Parish News for Sunday 30th Sept 2007

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

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

Rich Man – Poor Man

A wandering monk came to a village. He was about to settle down under a tree for the night when a villager came running to him and said, “Give me the precious stone.” “What stone are you talking about?” asked the monk.

“Last night I had a dream that if I went to the outskirts of the village at dusk I would find a monk who would give me a precious stone that would make me rich forever.”

The monk rummaged in his sack, found a stone and took it out. “This is probably the stone you’re talking about,” he said, as he handed it to the villager. “I found it in the forest a few days ago. You are welcome to it.”

The man took the stone and gazed at it in wonder. It was a diamond, the largest one he had ever seen. He took it home with him. But all night he tossed about in his bed, unable to sleep. Early next day he went back to the monk and said, “During the night I’ve done a lot of thinking. You can have the diamond back. Instead, give me the kind of wealth that makes it possible for you to give this diamond away so easily.”

The richer a person’s inner life is, the simpler becomes his outer life – the less he needs or wants.


Last week’s Collection was £1,446.00. Many thanks.

Solemn Annual Exposition
Solemn Annual Exposition will begin in
St. Mary’s Church, Cloughcor today [Sunday] from after Mass until 5.00pm when there will be a special Eucharistic Service.

The next Pioneer Meeting will take place tomorrow [Monday] at 8.00pm, followed directly by a meeting of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Knockavooe Special School
Knockavoe Special School is having a Grand Draw on 29th September in the Fir Trees Hotel. Tickets are £25 each and are available from the school, telephone [028] 71883319 or Audrey Preston [028] 8165 9869. 1st prize – Corsa Car, 2nd prize – Plasma TV, 3rd prize – £250 Foyleside Voucher, 4th prize – £100 fuel donated by Millars.

Thornhill Centre, Derry
Myers-Briggs Workshop: A 7-week personal development workshop begins on Thursday 4th October from 7.30pm – 9.30pm. Cost £25. Pre-booking is necessary.
Foundations in Liturgy Course: A one-year course will commence from Tuesday
2nd October from 7.30pm – 9.45pm. This course is designed to foster an understanding of the richness of the Liturgy of the Church, symbolism, ritual, and worship. First speaker – Fr. Paul Farren. For more details and bookings please telephone [028] 71351233.

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

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

Cleaners: Team E

ST. MARY’S CHURCH, CLOUGHCOR:
Collectors:
Phonsie Monteith and Aidan McGonagle

Altar Society & Cleaners:
Pauline Monteith and Gabrielle Dooher.

ST. JOSEPH’S CHURCH, GLENMORNAN
Collectors:
Hugh Devine.

Altar Society:
Patricia Houston and Anne Marie Kelly.

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

Padre Pio Devotions
Padre Pio devotions will take place in the Immaculate Conception Church, Strabane on Wednesday 3rd October with the Rosary commencing at 6.45pm followed by Mass at 7.00pm.

Diocese of Derry
The Sisters of St. John have established a new convent in our diocese and will be formally welcomed by Bishop Hegarty on Monday 1st October at 10.00am Mass in

St. Eugene’s Cathedral. There will be a cup of tea after Mass. All are welcome to attend. The Sisters have a temporary convent at 10 Belvoir Park, Culmore, Derry [Telephone 71353414 from 2.00pm until 4.30pm and from 7.30pm until 9.00pm]. The Sisters are contemplative – their lives are dedicated to prayer, rather than pastoral ministry. Their intention is to build a new convent in the diocese.

The Sisters may be phoned at the above times and they welcome visitors, who wish to speak with a Sister, from Monday to Friday, 2.00pm until 5.00pm.

Mass is celebrated in the convent on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 8.30an and on Saturdays at 4.00pm. Evening Prayer is from Monday to Friday at 5.45pm. Eucharistic Adoration is on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at 6.15pm until 7.15pm. Thursday 7.00pm until 9.00pm and Saturday 9.00am until 3.30pn.

Sion Mills AA Group
A Public Information Meeting will be held on Wednesday 17th October at 8.30pm in the Community Centre, Main Street, Sion Mills.

Prayer for Priests

Eucharist: a prayer inspired by the Mass

O Lord!
Look into our hearts this day and read us
Look in our souls this day and hear us
When we thrust out our hands for help - hold us
When we open our arms for love - embrace us
When we bow our heads to thee - bless us
When we give of ourselves - come to us. Amen.
Judith Ann Pounder

Lord Jesus, bless all priests and give them grace to do your great work on earth. Keep them, Lord, close to your heart and under the shadow of your protection. Bless their labours for you and grant that their harvest of souls may be a source of joy and consolation to them during life and may merit an everlasting reward for them in death, that having led many souls to you they may see you to face to face. Amen.

Telephone numbers if you feel you cannot cope

Samaritans - 0845 790 9090

Zest - a counselling service offering free support to those who feel suicidal, friends and loved ones who have been affected by suicide and those who self harm. Telephone 7126 6999 or e-mail. zestni@yahoo.co.uk

Prayer for the Suicidal

O Eternal Father, we pray for all those who are suicidal.
May Your loving hand guide and protect them
so they receive the help they need,
preventing them from dying from suicide.
Let them know that we need them and love them,
show them Your love Lord Jesus.
Remind them that they are very special people,
filling their minds with beautiful memories.
Give them everything they need so as to ease their pain,
grant that they may find hope, comfort, guidance
and healing in every way possible.
Let them feel our love, and Your love,
carry them when they are weary.
Embrace them and let Your love
shine down upon them always. Amen.