SUNDAY 31st MAY 2020 - Pentecost Sunday

A PRAYER FOR PENTECOST

Spirit! Power and Passion of my being,

press upon my heart your profound love.

Move through the fragments of my days;

enable me to sense your fiery Presence

consecrating my most insignificant moments.

-

Spirit! Source of vision, Perceptive Guide,

permeate the moments of my choices

when falsehood and truth both call to me.

Turn me toward the way of goodness,

so that I will always lean toward your love.

-

Spirit! Blessing for the heart grown weary,

encircle me with your loving energy,

empower me with your active gentleness.

Deepen within me a faith in your dynamism

which strengthens the weak and the tired.

-

Spirit! Breath of Life, Touch of Mystery,

you are the ribbon of inner connection,

uniting me with the groaning of all creation.

Because of you, my life gathers into a oneness.

Keep me attentive to this interdependence.

Fill my being with a constant compassion

and a deep hope that knows no bounds.

-

Spirit! Dwelling Place, Sanctuary of Silence,

you are the home for which I deeply yearn.

You are the resting place for which I long.

I find both comfort and challenge in you.

Grant that I may keep my whole self open

to the transforming power of your indwelling,

that I may ever know the blessing

of your tremendous companionship.

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

Patricia Neeson, Victoria Bridge, formerly of Sion Mills

May she rest in peace

ANNIVERSARIES

Mary Dunne, Joseph Dunne, Charlie O’Doherty, Eddie Patton

May Stewart, Dominic Hegarty, Rosaleen McGonigle, Michael Hannigan

WEEKLY COLLECTION ENVELOPES

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.

ONLINE PARISH CONTRIBUTIONS

We have now added a Donate button to our parish website which allows you to make contributions to the parish with your debit or credit card. To use the Donate facility log on to www.strabaneparish.com and you will see the Donate button.

To use, just click on Donate and you will be given 3 options to choose from.

1.            Weekly Parish Collection

2.            Church Restoration Fund

3.            Parish Donation

·                     Enter the amount you wish to donate and click Pay Now.

·                     This will take you to your Chosen Payments and Order Summary.

·                     On the Order Summary tick I agree to the terms and conditions of Strabane (Camus) Parish and click Proceed.

·                     You will then be asked to Sign Up and enter your details.

·                     Don’t forget to click Yes to the terms and conditions of Easy Payments Plus and of Strabane (Camus) Parish. Click Register.

·                     This will take you to Payment Details where you will enter your debit/credit card details and then Pay Now.

·                     You will then be given the opportunity to check your payment and a receipt will be sent to you by email.

If you have any queries please contact the parish office on 02871882215.

TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF CHURCH DUE TO RENOVATIONS

On Monday 1 June the contractor and his team are coming on site to begin work on the church. To fulfil all safety regulations the church will be closed from Monday to Friday even for private prayer. It will be open on Saturday and Sunday after Mass until 5.00pm. This will be in place for a number of months. In the case of a funeral the church will of course be fully available. We appreciate your understanding and co-operation in this regard.

TROCAIRE

Every year Trócaire asks for your help during Lent to fund lifesaving programmes around the world. This year, of course, it was not possible to return Trócaire boxes through schools or parishes in the usual way. This is the worst possible timing coming just as the world’s poorest people need us most. Therefore, Trócaire are appealing to you to return your Lenten donation. Simply count or estimate what is in your box and donate in the following ways:

1. Online at www.trocaire.org

2. By phone: 1850 408 408 (ROI) or 0800 912 1200 (NI)

3. By post to Trócaire, Maynooth, Co. Kildare (ROI) or Trócaire, 10 King Street, Belfast, BT1 6AD (NI)

4. Check with your local parish on how to safely return your donation

FAN THE FLAME MASS 2020

Thursday 4 June was to be our Fan the Flame Mass, where we come together to celebrate all of the young people in our diocese who have received the sacrament of Confirmation and who are preparing to move to the next stage of their education.

Unfortunately, that will not be possible this year. We do hope that these young people will experience the full Fan the Flame in the future as it is such a joy-filled day for all of us.

To mark the end of their primary education, Bishop McKeown will celebrate the 10.00am Mass in Saint Eugene’s Cathedral for them that day via the webcam. http://www.steugenescathedral.com/webcam.html

ONLINE YOUTH COURSE SUNDAYS AT 7.00pm

Calling all young people 15-18 years from Derry Diocese, we are hosting an online meeting/course for 8 weeks starting 31 May at 7.00pm. We will have some craic, play some games and quizzes but we will also explore some big questions about our faith with the help of a programme called Alpha.

Alpha Youth explores the Christian Faith and answers some pretty big questions. Each week as part of the meeting we will watch a video and have a discussion afterwards. This trailer will give you an idea what to expect from this part of the meeting.

LOUGH DERG ONLINE RETREAT DAYS

A GUIDE TO YOUR ONLINE RETREAT

10:30am Go to loughderg.live

10:45am Welcome from the Prior, Msgr La Flynn

11:05am The Word of God - Reflection on the Good Samaritan with Mary

11:30am Prayer of Intercession with Rosary

12 noon Angelus followed by Way of the Cross

1:45pm Jesus the Healer with Deacon Martin

2:00pm Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

2:20pm Time of Contemplation

2:40pm Closing Prayer

Lough Derg phone lines are open 9.00am-5.00pm, Monday-Friday, during May

Tel: +353(0) 71 9861518

Email. info@loughderg.org Website. www.loughderg.org

DOWNLOAD THE 2020 SACRED HEART NOVENA FOR FREE!

The Messenger Sacred Heart Novena is one of our most popular publications each year. It is held for the nine days leading up to the Feast of the Sacred Heart, which is always celebrated nineteen days after Pentecost. Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is considered a symbol of "God's boundless and passionate love for humanity". Many have found comfort and solace praying the Novena, and this year we have particular reason as a community, a nation and a global people to find strength, patience and reassurance in God’s love for us.

As a way of encouraging and supporting our readers and promoters, we have made the 2020 Novena available to download from our website FREE OF CHARGE. Simply click here to visit the page and either view the booklet on your computer or print it off to use during each day of the Novena.

NOTE: The Novena is also available as a pull-out supplement in the June Messenger.

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.