Sunday 31st January 2010

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus said: “I tell you solemnly, no prophet is ever accepted in his own country”. The word prophet conjures up the image of someone who foretells the future, a bit like a fortune-teller. No! A prophet is someone who gets to the deepest reality of human life and is able to proclaim that this deepest reality will come to the surface sooner or later and calls us to make it sooner. Generally people don’t like to hear about these deepest realities because they get used to the way things are. A good example of this is: the deepest reality of marriage is that it is a sacrament, a source of Christ’s presence in and salvation of the world we live in. Couples need to do a lot more to bring their love to that pitch. Every home is a Domestic Church, a sacred place. Every parish is the living Body of Christ. We have a lot of change to work on.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R.

The Cross

A young man was at the end of his tether, and seeing no way out, he dropped to his knees in prayer.

"Lord, I can't go on," he said. "I have too heavy a cross to bear."
The Lord replied, "My son, if you can't bear its weight, just place your cross inside this room. Then, open that other door and pick out any cross you wish."
The man was filled with relief and said, "Thank you, Lord," and he did as he was told.
Upon entering the other door, he saw many crosses, some so large the tops were not visible.
Then, he spotted a tiny cross leaning against a far wall.
"I'd like that one, Lord," he whispered.
And the Lord replied, “My son, that is the cross you just brought in."

When life's problems seem overwhelming, it helps to look around and see what other people are coping with. You may consider yourself far more fortunate than you imagined.

Whatever your cross, whatever your pain,
There will always be sunshine after the rain.

Saints of the Week

Week Beginning Sunday 31st January 2010

Monday 1 February – St Brigid, Virgin, Secondary Patron of Ireland.
Tuesday 2 – The Presentation of the Lord
Wednesday 3 – St Blaise, bishop and martyr; St Ansgar, bishop
Friday 5 – St Agatha, virgin and martyr
Saturday 6 – Sts Paul Miki and Companions, martyrs

Sacred Heart Church

Mass Intentions 7.30 pm

Mon Thomas Clarke – 1st Anniversary
Wed Anne Cunningham – Month’s Mind
Thur Patrick McGeehan – Month’s Mind
Fri John McMullan – Month’s Mind

Recent Deaths

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

Gerard Mulryan

Kevin McGirr

May they rest in peace.

Prayer for Priests

We ask for your prayers for the following priests this week:

Sunday 31st January – For All Priests
Monday 1st February – Fr John Doherty
Tuesday 2nd February – Fr Joseph Doherty
Wednesday 3rd February – Fr Michael Doherty
Thursday 4th February – Fr Patrick Doherty
Friday 5th February – Fr Andrew Dolan
Saturday 6th February – Fr Brian Donnelly

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
Fr McDevitt will visit the sick on Monday and Tuesday of this week. Fr Canning’s sick will be attended in the country areas and Castle Street on Monday 8th February. The Brookmount Road and Hunter Crescent areas will be attended on Thursday 11th.

Parish Notes

Tuesday 2nd February is Candlemas Day. Candles will be blessed after all Masses in the Sacred Heart Church. Wednesday 3rd February is the Feast of St Blaise. There will be a blessing of throats after all Masses in the Sacred Heart Church.

Lenten Stations
Anyone wishing to host a Station Mass during Lent can contact the Parish Office.

Baptisms
Dara Sean Sheridan, 3 Drumannon Grove
Sophie Cáit O’Neill-McCutcheon, 65 Cannondale
Brigid Marie McDonagh, 7 Fairmount Terrace
Jamie Derek Duddy, 25 Coolnagard Hollow
Aoife Catherine Hughes, 37 Corrasheskin Road, Dromore

Children’s Liturgy
The Children’s Liturgy Programme begins the first Sunday in Lent.

Fashion Show in aid of Alzheimer’s Disease

Hosted by Staff of Pine B, T & F Hospital

Saturday 6th February - Doors Open@ 7.30 pm

Tickets Available @ Pine B (8283 5756) or @ Silverbirch Hotel

Admission by Ticket Only

Readers for February
6 pm – Bernie Doherty; 8.30 am – Bernie Mulrine; 9.45 am – John Rafferty; 11 am – Sean O’Neill; 12.30 pm – Caroline McKinney.

Counters for February
John Doherty, Kathleen Fox, John McGale, Marie McGirr, Eugene McGrade, Gerard McSorley, Mary Teague.

Collectors for February
6.00 pm – Eugene Duffy, J L George, Michael Brogan, Liam Grugan; 8.30 am –John Breslin, Gerard Turbitt; 9.45 am – Hugh Ward, Eamon Campbell, J F Doyle, Francis Bradley; 11 am – Dermot Groogan, Sean Lynam, Joe Mulryan, Michael McGirr, Jim Joe Campbell; 12.30 pm – Anthony Higgins, Francis McCrory, Thomas Logue.

