Fr Patrick Doherty, PP 816 71393

Fr Colm O’Doherty, CC 816 61475

Sunday 9th March 2008 - Fifth Sunday of Lent

REFLECTION

The miracle of Lazarus’ resurrection from the dead which we read about in the Gospel for this Sunday, prepares us for Jesus’ resurrection on Easter Sunday morning. It is also a sign that points to what we have undergone in baptism where we died to sin and rose to divine life through the pouring on of water. But it is also a sign that points to the definitive resurrection of the just at the end of time when their bodies will rise from this earth and be reunited with their souls in heaven.

Bingo and Whist - We would appreciate your support for the Bingo
Bingo on Tuesday night @ 9 pm – Snowball– IN ST PATRICK’S HALL
Whist on Thursday night @ 8.30 pm – Snowball rolling

Legion of Mary meets every Monday at 6.30 pm in the meeting room in church. New members welcome

Eucharistic Ministers for March
Vigil : Margaret Cassidy and Seamus Duffy
9.00: Vera Catterson and Jean Coyle
11.00: Rosie Loughrey and Anthony Harkin

Offertory Procession for March
Vigil: Harper Family
9 am: Paddy Carlin and Peter McCullagh
11 am: John McCallion and Jimmy Duffy

Readers for March:
Vigil: Maureen Lynch 11.00: Ann Marie Anderson

Church Cleaners this week
Kathleen Lynch, May Sharkey, Nora McAnea, MB McGrath

ALTAR SERVERS–Group 7
Myles McGlinchey, Aine McGrath, Connor Harper, Nichole McDaid, Dillon McDaid

MEDJUGORJE - Pilgrim Tours - Group Leader : Hilary Lynch, Accompanied by a Spiritual Director. 17th May 2008 - 7 nights - Half Board £419. Includes full religious programme. For information contact : 81671046

FEASTS DAY : The Feast of St Joseph will be celebrated on Friday

LIAM BRADLEY TOURS - 2 Days 13th & 14th April - 1 Dinner & B & B plus Daniel O’Donnell concert. Depart Victoria Bridge 1.40 pm phone 71269109 anytime

CAISLEAN NA DEIRGE G.A.C.

G.A.A. Lotto: (4, 1, 7) 6, 5, 2, 3 - Declan Devine and Jackie McDaid wins £50 each
Next week Jackpot £1,950
Training Continues - Wednesdays 7 pm and Saturday mornings 10 am at St Eugene’s HS for all senior/reserve/minor players
Under 14s: commenced their league programme last Saturday with a victory at home to Urney. This week they are away to Omagh
Up to date information can be found on www.caisleannadeirgegac.org
The management of the u14s would like to apologies to the players, parents/guardians for the mix up regarding training last Tuesday. This was due to a breakdown in communication and once again we apologise and ensure this does not happen in the future
Club Monthly Meeting : Monday 10th March 2008 at 8 pm at the pitch

ST PATRICK’S DAY - will be celebrated this year on Saturday 15th March, as Monday is part of the Holy Week. Vigil Mass on Friday at 7.30 pm - Saturday at 9.00 am & 11.00 am. The annual collection for the education of students to the Priesthood and ongoing formation of clergy will be taken up at all Masses

ST PATRICK’S HALL - An opening concert will take place in St Patrick’s Hall on WEDNESDAY NIGHT at 8.00 PM. School children from St Patrick’s Primary School and St Eugene’s High School will be taking part as well as a group drama by children prepared by Maureen Kelly.
Bishop Lagan will bless the Hall at Confirmation Day

JOHN PAUL II AWARDS - There will be a meeting in the Church on Monday evening after Mass at 8 pm for all who are going to take part in the John Paul Awards in the Parish next year

ULSTER PROJECT - Those who will be going on the Ulster Project in July will be picked at a meeting in the Hall on Thursday at 8 pm

CARDIAC MEETING : Omagh & Castlederg Cardiac patient support groups are holding a joint meeting in Castlederg Healthy Living Centre on Wednesday 12th March at 7.30 pm. Anyone with heart problems, angina or is waiting for or had heart surgery or stint treatment and their families are invited to attend. The guest speaker is Jenny Hamilton Senior cardiac rehab nurse. For further details contact Tommy McGuire MBE on 81670240

BARROWFIELD F.C. LOTTO – JACKPOT £480 - Numbers 8 - 9 - 12 - 14
Winners : Kathleen McHugh - £30

15 WEEK YOGA COURSE IN ANNIE’S YOGA CENTRE - Monday 10th March at 7.00 pm and Wednesday evening at 8.30 pm. Also Thursday and Friday morning at 10.00 am. All classes run through the NWIFHE. Full Fee £40, concessionary £20. Ring Annie on 028 81671126

SPECIAL DIOCESAN MASS - for those with special needs, and their families and friends, will take place in St Joseph’s Church, Galliagh Derry on Saturday 12th April. Bishop Lagan will celebrate the Mass. If you have a child who wishes to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation or First Communion at this Mass please contact the Catechetical Centre on 71264087

SILVERCIRCLE DRAW - FEBRUARY 2008
£200 - Barclay Boyle
£50 - Patricia O’Carolan
£50 - Mary McCrory
£50 - Fr P Doherty
£50 - Annie Connolly

C.B.S. (Omagh)

BOLIVIAN IMMERSION PROJECT

During October last year, two members from our Parish, Luke McMenamin and Joseph McCrory, As students at Omagh CBS., travelled to Bolivia, South America to work along with the Religious Orders in the Bolivian Immersion Project.

Luke gives us a brief account:
South America is a land full of diversity and beauty from its beginning in Mexico to its South Shore of Argentina. Bolivia, our destination, is in the heart of South America. Bolivia, like every country in South America, has its areas of natural beauty as well as eye - opening poverty. One of the worst areas is Cochabamba, where we stayed. The ethos of the Project throughout the Christian Brothers Community is:

‘Being with and not seeing and passing through’ and
‘Come and be rather than come and see’

With this idea firmly in our minds, we began to immerse ourselves in the lives of the Bolivian people. With determination and our Spanish, we did our best to fit into Bolivian Culture. We were ‘average Joes’ of pale complexion exceeding the average height of the locals by six inches - Luke became ‘Lucas’ for the rest of our stay.

One story remains in my mind. One night we travelled with a brother to the south side of the City to give food and comfort to the street children. A good majority of them were younger than us, and they live on whatever they could find and stayed wherever they could find shelter. All the children were addicted to glue. They did this not to be rebellious but to numb the pain of hunger, loneliness and desperation. I met one fifteen year old girl, Teresa. She was a drug addict and sold herself for money to feed herself. She became pregnant; was on her own on the streets and had no support of any kind. The sad fact is that if I went back to Cochabamba in three years time; she probably would be dead and her child would be taking her place on the street.

Amidst all this poverty, there were rays of hope down to the hard work of the Religious Orders there. With the continued support of the Christian Church, hopefully future Immersion Projects will be able to paint a brighter picture.

On behalf of Joseph, myself, the entire project and the children of Bolivia, I would like to thank you, the people of the Parish of Ardstraw West and Castlederg, for your kind donations and all who got involved to help. Gracias.