Sunday 20th July 2008

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.

A Word for the Weeds

You can sum up today’s long Gospel reading (Mt 13:24-43) in two words: Cool it! A most insightful piece of writing, it comes with a take you wouldn’t expect. It puts me in mind of something the late John O’Donohue wrote in his book Eternal Echoes (p.89): ‘Where all danger is neutralized, nothing can ever grow’. And it’s growth that Jesus’ parable is concerned with: your growth, my growth and humankind’s growth into the fullness of life.

Whatever harms life is alien to it. We don’t come into this world with embedded seeds of self-destruction. God creates us for life, not death; for wholeness, not sickness; for happiness, not horror; for joy, not gloom; for hope, not despair; and for glory, not damnation.

Somewhere along the line things went wrong. Still do. And when they do we shouldn’t get too hot and bothered about rooting out the cause. To put it starkly, we need to be able to live with sin. Not in it, but with it. For seriously minded people of faith that is possible, but only when their God is benign. When they know God to be the Compassionate One, who fashioned this beautiful creation so lovingly, knowing it would be marred by evil - the price to pay for freedom.

If God can live with weeds until the harvest, then so can we. So must we. They can’t destroy the crop. No fear of that. But being violent with them will do more harm than good. So, cool it! God rules, not the weeds.

Announcements

Last week’s collection amounted to £2925.00. Thank you.

Dates for Baptism

The following are the dates for the Sacrament of Baptism during the months of July and August:

July: Sunday 20; Friday 25.
August: Friday 1; Sunday 10; Sunday 17; Friday 22.

Times for Baptism: Sunday 1.15pm; Friday 7.20pm.

Lourdes 30 July - 6 August 2008

All those travelling on this trip are asked to attend a meeting in ‘The Den’ on Wednesday 23 July 2008 at 7.30pm, when final arrangements will be made. Any queries please contact G. McBrearty on 71884029.

Lough Derg - One-Day Retreats

August: 19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 31
September: 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

Cost: 27 Euro includes boat fare and lunch.
If you would like to find out more information please contact 071 9861518 (ROI) 028 68632391 (N.I.) or e-mail info@loughderg.org

Knock Summer Youth Festival

All 18-35 year olds are invited to attend the Knock Summer Youth Festival from Thursday 24 - Sunday 27 July. The festival promises to be a wonderful weekend with excellent guest speakers, brilliant music, drama, prayer and plenty of fun and games. The cost is 55 euro and there will be transport available. For more information, to find out your closest pick-up point or to book a seat on the bus contact the youth coordinator at 71 264087 or check out the website www.knock-shrine.ie/youthministry

New Courses at Thornhill Centre

The following new courses are planned for Thornhill Centre next term.

Practical Theology & Spirituality (Monday Nights) - 1 Year.
Foundations in Liturgy (Tuesday Nights) - 1 Year.
Prayer in Daily Life (Thursday Mornings) - 8 Weeks.
Understanding Saint Paul (Tuesday Nights) - 4 Weeks.

For further details contact the Centre at 028 71351233.

May they Rest in Peace - Deaths

Noel Logue, 1 Owenreagh Drive
Joseph Dillon, Castlederg

Anniversaries

Bridget Gallagher, Fergal McDonald, Packie Kelly,
Margaret Doherty, Joseph Doherty, Mary Kirk,
Joe O’Kane, Francis O’Kane, Frankie Donaghey,
Kathleen Curley, Laurence O’Neill, Joe Roulston,
Martin Doherty, Martin Duffy, Gavin Devine,
Tom Tinneny, Edmund McGuinness, Elizabeth Cooke,
Damien McGrath, Aidan McGrath, Marie McDaid Imeson,
Kathleen McGeady, Patsy Connolly, Katie Gallagher.

Lifeline

Lifeline is a new regional 24/7 helpline funded by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) in response to the action outlined in the suicide prevention strategy, Protect life: A shared vision. Lifeline calls are answered by trained counsellors who are experienced in dealing with suicide, self-harm, abuse, trauma, depression and anxiety. The number is: 0808 808 8000, lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and calls are free from all landlines and mobile phones. A textphone service is also available on 18001 0808 808 8000.

Blood Transfusion Service

The N.I. Blood Transfusion Service will be in St. Pat’s Hall, Barrack Street, Strabane on Wednesday 23 July from 1.30pm - 4.00pm and from 5.15pm - 8.00pm. New Donors and existing donors are encouraged to attend.

Liam Bradley Tours - Galway/Clare 25 August. Four days, three dinner and bed and breakfast. Three nights dancing. Cost £220.00 per person sharing. Departs Strabane at 8.20am. For further details telephone 71269109.

Customized Training Services

Attention all school leavers... School’s over... Exams Finished... What Now? Training for success at Customized Training Services can help you MAKE IT HAPPEN! Choose from a training area that suits you: Construction, Retail, Admin, IT, Childcare, Direct Care, Hairdressing, Beauty, Serving Food & Drink among many, many more! YOU make the choice, together WE make the effort to help YOU make the progress! For more information on the programme call Claire on 028 71382260.

Melmount Centre - Parish Bingo Sunday 20 July 2008

Parish Draw.

The Parish Draws for July and August took place on Thursday 17 July.

July Parish Draw 2008: The winners are as follows:

£500: 1396 Deirdre Patton - Mary Callaghan
£250: 1537 Rosaleen Kelly - Sheila McGonagle
£250: 1013 Kevin Winters - Helen Foster
£250: 1716 Rosemary Barr - Michael McGrath
£150: 1198 Fr. Michael Doherty - Margaret McLaughlin
£150: 1139 Mary McNulty - Frances McLaughlin
£150: 1105 Anthony McPhilemy - Francis Henderson
£100: 1047 Mary Ferguson - Sheelagh McKelvey
£100: 1967 Helena Crawford - Elizabeth O’Hare
£100: 1178 John McGettigan - Juliana Murray

August Parish Draw 2008: The winners are as follows:

£500: 1073 Mary Dooher - Helen Foster
£250: 1981 Helen Gallagher - Bridget McCrory
£250: 1229 Dympna Conwell - Margaret McLaughlin
£250: 1122 Margaret Logue - Frances McLaughlin
£150: 1390 Helen McCay - Mar Hagan
£150: 1794 Richard McElwee - Frank McElwee
£150: 1511 Willie Milligan - Sheila McGonagle
£100: 1543 Mary O’Neill - Sheila McGonagle
£100: 1664 Kathleen McGill - Mar Hagan
£100: 1575 M. McCauley - Elizabeth Devenney