Eucharistic Ministers for February
Vigil Mass –;Jackie Convey, Tony McGarvey, Mary McLaughlin, Mary Toal, Moira Sharpe; 8.30 am – Kay Clarke, Geraldine Quinn, Peggy Tierney; 9.45 am – Joe McElholm, Susan McCanney, Mary Tierney, Kevin Miley; 11 am – George Johnson, Eugene Teague, Helen Johmson, Alice McNamee, Joe Mulryan; 12.30 pm – Eugene McGrade, Mary McGrade, Tracy Nugent, Ann Pearson, Geraldine Quinn; 10 am Drumragh – Bridie McElroy, Dympna McKay.

Loreto Grammar School,

James Street, Omagh. BT78 1DL

Tel: 028 82243633 www.loretogs.com

OPEN NIGHT

Wednesday 3rd February 2010
All P7 girls and their parents/guardians are welcome.
Guided Tours from 7.30 pm
Principal’s Address @ 8.45 pm
(Refreshments available)

Life to the Full

What are your plans for this Lent: fasting, prayer or almsgiving? Why not nourish yourself more on God’s Word? Come along to the Pastoral Centre, Omagh each Monday of Lent and listen to the ‘Life to the Full’ DVD. A series of five sessions on each Monday of Lent starting on Monday 22nd February from 10.30 am to 12 noon is being offered. The sessions are entitled:

1. Where on Earth is God? 2. The Father’s Promises. 3. Passion for Jesus.

4.Our Royal Inheritance. 5.To Boldly Go!

Why not come along and discover how the Word of God can be a daily help? Refreshments are provided at each session.

Parish Draw
The next Parish Draw takes place on Tuesday 2nd February after the Bingo in St Joseph’s Hall. All promoters are asked to bring the returns at the usual times.

Flower-Arranging Course
Drumragh GAC are hosting a series of Flower-Arranging Classes for Easter with Colette Maguire, commencing Thursday 18th February at 7.30 pm. Admission is £30 for 6 weeks. The venue is the new Clubrooms at Clanabogan. If interested, please call 0771 617 4221 before 30th January in order to organise numbers.

St Joseph’s Parish Hall

St Joseph’s Hall is a busy parish hall with numerous events throughout the whole year, such as the Senior Citizen’s Club, the bingo, the Coffee Morning and other numerous parish events. To ensure that these valuable parish events continue, more help is needed. In particular there is a need for more Active Committee members who are willing to give a few hours to help when required. There is also a need for New Committee members who could help in the future running of the Hall. If you have a few hours to spare and wish to become involved please contact the caretaker at the Hall on 0775 393 6701 or the Parish Office.

St Joseph’s Parish Hall Committee

The next meeting of the Parish Hall Committee is at 8 pm on Monday 1st February in the hall. All members are asked to attend.

St Brigid’s Crosses

St Brigid’s Crosses will be made in St Joseph’s Hall, Omagh on Sunday 31st January at 7 pm. All are welcome. Rushes are provided.

Omagh St Enda’s GAC

BIG MONSTER BINGO returns to Omagh St Enda's at Healy Park next Thursday 4th February at 9 pm with £7,000 in prize money. This includes three £1,000 houses and three £500 houses. Well done to the Minor team who won the Ulster Minor Championship last Sunday and thanks to everyone in the parish for your support.

Care for Cancer

We will be hosting a Coffee Morning every Monday morning at 10.30am. Everyone welcome. A New Bereavement Support Group will begin on Monday 8th February at 7.30pm. A New Support Group for Men will be starting on Tuesday 9th February at 11am and will occur monthly thereafter. All will be held in the Care for Cancer Information & Resource Centre, 6 Prospect Court, Omagh. For further details contact 8224 6599.

Holy Land Cruise

1st – 11th March 2010
Last 2 places available for this cruise. Cost £1095. For information,

please contact 0773 246 8511 or 028 7126 7070.

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

St Joseph’s Hall

Timetable of Events

Mon 10.30 am Coffee Morning
6.00 pm Iyengar Yoga
7.00 pm Aerobics
Tue 3.00 pm St Colmcille’s Club
9.00pm - Bingo - Jackpot £1000
Wed 10.00-12.30pm - Weightwatchers
5.45 – 7.45 - Baxter School of Dancing
8.00 pm Ladies’ Club
Thur 4.30 pm O’Neill’s School of Ballet Dancing
7.30 pm Bowls
8.00 pm Line Dancing
Sat 1.45 - 5 pm Groogan O’Doherty School of Dancing
Hall Caretaker: 07753 936 701

RESCHEDULED CONCERT

St Joseph's Hall, Omagh

Featuring the King of Country,

Mick Flavin and his Band

Special Guests - Kenny Archer, Sinead Taggart & C.C. Cooper
Saturday 30th January 2010 @ 8pm
Ticketsare £15, available from Top News - George's Street, Master - Foundry LaneXclusive - High Street, Omagh
(Tickets for concert previously scheduled for 28th December still valid)