Strabane Parish Newsletter
Sunday, 19th May 2019
Fifth Sunday of Easter
MASS TIMES
Monday 20 May
10.00am
Tuesday 21
May 10.00am
Wednesday 22
May 7.00pm
Thursday 23
May 10.00am
Friday 24 May
10.00am
Saturday 25
May 11.00am 6.30pm
Sunday 26 May
10.00am 12.00noon
CONFESSIONS
Saturdays:
10.30am - 12.30pm; 5.45pm - 6.20pm
Thursday before
First Friday after morning Mass
BAPTISMS
Friday: 6.30pm
Sunday: 12.45pm
CONTACTS
Parish Priest:
Rev. Declan Boland PP
Parochial House:
02871 883293
Parish Administrator:
Mrs. Amanda Cairns
Parish Office:
02871 882215
Email: amanda@strabaneparish.com
Website: www.strabaneparish.com
Parish Hall:
02871 88248
MARY, OUR
MODEL
How do we also give birth, as Mary did?
We tend to manage life more than just live it. We are
all over stimulated and drowning in options. We are trained to be managers, to organise
life, to make things happen. That is what built our culture. It is not all bad,
but if you transfer that to the spiritual life, it is pure heresy. It is wrong.
It doesn't work. It is not gospel. We might be economically rich but not spiritually
fertile, as Isaiah teaches. If Mary was trustfully carrying Jesus during this time,
it is because she knew how to receive spiritual gifts, in fact the spiritual
gift. She is probably the perfect image of how fertility and fruitfulness break
into this world.
We can't manage, manoeuvre or manipulate spiritual
energy. It is a matter of letting go and receiving what is being given freely. It
is the gradual emptying of our attachment to our small self so that there is room
for a new conception and a new birth. There must be some displacement before there
can be any new “replacement”! If Jesus is the symbol of the gift itself and how
God gives the gift, then Mary is the symbol of how the gift is received and treasured.
Whatever God gives is always experienced as totally unearned grace and never as
a salary, a reward or a merit badge of any sort. In fact, if you do experience it
in that way, it is not from God and will not expand your heart, mind or soul.
There is no mention of any moral worthiness, achievement
or preparedness in Mary, only humble trust and surrender. She gives us all, therefore,
a bottomless hope in our own little state. If we ourselves try to "manage"
God, or manufacture our own worthiness by any performance principle whatsoever,
we will never bring forth the Christ but only ourselves. Mary does not manage, fix,
control or ''perform" in any way. She just says "yes!" and brings
forth the abundance that Isaiah promises ("river," "waves,"
sands of the seashore).
Receive not manage
How can you receive instead of manage life?
How does managing give you a sense of importance? How
does receiving give you a sense of importance?
RESTORATION
FUND COLLECTION
A collection for the Church Restoration Fund will be
taken up at the vigil Mass on Saturday 25 May and at all Masses on Sunday 26 May
after Holy Communion. You will find an envelope for this collection in your envelope
box.
PRAYER GROUP
The contemplative prayer group will meet on Monday
at 8.15pm in the Parochial House. New members very welcome.
FIRST HOLY
COMMUNION
First
Holy Communion for P.4 children will take place in the church on Saturday 25 May
at 11.00am.
BLESSING OF GRAVES
The annual ceremony of the blessing of graves for the
parish will be held on Sunday 2 June at 3.00pm.
BAPTISMS
We welcome into God’s family through the sacrament
of baptism: Niamh Catherine Murray
DEATHS
We offer our deepest sympathy to the family and friends
of:
Jim
Boyle, 4 Collins Walk
Paula
McAneny, 25 Oakland Park
Michael
Porter, 9 Innisfree Gardens
Kathleen
McDevitt, 23 Mourne Avenue
Frank
Turbett, 34 Laurel Drive
Raymond
White, Lifford
Frank
McGillion, Newtownstewart
Barclay
Watkins, 37 Woodend Road
John
Devenney, 9 Mulvey House
May
they rest in peace.
FR. JAMES CLERKIN AND FR. JOHN FARREN
This weekend we pray for the anniversaries of two of
our former Parish Priests, Fr. James Clerkin whose anniversary is 22 May and Fr.
John Farren whose anniversary is 23 May. May they rest in peace.
ANNIVERSARIES
Fr. James Clerkin, Fr. John Farren
John Moore, Liam Logue
Willie Logue, Jimmy Logue
John Gallagher, Brendan Kelly
Bernard Coyle, Sean Moore
John (Dot) Walsh, Pauline Flanagan
John Nelson, Lily Nelson
Roy Hyndman , Jim Patterson
PRAY FOR PRIESTS
Fr. Bernard Bryson, Deceased, 19 May
Fr. Thomas Canning CC, Sion Mills & Melmount 20 May
Fr. Michael Canny PP, Waterside, 21 May
Fr. John Cargan PP, Kilrea, 22 May
Fr. Neal Carlin, Columba Community, 23 May
Fr. Walter Carolan, Deceased, 24 May
Fr. Colum Clerkin PP VF VE, Culmore, 25 May
MARRIAGE
PREPARATION COURSES
Book
your Marriage Preparation Course with Accord Derry. Bookings can be made online
at www.accord-ni.co.uk Course dates available are: September 13 & 14, October
18 & 19, November 15 & 16. Venue: Thornhill Ministeries, Culmore Road, Derry.
