Sunday, 17th January 2010

2nd Sunday of the Year.

First Reading : Isaiah 62: 1-5
The promise of God to love and care for his people.

Second Reading: Corinthians 12: 4-11
The variety of gifts which are brought by the one Spirit.

Gospel: John 2: 1-11
The miracle at Cana.

World Day of Migrants and Refugees

Seeing Red

I wonder if the UK-chart topping, 1986 hit Lady in Red by Chris de Burgh would have soared so high had she been in green. Wearing Red not only gets you noticed, it can get you ahead even in the Olympic Games, according to one lecturer at Durham University, England. Wearing red marks you as aggressive and dominant.

Today’s First Reading (1 Cor 12:4-11) lists distinguishing marks for members of the Christian community. The colour red doesn’t get a look in. Neither do designer labels, gym workouts, health-food diets or high-tech gizmos (even had they existed). But then they wouldn’t; all the qualities listed are for service not dominance or ego-gratification. Also, everything on the list is internal to the individual not external. I don’t need to enhance my appearance for service, but I do need to enhance myself. And the gifts listed in this reading do just that: wise utterance, knowledgeable speech, faith witness, power to heal, working miracles, prophesying and the ability to discern spirits, talking in tongues and interpreting them.

To put these gifts in more contemporary wrapping we might list them as; having cop on, being informed, practising what I preach, comforting those in difficulty, helping without counting the cost, being my brother’s keeper, being in touch with life’s basics, being open to God’s Spirit and open to those open to God’s Spirit.

It’s surprising at times that if you should go public, so to speak, and say that these are the qualities that distinguish true Christians some of that public, even those not Christian, will probably see red!

Fr. Tom Cahill.

Announcements

Last week’s collection amounted to £3182.50. Thank you.

Visitation of Sick and Housebound

The sick and housebound will be visited on Monday 18 January 2010 as follows:
Monday Morning: Ashgrove Park, Olympic Drive, Ballycolman Estate and Laurel Drive.

Dates for Baptism

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

January: Sunday 24; Friday 29.

February: Friday 12; Sunday 21.

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

Prayer before the Blessed Sacrament

will now be on Friday mornings after 10.00am Mass until 12.00 noon

Parish Draw 2010

We hope to start Melmount Parish Draw 2010 as soon as possible. Once again the Parish Draw will be one of our principal means of revenue. We would encourage as many people as possible to become part of the Draw and would ask for more people to volunteer as promoters. If you are willing to volunteer your services please contact the Parish Office on 71 383777.

The Draw costs £60.00 for the year. The Prizes are:

1st Prize: £500.00

2nd, 3rd, 4th Prizes: £250.00

5th, 6th,7th Prizes: £150.00

8th, 9th.10th Prizes: £100.00

Giving a Prize Fund of £2000.00 per month.

Promoters will be contacted shortly regarding their lists of members. Parishioners are encouraged to support the Draw. Anyone who does not have a promoter can join the Draw by contacting the Parish Office.

Special Diocesan Mass

The Annual Diocesan Mass for those with special needs and their families and friends will take place in St. Joseph’s Church, Galliagh, Derry on Saturday 24 April 2010. 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 028 71264087 or email ddcc@derrydiocese.org.

Taize Prayer

Join us for an hour of meditative prayer and Taize chant on Wednesday 20 January in

St. Colman’s Chapel from 7.30pm - 8.30pm. Everyone welcome.

‘Step into the Promise of a New Spring’

An invitation to a weekend of peace, reflection and appreciation of the gifts of life through music, readings, meditative movement and spiritual awareness. Ards Retreat Centre, Donegal, 5, 6 and 7 February. For booking or information telephone 00 353 749384015 or email info@ardsfriary.ie.

May they Rest in Peace - Deaths

Kathleen Coyle, 18 Ballycolman Road

Bridie McGettigan, 32 Urney Road

Maura Gormley, 280 Ballycolman Estate

Francis Tracey, 28 Laurel Drive

Eddie Neeson, 43 Owenreagh Drive

Tommy O’Doherty, 19 Peacock Road

Eamon Foley, 51 Ballycolman Estate

Anniversaries

Jimmy Quinn, Kevin McGillian, Laurence Watson,

Paddy McElroy, Annie Boyle, Michael McNulty,

Jim Kelly, Eamon Hannigan, Tommy Connolly,

Moria McDonnell, Willie Duncan, Daniel Doherty,

Bernard Houston, Patrick Stevenson, Catherine McGinty,

Sarah McDonnell, Patrick McDonnell, Ruby Duffy,

Eileen Doyle, Catherine McBride, Patsy Dillion,

Katie Gray, Michael Madden, Hugh McNulty.

Children in Crossfire would like to thank all those who have returned donations from their Advent campaign. If you haven’t returned your Advent collection box you can still do so by bringing your donation to the sacristy or by posting it to 2 St. Joseph’s Avenue, Derry, BT48 6TH. For other queries please telephone 71269898.

Accord Derry: If you are getting married in 2010 apply for your Marriage Preparation Course. Limited places are available: 29/30 January, 26/27 February and 26/27 March at the Thornhill Centre, Culmore Road, Derry from 7.00pm - 10.00pm on Friday and 10.00am - 4.00pm on Saturday. For booking forms and details contact the Pastoral Centre, 164 Bishop Street, Derry. Tel: 71362475.

Melmount Centre

Parish Bingo Sunday 17 January.

Strabane Family History

Please note that the January meeting of the Strabane Family History Society

has been cancelled due to the present weather conditions.

Adoption:

Could you make a child happy again after a difficult start in life? Family Care Society is presently seeking adoptive families who would be interested in parenting children aged 2 - 6 years and who need the love and attention of a caring and understanding family. Could this be you? Please contact us on 028 90691133 or 028 71368592 or email email@family-care-society.org.

Pilgrimage to Fatima and the Lisbon Coast 2- 9 June.

4 nights in Fatima in the Hotel Santo Amaro on full board, 3 nights in Estoril at the Hotel Eden on half board. Cost 765 Euro. For more information contact Esther Porter: 00353 749374566 or 00353 868475971.

Strabane St. Patrick Day Parade

A meeting of the Strabane St. Patrick’s Day Committee will take place in Strabane Community Library on Thursday 21 January at 7.30pm. All businesses, community groups, sporting bodies, members of the general public and all groups or individuals who took part in last year’s parade are invited to come along to this meeting.

4 E’s Project

...provides educational support to men and women who are long term unemployed or have suffered from mild mental health difficulties or who may have difficulties reading and writing. The project will provide one to one support, tailored training and educational programmes with access to various accredited Open College Network courses. The programme will last for 9 months and you will be expected to attend for 10 - 16 hours a week. Leaflets with more information are available at the back of the church or telephone 71886253 for information.