27th Sunday in Ordinary Time-Year C

7th October 2007

BAMBOO: AN INDIAN LEGEND

Once upon a time there was a beautiful garden. Of all the dwellers of the garden, the most beautiful and beloved was a gracious and noble Bamboo. Year after year, Bamboo grew more beautiful and gracious. Often when the Wind came to revel in the garden, Bamboo would toss aside his dignity. He would dance and sway merrily, tossing and leaping and bowing in joyous abandon. He would lead the great dance of the garden, which most delighted his master's heart.

One day the master himself drew near. Bamboo bowed his head to the ground in joyful greeting. The master spoke: 'Bamboo, I would use you.' Bamboo flung his head to the sky in utter delight. 'Master I am ready, use me as you want.' 'Bamboo, the master's voice was grave, 'I would be obliged to take you and cut you down.' A trembling of great horror shook Bamboo. 'Cut... me... down? Ah, not that; use me for your joy, O master, but cut me not down,' 'Beloved Bamboo, if I do not cut you down then I cannot use you.' The garden grew still. Wind held her breath. Bamboo slowly bent his proud and glorious head. There came a whisper. 'Master, if you cannot use me unless you cut me down, then do your will and cut.'
'Bamboo, beloved Bamboo, I would cut your leaves and branches from you also.' 'Master, master, spare me. Cut me down and lay my beauty in the dust, but would you take from me my leaves and branches also?' 'Alas, if I do not cut them away, I cannot use you.' The sun hid her ace. A listening butterfly glided fearfully away. Bamboo shivered in terrible expectancy, whispering low, 'Master, cut away.' 'Bamboo, Bamboo, I would divide you in two and cut out your heart, for if I do not cut so, I cannot use you.' 'Master, master, then cut and divide.'

So the master cut down Bamboo and chopped off his branches and stripped off his leaves and divided him in two and cut out his heart and, lifting him gently, carried him to a spring of fresh, sparkling water in the midst of the dry fields. He put down one end of broken Bamboo into the spring and the other end into the water channel in the field. The spring sang welcome. The clear sparkling water raced joyously down the channel of Bamboo's torn body into the waiting fields. Then the rice was planted and the days went by. The shoots grew. The harvest came. In that day was Bamboo, once so glorious in his stately beauty, yet more glorious in his brokenness and humility. For in his beauty he was life abundant. But in his brokenness he became a channel of abundant life into his master's world.


Mass Intentions for this week:
Tuesday 10.00am - Anv. Mass - Mary Goan
Saturday 8.00pm - Month Mind. - Minnie McHugh

This Week’s Calendar
Monday 8 - Weekday (27th Week in Ordinary Time)
Tuesday 9 - 27th Week in Ordinary Time Also: Ss Denis, bishop, and Companions, martyrs, were beheaded and thrown into the Seine in 258 and later buried at Montmartre. Their finest tribute is the abbey church of Saint-Denis where the kings of France are buried. Denis, the first Bishop of Paris, is one of the patrons of France. Also: St John Leonardi, priest, 1541-1609, supported the reforms of Trent, published a Catechism and helped to found the Propagation of the Faith in Rome.
Wednesday 10 - Weekday
Thursday 11 - Weekday Also: St Canice, abbot.
Friday 12 - Weekday
Saturday 13 - Weekday

Baptisms.
We welcome into our Faith Community
Christopher Patrick McGlinchey
Brendan Gerard Foley who were Baptised and welcomed into the family of God recently.

Parish Bingo
The parish bingo continues in the Parish Hall @ 9.00 pm. on Friday evening. We look forward to your support at this parish function each week.

IHCPT-Young People’s Pilgrimage to Lourdes, Easter 2008. Around five hundred young people from all over Ireland spend a week in Lourdes with the IHCPT (The Irish Pilgrimage Trust) every Easter. Experienced adult carers visit the young people prior to the pilgrimage and accompany them throughout the week in Lourdes.
The Irish Pilgrimage Trust welcomes applications from young people of any religious denomination with:
A physical disability or illness (aged 9-18)
A learning disability (aged 11-21)
Very seriously ill children under the age of 9 (accompanied by a parent or close relative)
Young adults between the age of 20 and 25 with a disability or illness.

The IHCPT covers the cost of those young people selected to travel. If there is a young person that you feel would be eligible and would benefit form a trip to Lourdes please contact the IHCPT office at 0035391796622 for contact details of your local group or an application form. Please note closing date for applications is 31st October 2007.

