Strabane Parish Newsletter

Sunday, 19th May 2019

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.