SOCIETY OF AFRICAN MISSIONS
SMA National Pilgrimage
to Knock on Saturday 25 May. Bus leaving Abercorn Square at 8.00am sharp. Fare £15.00.
Contact Mary Hegarty, 15 Patrick Street on 02871882886 for details.
PTAA
Mass for the intentions of all Pioneers and total abstainers
will be celebrated in St. Mary’s Church, Ardmore, on Tuesday 21 May at 8.00pm. Everyone
welcome. Light refreshments will be served afterwards.
CALL FOR HISTORICAL
CHURCH ITEMS
As part of the Church Restoration
Project we are creating an exhibition of memorabilia relating to the Church and
its history. If you have
any items that you would be willing to donate (or loan) to form part of this exhibition,
for example letters, photos, paintings, certificates or any other historical items,
we would be delighted to hear from you. To discuss or to arrange collection please
contact Fr. Boland on 02871883293.
DERRY DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOUGH DERG
The annual pilgrimage to Lough Derg will take place
Friday 21 June - Sunday 23 June. Spiritual Director: Bishop Donal McKeown. Please
consider participating in the diocesan pilgrimage this year. A bus is being arranged
from Derry for those who wish to avail of it. £80.00 per person (including bus)
or £65.00 for students (ages 16 – 18) including bus. For those making their own
way to Lough Derg the cost is £65.00 / €75.00. To book a place on the bus telephone
02871264087 or Email: padraig.delargy@derrydiocese.org
MASTERS IN CATHOLIC SCHOOL LEADERSHIP
The Derry Diocesan Catechetical
Centre, working in Partnership with Saint Mary’s University,
Twickenham, offers the Masters in Catholic School Leadership. This is a post graduate
degree dedicated to the professional development and spiritual formation of Catholic
school leaders. It is a great opportunity for those currently in leadership roles
and those who aspire to, or have an interest in, leadership roles within the Catholic
School system. The next intake will be Autumn 2019. An information session will
be held in Saint Mary’s College, Derry on Monday 10 June at 4.00pm. If you are interested
in attending or require any further information, please contact the Derry Diocesan
Catechetical Centre on 02871264087 or email tferry@derrydiocese.org.
PARISH
DRAW
The winners of the Draw for the month of May are:
£1000.00 Sharon Brolly 630
Promoter Eileen Canning
£300.00 Brian Donnelly 338
Promoter Fr. Boland
£200.00 Yvonne McGowan 124
Promoter Nuala Kerr
£100.00 Joe Doherty 223
Promoter Fr. Boland
£100.00 O’Doherty Family 303
Promoter Siobhan McDevitt
£100.00 Eileen McGarrigle 618
Promoter Eileen Canning
£100.00 Jim Boyle 840
Promoter Fr. Boland
£100.00 Aaron Devlin 906
Promoter Fr. Boland
ANNUAL SCHOOL CHOIR COMPETITION
The 8th Annual Rotary Primary/National School Choir
Competition takes place at the Strabane Academy, Derry Road, on Tuesday 21 May at
7.00pm. The School Choirs competing are:-
St. Mary’s Primary
School, Melmount, Senior.
St. Mary’s Primary School, Melmount, Junior.
Strabane Controlled Primary School.
St. Mary’s Primary School, Cloughcor.
Knockavoe School & Resource Centre.
St. Catherine’s Primary School, Strabane, Junior.
St. Columba’s Primary School, Clady.
Admission is £6.00 and all proceeds will be distributed
equally to all the schools taking part. Tickets are available at all the participating
schools or by phoning Rotary at 02871882138 or 07831682214.
THORNHILL MINISTRIES
Thornhill Ministries invites you to honour Our Lady
by visiting Thornhill House, 121 Culmore Road, Derry, on Sunday and Monday 26 and
27 May (11.00am to 5.00pm), where there will be a number of May altars on display.
This is an opportunity to bring your intentions to Mary in prayer. All welcome.
BINGO AND LUCKY 4 DRAW
Bingo and Lucky 4 Draw as usual this
Thursday
All our patrons are very welcome
PRAYER CORNER
SPEAKING TO MARY
Mary, you have been there before me,
weary and worn out from the long vigil,
saddened by the pain of your loved one,
heartbroken over what you could not change.
Your valiant stance beneath the cross
tells me of your unceasing love.
Long years of unfailing faith upheld you.
Kind friends by your side sustained you.
I, too, am standing with a loved one
who hangs upon the cross of suffering.
I, too, am powerless to help.
Teach me how to stand beneath this cross.
Woman of Compassion, Mother of Sorrows,
I draw inspiration from your journey.
I, too, can move through the pain of my present situation.
IN GOD'S HANDS
I rejoice in the hands of God,
Today, tomorrow and forever.
I am ever in the hands of God,
Powerful hands to support me,
Gentle hands to uphold me,
Peaceful hands to calm me,
Guiding hands to lead me,
Loving hands to enfold me,
Healing hands to strengthen me,
Saving hands to rescue me,
Redeeming hands to save me,
Graceful hands to accept me.
I rejoice in the hands of God,
Today, tomorrow, and forever.
