Sunday 15th July 2007

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reordering Priorities

In many ways, if you develop the knack of looking at things the right way, you will find both people and world endlessly fascinating. The opposite is also true, if you gain the habit of looking at it the wrong way, then the whole world is horrible and tedious and boring. And that fundamentally is the battle - to keep looking at the world in the right way.

Both Levite & Priest were of course good men, but for their own reasons, while they saw the injured man, perceived him more as a threat to their plans that day. Broken lives rarely shoehorn themselves into our agendas. The Samaritan also had his tasks in mind for that day, but he saw the person before his personal projects. He saw things the right way round. The needs of the many do not justify the ignoring of the few. Think back, how many of your most rewarding experiences came from unexpected circumstances and people? In many ways our journey is like that of the scriptures set before people. It is to take the law of God from the pages (First Reading) out onto the streets. Are we here to see through people or to see each other through?

Announcements

Last week’s collection amounted to £2905.50. Thank you.

Dates for Baptism
The following are the dates for the Sacrament of Baptism during the months of July, August and September:
July: Sunday 15; Sunday 22; Friday 27.
August: Friday 3; Sunday 12; Sunday 19; Friday 24.
September: Sunday 2; Sunday 9; Friday 14; Sunday 23; Friday 28.
Times for Baptism: Sunday 1.15pm; Friday 7.20pm.

July and August Returns for Parish Draw 2007
Promoters should make their returns to the Parish Office tomorrow Monday 16 July for both July and August Draws (£10 for each person) from 2.00pm - 4.30pm and from 7.30pm - 8.30pm. The 2 Draws for July and August will take place on Thursday 19 July at 10.30am in the Parish Office.

Marriage Preparation Courses 2007-2008
Weekend Courses will be held by ACCORD in the Mount St. Columba Pastoral Centre, 48 Brook Street, Omagh. Dates: October 26 & 27, November 23 & 24, December 8 & 9, 2007. January 25 & 26, February 22 & 23, April 4 & 5, 25 & 26, May 23 & 24, June 13 & 14, 2008. Cost: £80.00 per couple. Application forms are available from the Parish Office telephone 028 71383777 or contact The Secretary, ACCORD, Mount St. Columba Pastoral Centre, 48 Brook Street, Omagh telephone 028 82242439 or e-mail: accordomagh@btopenworld.com

Parents Advice Centre
If you’re already doing the toughest job in the world... here’s a new challenge! Parents Advice Centre is recruiting Helpline Volunteers - to provide telephone & face-to-face support to people coping with family difficulties. If you can make a commitment of at least four hours a week, we will provide accredited training, ongoing support and a real challenge! If you are interested in finding out more telephone 028 71372006 or e-mail derry@pachelp.org. Training to commence in the autumn (limited places).

Blood Transfusion Service
The N.I. Blood Transfusion Service will be in St. Pat’s Hall, Barrack Street, Strabane on Wednesday 18 July from 1.30pm - 4.00pm and from 5.15pm - 8.00pm. New Donors and existing donors are encouraged to attend.

Anniversaries
Packie Kelly, Martin Duffy, Gavin Devine,
Margaret Lynch, Frankie Diver, Molly Greally,
Joe Millar, Tom Skehan, Pearse Scally,
Elizabeth McColgan, Danny Brown, Patrick Connolly,
Katie Gallagher, David McDaid, Edmund McGuinness,
Kathleen McGeady, Cassie O’Kane, Joe Roulston,
Tom Tinneny, Sarah Devlin, Bridie Hill.

Lough Derg - One-Day Retreats
August: 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29
September: 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23
Cost: 27 Euro/£18.50stg includes boat fare and lunch. Reservations are essential for the One Day Retreats.

Three-Day Pilgrimage
You may commence your pilgrimage on any day from Friday 1 June to Monday 13 August. Pilgrims must be at least 15 years of age, in normal good health and able to walk and kneel unaided. They must fast from midnight prior to arrival. Pilgrims are advised to bring warm and waterproof clothing. Boats available from 11.00am until 3.00pm daily. Cost: 45 Euro/£32.00stg includes boat fare and accommodation. For bookings and further information telephone 0035371 9861518 or e-mail: info@loughderg.org

Hunger Box
A letter of thanks has been received from Fr. Tom Hogan, World Mercy Fund, for £250.00 received from the Hunger Box. The donation will be used to help in the education of children and will focus particularly on getting girls into school and also on having as many children as possible immunized. He sends his sincere thanks.

