Sunday 3rd August 2008

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Lord who feeds us

Jesus said to his disciples: “Give them something to eat yourselves.” These words of Jesus in this Sunday’s Gospel are a clear reminder that we, as his followers, have to develop a new mentality. Instead of always looking for what we can get we are called to be people who look for what we can give. All the gifts we have are given to us for others. This is especially true of the gift of love. The main question for couples is not “Are we alright?” but “How do we need to be with one another so that others will be alright?” The love of a married couple is full of power for all those who meet them. This is particularly true for their children. It is the quality of the love of the couple that creates the quality of the atmosphere of the home. This command of Christ is also given to us as a community. The gift of faith that we celebrate is given to us so that others may believe. This can call us to radical change as a parish community.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R. - http://www.loveisforlife.com

 

 

Masses during the coming week

PLEASE NOTE! There will be no morning Mass during this incoming week.

Weekend Masses:

Vigil Mass Saturday evening 8.00 pm

Sunday morning 9.00 am & 11.00 am

Confession Times: There will be No Confessions after the Saturday Evening Vigil Mass

Mass Intentions for this week:
Saturday 8.00pm - Anv. Mass - Brian Penrose

Derry Diocesan Society From July 2008 the contribution to enrol members to the Derry Diocesan Society has been increased to £20

Each day in the Derry Diocese we are asked to pray for our priests named on that particular day. THIS WEEK WE PRAY FOR:

Sunday - Fr. James Mc Gonagle
Monday - Fr. James McCrory
Tuesday - Fr. Patrick J. McGuigan R.I.P.
Wednesday - Fr. Edward McGuinness
Thursday - Fr. Kevin McKenna
Friday - Fr. Sean Mc Kenna
Saturday - Fr.Con McLaughlin

This Week’s Calendar

Monday 4 St John Vianney, priest. John Vianney, 1786-1859, had to contend with poverty, military service and his own intellectual shortcomings in order to become a priest. His marvellous gift for seeing into the depths of the soul brought the world to his parish, Ars. From 1830 on, he averaged twelve to sixteen hours a day in the confessional. Patron of priests.

Tuesday 5 Weekday (18th Week in Ordinary Time)

Wednesday 6 The Transfiguration of the Lord. The cross requires the exodus of Jesus, his death, resurrection and glorification. È

Thursday 7 Saints Sixtus II, pope, and companions, martyrs. Also, St Cajetan, priest. Cajetan, 1480-1547, founded the Theatines to renew sacramental life in the Church.

Friday 8 St Dominic, priest. Dominic, 1170-1221, was a Spanish priest who founded the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) to counteract the Albigensian heresy through instruction and prayer.

Saturday 9 St Teresa Benedict of the Cross (Edith Stein), Virgin and Martyr, Patron of Europe.

SAINT FOR AUGUST

St Teresa Benedict of the Cross (Edith Stein) 9 August Edith was born at Breslaw (now Wroclaw, Poland), the youngest of seven children of a Jewish family. A brilliant student, she gained her doctorate in philosophy at twenty-five. She became a Catholic in 1922 and a Carmelite nun. Both Jewish and Catholic, she fled to Holland when the Nazis came to power but she was captured and sent to Auschwitz where she died in a gas chamber on 9 August 1942

Legion of Mary Meeting as usual on Thursday at 8pm in the parish hall.

Abortion Threat from Westminster - Abortion could be legalised in Northern Ireland as early as October when MP’s will vote on proposals to extend the 1967 Abortion Act. Pro-Life group PRECIOUS LIFE are asking for your prayers and support for their urgent campaign to protect our unborn babies and mothers from abortion. For further information on how you can help, contact Bernadette on 028 90276484 or www.preciouslife.com

The monthly devotions, in honour of Our Lady, will take place in the Carmelite Retreat Centre, Termonbacca, Derry on Tuesday 5th August starting with confessions at 7.30 p.m. followed by Rosary and Mass, finishing at 10.00 p.m approximately. All are welcome to attend.

Naomh Dabh—g GAA Club News

Seniors were defeated last week in Jim Devlin Cup by Errigal Ciaran.

U'16's have 2 home games this week Monday night Urney at 7.30pm and Castlederg on Wednesday evening at 7.30pm. Support welcome.

U'12's next game is home to Drumragh on Monday 11th August.

Training for all underage every Monday and Wednesday evenings 6.30pm to 8pm.

U'16's girls lost to An Charraig and play Edendork this Tuesday evening at home at 7pm Support welcome.

Anyone who ordered hoodies or the rain jackets can collect them on Monday evening between 8pm to 9pm at centre

DREGISH SPORTS Sunday 10th August, at the Dregish GFC field. starting with fancy dress parade (open) at 2.00pm. pony riding on Apollo the pony, wheelbarrow racing, face painting, play your cards right, penalty kick,bouncy castle, races for children and adults, bottle stall, envelope stall, mini digger driving, tractor reversing, bean bags, pillow fighting, cake stall, book stall, teas, Eithne's burger bar, musical chairs (or cars!).......and more. a splendid time is guaranteed for all!!!

Pilgrimage to the Holy Land - September 2009 Direct flight from Belfast. 11 Days just 1395 euro (Currently £975 stg) Spiritual directors. Fr. Miko Porter, Burt and Fr. Gerry Sweeney Killyclogher. Saving Scheme in operation. For further details: Contact Charlie Gillespie. Tel:07533330756

The Deep End

Faiths Strength - I’ve just finished reading The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins with my faith intact despite running the gauntlet of rational, and at times seemingly irrational, assault. I think that his approach to eradicating religion is rather like fighting fire with wind. It may blow it out, but then again it may just fan the flames. Anyway, today’s Second Reading (Rom: 8:35, 37-39) reminds us of a very important fact with regard to faith. It’s not primarily a matter of our relationship with God, but of God’s relationship with us. That’s its strength. Paul puts it boldly as he asks: Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword separate us from Christ? To which he gives a resounding No!

Neither will death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come (including science and Dawkins book?) nothing, simply nothing, can separate us from the love of God. In other words nothing can touch Gods love for us. That’s what we believe, wonderfully unscientific though it may be. And the faith we have or, more accurately, that has us is not for hoarding but for sharing. It’s a gift to improve the quality of human life by bringing out all that is good within and around us. That’s the point of today’s Gospel reading (Matt 14:13-21) too. The crowds are hungry, in a barren place. Jesus tells his followers those with faith in him to feed the crowds. Once the faith is present, the miracle happens.

Marriage Preparation Courses. 2008

October 24th & 25th. November 21st & 22nd. December 5th & 6th

Courses 2009 January 23rd & 24th, February 20th & 21st March 20th & 21st, April 24th , 25th, May 22nd & 23rd, June 19th & 20th.

Application forms are available from the parochial house or from the Accord Office 48 Brook Street,Omagh. Numbers on courses are limited. The fee of £100 per couple must be included with completed application form and forwarded to the Accord Office