The Pope’s Intentions for June
General: That the Lord may protect sailors and all those involved in maritime activities.
Missionary: That the Church in North Africa may bear witness, with its presence and its action, to God’s love for every individual and all people.

Saints of the Day
Thursday, 31 – The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Today’s liturgy recalls the ‘Blessed Virgin Mary carrying her Son within her’ and visiting Elizabeth to offer charitable assistance and to proclaim the mercy of God the Saviour (Marialis cultus).

Questions people ask
Q. Just a small point. If we believe that the Holy Spirit has come to the Church and is dwelling in us, then why must we pray ‘Come, Holy Spirit’?
A. The coming of the Spirit must be matched by our co-operation with the divine presence. It’s like our co-operation with God’s forgiveness. God always desires to offer us 100% forgiveness but our acceptance is not 100%, so long as we remain hard of heart, or our purpose of amendment is not completely honest. Our repetition of ‘Come, Holy Spirit’ is a prayer that we might grow in acceptance of the Spirit’s gifts.

Another Angle - Spirit-filled life
While people may have their problems with the idea of Church and all its’ human limitations, very few have any problem thankfully with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is beyond gender and our human pettiness. That being said, Pentecost doesn’t impact on most people. We get Christmas and Easter, even All Saints Day, but Pentecost is a strange word and reality.

For those of you condemned to the torture of regular meetings which literally record minutes and take up hours, it’s good to note that the Holy Spirit first came to them as they met. Mind you tongues of fire and ability in foreign languages seem all very strange to us.

But a meeting is only as good as its decisions are implemented. As anyone in business will tell you, you need action points, a timescale and someone to implement them for it to be effective. And yet at so many parish meetings, people panic and resist if anything about sharing faith with others is suggested. ‘Who am I to tell my neighbour what to believe?’

Pentecost is about having a sense of purpose, feeling assured and confident in ourselves and our faith. Come Holy Spirit.
Fr Tom Cox, Courtesy of Intercom Magazine

Pentecost
The Church celebrates Pentecost (so called because it is fifty days after Easter Day, the word Pentecost meaning Fifty) as the day on which the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles, gathered in an upper room with Mary, mother of Jesus, "as a mighty, rushing wind", fulfilling Jesus' promise when he "breathed on them", as recorded in John's Gospel (chapter 20).

This event, which marks the beginning of the Church, is recorded in the book of Acts of the Apostles, chapter 2. The Bible says the Spirit descended upon the gathering of Christians in the form of tongues of fire. The liturgical color for Pentecost is red, a reminder of the flames that "rested on them". Another symbol for the Holy Spirit is the dove, usually emmitting golden rays of light.

The Holy Spirit gave the apostles gifts of grace through which they would undertake the evangelical mission of the Church. On the day of Pentecost, the apostles were given the miraculous "gift of tongues" -- so that everyone from every country understood the Christians inspired message of salvation as if they were hearing it in their own languages. Thousands were converted by the preaching of Peter and the other apostles.

The Solemnity of Pentecost ends the Easter season.
After Pentecost, the Easter candle is kept in the baptistery or near the baptismal font, and is lighted only for a baptism. For centuries, the Sundays of the Catholic Church year between Pentecost and Advent were numbered as "after Pentecost". Since the Second Vatican Council, this period is called "Ordinary Time" (the first period of Ordinary Time is that between the Epiphany and Lent). Three Solemnities are celebrated in the weeks immediately following Pentecost: Trinity Sunday, Corpus Christi (The Body and Blood of Christ) and the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Mass Intentions - Sacred Heart Church 7.30 Mass

Wednesday – Margaret Haughey – 1st Anniversary
Thursday – Brian McGaghran – 1st Anniversary
Friday – Carmel Baxter – 1st Anniversary

Baptisms
Eoghan Mark McGrath – 61 Edergole Road, Omagh
Callum Andrew Simmonds – 1 Fairmount Terrace
Ulian Alexander O’Prey - 26 Coolnagard Square
Takia Wendy Johnston – 31 O’Kane Park
Bernard McDonagh – 9 Tattykeel Cottages

Weddings
Two become one in a life long commitment to each other. We sincerely congratulate
Bryan McCaugherty & Denise Kearney
and
Gary Norris & Lisa Quinn
who were married recently.
May the grace of the sacrament remain with them throughout their lives.

