Sunday 31st May 2009

Pentecost Sunday

Jesus said to his disciples: "Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so am I sending you." Then he breathed on them and said: "Receive the Holy Spirit." As we celebrate Pentecost in our homes and our parish communities, there are two qualities we need to develop - peace and energy. Peace is Christ's desire for us as we journey with him and with one another. But peace is not a passive thing. Rather it is a dynamic way of life. We are to be his witnesses in the world, and so he gives us his Holy Spirit so that we can have the energy we need in order to witness through love. This love is practised and developed in marriage and family life. It needs to be extended to the life of the parish community. Our motto for this week of Pentecost can be: "Love as if everything depends on you. Live as if everything depends on God."

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R.

The Paradox

“The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings, but shorter tempers;

Wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints;

We spend more, but have less; We buy more, but enjoy it less.

We have bigger houses, but smaller families; More conveniences, but less time;

We have more degrees, but less sense; More knowledge, but less judgment;

More experts, but more problems; More medicine, but less wellness.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life; We’ve added years to life, but not life to years.

We’ve been to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbour.

We’ve conquered outer space, but not inner space; We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul;

We’ve split the atom, but not our prejudice. We have higher incomes, but lower morals;

We’ve become long on quantity, but short on quality.

These are the times of tall men and short character;Steep profits and shallow relationships.

These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare;

More leisure, but less fun; More kinds of food, but less nutrition.

These are the days of two incomes, but more divorce; Of fancier houses, but broken homes.

It is a time when there is much in the showroom and nothing in the stockroom.”

Written by a Columbine student on the second anniversary of their tragedy (2 Nov 1999)

The Columbine High School massacre occurred on Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School in Columbine, an unincorporated area in Jefferson County, Colorado, United States, near Denver and Littleton. Two students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, embarked on a massacre, killing 12 students and a teacher, injured 21 others, while 3 were injured while attempting to escape, before committing suicide. It is the fourth-deadliest school massacre in United States history, after the 1927 Bath School disaster, 2007 Virginia Tech massacre and the 1966 University of Texas massacre, and the deadliest for an American high school.

Saints of the Week

Week Beginning Sunday 31st May

Monday 1 – St Justin, martyr
Tuesday 2 – Sts Marcellinus and Peter, martyrs
Wednesday 3 – St Kevin, abbot
Thursday 4 – Sts Charles Lwanga and Companions, martyrs
Friday 5 – St Boniface, bishop and martyr
Saturday 6 – St Norbert, bishop & St Jarlath, bishop

Sacred Heart Church - Mass Intentions 7.30 pm

Tuesday Paddy McCrory – 1st Anniversary

Baptisms

Caoimhín James Coyle, 11 The Fairways

Weddings
We congratulate the following couple who were married recently:

Rosa McCanney & Patrick Daly
Julie-Ann McClenaghan & Niall McGale

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

Parish Notes

We wish all the best to the pupils of Primary 4 from the Integrated Primary School who make their First Holy Communion today (Sunday) in the Sacred Heart Church at 12.30 pm Mass.

St Joseph’s Young Priests’ Society
The monthly meeting of the John Paul II Omagh Branch of St Joseph’s Young Priests’ Society will be held on Monday 1st June in the Pastoral Centre, Brook Street after 10 am Mass.

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, Thursday and Friday of this week. Fr Canning will visit the sick in the country areas, Castle Street and Hunter Crescent on Monday of this week. He will visit the Brookmount Road area on Friday. Fr McDevitt will visit the sick on Monday and Tuesday of this week.

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.

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. Full details next week.

Eucharistic Ministers for June

Vigil Mass – Jackie Convey, Tony McGarvey, Mary McLaughlin, Mary Toal, Rita Loughran, Moira Sharpe;

8.30 am – Jim McGread, Joanna McElholm, Paula Slevin;

9.45 am – Dominic Pinto, Gerry McLaughlin, Margaret Rafferty, Kevin O’Gara;

11 am – George Johnson, Eugene Teague, Helen Johnson, Alice McNamee, Joe Mulryan;

12.30 pm – Kathleen Winters, Mary Donaghy, Gerard Sharkey, Chrissie Kelly;

10 am Drumragh – Helen Barrett, Teresa Colton.

