Sunday, 13th December, 2009

Third Sunday of Advent
(Gaudete Sunday)

First Reading Zephaniah 3: 14-18
Jerusalem is urged to rejoice because God stands in her midst. We too can take heart from this message of hope.

Second Reading Philippians 4: 4-7
Paul urges us to rejoice in the Lord and to let go of anxiety by living in a spirit of prayer and thanksgiving.

Gospel Luke 3: 10-18
John the Baptist tells the people what they must do to prepare for the Lord’s coming and to escape his searching judgement.

13 December 2009 Third Sunday of Advent

Advent 2009

Wednesday 16 December: 7.00pm Carol Service - Gaelscoil

Sunday 20 December: -

Mass: 8.30am, 10.30am, 12.30pm

5.00pm - 6.30pm: - Penitential Service and Confessions for Christmas.
Nine priests will be available.

Monday 21 December:

Mass: 10.00am No Evening Mass

6.45pm: Christmas Music with Strabane

Concert Brass and Christmas Pageant with the
pupils of St. Mary’s Girls P.S. and St. Mary’s Boys P.S.

Announcements

Farewell to Fr Pat

This weekend Fr Pat O’Hagan is being installed as Parish Priest of Moville in Co Donegal. We wish him every blessing and success in his new appointment. Fr Pat has been with us in Melmount for over eight years, having spent the previous five years as curate in Camus – thirteen years in total just two miles away from his home in Sion Mills. He takes with him to Moville many talents and skills and he is looking forward with excitement to the challenges of a new place and a new role. We thank him very sincerely for his work and presence in Melmount since 2001 and we know that he will be very much missed here. Normally when we say farewell to one priest, we welcome another. Sadly this time the Bishop is not in a position to send us a replacement in the immediate future. So in the New Year, we will work out the implications of that for our parish and plan a way ahead.

Dates for Baptism

The following are the dates for the Sacrament of Baptism during the months of December and January 2010:

December: Sunday 20.

January: Sunday 3; Friday 15; Sunday 24; Friday 29.

Times for Baptism: Sunday 1.15pm; Friday 7.20pm.

We welcome into God’s Family through the Sacrament of Baptism:

Callum Boyle-Porter

Jodie Kerlin

Taize Prayer

Join us for an hour of Taize prayer and chant on

Wednesday 16 December from 7.30pm - 8.30pm in St. Colman’s Chapel.

Everyone welcome.

St. Mary’s Girls and St. Mary’s Boys P.S.

Application forms for P.1 for September 2010 in St. Mary’s Girls and St. Mary’s Boys Primary Schools are now available from the schools’ office.

Trocaire Global Gift

This Christmas why not give a gift that can change someone’s world for the better. A gift that conveys the true meaning of Christmas, that is not just thoughtful but is also genuinely life-changing. A gift that will continue to be appreciated for many Christmases to come - this Christmas please give a Trocaire Global Gift. There are 9 gifts to choose from. The order forms are available at the back of the church.

Foundations in Liturgy

A 12-week Liturgy course led by the Thornhill Centre team will be held in Sion Mills Parish Centre beginning Tuesday 19 January 2010 from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. This course is designed to foster an understanding of the richness of the Liturgy of the Church, examining core elements and symbols of our ritual and worship. Course cost: £100.00. For further details please contact the Thornhill Centre on 71351233.

The Holy Family Padre Pio Group will hold their last monthly meeting of the year in the Holy Family Church, Ballymagroarty, Derry on Tuesday 15 December starting with 7.30pm Mass. Everyone is welcome.

We congratulate the following couple who were recently united in the Sacrament of Marriage:

Stuart Thomson and Laura Doherty

May they Rest in Peace - Deaths

Brian Patton, 116 Lisnafin Park

Kevin Hunter, 23 Carlton Drive

Agnes McElroy, 35 Church View

Seamus Hoynes, 1 Newtownkennedy Street

Vera McGrotty, Ardmore formerly Kennedy Street

Jim McLaughlin, 40 Ligford Road, Legfordrum

Mary Reid, England

Anniversaries

Benny McCausland, Molly Floyd, Paddy Murray,

Dan McCormick, Robert Houston, Attracta Harron,

Winifred Callaghan, John Callaghan, Alex Callaghan,

Matthew Tighe, Ann McNally, Jim McNally,

Seamus McNally, Kevin Falconer, Bridin Grimley,

Joan McGowan, Majella Duffy, Philip McDermott,

Susan Smyth, Leonard McDermott, Susan Reilly,

Anna McShane, Patrick Browne, Noreen Devine,

Gerard O’Hagan, Patsy McGhee, Jimmy Hamilton,

Paddy Patton, Robert Harte, Annie McCormack,

Mary Patton, Elizabeth Arbuckle.

A very sincere thank you from St. Peter’s P.S.,

Plumbridge to everyone who provided such great support on

Wednesday 25 November and helped us win £50,000 for our school.

Marie Curie Cancer Care Community Carol Service

will take place in the Alley Theatre on Monday 21 December at 8.00pm.

Music by St. Joseph’s Brass Band; singing led by Derg Valley Choir.

Book your tickets at the Alley Theatre Box Office

Tel: 028 71384444 or www.alley-theatre.com.

Admission £5.00.

Parish Christmas Bingo will take place in the

Melmount Centre tonight Sunday 13 December at 9.00pm.

12 Lines @ £50.00 each; 9 Houses @ £150.00; 3 Houses @ £500.00. Books £12.00 or 12 Euro.

The Parish Draw for December took place on Thursday 10 December.

The winners are as follows:

£500: 1270 Caroline Tighe – Sheelagh McKelvey

£250: 1051 Tina Shiels – Pauline Wilson
£250: 1208 Isabel Houston – Ann Bell
£250: 1181 M & J Potts – Juliana Murray

£150: 1316 Peter Goldrick – Elizabeth Devenney
£150: 1129 Joe Elliott – Georgina Forbes
£150: 1386 Ann Marie Morrison – Bosco McCready

£100: 1573 Fr. Declan Boland – Sheila McGonagle
£100: 1009 Tony Gallagher – Elizabeth O’Hare
£100: 1113 Mrs T. Devine – Bosco McCready

Additional Parish Draw for Fully Paid Members

£500: 1624 Ann Carlin – Frances McLaughlin

£250: 1190 Joe & Nellie Neeson – Juliana Murray
£250: 1594 Katie McGrath – Frances McLaughlin
£250: 1225 Bridget McCrory – Bridget McCrory

£150: 1570 Ursula Melaugh – Sheila McGonagle
£150: 1022 Celine McClintock – Maureen Hegarty
£150: 1051 Tina Shiels – Pauline Wilson

£100: 1428 Danny Floyd – Francis Henderson
£100: 1247 Patrick Donaghey – Ann Donaghey
£100: 1092 Margo O’Kane – Margaret McLaughlin

We would like to thank all those who participated in this year’s draw.

Special thanks to our many promoters for their miles and hours of foot soldiering during the year.