Visitation of the Sick
Monsignor Donnelly will visit the sick on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday of this week.
Fr Farren will visit the sick on Monday and Tuesday of this week.
Fr Canning will visit the Sick on the Derry Road area on Wednesday, the Brookmount Road on Thursday and the Tamlaght Road area on Friday of this week. He will visit the country areas on Monday 4th June.

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.

Cemetery Sunday
Our Services of Remembrance for the Dead will take place next Sunday 3rd June in Drumragh Cemetery at 3pm and in Dublin Road Cemetery at 5pm.

Please Note: Everyone is asked to bring a small container of Holy Water with them, as all families will bless their own graves as part of the ceremony.

Blessing of the new extension of Drumragh Cemetery and Dedication of the Memorial Grave for the unbaptised infants will take place at this time too.

Pledge Ceremony
On Monday 4th June there will be a special ceremony in the Sacred Heart Church for all the children who were confirmed on 28th April. At the 7.30pm evening Mass the Confirmation children will be invited to take a pledge to abstain from all alcoholic drink and the use of illegal drugs until they are 18 years of age. Parents, sponsors and the general community are invited to come to support the children in their pledge.

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.

Altar Society Rota
June: Mrs Ann McCann (82247529)

Church Cleaners for June – St Mary’s Church, Drumragh

Pioneer Association
With Confirmation over, we are now taking names for young Pioneers or any other Pioneers. Presentation could be arranged around the Feast of the Sacred Heart. You can call 82242921 and leave your name.

St Joseph’s Young Priest’s Society
John Paul II Branch: Drumragh Parish
Mass will be offered on Monday 28th May in the Sacred Heart Church at 7.30pm for the intentions of Members and Benefactors of the Society.
All parishioners are invited to participate in the celebration.

St Joseph’s Ladies Club
A talk entitled ‘Preparing the garden for summer’ by Kenny Crawford is to be held in St Joseph’s Hall, Omagh on Wednesday 30th May at 8.15pm.Admission £2.00 including supper. Everyone welcome.

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.

Omagh Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group
Invite you to
“A Way to Honour Mary”

Icons – an aid to contemplation
Leader – Maeve Campbell

Venue – St Columba’s Pastoral Centre, Brook Street, Omagh

Time / Date: 8pm on Thursday 31st May

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.

Blood Transfusion Service
The next blood donation sessions will be held in:
First Presbyterian Church, Dublin Road
Monday 11th June, Tuesday 12th June, Wednesday 13th June
1.30pm – 4.00pm & 5.30pm – 8.00pm

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.

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.

Pilgrimage to Medjugorie / Dubrovnik

Spiritual Director - Fr B O’Kane
Cost €809
For further information contact Dromantine SMA 02830 821 224.

Eucharistic Ministers for June

6.00pm – Gerald Mc Carney, Jim Taol, Marian McGale, Kathleen Fox, Donna Shiels, Claire Murray
8.30am –Kay Clarke, Peggy Teirney
9.45am –Dominic Pinto, Gerry McLaughlin, Margaret Rafferty, Kevin O’Gara
11.00am -George Johnson, Helen Johnson, Eugene Teague, Alice McNamee
Joe Mulryan, John McGread
12.30pm- Eugene McGrade, Mary McGrade, Tracy Nugent, Ann Pearson
10am Drumragh- Helen Barrett, Marian Hutchinson

Collectors for June

8:30am Gerry Broderick, Fursey Mullan, Peter Haughey, Billy Henry
9:45am A.K. Kelly, Sean Mullan, Eugene Turbett, Patrick Devlin, Raymond McGoldrick, John Rafferty, John O'Neill, Eugene Lynam
11:00am Aidan Quinn, Robert Colton, Pat McGartland, Kevin McCrory, James Murray
12:30pm Patrick Conway, Gerald Donnelly, Francis Laird, James Sweeney, Sean McNamee, John Lagan, Dermot O'Kane
6.00pm Pat McCanny, James A. Devlin, Cathal Cullen, Aidan Lilly, Thomas McElroy, Colm McLaughlin

Counters for June

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

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.

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