Sunday 7th March 2010

3rd Sunday in Lent

God said to Moses: “Take off your shoes, for the place on which you stand is holy ground”. All religions designate certain places as holy places and rightly demand a certain level of reverence and respect. For ourselves as Catholics our sacred place is the church where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved. But the revelation of Christ is that the most sacred place of all is the company of another human being. He said that what we do to even the least person we do to him. Because of Christ, we are always standing on holy ground and our response always has to be one of reverence and respect. This has very far-reaching implications for us in the practice of our faith. The intimate relationship of husband and wife is a sacred place and calls for great reverence from all of us. And equally our homes and families and our faith community are places where we very often need a change of heart.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R.

No Wonder God Loves Children

When I look at a patch of dandelions, I see a bunch of weeds that are going to take over my garden. My children see flowers for Mummy and blowing white fluff you can wish on.

When I look at an old drunk and he smiles at me, I see a smelly, dirty person who probably wants money and I look away. My children see someone smiling at them and they smile back.

When I hear music I love, I know I can't carry a tune and don't have much rhythm so I sit self consciously and listen. My children feel the beat and move to it. They sing out the words. If they don't know them, they make up their own.

When I feel wind on my face, I brace myself against it. I feel it messing up my hair and pulling me back when I walk. My children close their eyes, spread their arms and fly with it until they fall to the ground laughing.

When I pray I say Thee and Thou and grant me this, give me that. My children say, "Hi God!!! Thanks for my toys and my friends. Please keep the bad dreams away tonight. Sorry, I don't want to go to Heaven yet. I would miss my Mummy and Daddy."

When I see a mud puddle, I step around it. I see muddy shoes and clothes and dirty carpets. My children sit in it. They see dams to build, rivers to cross and worms to play with.

I wonder if we are given children to teach or to learn from? No wonder God loves little children!!

Saints of the Week

Week Beginning Sunday 7th March 2010

Monday 8 – St John of God, religious; St Senan, bishop
Tuesday 9 – St Frances of Rome, religious
Thursday 11 – St Aengus, bishop and abbot

Month’s Mind Mass
There will be a Month’s Mind Mass for Gerard Goligy in St Mary’s Church, Drumragh on Monday 8th March at 7.30 pm.

Sacred Heart Church - Mass Intentions 7.30 pm

Mon Marie Higginbotham – Month’s Mind

Tue Denis McGlinchey – Month’s Mind

Wed Paddy Maguire – Month’s Mind

Thur Polish Mass

Fri Fr Pat Breen – Month’s Mind

Baptisms

Noah Aidan Colton, 43 Mullaghmenagh Meadows
Niamh Mairead Donnelly, 4 Fairmount Road
Naomi Megan Bell, 17 Orchard Terrace
Eunan McClean, 4 Edenvale
Oscar Odhran Kelly, 11 Mullan Park, Mountfield

Recent Deaths

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

Michael Hunter

Sean McKenna

May they rest in peace.

Lenten Stations
There will be a Station Mass in the Tattysallagh Upper area on Friday 19th March at 7.30 pm in the home of Geraldine McCarney, 15 O’Brien Park. There will be one in the Tattysallagh Lower area on Tuesday 23rd March at 7.30 pm in the home of Paddy and Dympna Cleary, 9 Tattysallagh Road.

Adoration
There will be Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament every Friday in Lent in the Sacred Heart Church from 10.30 am to 7.15 pm.

Change of Mass Times
On Monday 8th, Tuesday 9th and Wednesday 10th March the Year 4 children in the Parish will be making their First Confession in the Sacred Heart Church. Consequently, the time of the Evening Mass will be changed from 7.30 pm to 7.00 pm for these three evenings.

First Confession Times :
Monday 8th March 2010 – St Colmcille’s P.S. @ 7.30 pm
Tuesday 9th March 2010 – Loreto P.S. @ 7.30 pm
Wednesday 10th March 2010 – St Conor’s P.S. @ 7.30 pm
On Thursday 11th March 2010 – All Saint’s P.S. / Sacred Heart P.S. / Integrated P.S. First Confessions will be in St Mary’s Church, Drumragh at 7 pm.

Drumragh Child Protection Committee

The Drumragh Child Protection Committee requests chairpersons and leaders of organisations and clubs using parish facilities to return the Club Audit checklist as soon as possible.

The Drumragh Child Protection also wish to inform all clubs and groups using parish facilities that there is an awareness-raising meeting in St Joseph’s Hall at 8.15 pm on Monday 22nd March.

Spred / Faith & Light
Today (Sunday) we will celebrate 25 years in Omagh of SPRED and Faith & Light. These groups promote the spiritual development and inclusion of those with disabilities in parish life. Mass will be celebrated in the Sacred Heart Church at 2.30 pm by Bishop Brendan Kelly, Achonry, Monsignor Donnelly and past and present chaplains. A warm welcome is extended to parishioners and especially to families who have a son or daughter with special needs. A Church Gate collection will take place at all Masses this weekend.

