SUNDAY 7 JUNE 2020 - The Most Holy Trinity
UNLIMITED JOY
Lingering like an echoing mantra is the Master's promise,
" . . . and no-one will take your joy away from you." This ability of
the Master's joy to be unconquerable, regardless of whether or not the odds are
overwhelmingly against being victorious, reminds me of the famous Three Musketeers
of Alexander Dumas. The musketeers were a seventeenth century mounted guard of French
gentlemen whose allegiance was exclusively to the service of the king of France.
The names of the three famous heroes of Dumas' novels, and later of Hollywood movies,
were Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. They never lost a fight or were outwitted in a
conflict by their enemies. What made these three so invincible was their fidelity
to one another as expressed in their motto, "All for one, and one for all!"
Joy is likewise invincible whenever it acts "All for
one, and one for all," side by side with "Pray always, and always be grateful,"
as did the three musketeers Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. Joy will be defeated easily
whenever it tries to act like a lone ranger virtue when outnumbered by a horde of
misfortunes and miseries. Those famous Pauline three: joy, gratitude, and prayer,
are identical triplets who sustain, protect, and encourage one another when they
are lived side by side.
Always being grateful regardless of the circumstances requires
a gift-giver to whom you express thanks. Continuous gratitude is simultaneously
prayer to the endlessly generous gift-giver: God. Praying incessantly isn't perpetual
recitation of prayers; it is simply abiding in the presence of the Beloved in every
place and time. Being conscious of this holy habitat in which you live, breathe,
and act will naturally express itself by viewing everything as a gift, and this
giftedness will burst out as loving thanksgiving. To receive gifts, especially unexpected
gifts, is always a most joyous experience. Being awakened to daily life, as an endless
avalanche of undeserved gifts, is to find to your delight that you are living a
joyous life.
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 1.00pm. Please note
change of time. Please go to www.strabaneparish.com and click on web cam or to www.mcnmedia.tv
DEATHS
Noel
McGinty, 135 Mount Carmel Heights, formerly of Omagh
Nellie
McShane, 3 Bowling Green
Larry
Kelly, 15 Glen Road
May they rest in peace
ANNIVERSARIES
Mary
Frances Madden, Rosie
Gallagher
Bella
McCrossan, Katie
Slevin
May
Slevin, Alicia
McNamee
Patrick
McNamee, Adrian
Doherty
Carol
McCool, John
Walsh Jnr
Patrick
Flanagan, Jim
Cooke
John
McGillion, Robert
Coyle Snr
Robert
Coyle Jnr
CHURCH RESTORATION
Dear
parishioners and friends of the parish,
Your
generosity and contributions are deeply appreciated at this time.
Because
of the current lockdown, balancing our books has become deeply challenging and our
shortfall in the Restoration Fund is causing concern. Our matched funding with The
National Lottery Heritage Fund has fallen below our projections and our fundraising
capacity is nil. I appeal for your help in both these areas.
The
restoration work has started and the scaffolding is very visible around the church.
Please
help and support us by using your parish envelopes. You also have the option of
using the Donate button on our parish website.
Thank
you for your ongoing support and generosity.
Fr. Declan Boland PP
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
Renovation
work has now started 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.
PARISH DRAW
The Draw for the month of June will take place in the parish
office on Thursday 18 June. Promoters are asked to make their returns to the parish
office no later than Monday 15 June.
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
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.
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.
