Sunday 20th July 2008

The 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our Merciful Judge

“Listen, anyone who has ears.” We live in a world of constant sound and yet we are not all that good at listening. Take a few moments as you read this to listen to the sounds around you. What do you hear? Listen to the sounds within you. What do you hear? A lot of the time what we hear is discordant noise and yet what Jesus wants us to hear is the love of God that is all around us and within us and between us. We will hear that sound if we listen carefully enough with our hearts and minds. Listen especially to the beautiful sounds of your love for one another in marriage and/or family life. It is so easy to get into a pattern of not listening in these sacred places. Listen also to the goodness of the people who make up your parish so that you can become aware of Christ who lives in them. And listen this week to the needs of the people around you so that you can respond to those needs in love.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R.

Openness

For years, a mother duck led her new family of ducklings to the same pond. It was a place of safety and beauty. However, one year she found it dry and empty. Nothing remained but dried mud.

Yet she persisted in bringing her babies down to the pond, where she would walk about with flapping wings, anxiously quacking and trying to get her brood to enter.

The ducklings, however, with their fresh instincts, heard the far-off rippling of the water in a new dam being built farther upstream. The little ducklings refused to enter the dried mudhole. Instead, they left their mother quacking beside her empty pond and set out to find new water.

The mother duck had a closed mind. She could not accept the reality that the water was gone. She chose not to live in the real world so she remained in her little world because it was familiar.

Like the little ducklings, we must remain open to a new future, open to new ideas, open to others, open to learning new things--no matter what our age and experience. To do so is to maintain a childlike faith in God.

Author unknown

Words of Wisdom

“The greatest happiness in life is the conviction that we are loved, loved

for ourselves, or rather loved in spite ourselves.” - Unknown

Week beginning Sunday 20th July - This Week’s Saints

Monday 21 - St Lawrence of Brindisi, priest and doctor of the Church.

Tuesday 22 - St Mary Magdalene.

Wednesday 23 - St Bridget of Sweden, Religious, Patron of Europe.

Thursday 24 - St Declan, bishop. Also St Charbel Makhluf, priest.

Friday 25 - St James, apostle.

Saturday 26 - Sts Joachim and Anne, parents of Mary.

Recent Deaths

We sympathise with the family of the following who died recently:
Mary Hackett - May she rest in peace.

Mass Intentions - Sacred Heart Church 7.30 pm

Tue Lawrence Mongan – 1st Anniversary

Wed Jean Sharkey – Month’s Mind

Fri Martin McCrystal – Month’s Mind

Baptisms
Aimee Mai Owens, 28 Clanabogan Road
Dáire Patrick Breen, 10 Lambrook Close

Weddings

We congratulate the following couples who were married here recently:

Siobhan Maguire & Kieran Corry
Keira Magee & Aidan McCallan
Mary McDonagh & Tom McDonagh

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

Holy Communion to the Sick & Housebound

The Eucharistic Ministers will bring Holy Communion to the sick and housebound who have requested it, today Sunday 20th July after 9.45am Mass and 11am mass and after 10am Mass in St Mary’s Church Drumragh.

Praying for the Holy Souls

Larry Cummins, author of “Please pray for us, we need your help”, will talk about his ministry for the Holy Souls in the Pastoral Centre, Omagh at 8 pm on Thursday 24th July. Everyone welcome.

Sacred Heart Guides, Omagh

The few remaining places for September 2008 will be allocated on a first come, first served basis in St Mary’s Hall on:
Saturday 19th and 26th July @ 5 – 7 pm
Sunday 20th and Sunday 27th July @ 10 am – 2 pm.
Ladies aged 17+ are urgently required to help as leaders. Please come along also. Thank you!

Q. Why is it that some people have such a hatred for the Catholic Church that they can see nothing good it?
A. Since human beings are part of the Church we should not expect it to be perfect. Jesus said: If the world hates you, you must realise that it hated me before you. Jesus was not only criticised, he was crucified. The eye is made for light but light hurts the sick eye: the stomach is made for food but food upsets the sick stomach: the soul is made for God but the light of Gods goodness enrages the sick soul. Criticism reveals more about the critic that the object of criticism.