Collectors for June

6.00 pm – James Devlin, Cathal Cullen, Aidan Lilly, Thomas McElroy, Colm McLaughlin. Pat McCanney;

8.30 am – Peter Haughey, Gerry Broderick, Fursey Mullan, Billy Henry,

9.45 am – John O’Neill, Eugene Lynam, Sean Mullan, AK Kelly, Patrick Devlin, Raymond McGoldrick, John Rafferty, Eugene Turbett;

11 am – Robert Colton, James Murray, Aidan Quinn, Kevin McCrory, Pat McGartland;

12.30 pm – Sean McNamee, John Lagan, Anthony Bradley, Patrick Conway, Dermot O’Kane, Francis Laird.

Cleaners for St Mary’s, Drumragh

The cleaners for the month of June for St Mary’s Church, Drumragh, are Breda Campbell and Patricia Muldoon.

Counters for June

Tommy Bradley, Michael Donnelly, John Doyle, Hubert Logue, Dessie McClements, Kevin McCrory, John Meyler, Seamus Sheridan, Leo Turbett.

Readers for June

6 pm – Niall Byrne; 8.30 am – Gerard Turbitt; 9.45 am – Paddy McGowan; 11 am – Sean O’Neill; 12.30 pm – Eileen Loughran

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.

Clanabogan Devlopment Initiative Annual Walk

Walk will commence at Camphill Car Park, Drudgeon Road on Tuesday 2nd June at 7.30pm. Everyone welcome.

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.

Parish Draw
The next Parish Draw will take place after the Bingo in St Joseph’s Hall on Tuesday 2nd June. Promoters are asked to bring their returns to the hall at the usual times.

Omagh Charismatic Prayer Group
The Omagh Charismatic Prayer Group meets every Thursday in the Pastoral Centre, Brook Street at 8.15 pm. There is praise music and song and prayers of thanksgiving and intercession. All welcome to come and pray.

Clanabogan Drama Circle Presents

M.J. Ginnelly’s ‘A Wake In The West’

12th, 13th & 14th June 2009
St Joseph’s Hall, Omagh
8.30 pm Nightly

Admission £5

A Hilarious Comedy

Organist Wanted

Organist required to play in the Sacred Heart Church for Saturday night mass at 6 pm. Please contact Finola on 8225 0537 or 0773 154 0414; Anita on 079 2286 8732 or Siobhan on 0787 321 6778.

Cookstown Lourdes Pilgrimage Group

Now taking bookings for Lourdes
11th July – 16th July 2009
Ex Belfast – Price £599 pps
To Book telephone Mary McPhilomey on 8224 3984 or 0777 620 8253.

St Joseph’s Bookshop
Open Saturdays
10.30 am - 4 pm
Wide variety of Books, Holy Ornaments, Medals, Rosaries & Cards available.

Omagh St Enda’s GAC

Bingo continues at Healy Park every Thursday with £4000 in prize money. The Club is grateful to Stephen O'Neill and Eugene O'Goan for their excellent and informative Drugs and Alcohol Awareness session for our youth players last Monday. Anyone with an interest in cycling is invited to train for our Annual Sponsored Cycle from Bundoran to Omagh on 27th June. See www.omaghstendas.com for details.

Omagh Independent Advice Centre

We offer 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 us about your financial difficulties, please contact Michele on 028 8224 3252.

St Joseph’s Hall
Timetable of Events

Mon 10.30am - Coffee Morning
3.30 pm - Groogan O’Doherty School of Dancing
Tues 3.00pm - Colmcille Club
6.00 pm Girl Guides
9.00pm - Bingo - Jackpot £1000
Wed 10.00-12.30pm - Weightwatchers
6.00pm - Baxter School of Dancing
8.00pm - Ladies Club
Thur 7.30pm - Bowls
8.30pm - Line Dancing
Sat 1.45pm - Groogan O’Doherty School of Dancing

St Joseph’s Hall Grand Refurbishment Draw

Prizes: 1st Prize – New Model Ford Fiesta 5-door Car
2nd Prize – Holiday Voucher worth £3000 with £500
3rd Prize - £2000
Tickets will cost £20 (€25) or a book of 3 Tickets for £50 (€65)
Contact: 07753 936 701 for further details.

On Tuesday 2nd June there will be the monthly draw for £50. Promoters are asked to bring their returns to the Hall at the usual times.