Living the Sunday Liturgy

PRAYER FOCUS

Give us strength and joy in serving you.

What difference would 'strength' and 'joy' make in your life now?

Questions for Action for the week.

For your marriage:
What do you want for yourselves as a couple this coming week? Share this with each other.

For others:
What is your ambition for your parish at this time? What can you do to make this come to fruition?

Sunday, 18th October, 2009

29th Sunday of the Year

Mission Sunday

First Reading Isaiah 53;10-11
By his sufferings shall my servant justify many, taking faults on himself.

Second Reading Acts 13:46-49
I have made you a light for the nations.

Gospel Mark 10:42-45
Anyone who wants to become great among you must be your servant.

Melmount’s Hunger Box

It is not an exaggeration to say that people in many parts of the world have benefited from the generosity of the people of Melmount. From way before I came to the parish, the Hunger Box at the back of the church was in operation. On their way into or on exiting the church, parishioners of all ages have put in their pennies and their pounds and what has been collected has gone to all parts of what is called the third world.

As well as donations to the well known aid agencies such as Trocaire, the White Fathers, who visited us earlier this year and Sr Deirdre Mullen of the Sisters of Mercy, the Hunger Box has enabled some of our own parishioners to provide much appreciated assistance in the countries where they have travelled to give of their time and energy. Emma Nelson and Maria Miller took £500 to assist the Changora Trust in the building of a refuge for street children in Kenya. Stephen Boyle went to Namibia and the donation that he took with him allowed the staff of Andara Catholic hospital to buy equipment for skin grafting operations. Damien O’Kane took a donation to help in building homes with the Niall Mellon Township Trust in South Africa. Dominic Bradley accepted a donation towards Chernobyl children’s care. For the second year in a row, two teachers from Holy Cross College, Martin Morgan and Geraldine McGuone, went to Tanzania to help Fr Maninga in his school building project. Their donation from the Hunger Box was added to their fund raising efforts in the college.

So far this year over £7000 has been given from the Hunger Box to causes in Africa and Asia. Those who delivered your donations and those who have benefited from them send you their thanks. I add my thanks. Melmount can be proud of the work achieved through the anonymous donations to our Hunger Box.

Fr Doherty

Announcements

Today is Mission Sunday and the Annual Mission Sunday Collection will be taken up at all Masses today.

There is a special envelope in your box.

Dates for Baptism The following are the dates for the Sacrament of Baptism during the months of October, November and December: October: Sunday 25. November: Friday 6; Sunday 15; Sunday 22; Friday 27. December: Sunday 6; Friday 11; Sunday 20. Times for Baptism: Sunday 1.15pm; Friday 7.20pm.

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

Darragh Sean Gallagher

Zachary Kevin Barr

Parish Draw 2009

Promoters should make their returns for October to the Parish Office tomorrow

Monday 19 October from 2.00pm - 4.30pm and from 7.30pm - 8.30pm.

The Draw for October will take place on Thursday 22 October at 10.30am in the Parish Office.

Annual Service for the Dead

The annual service in remembrance of deceased members of our families and parish will take place on Sunday 8 November at 5.00pm. Families who have suffered bereavement since November 1, 2008 are asked to nominate a representative to carry a candle to the altar in commemoration of their dead. (Candles will be provided).

Dates for Confirmation and First Holy Communion 2010

Bishop Hegarty will administer the Sacrament of Confirmation to the Primary 7 pupils of our schools

on Saturday 15 May 2010 at 11.00am.

First Holy Communion for Primary 4 pupils of St. Mary’s Boys P.S. and St. Mary’s Girls

P.S. will take place on Saturday 22 May 2010.

First Holy Communion for pupils from the Gaelscoil will take place on Saturday 5 June 2010.

‘Choosing your Future’ - a conference with Jean Vanier in the Millennium Forum, Derry on Wednesday 21 October from 10.00am - 1.30pm. This conference is for young people but there are a limited number of tickets available for adults costing £15.00. To book tickets please contact the Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre, Tel. 71264087 or email ddcc@derrydiocese.org.

May they Rest in Peace - Deaths

Mark Shields, 12 Carlton Crescent

Maura McCosker, Coneyburrow Road

Iris Gallen, Main Street, Lifford

Joseph McNulty, 16 Crockan Road, Glenmornan

Anniversaries

Brendan O’Hare, Kathleen Coups, Francie Brown,

Christina O’Reilly, Packie Hoynes, Sadie Gamble,

Mark Collins, William McLaughlin, Mary McLaughlin,

Bridget Doherty, Patrick Quinn, Bridie Goldrick,

Charles Flanagan, Paul Patton, Joe McNulty, Sean Elliott .

Taize Prayer

Join us for an hour of meditative prayer and Taize chant on Wednesday 21 October at 7.30pm in St. Colman’s Chapel. Everyone welcome.

Strabane Concert Brass 30th Anniversary Concert

Strabane Concert Brass will be holding a concert in the Melmount Centre on Friday 23 October 2009. Curtain up at 8.00pm. Admission £5.00stg/Concessionary £3.00.

Alzheimer’s Support Group will meet on Wednesday 21 October at 7.30pm in Melmount Manor Care Home. The guest speaker will be Mary Breslin (Foyle Tranquiliser Initiative) speaking on ‘A Pill For Every Ill’. Everyone welcome.

Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes

The Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes will take place from 16 - 21 July 2010. Cost £629.00. Payable in instalments. A few forms are available at the Parish Office, 71383777 or at the Pilgrimage Office. Forms for those in need of care or those aged 80+ are available only from the Pilgrimage Office 028 71260293.

Melmount Centre   Parish Bingo   Sunday 18th October.

Strabane/Lifford Anglers Association will be holding a

Charity Quiz Night in Strabane Cricket Club

on Friday 23 October. All proceeds in aid of Friends of Greenfield.

The Compassionate Friends is a national charity that provides support and friendship to parents and families after the death of a son or daughter at any age or from any cause. We offer a wide range of support services undertaken by volunteers who are similarly bereaved. Our helpline number is 028 87788016 and is manned each day from 10.00am - 4.00pm and from 7.00pm - 9.30pm or log on to our website: www.tcf.org.uk for more information.

St. Vincent de Paul Lucky Lotto

The Draw for October took place on Sunday 4 October. The numbers drawn were: 1, 4, 10, and 24. There were 11 people who matched three numbers - Paul McGeough, Stim Hughes, Miriam Crawford, James McGill, Mark Quigley, May Brolly, Margaret McGeough, Daniel Crawford, Michael Forbes, Stephen Kennedy and Isobel Dunnion. The Jackpot for November is £1,200.00. Promoters are asked to have November draw envelopes returned on or before 25 October. The next draw will take place at 9.00pm on Sunday 1 November at Melmount Parish Bingo.

St. Anthony’s Retreat Centre,

Dundrean, Burnfoot, Co. Donegal

Aspace of quiet, prayer and solitude. Available for individual retreats and spiritual guidance (Marie McCormack, Fr. Neal Carlin). Residential accommodation and meals in the Centre’s hermitages. Promotional offer 45 Euro per night. ‘Come away by yourself to a desert place and rest for a while.’ Contact Fr. Neal Carlin on 00353 74 9368370 or
sacre@eircom.net for enquires and bookings.