Fr Silvester OFlynn OFM Cap, Courtesy of Intercom Magazine
Email silvesteroflynn@gmail.com

Clonmacnoise Summer Youth Festival

14th – 17th August 2008

This is a festival for young people, aged 16 – 35. The weekend will include inspiring talks, dramas, a concert, prayer, Mass, games and times of sharing. This year we are very excited to have it beside the monastic ruins of Clonmacnoise, particularly because Pope John Paul II requested “pilgrimages of faith” there after his visit in 1979. It promises to be a great opportunity for young people from all around Ireland to explore their Catholic faith, meet new friends and have some craic! This is a donation-only retreat. Free buses are available throughout the country – just bring a sleeping bag and a pair of wellies! (Over 18s may like to bring their own tent). For more information contact 003531-6753690 or log onto www.youth2000.ie or xx-youth2000-xx.bebo.com.

Knock Summer Youth Festival

Living life to the full? Looking for something more? Tired of the same? This is what you’re looking for! Time out for you… Knock Summer Youth Festival 24th – 27th July, Our Lady’s Shrine, Knock, Co. Mayo. 18 – 35 years.
For more information and to book your place contact (094) 9388100 / 087 6927850 or check out www.knock-shrine.ie/youthministry

Knock Trip

The Omagh Unit of the Order of Malta Ambulance Corps will hold their annual pilgrimage to Knock on Sunday 31st August 2008. The Order offers specialist assistance with the sick and disabled travelling on this pilgrimage. All enquiries to Mary McMenamin (Nursing Officer) on 07732328834.

N.I. Blood Transfusion Service

The next blood donation sessions will be held in Omagh College on the following dates:

Monday 4th August – 1.30 pm – 4 pm & 5.30 pm – 8 pm

Tuesday 5th August - 1.30 pm – 4 pm & 5.30 pm – 8 pm

Wednesday 6th August - 1.30 pm – 4 pm & 5.30 pm – 8 pm

In order to maintain the vital supply of blood to our hospitals, the Blood Transfusion Service need the support, not only of existing donors, but also of new donors. Please come along – you could save a life!

Words of Wisdom
“Happiness is not in our circumstance but in ourselves. It is not something we see, like a rainbow, or feel, like the heat of a fire. Happiness is something we are.” -- John B. Sheerin

St Joseph’s Hall

The hall has now closed for the summer months. All activities are over except Bingo on Tuesday nights. Details of the resumption of the various clubs and classes will appear at the end of the summer.

Parish Draw Winners July 2008

£2,000 Marie McKernan, 8 Ashbourne Close. Promoter – Louise Kirwan
£1,000 John O’Hagan, 4 Harmony Heights. Promoter – John O’Hagan
£500 Roma Barry, c/o Promoter. Promoter – Elizabeth Broderick
£250 Tony Brogan, 2 Ardmore Avenue. Promoter – Kathleen Brogan
£100 Gemma McGuigan, Old Dromore Road. Promoter – Kevin Mullan
£100 Cathal Gormley, 129 Clanabogan Road. Promoter – Elizabeth Broderick
£100 Dympna McKay, 24 Sperrin View. Promoter – Raymond McNally
£100 John McDonnell, 72 Brookmount Road. Promoter – Gerry Starrs
£100 Emily O’Neill, 14 Ardmore Heights. Promoter – Joanne McGread
£100 Naoiscoil na gCrann. Promoter – Brian McKenna
£100 – Lily McCrory, 7 Fairmount Road. Promoter – Tommy Sharkey
£100 – Gerry Kirk, 70 Culmore Park. Promoter – Rose Kirk
£100 – Yvonne Treacy, Ardmore Crescent. Promoter – Mary McGlone
£100 – Mrs M Early, 33 Gortmore Park. Promoter – Victor Caldwell
Promoters’ £100 Prize – Joe Mulryan, 12 Clontarf Drive
Please Note: The next draw will take place on Tuesday 5th August 2008.

Colmcille Pilgrimages ’
Pilgrimage to the Holy Land
Includes:
Egypt [the Pyramids]
Greece [Athens and Corinth]
Turkey [Ephesus]
In the footsteps of St. Paul.
Nine days beginning 6th March 2009
What is so special about this pilgrimage?
It will take the form of a cruise between these different ports.
We have been allocated 30 places which will go very quickly
Please book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
Price £1145
Phone or text Margaret @ 07732468511
Or email:paddyokane@tiscali.co.uk

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 82243252.