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. The series continues on Monday 8th March from 10.30 am to 12 noon. This session is entitled:

3. Passion for Jesus.

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

Date for Your Diary

Confirmation in this parish will be on Saturday 27th March.

There will be two ceremonies this year:

11.00 am in the Sacred Heart Church – St Conor’s P.S. &
Omagh Integrated P.S.

3.00 pm in the Sacred Heart Church – Loreto P.S., St Colmcille’s P.S.,
Sacred Heart P.S. & All Saints P.S.

Girl Guides

There is a great demand to re-open the Guide Unit in Omagh. In order to do this we require voluntary adult leaders. Members of the Guiding Association will be at the 11am Mass today and immediately afterwards in St. Mary's Hall to meet anyone interested and answer any questions they may have about Guiding.

St Joseph’s Ladies’ Club
A talk on Drug Abuse scheduled to take place on Wednesday 10th March in St Joseph’s Hall, Omagh has been cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.

Epilepsy Action Omagh Branch
We will be holding a collection after the 10 am Mass in Drumragh and the 12.30 pm Mass in the Sacred Heart Church on Sunday 21st March 2010. Your support for this organization will be much appreciated.

Drumragh Parish Draw Winners – March

£2,000 – Sean Taggart, 97 Tamlaght Road. Promoter – Raymond McNally; £1,000 –Ann Eannetta, 7 Birchwood Drive. Promoter – Philomena McNamee; £500 – Helen McGlone. Promoter – Mary McGlone; £250 – Helen McCullagh, Kildress. Promoter – Attracta Kelly; £100 – Paddy Mullan, 19 Letfern Road. Promoter – May Mullan; £100 – Gareth Starrs, 100 Clanabogan Road. Promoter – Gerry Starrs; £100 – Una Brannigan, Dublin Road. Promoter – Babs Barrett; £100 – Vindy Barrett, Drumlish Road. Promoter – Babs Barrett; £100 – Anthony Higgins, c/o Promoter. Promoter – Attracta Kelly; £100 – Una Gallagher, 56 Esker Road. Promoter – Geraldine Gallagher; £100 – Geralyn McCusker, 20 Gortrush Park. Promoter – Mary Haughey; £100 – Una Brannigan, Dublin Road. Promoter – Babs Barrett; £100 – Dermot Colton, 16 Harmony Heights. Promoter – T.J. Baxter; £100 – Rozella Kelly, 50 O’Kane Park. Promoter – Rozella Kelly; Promoter’s £100 Prize: Tommy Sharkey.

Please Note: The next Parish Draw will take place on Tuesday 13th April 2010.

Appeal

Fr Donal Bennett’s friend in China, Fr Joseph Li, requests your help to build a Church in the former Columban Diocese of Hanyang. All Catholic Churches were destroyed or confiscated by the government in the 1950s when all the Columban missionaries were expelled. Your kind help can be channelled through Fr Donal Bennett, 17 Castle Grove, Omagh, BT79 7AY, call 8225 7993 and 0787 567 8434. Thanking you in advance. (A summary of the history of the Diocese of Hanyang is available).

Dance on Friday 12th March 2010
Killyclogher Parish Centre
Music by Country Traditions
Dancing from 10 pm
Supper served - Everyone welcome

Low Self-Esteem or Lacking in Confidence? Nervous or Unhappy?
Exchange negative feelings and emotions for a more blissful life. For full details contact 0784 587 3839. Venue is Care for Cancer, Community House. Beginning on 9 & 12 March for 8 weeks.

SVP Appeal

Vincent’s Shop has an urgent need of men’s clothes and children’s clothes. Can you help? Also, there is a Blue Clothing Bin at St Joseph’s Hall. This new bin can be used for recyclable materials. Please continue to hand in your saleable items into Vincent’s Shop. We are pleased to tell you that our £5 oil stamps are now on sale at the Credit Union, John Street. Thank you for your continued support.

Omagh St Enda’s GAC
There is a BIG MONSTER EASTER BINGO session at Healy Park at 9 pm next Thursday with £7,000 in prize money, including three £1,000 houses and three £500 houses and many other prizes.

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. A telephone helpline will be in operation on Monday and Wednesday night from 7pm – 9pm to aid those struggling with debt. Call 028 8224 3252.

Derry Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes

16th – 21st July 2010

Application forms are available for any young person aged 14-15 who would like a place on the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes. Special arrangements are made for the youth who will be lead by the Pilgrimage Youth Team. For further information contact The Pilgrimage Office, 164 Bishop Street, Derry, telephone 7135 1233.

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