Sunday 2nd December 2007

First Sunday of Advent

Microscope, Telescope, Horoscope

In his book God is not Great, Christopher Hitchens with near messianic fervour puts mankind on notice: keep to the straight and narrow of scientific exactitude when accepting anything as fact. Otherwise, God forbid (Oops, sorry!), you might end up thinking that there is more to life than science. And that, most certainly, would damage your health.

Really? Just what does science have to offer when it comes to understanding life? I don’t mean the nature of living things or inanimate objects. I mean the why of it all. But then, why is not a scientific question. Does that mean we shouldn’t ask it, or if we do that we shouldn’t expect a worthwhile answer? I hope not.

So let’s ask it: Why is there anything at all? Science, where art thou? Okay, let’s change tack. How about the how question? How will the universe end? Here science can indicate a distant, if frightening feasible scenario: a frozen lifeless waste.

Give me instead the follow-up to what today’s gospel (Mt 24:29-44) describes. After the Second Coming, the New Heaven and New Earth.

Even were it sheer fantasy, let me die aglow with its promise rather than be numbed lifeless by the eternal emptiness of scientific scenarios.

Announcements

Last week’s collection amounted to £3159.00. Thank you.

St. Vincent de Paul Collection
The St. Vincent de Paul Society depends on your generosity all year round but especially at Christmas time. They will hold a special collection at all Masses today. There is a special envelope in your box for this.

First Friday
Friday of this week is the First Friday. Confessions will be on Thursday after 10.00am Mass and on Friday from 6.15pm - 6.45pm.

Feast of the Immaculate Conception
Saturday 8 December is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and is a Holy Day. Masses for the Holy Day are: Vigil: Friday 7.00pm.
Saturday: 10.00am & 7.00pm.

Dates for Baptism
The following are the dates for the Sacrament of Baptism during the months of December:
December:
Friday 7; Sunday 9; Sunday 16; Friday 28.
Times for Baptism:
Sunday 1.15pm; Friday 7.20pm.

The Day Chapel
The Day Chapel will be out of use until further notice because of urgent repair work. We apologise to the groups who use it.

Baptism
We welcome into God's Family through the Sacrament of Baptism:
Clodagh Lauren Smith
Ronagh Michaela O’Connor
Tristan William McCauley
Fintan Jason Foley

Marriage
We congratulate the following couple who were recently united in the Sacrament of Marriage:
David McMahon and Karen Floyd

May they Rest in Peace - Deaths
John O’Kane, St. Colman’s Drive
Massey Griffen, Owenreagh Drive
Joan McGettigan, Sion Mills
Dan Doherty, Calhame Kathleen Sharkey, Omagh
Don Pendlebury, Wales Stan O’Connor, Dorset

Anniversaries
Mary Moore, Elizabeth Diver, Francis Kelly, Rose Kelly, Tommy Kelly,
Kate Kelly, Paddy Kelly, Jim McGrath, Sarah Devenney, Margaret Kelly,
Bridget Devine, Billy Canavan, Winifred McCanny, Jack Gallagher,
Frank Gallagher, Paddy McBride, Frank Donaghey, Paddy Mullen,
Barney Blee, Harry Irvine, Hugh Burns, Frankie Donaghey, Ainsley Catterson

Parish Draw 2007
Promoters should make their returns for December to the Parish Office on Monday 10 December from 2.00pm - 4.30pm and from 7.30pm - 8.30pm. Please Note: The Draw for December will take place on Wednesday 12 December at 10.30am in the Parish Office.

Cleaning of the Church
Many thanks to Mary McGuigan’s Team for cleaning the Church during the month of November.

Collection Counters
The following are asked to count the collection for the month of December: Maureen Devine, Eamon McColgan, Elizabeth McColgan and Ann Carlin.

St. Mary’s Nursery School
Application forms for St. Mary’s Nursery for Girls and Boys are now available from St. Mary’s Girls Primary School.

Strabane Community Carol Service will be held in Christ Church, Bowling Green on Thursday 13 December at 7.30pm. Everyone welcome.

Memory Tree of Lights for Those Bereaved by Suicide
The Northwest Bereaved by Suicide Support Group are organising a Memory Tree of Lights event on Sunday 9 December at 5.30pm at the Foyle Search & Rescue Headquarters, Victoria Road, Derry. The purpose of the event is to remember loved ones lost to suicide and to support family and friends during the holiday season which can be an especially difficult time. A simultaneous event is being held in Newfoundland, Canada with a bereavement group who has developed links with the Northwest group. Family and friends will be invited to take part in a candlelight ceremony and to leave a message to their loved one on the tree.

Melmount Centre - Parish Bingo Sunday 2 December 2007.

Christmas Youth 2000 Retreat
A National Youth 2000 Christmas Retreat for Young People ages 16-35 takes place at St Paul’s Secondary School, Greenhills, Dublin 12 from Friday 14 – Sunday 16 December. For information contact Mary 07851203181 or Kevin 00353 86 3025442 or the Youth Office 00353 1 6753690. No charge – donation only. Website: www.youth2000.ie.

Prayer Group
There will be Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in Fr. O’Hagan’s House on Monday 3 December at 8.00pm.

Padre Pio Prayer Group
The monthly meeting of the Padre Pio Group will take place in the Church of the Immaculate Conception on Wednesday 5 December. Rosary at 6.45pm followed by Mass at 7.00pm.

Pilgrimages 2008
The next meeting of the Group for Shrines of France and Pilgrimage to Lourdes will take place in ‘The Den’ on Wednesday 5 December at 7.30pm - 8.30pm. For further information contact Gerard McBrearty 02871884029.

Carricklee-Castletown Cross Community Development Association monthly meeting will be held on Monday 3 December at 8.00pm in Lisnafin Community Centre.

Parish Christmas Bingo
The Annual Parish Christmas Bingo will take place on Sunday 9 December at 9.00pm. All Lines - £50.00.00 Each 9 Houses - £200.00 Each 3 Houses - £1000.00 Each Books £15.00