A letter has also been received from Sr. Josephine Walsh. The £250.00 sent to her was to help with housing aid in Bosnia and she says ‘what a lovely response to our cry.’ She thanks all parishioners sincerely for their contributions to the Hunger Box from which the donation came.

A letter of thanks has been received from Rachel Fallows the daughter of the local Methodist Minister, Rev. Noel Fallows, for the donation of £500.00 from the Hunger Box: ‘It is so much appreciated and will go a long way in helping us with our work in Malawi for Habitat for Humanity.’

Melmount Centre - Parish Bingo
Sunday 15 July 2007.

Holy Souls Crusade Pilgrimage to Spain and Poland
Garabandal - Spain 13 October - 20 October includes full board and day trip to: Santo Toribio (Relic of the True Cross) and Covadonga (Shrine of Our Lady). Spiritual Director: to be confirmed. Ex Dublin to Bilbao. Cost: 550 euro. Deposit 200 euro. Divine Mercy Shrine 10 November - 17 November includes half-board and trips to Auschwitz, Czestochowa, Wadowice, Kalwaria & Krakow. Spiritual Director: Fr. Martin Keane, Clarinbridge, Co. Galway. Ex. Dublin to Krakow. Cost: 550 euro. Deposit: 200 euro. For information contact Aidan 00353 91 876737 or 00353 876494915 or Mary 00353 91 798407 or 00353 872255739

Making Moves - a unique Dance Opportunity for Young People Aged 16+ Performance Skills Level 1: Dance/Theatre
Echo Echo Dance Theatre Company and the Workers Educational Association have joined together to present a unique opportunity to dance this summer. 3 week course beginning on Monday 6 August - Friday 24 August from 12 noon to 6.00pm. 2 evening rehearsals. Performance on Thursday 23 August. Cost: £60.00 with £30.00 refund on completion of course. A fun and exciting experience where you will create, rehearse and perform a new dance theatre show under the professional direction of Echo Echo Dance Theatre Company. You will also gain practical experience of career opportunities in dance/theatre. All participants will be awarded CCEA Performance Skills Level 1 on completion and this can be used to help support any application to further and higher education. No experience necessary. All we ask is for your enthusiasm and commitment. Regular attendance is essential. Register now to avoid disappointment - limited number of places. Call 028 71342266.

St. Vincent de Paul Lucky Lotto
The Draw for July took place on Sunday 1 July. The numbers drawn were: 5, 12, 17 and 22. There were 10 match 3 winners who shared £300.00, Thomas Collins, Sr. Rose Ann, Ciara McGill, Paulita McDermott, Carmel Moss, Mary Brown, Rita McDonnell, Ciara Kelly, Eddie Slavin and Bernie Henderson. Jackpot for August is £1,200.00. Promoters are asked to have August draw envelopes returned on or before 26 July. The next draw will take place at 9.00pm on Sunday 5 August at Melmount Parish Bingo.

Communion Thought

Father in heaven,
you have given us a mind to know you,
a will to serve you and a heart to love you.

Be with me in all I do,
so that your light may shine out in my life.
Help me to be the person that you have created me to be,
so that I may praise you in all I do or say. Amen

O Jesus,
I believe in you, I hope in you
And I love you.
Strengthen my faith,
Renew my hope and love,
And grant my prayer.
Remove my bitterness
Or resentment that exists in my heart.
Help me to be more kind to others in word or deed.
Give me self-control at all times
And fill my heart with your eternal love. Amen

Lord Jesus, in this Holy Communion
I have come into the
quietness and stillness of Your presence to begin
a new week with You.

Out of this moment I want to take with me
a quiet serenity that will last me through
the rough and tumble of life.
I ask for wisdom so that I may not make foolish mistakes.

I pray for peace so that nothing
may disturb or worry me.
I seek love so that nothing may make me
bitter, unforgiving or unkind.