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.