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

Sunday, July 25th 2010

The 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

“So I (Jesus) say to you: ask and it will be given to you; search and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” The greatest power that we have is undoubtedly the power of prayer. And unfortunately it’s a power that we don’t use often enough. The three words that Jesus uses here are dynamic words that have to involve us at a personal level. Ask: to do this we have to decide what we are really looking for in marriage and family life as well as in our parish and then we have to be willing to invest ourselves in it. Search: if what we are looking for is important to us we will be willing to change to find it and to change even more having found it. So many people want everything but without any cost and this is not the way of the Lord. Knock: God wants us to come to him with confidence but then to abandon ourselves into his hands, knowing that we will be well looked after.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R.

Sunday, 25th July 2010

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Genesis 18: 20-32
God responds to the prayer of Abraham.

Second Reading:
Colossians 2: 12-14
Through baptism, we have been raised up with Christ.

Gospel: Luke 11: 1-13
Jesus teaches his disciples about prayer.

Our Choirs Fall Silent

Our three parish choirs will now be taking a well-earned break for the summer. As we thank them for their music ministry during the year, we ask the members of our congregation to kindly join in the singing of the hymns printed below.

Entrance Hymn

Spirit of The Living God

Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Melt me. Mould me. Fill me. Use me.
Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.

Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on us.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on us.
Melt us. Mould us. Fill us. Use us.
Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on us.

Recessional Hymn

The Bells Of The Angelus

The bells of the angelus call us to pray
In sweet tones announcing the sacred Ave.
Ave, Ave, Ave Maria; Ave, Ave, Ave Maria.

An angel of mercy led Bernadette’s feet
Where flows the deep torrent Our Lady to greet.
Ave, Ave, Ave Maria; Ave, Ave, Ave Maria.

Prayer of Petition

I asked for health that I might do great things;
I was given infirmity that I might do better things.
I asked for riches that I might be happy.
I was given poverty that I might be wise.
I asked for power that I might have the praise of men;
I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life;
I was given life that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I hoped for.
Almost despite myself my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am, among all people, most richly blessed.

Last week’s Collection was £1,315.00. Many thanks.

No Mean Achievement

We use many colourful phrases to describe a person
who is mean or greedy or tight-fisted.

Consider this random selection:
‘He’d take the bite out of your mouth.’
‘She’d take the eye out of your head and come back for the lashes.’
‘She’d take the milk out of your tea.’
‘He’d take the shirt off your back.’
‘He’d leave you without a seat to your trousers.’
‘She’d skin a flea and sell the bones for a shilling.’

A few up-to-date versions run:
‘He’d take the snap, crackle and pop from your Rice Crispies.’
‘She gives honey as though the hive had only one bee.’
‘You needn’t expect to get his last Rolo.’

By contrast the complimentary remarks are more limited;

‘He’d give you the shirt off his back.’
‘She’d give you the last penny in her purse.’

Maybe you should come up with an old or a new phrase in praise of generosity. Have a try. Both praise and generosity are much needed in today’s world.

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: Jackie Kelly

Altar Society & Cleaners: Pauline Monteith and Catherine 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.

NI Blood Transfusion Service

A team from the NI Blood Transfusion Service will be collecting blood donations in St. Patrick’s Hall, Barrack Street, Strabane on Wednesday 28th July from 1.30pm until 4.30pm and again from 5.15pm until 8.00pm. Both existing and new donors are asked to come along – you could save a life!

Reflection

Lord, I place myself in your presence.
After the strain and turmoil of the day
I rest quietly here, as a little boat,
which has been tossed by the waves
and buffeted by the wind,
rests secure in a sheltered harbour.
Here my projects lose their power over me.
A healing process begins.
My fragmented self is reassembled,
and I am made whole again.
In your presence, I experience my true worth,
which consists not in doing but in being.
I surrender myself into your hands.
I am at peace.