SUNDAY 14 JUNE 2020

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ - Corpus Christi

THE BREAD OF HIS BODY

Jesus wants to lead his disciples further.

He is not just the word of God, enlightening their hearts and minds,

he is the Word made flesh, wanting to give himself to them as he is,

in his incarnated person,

and to be present to them as a friend,

a vulnerable friend through his flesh.

He has chosen them, to live with them,

a communion of hearts.

This implies an important passage of faith for the disciples.

How can they become a friend of the Messiah?

Friendship implies a certain equality and mutual vulnerability.

Jesus no longer appears as the powerful one but as a powerless one

offering his loving person:

"I am the living bread which has come down

from heaven.

The person who eats this bread will live

forever.

And even, the bread that I will give as my flesh

for the life of the world."

And he adds:

"Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood,

dwells in me and I dwell in that person"

These words seem incredible.

What can they mean?

All of us would have run away upon hearing

these words

if we had not seen the miracles Jesus had done

to show that his words were trustworthy

and that they were words of life.

So we need to take time to inquire and understand what Jesus is saying

through and behind these words.

For the Israelites, it is the flesh and blood of a person

that signifies the person with all her or his being.

When Jesus uses the separation of flesh and blood,

he is signifying his death: he has come as the Lamb of God who will be sacrificed and eaten as the

Paschal Lamb.

Jesus is offering to us a personal, intimate relationship with him that will lead us into the very life of God and nourish this life.

It will bring us to dwell in Jesus and to have Jesus dwell in us.

BISHOP FRANCIS LAGAN

This week the diocese of Derry and Strabane parish in particular lost a close and dear friend and we are all the poorer for this loss. Ordained a priest in 1960 and Bishop in 1988 he served his people with great devotion, energy and humility. He brought a great personal warmth and approachability wherever he went and was dearly loved in all the parishes he served. He was happiest when he was out and about with people, easily engaging them and really enjoying the energy of conversation and chat. As a Bishop he continued to manifest those deep personal qualities which endeared him to so many. He was a native of Maghera in South Derry and he never lost his love for his home place family and many many friends.

He had a special place in his heart for Strabane where he served as a curate for some years. He is fondly remembered for his warmth and as a man ‘of the people’. Always available he served the people here with true dedication and zeal. Over 25 years ago he came back to live in the Glen Road and regularly celebrated Mass in the Church of the Immaculate Conception and was always available at Christmas, Holy Week and Easter. Never did he lose that special ‘touch’ which God had blessed him with so generously. We are so very very grateful for all that he had done for our parish and throughout the diocese.

In the past few years he suffered serious illness and never ever complained. He bore it all with supreme dignity and courage. We are saddened at his death but relieved to know that his pain and confinement is over now and that he is with the Lord whom he served so faithfully throughout his life as priest and Bishop.

We extend our sympathy to his two remaining sisters and brother and the extended family circle. I am sure God has said to him, “ Francis, well done good and faithful servant, welcome home.”

May his gentle soul rest in peace.

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

Bishop Francis Lagan, 9 Glen Road formerly of Brackaghreilly, Maghera

Vera McGillian, 45 Barrack Street

Joe McBride, Mulvey House

Sean Gallagher, Lifford

Nigel Robb, Ballymagorry

May they rest in peace

ANNIVERSARIES

Gerard McShane, Kevin McCrossan, Maggie Dunne

Andy Dunne, John Quinn, Kevin Moore

Andrew Curran, Mary Curran

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.

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

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

LOUGH DERG ONLINE RETREAT DAYS

During the month of June, Lough Derg is offering opportunities to have an experience of retreat and pilgrimage from wherever you are. Online Retreat Days continue on 13 and 18 June. From 27 – 29 June people can do the Three Day Pilgrimage from afar, along with the Prior and team. To register for this historic event and for full details of what is happening during June go to www.loughderg.live Telephone 0 (0353) 71 9861518 Email info@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.