Sunday 28th September 2008

The 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Power of Truth

Jesus said: "Tax collectors and prostitutes are making their way into heaven before you." These are strange words of Jesus in the Gospel for this week. What can they mean for us? These two groups of people were the despised in the time of Jesus and yet they were very open to what he had to say. They knew how much they needed God, and Jesus gave them hope of forgiveness and salvation. We can get so complacent that we don't see our own need to change, and yet how we all need to let go of so much if we are to follow his way of complete love. So many married couples are complacent about their relationship and settle for mediocrity. So many people in our parishes set the limits of living their faith so low that it is almost insignificant. And in family life people can take each other so much for granted that they become almost like lodgers in the same house. Christ urges us once more to aim for the stars.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R

A Life of Beauty

Life is a gift to be used everyday,
Not to be smothered and hidden away;
It isn’t a thing to be stored in the chest
Where you gather your keepsakes
And treasure your best.
So go out and live it each hour of the day,
Wear it and use it as much as you may;
Don’t keep it in niches and corners and grooves,
You’ll find that in service its beauty improves

St Vincent de Paul

The Annual Sale is on Saturday 15th November in St Joseph’s Hall. We need your support. Please donate your unwanted gifts, bric-a-brac, books, toys, etc at 10 Castle Street – Vincent’s Shop. Baked items can be left nearer the sale day. Many thanks.

Coffee Morning
St Joseph’s Hall, Omagh
Monday mornings at 10.30 am
All Welcome

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.

Mass Intentions

Sacred Heart Church 7.30 pm

Tuesday Elizabeth Kirwan – 1st Anniversary

Weddings

We congratulate the following couple who married here recently:

Yvonne O’Neill & Darren Murphy

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

Week beginning Sunday 28th September

This Week’s Saints

Tuesday 30 – St Jerome, priest and doctor of the Church.

Wednesday, 1 October – St Thérèse of the Child Jesus, virgin and doctor of the Church.

Thursday 2 – The Guardian Angels.

Friday 3 – Blessed Columba Marmion.

Saturday 4 – St Francis of Assisi.

Mass for Deceased Teachers

The Mass for Deceased Teachers of the diocese this year will be celebrated in the Immaculate Conception Church, Strabane on Wednesday 12th November at 7.00 pm. Please contact the Parish Office on 8224 2092 if you wish a name to be included in the memorial book.

Questions people ask

Q. I have the unfortunate habit of saying the Holy Name. What can I do to break that habit?

A. As a general rule in life, the best way to break from any unwanted habit is to replace it with another exercise which eventually becomes habitual. Practice makes perfect. Develop the good habit of quietly repeating the Holy Name of God or of Jesus Christ in prayer. Saint Paul tells us that every knee should bend at the name of Jesus. The irreverent use of God’s name betrays a shocking shallowness of faith.

Fr Silvester OFlynn OFM Cap, Courtesy of Intercom Magazine

Email silvesteroflynn@gmail.com

Gift Aid Declaration Forms

We appeal to anyone who has recently received a Gift Aid Declaration Form to return it to the Parish Office as soon as possible. This can be done, either by using the pre-paid envelope provided, or by placing the completed form in the collection basket this weekend. We thank you for your help in this matter.

Disabled Filipino Children’s Calamity Appeal

Many houses of disabled children in Fr Donal Bennett’s former parish in Santa Cruz, Phillipines, were partially or completely destroyed by a recent fierce typhoon. On their behalf, this is an appeal for help to repair and rebuild their simple homes. With kind approval, a church door collection will be taken up after all Masses this weekend. Please give generously.

Indian Children’s Sponsorship

The annual sponsorship money of £60 is now due and can be paid to Phil Mullan, telephone 8224 7289 or Una McMaugh, telephone 8554 8070. All funds raised go towards helping poor and deprived children with an education. Many more children await the opportunity for an education. If you can help, please call either of the above numbers.
Our annual Sponsored Walk takes place on Sunday 28th September from Fintona to Eskra at 2 pm. Please join us if you can.