Naomh Dabh—g Achadh U’ Ara’n club notes
Ladies Sunday 7th October: Div 2 FL - Aghyaran v Beragh @12pm

U-16’s Saturday 13th October: U-16 FC Grade 3 Final - Moy v Aghyaran/ Glenelly. Details tbc.

U-13’s Sunday 7th October: U-13 FL Grade 2 Play Off - Aghyaran v Beragh @12pm (in Dromore). Ê Bus leaves the Centre at 10.30am. Cards Cards on Thursday’s at 9pm. Everyone welcome.

Bar
Happy Hour in the Bar on Saturday nights from 9pm to 10pm all drinks £1.50.

Monthly Meeting
Club members meeting for October takes place on Monday 8th October at 9pm. All members invited to attend.

Hall Bookings
The Hall is available for groups wishing to play indoor soccer, basketball, badminton etc during the winter months. Bookings can be made in the Bar or by telephoning 81670385.

Sympathy
The club extends its deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the late Alice McHugh, Corgary.

The Catholic Charismatic Renewal, Derry Diocese invite you to a Day of Renewal. The theme is ÔGrowing to the fullness of our Christian vocation’ and the speaker will be Fr. Paschal McDonnell. The venue is the Mellon Country Hotel, Beltany Road, Omagh on Saturday 20th October from 9am-5pm.The cost for the day is £20 Coffee & buffet lunch is provided. Booking is essential. Tel. 028 82242092orEmail info@drumraghparish.com

New Parochial House
On Thursday 4th October Mr Gerry Loughrey, Architect, came to the house along with representatives from JEMM Construction. Contracts were signed and work on the new building is set to commence on Monday 15th October.

The October Stations
Thursday 18th October - Aghyaran,Mullinabreen & Magheranageeragh in the home of Damien & Siobhan Byrne
Monday 22nd October - Upper Killeter & Meenamullan in the home of Kieran & Carmel Dolan Wednesday 24th October - Altgoland, Scraghey in the home of Brian & Kathleen Moss
Thursday 25th October - Aghalunney, Shanaghy in the home of Damien & Siobhan Goan
Friday 26th October - Tullycar & Meenakeeerin in the home of Alex & Pearl Falls

Charity Dance
Saturday 20th October in Aghyaran G.A.A. Centre commencing at 9.30pm. Proceeds in aid of the Cardiac Clinic for Sick Children - Royal Victoria Hospital. Music on the night is by Larry & Co. Admission £5

Questions people ask
Q. Were your faith the size of a mustard seed you could say to this mulberry tree, Be uprooted and planted in the sea, and it would obey you.’ Sounds a bit crazy to me. How are we to understand these words of the Lord?
A. The background is important. Jesus has just spoken about putting no limit on how often one should forgive, an impossible demand without faith which enables a person to share in a love which goes beyond any injustice or injury. In that context the apostles ask Jesus, Increase our faith.’ Planting a tree in the sea is an image of the impossible. Here it refers to uprooting the roots of anger and the growing tree of hatred so as to cast them from us forever. It becomes possible with faith.

Website of the Week www.loughderg.org A place of pilgrimage near Pettigo in Co Donegal for more than 1000 years

PRAYER OF GUIDANCE

Spirit of Guidance, I see before me numerous choices and a decision to be made.

There is division in my heart. Sometimes I want none of what I find. Sometimes I want it all. Sometimes I want to give up making decisions and wish that the future would go away.

I entrust my decision-making into your hands, ready to do my part but also knowing that I cannot do this without your help.

Lead me through all the unsure, unclear, doubtful, hesitant, and questioning moments that are mine as I search to find the right way in which to go.

Grant me the grace to choose freely, without being attached to the outcome. I trust that you will be with me as I make my decision prayerfully and with faith.

Assure me that your peace will rest deep within me as I make the decision that seems best for me at this time. I may continue to experience feelings of turmoil and confusion, but deep within I know that I can return to that settled place in me where you always dwell.

Guide and Director of my life, I place my life in your hands. Lead me to the path that will best deepen and strengthen my relationship with you.

Marriage Preparation Courses.

2007

October 26th & 27th.
November 23rd & 24th.
December 8th & 9th Courses

2008

January 25th & 26th,
February 22nd & 23rd,
April 4th , 5th, and April 25th & 26th,
May 23rd & 24th,
June 13th &14th.
Numbers on courses are limited. The fee of £80 per couple must be included with completed application form and forwarded to the Accord office