PRIESTS OF THE PARISH
Rev John Doherty PP Tel: 028 7188 2274
Rev Paul Farren Tel: 028 7188 3247

Sunday, 16th August 2009

20th Sunday of the Year

Jesus said to the crowd: ‘Anyone who eats this bread will live forever’. To live forever is one of the longings in every human heart. And yet death is part of every human life. Jesus reveals though that death is not the end but only the beginning of new life and he has led the way for us through his resurrection. And he gives us his own body and blood to lead us into eternal life. Through the Eucharist we are already united with life that will last forever, a life that we are called on to live now through our love for God and for one another. Eucharistic people are meant to be people who live life to the full, people who radiate hope, people who are known for their joy and gladness in being alive, people who forgive easily and often, people who bring peace and happiness into the lives of all whom they meet.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R

Sunday, 16th August 2009.

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading Proverbs 9: 1-6
Come and eat my bread, drink the wine I have prepared! Leave your folly and you will live, walk in the ways of perception

Second Reading
Ephesians 5: 15-20
Recognise what is the will of God.

Gospel John 6: 51-58
If you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you will not have life in you.

Entrance Hymn

Christ Be Beside Me

Christ be beside me,
Christ be before me,
Christ be behind me,
King of my heart.
Christ be within me,
Christ be below me,
Christ be above me,
Never to part.

Christ on my right hand,
Christ on my left hand,
Christ all around me,
Shield in the strife.
Christ in my sleeping,
Christ in my sitting,
Christ in my rising,
Light of my life.

Recessional Hymn

As I Kneel Before You

As I kneel before you,
as I bow my head in prayer,
Take this day, make it yours,
and fill me with your love.
Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum, benedicta tu.

All I have I give you,
every dream and wish are yours,
Mother of Christ, mother of mine,
present them to my Lord.
Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum, benedicta tu.

Questions People Ask

Q. I often find that Mass passes me by without any involvement on my part. How can I improve?

A. I would suggest 5 words: come, listen, give, eat and go. Come in good time, relax and invite the Holy Spirit to help you. Listen to the readings as a letter of light and love from God. Give or offer yourself, through the bread and wine, in union with the sacrificial offering of Jesus to the Father. Eat means receiving the Lord as your bread of life, your greatest source of grace and strength. Then go from Mass with the mission to love and serve the Lord during the rest of your day.

Fr. Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap

Seeing Your Life Through

The Lens Of The Gospels

1. In the Gospel of John, the author frequently presents people as misunderstanding what Jesus says. Jesus then uses the mistake to lead his hearers to a deeper understanding of his teaching. When have you found that clarification of a misunderstanding helped you to greater wisdom or deeper faith?

2. Recall come treasured gifts that you have received. Then think of people who gave you something of themselves. Is it not true that such a gift outweighs any material present? When have you received such a gift? To whom have you given this gift?

3. In this Gospel faith it not a concept but a relationship. Faith leads us to believe in Jesus and to trust him who gave his life for us. As you look back on the development of your faith, what has helped to increase your trust in Jesus so that you believe that you are never on your own no matter what difficulties arise in your life?

4. Jesus promises that those who come to him will have life. In what ways have you found that believing in God’s love, and believing that Jesus came to tell us about that love, has been life-giving for you?

Last week’s Collection was £1,646.00. Many thanks.

NI Blood Transfusion Service

A team from the NI Blood Transfusion Service will be collecting blood donations in St. Patrick’s Hall, Strabane on Wednesday 26th August from 1.30pm until 4.00pm and again from 5.15pm until 8.00pm. In order to maintain the vital supply of blood to our hospitals, we need the support not only of existing donors, but also of new donors. Please come along – you could save a life!

An Irish Blessing

God be good to you in all your days,
God be kind to you in all your ways.
God give strength to you when crosses lean,
God send light to you, the clouds between.
God give peace to you in times of strife,
God bless everything that fills your life.
God send joy to you when grief is o’er,
God make way for you at Heaven’s door.

[Brian Higgins]

The following are asked to assist as collectors and church cleaners during the month of August:

SACRED HEART CHURCH:
Collectors:
Saturday 7.00pm:-
Brian Edwards and Declan Carlin.
Sunday 11.30am:-
Stephen Barrett, Noel Carlin, Terry McCallion and Patsy McNulty.
Cleaners: Team C

ST. MARY’S CHURCH, CLOUGHCOR:
Collectors:

Altar Society & Cleaners:
Pauline Monteith.

ST. JOSEPH’S CHURCH, GLENMORNAN
Collectors:
Patrick McShane and Leo Devine.

Our thanks are due to all who served the parish in any way during the month of July.