgins, Francis McCrory, Thomas Logue.

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

Readers for May
6.00 pm - Kay McGuigan; 8.30 am - Mrs Pauline Breen, 09.45 am - Mrs Maeve Campbell; 11.00 am - Mrs Maura Gallagher; 12.30 pm - Mr Cathal Lynch.

Eucharistic Ministers for May
Vigil Mass – Gerry Harte, Geraldine Colton, Phil Hyndman, Bridget McGarvey, Anne McCaffrey, Marie Gallagher; 8.30 am – Ann Mullan, Angela Lalsingh, Margaret Haigney; 9.45 am – Peter McCormick, Seamus Sheridan, Shirley Norris, Maureen Miley; 11 am – Paula McCann, Roisin McKenny, Elizabeth Broderick, Deirdre Timoney, Colette Breslin; 12.30 pm – Eugene McGrade, Mary McGrade, Tracey Nugent, Ann Pearson, Charlie Colton; 10 am Drumragh – Niall Colgan, Anita Hackett.

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

Friends of Africa Collection
A special Church Gate Collection in aid of ‘Friends of Africa’ will be held after all Masses this weekend. On 5th June one of our parishioners, Adrian Haughey, will be travelling to South Africa to work with other young people, helping to build a new Catholic Church there. Your generous support will go directly to this project, which Adrian will speak about at all Masses today.

Calling All Singers & Musicians
Aged 15-18!
The Derry Diocesan Youth Choir would love to hear from you. The Youth Choir is in the formation stages and all interested are welcome to attend rehearsals in your local area. The first event will be a Youth Mass on Pentecost Sunday (11th May). If you are interested contact the youth coordinator at ddss@derrydiocese.org or ring 7126 4087.

Iyengar Yoga
St Joseph’s Hall, Omagh
Monday Nights
6.00 pm – 7.30 pm
Contact 07753 936 701 for further details.

Grand Charity Concert In Aid of Ballygawley, Beragh & Hospital Road Senior Citizens
Featuring Shaun Loughrey & The Benn Sisters
Joe Moore – Anthony McBrien – Seamus Delaney – Helena Sherry – Terrie Louise Hoey
Accompanied by Country Harmony
Compere Patsy O’Hagan (Bard of Armagh)
Kelly’s Inn, Garvaghey, Ballygawley
Tuesday 29th April 2008
Doors Open 7.30 pm – Show 8.00 pm – Tickets £12.50
For Tickets Call 8556 8218, 8076 0740 or 8225 2150

Members of the Hospital Campaign Core Group and Steering Group advise you of the two forthcoming protests:
Meeting of the Western Health & Social Care Trust
Thursday 1st May 2008 @ 2:15 pm
Agricultural College, Enniskillen
Meeting of the Western Health & Social Services Board
Thursday 29th May 2008 @ 10.00 am
Gransha
If you require transport, for one or both venues, please contact Catriona Woods at Omagh District Council on (028) 8224 5321 (ext 306) or email catriona.woods @omagh.gov.uk.

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