RNIB – White Cane Walk

10th Celebration!
Saturday 11th October 2008
5 Mile Walk to support the work on RNIB in Northern Ireland.
Start Point: Main Street, Omagh @ 11 am
(Formerly Royal Arms Mews)
Registration: Ostlers Arms, Main Street from 10 am – 10.45 am
Ways to get involved:
• Take a sponsor sheet and walk
• Give a donation and walk
• Get a team together for the walk
• Give a donation towards RNIB NI
Maps of the route are available at the centre.
For more information, contact RNIB NI, 10 James Street, Omagh on 8225 0220 or email Ian.Ross@rnib.org.uk

Pro-Life Rally

A group of pro-abortion MPs in Westminster have put forward a proposal to extend the 1967 Abortion Act to Northern Ireland. In response to this, a Pro-Life Rally will take place at Parliament Buildings, Stormont in Belfast on Saturday 18th October at 1 pm. A bus will leave Omagh Bus Depot on Saturday 18th October at 9.30 am for this Rally for Life. Please contact Kate on 0790 700 3613 or Mary Rose on 8224 5631.

John Michael Talbot

An Evening of Music and Reflection led by the world’s foremost Christian recording artist takes place in the Playhouse, St Columb’s Theatre, Orchard Street, Derry on Sunday 12th October at 8.30 pm. Tickets are £10 and are available from Veritas Bookshop, Butcher Street, Derry (7126 6888) or Thornhill Centre, Culmore Road, Derry (7135 1233). Admission is by ticket only.

Visitation of the Sick & Housebound

Monsignor Donnelly will visit the sick and housebound on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday of this week. Fr Canning will visit the sick in the country areas, Hunter Crescent and Castle Street on Monday 29th September. He will visit the Brookmount Road area on Friday 3rd October.

Eucharistic Ministers for October

Vigil Mass – Gerry Harte, Geraldine Colton, Phil Hyndman, Brigid McGarvey, Anne McCaffrey, Marie Gallagher; 8.30 am – Kay Clarke, Peggy Tierney, Bro Tom Gough; 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 - Mary Campbell, Liz Doran, Sonya McAnulla, Michelle Lagan; 10 am

Drumragh – Niall Colgan, Anita Hackett.

Readers for October

6 pm - Lysette Maguinness; 8.30 am -Michele Rafferty; 9.45 am - Dominic Pinto; 11 am - Mary Haughey; 12.30 pm - Gerard McDonagh

Counters for October

Brendan Cunningham, Frances Cunningham, Gerard Haughey, Dermot McCann, J McDonnell.

Collectors for October

6.00 pm – Liam Donaghy, Malachy Treanor, Seamus Kelly, Thomas Logue, John Rafferty; 8.30 am – Phil McGovern, James Cunningham, Linus Nugent, Sean McKenna, Patrick Cleary; 9.45 am – Pat O’Neill, Seamus Sheridan, Eamon Prunty, Tony Brogan, Liam McGrath; 11 am – James Murray, Thomas Bradley, James Montague; 12.30 pm – Anthony Higgins, Tony McGarvey, Sean Mullan, Kevin Gallagher, Patrick Gallagher, Eugene McGrade.

Do This In Memory

Parents and Guardians, we have some Good News Bibles available to accompany the ‘Do This In Memory’ Programme. Price £9. Contact the Parish Office on 8224 2092.

Clanabogan Youth Club

The Youth Club will recommence for activities on Friday 3rd October in St Eugene’s Hall, Clanabogan. Juniors will be from 7 – 8.30 pm and Seniors from 8.30 – 10 pm. Indoor Soccer commences on Monday 6th October in the Sacred Heart College from 8 – 10 pm. Swimming commences on Thursday 9th October. The bus leaves Lynch’s Vivo Store at 7 pm.

St Joseph’s Hall

Mon 10.30am - Coffee Morning
6.00pm - Iyengar Yoga
7.15pm - Kellie Aerobics/ Fitball
Tues 3.00pm - Colmcille Club
9.00pm - Bingo - Jackpot £1000
Wed 10.00-12.30pm - Weightwatchers
6.00pm - Baxter School of Dancing
8.00pm - Ladies Club
Thur 4.00pm - Ballet Dancing
7.00pm - Traditional Music Class
7.30pm - Bowls
8.30pm - Line Dancing
Sat 1.45pm - Groogan O’Doherty Class

Coming Soon to St Joseph’s Hall

KINGS OF COUNTRY

Featuring: Roly Daniels, Jim Ed Brown, Stonewall Jackson, Vernon Oxford, Frank McCaffrey & Robert Mizzell!

Friday 31st October 2008

More Details Available Soon