SUNDAY 12 JULY 2020 - Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

THE VOW OF HOLY ABUNDANCE

Poverty of possessions is a highly promoted religious ideal. It can include a vow of poverty and disciplines of self-denial of physical luxuries, fine foods, and drink. The spiritual path of asceticism especially targets a poverty of possessions where the ideal is to have none! Religious poverty easily gives rise to guilt over material possessions, as when Gandhi rightly said, “If you have clothing in your closet that you don’t wear, then it is stolen goods. Stolen from those who lack clothing.” Extreme poverty can be a spirituality of denial that idealises stark, barren living quarters, that abstains from physical comfort, delicious tasting foods, and owning material things. The Teacher of Galilee never promoted a lifestyle of material poverty! Instead, he called his disciples to simplicity of life by sharing their goods with others in need and by being liberated from artificially created cravings. He taught holy abundance instead of holy deficiency saying, “I have come that you might have life and have it in great abundance.” His abundance of life didn’t require owning many possessions, but rather in being possessed by God. Seek first an abundance of Divine Mystery, and simplicity of life will naturally appear in your life, and in great abundance.

Fervently I desire to be possessed

by you, the Giver of all good things,

so to enjoy the great glut of wealth

and happiness of those totally yours.

Edward Hays

TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF CHURCH DUE TO RENOVATIONS

Renovation work has now started on the church. To fulfil all safety regulations the church will be closed from Monday to Friday even for private prayer. It will be open on Saturday and Sunday after Mass until 5.00pm. This will be in place for a number of months. In the case of a funeral the church will of course be fully available. We appreciate your understanding and co-operation in this regard.

PARISH COLLECTION

The church collection last week amounted to £2235.00. Thank you for your continuing support.

MASS TIMES

Monday 13 July 10.00am in St. Patrick’s Hall

Tuesday 14 July 10.00am in St. Patrick’s Hall

Wednesday 15 July 10.00am in St. Patrick’s Hall

Thursday 16 July 10.00am in St. Patrick’s Hall

Friday 17 July 10.00am in St. Patrick’s Hall

Saturday 18 July Vigil Mass 6.30pm in the church

Sunday 19 July 10.00am & 12.00 noon in the church

BAPTISMS

Saturdays at 12.00 noon & 12.45pm

Sundays at 12.45pm & 1.30pm

We welcome into God’s family through the sacrament of baptism:

Niya Rose Beacham

Nora Christina Frances Quigley

Ella Mae O’Donnell

Tadhg Jaxon Herron-McCrossan

DEATHS

Eamon McGarrigle, 24 Newtown Street

Kathleen Woods, Courtrai Park

May they rest in peace

ANNIVERSARIES

Molly McDaid, Brian Harte

Francis Moss, Ita Brown

Patrick Devenney, Kathleen McFarland

George Madden, Harry McCrossan

Hugh O’Donnell, Elizabeth Cooke

John Hanna.

WEEKLY COLLECTION ENVELOPES

If you cannot attend Mass at the weekend we kindly ask that you leave your weekly envelope at the parochial house or the parish office. The parish depends greatly on the weekly collection, as it is the main source of income. If you would like to make your contributions by cheque, please make your cheque payable to Church of the Immaculate Conception. We greatly acknowledge your understanding and support at this time.

ONLINE PARISH CONTRIBUTIONS

We have now added a Donate button to our parish website which allows you to make contributions to the parish with your debit or credit card. To use the Donate facility log on to www.strabaneparish.com and you will see the Donate button.

To use, just click on Donate and you will be given 3 options to choose from.

1.           Weekly Parish Collection

2.           Church Restoration Fund

3.           Parish Donation

Enter the amount you wish to donate and click Pay Now.

This will take you to your Chosen Payments and Order Summary.

On the Order Summary tick I agree to the terms and conditions of Strabane (Camus) Parish and click Proceed.

You will then be asked to Sign Up and enter your details.

Don’t forget to click Yes to the terms and conditions of Easy Payments Plus and of Strabane (Camus) Parish. Click Register.

This will take you to Payment Details where you will enter your debit/credit card details and then Pay Now.

You will then be given the opportunity to check your payment and a receipt will be sent to you by email.

If you have any queries please contact the parish office on 02871882215.

DONATION

We gratefully acknowledge the very generous donation of £5000.00 to the parish. Thank you sincerely.

LOUGH DERG

Lough Derg Lakeshore and Ancient Pilgrim Path reopens for visitors. Walk & Pray the Ancient Pilgrim Path with the Prior on Saturday 18 & Sunday 19 July. Guided Contemplative Walk begins at noon. Approx. 4hr, 12k moderate loop. Booking essential, full details www.loughderg.org or email info@loughderg.org

PARISH DRAW

The winners of the Draw for the month of July are:

£1000.00 Oscar Doyle 348

Promoter Maisie Boggs

£300.00 Sue McKenna 612

Promoter Eileen Canning

£200.00 Angela Taggart 652

Promoter Eileen Canning

£100.00 Colette Bullough 872

Promoter Fr. Boland

£100.00 Patricia & Stephen O’Doherty 952

Promoter Siobhan McDevitt

£100.00 Ann McHugh 594

Promoter Eileen Canning

£100.00 Eugene McCafferty 785

Promoter Mary Kelly

£100.00 Pat Stewart 772

Promoter Fr. Boland

The winners of the Draw for the month of August are:

£1000.00 Gwendoline Curran 912

Promoter Fr. Boland

£300.00 Teresa Conway 714

Promoter Marian Cooke

£200.00 Robert Coyle 739

Promoter Marian Cooke

£100.00 Sr. Emmanuel 344

Promoter Fr. Boland

£100.00 Adrian Crawford 606

Promoter Eileen Canning

£100.00 Marian Devenney 153

Promoter Pat Morris

£100.00 Nora Foley 424

Promoter Kathleen Connolly

£100.00 Arlene Gilloway 726

Promoter Marian Cooke

PRAYER FOR OUR PROTECTION

We ask for prayers for those affected by the Coronavirus. Placing all our trust in the Lord, and asking Our Lady to intercede for us, we invite everyone to pray these prayers:

Extract from Saint Patrick’s Breastplate


Christ with me, 
Christ before me, 
Christ behind me, 
Christ in me, 
Christ beneath me, 
Christ above me, 
Christ on my right, 
Christ on my left, 
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, 
Christ when I arise, 
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me, 
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, 
Christ in every eye that sees me, 
Christ in every ear that hears me.

Memorare

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To you I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. Of Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your mercy, hear and answer. Amen.