SUNDAY 3 MAY 2020

Fourth Sunday of Easter

Day of Prayer for Vocations

Good Shepherd Sunday

Pope Francis, Rome, Saint John Lateran, 8 March 2020, the Second Sunday of Lent.

On 4 August last year, the 160th anniversary of the death of the Curé of Ars, I chose to write a letter to all those priests who daily devote their lives to the service of God’s people in response to the Lord’s call. On that occasion, I chose four key words – pain, gratitude, encouragement and praise – as a way of thanking priests and supporting their ministry.

Gratitude

According to Pope Francis, God accompanies and guides us; he prevents us from running aground on the shores of indecision and even enables us to walk on surging waters. Every vocation is born of that gaze of love with which the Lord came to meet us, perhaps even at a time when our boat was being battered by the storm. “Vocation, more than our own choice, is a response to the Lord’s unmerited call” (Letter to Priests, 4 August 2019). We will succeed in discovering and embracing our vocation once we open our hearts in gratitude and perceive the passage of God in our lives.

Encouragement

When the disciples see Jesus walking towards them on the sea, they first think that he is a ghost and are filled with fear. Jesus immediately reassures them with words that should constantly accompany our lives and our vocational journey: “Take heart, it is I; have no fear” (Mt 14:27). This, then, is the second word I wish to offer you: encouragement. What frequently hinders our journey, our growth, our choosing the road the Lord is marking out for us, are certain “ghosts” that trouble our hearts. When we are called to leave safe shores and embrace a state of life – like marriage, ministerial priesthood, consecrated life – our first reaction is often from the “ghost of disbelief”. Surely, this vocation is not for me! Can this really be the right path? Is the Lord really asking me to do this? Take heart, do not be afraid! Jesus is at our side, and if we acknowledge him as the one Lord of our lives, he will stretch out his hand, take hold of us and save us.

Pain

Every vocation brings with it a responsibility. The Lord calls us because he wants to enable us, like Peter, to “walk on water”, in other words, to take charge of our lives and place them at the service of the Gospel, in the concrete and everyday ways that he shows us, and specifically in the different forms of lay, priestly and consecrated vocation. Yet, like Saint Peter, our desire and enthusiasm coexist with our failings and fears. If we let ourselves be daunted by the responsibilities that await us – whether in married life or priestly ministry – or by the hardships in store for us, then we will soon turn away from the gaze of Jesus and, like Peter, we will begin to sink. On the other hand, despite our frailty and poverty, faith enables us to walk towards the Risen Lord and to weather every storm. Whenever fatigue or fear make us start to sink, Jesus holds out his hand to us. He gives us the enthusiasm we need to live our vocation with joy and fervour. Take heart, do not be afraid!

Praise

Dear friends, on this day in particular, but also in the ordinary pastoral life of our communities, I ask the Church to continue to promote vocations. May she touch the hearts of the faithful and enable each of them to discover with gratitude God’s call in their lives, to find courage to say “yes” to God, to overcome all weariness through faith in Christ, and to make of their lives a song of praise for God, for their brothers and sisters, and for the whole world. May the Virgin Mary accompany us and intercede for us.

MASS TIMES

Due to the COVID-19 Virus all Weekday and Weekend Mass will be broadcast live via the parish web cam or by going to www.mcnmedia.tv at the following times:

Monday – Friday - 10.30am

Saturday Vigil - 6.30pm

Sunday Morning - 10.00am

ROSARY

The Rosary will be broadcast live Monday – Friday at 2.00pm.

Please go to www.strabaneparish.com and click on web cam or to www.mcnmedia.tv

DEATHS

Frances McNulty, 23 Eden Terrace

Frank Kirk, Late of 23 Camus Park

Donna Lafferty, 14 Camus Park

Seamus Graham, 38 Church View

Marian Carlin, Derry

Sister Helena Doherty, Convent of Mercy

May they rest in peace

ANNIVERSARIES

John McCullagh, Patsy McLaughlin

Jim Dunnion, Hubert Dunnion

Jimmy McBride, Josephine Gallagher

Patricia Gallagher, Kevin McGonigle

WEEKLY COLLECTION ENVELOPES

If anyone would like to collect their box of envelopes please ring 02871882215 or email the parish office amanda@strabaneparish.com If you are willing to distribute boxes in your own parish area we would be very grateful. Should you wish to receive a box of parish envelopes and are not already on our list please contact Amanda at the parish office on 02871882215. Your cooperation in this regard is greatly appreciated.

We express a huge Thank You to all who have collected their envelopes and a special Thank You to those who have kindly distributed boxes of envelopes in their parish area.

We kindly ask parishioners to leave their weekly envelopes at the parochial house or the parish office. The parish depends greatly on the weekly collection, as it is the main source of income. If you would like to make your contributions by cheque, please make your cheque payable to Church of the Immaculate Conception. We greatly acknowledge your understanding and support at this time.

TROCAIRE LENTEN CAMPAIGN 2020

As churches are currently closed it will not be possible to return Trocaire boxes this year. If parishioners wish to make donations they can do so in the following ways.

Online banking directly to Trocaire.

Bank details:

Sorting Code: 93 80 92

Account No: 8822 7020

Please note that these details are for an account in Northern Ireland.

For people who do not use online banking, cheques can be posted to: Trocaire, 50 - 52 King Street, Belfast, BT1 6AD. Euro cheques can also be posted to the Belfast address.

There is also a Northern Ireland Freephone number, 0800 912 1200, through which you can donate but please be aware that it may be difficult to get through due to the volume of calls at this time.

We would ask that parishioners do not bring their Trocaire box to the parish office or the parochial house. Thank you for your understanding and support.

THE MESSENGER

Messenger Publications are offering a free online copy of the May edition (and possibly further editions) of The Messenger, given that it is impossible to distribute the paper copy in the usual manner. To access the May edition, visit: https://issuu.com/messengerpublications/docs/05_messenger_may_2020. Even if you do not normally receive The Messenger, you are welcome to access this link. If you have any difficulty accessing the link or if you have any further queries please email c.henry@messenger.ie

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 2020. If you require any further information, please contact the Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre on 004428 71264087 or email tferry@derrydiocese.org.

DERRY DIOCESAN VOCATION PRAYER

Lord Jesus Christ, gentle shepherd, You know your sheep,

And you know how to reach their hearts.

Give to the people of the diocese of Derry

Hearts that are open to the call of the Holy Spirit.

Speak to the hearts of the (young) men of our diocese

That they may hear your call

To follow you and serve your people as priests.

Awaken in them the courage to answer: ‘Here I am, Lord, Send me.’

St Eugene, pray for us.

St Columba, pray for us.

St John Vianney, pray for us.

PRAYER FOR OUR PROTECTION

We ask for prayers for those affected by the Coronavirus. Placing all our trust in the Lord, and asking Our Lady to intercede for us, we invite everyone to pray these prayers:

Extract from Saint Patrick’s Breastplate


Christ with me, 
Christ before me, 
Christ behind me, 
Christ in me, 
Christ beneath me, 
Christ above me, 
Christ on my right, 
Christ on my left, 
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, 
Christ when I arise, 
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me, 
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, 
Christ in every eye that sees me, 
Christ in every ear that hears me.

Memorare

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To you I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. Of Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your mercy, hear and answer. Amen.