Sunday 27th December 2009

Feast of the Holy Family

First Reading : 1 Samuel 1: 20-22, 24-28
The prophet Samuel is dedicated by his mother to the Lord.

Second Reading: 1 John 3: 1-2, 21-24
We are called God’s children, and that is what we are.

Gospel: Luke 2: 41-52
Jesus is found by his parents in the Temple.

New Mass Times

As you know by now, Fr O’Hagan’s move to Moville has meant that for the foreseeable future Melmount will be a one priest parish. This is a big change from 1999 when there were four priests in the parish. One of the areas where changes have to be made is in the times of Mass. On Sundays there will be two morning Masses instead of the three we have at present. The times of these Masses will be announced soon.

In another part of this bulletin you can find the current times of Sunday Masses in the Strabane area.

After meetings with the congregations at the weekday Masses on Friday,

the following times were agreed for weekday Mass beginning on Monday 11 January 2010:

Monday 10.00am

Tuesday 7.00pm

Wednesday 10.00am

Thursday 10.00am

Friday 10.00am

Saturday 7.00pm

There will also be Mass on the First Friday at 7.00pm.

Mass Times from Monday 28 December

Monday 28 December 2009: 10.00am (No evening Mass)

Tuesday 29 December 2009: 10.00am (No evening Mass)

Wednesday 30 December 2009: 10.00am (No evening Mass)

Thursday 31 December 2009: 10.00am and 11.30pm.

Friday 1 January 2010: 10.00am (No evening Mass)

Saturday 2 January 2010: 10.00am and 7.00pm Vigil.

Sunday 3 January 2010: 8.30am; 10.30am; 12.30pm.

Thursday 31 December

The extra Mass on Thursday 31 December at 11.30pm is for those who would like to come along to the Church to pray as the old year comes to an end and to ask God’s Blessing on 2010.

First Friday

Friday of this week, 1 January, is the First Friday. Confessions will be on Thursday after 10.00am Mass.

There will be no evening Mass this evening.

Announcements

Christmas Collection

Fr. Doherty and Fr. O’Hagan would like to thank you for your

very generous contributions to the Christmas Collection.

Parish Bulletin

There will be no Parish Bulletin now until Sunday 10 January 2010.

Dates for Baptism

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

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

February: Friday 12; Sunday 21.

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

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

Molly Ann Goan

Alex Theo McLaughlin

Caitlin Emily Foley

Chloe Nicole Casey

Visitation of Sick and Housebound

The sick and housebound will be visited on Monday 4 January 2010 as follows: Monday Morning: The Trust, Knockavoe Area.

Feast of the Epiphany

Wednesday 6 January is the Feast of the Epiphany and is a Holy Day.

Masses are: Tuesday 5 January: Vigil 7.00pm;

Wednesday 6 January: 10.00am and 7.00pm.

Times of Masses at the Weekend for the Strabane Area

Saturday Vigil

6.30pm: Sion Mills; Immaculate Conception.

7.00pm: Melmount; Derry Road.

7.30pm: Murlog; Doneyloop.

Sunday Masses

9.00am: Sion Mills; Murlog; Doneyloop.

9.15am: Cloughcor

10.00am: Immaculate Conception

10.15am: Glenmornan

10.30am: Melmount

11.00am: Sion Mills; Murlog; Doneyloop

11.30am: Derry Road

12.00 noon Immaculate Conception

12.30pm: Melmount

May they Rest in Peace - Deaths

Jimmy ‘Curly’ McMenamin, 29 Knockavoe Crescent

Helen Brolly, 118 Ballycolman Estate

Patsy ‘Trick’ O’Kane, Park

Eamon Devine, Ballymagorry

Vera Henderson, Derry

Erica Donaghey, Belfast

Billy Clarke, Glasgow

Anniversaries

Nellie Stewart, Margaret Gallagher, Frank O’Kane,

David Devine, Jimmy Langan, May Conwell,

William Canavan, Patrick McDevitt, Annie McNally,

Peter Sheils, Rosemary McGuigan, Jim Blee,

Maggie Elliott, Kathleen Wilson, Danny McGeady,

Mavis McBrearty, Harry Ingles, Mary Conwell,

Jeannie Logue, Packie Hegarty, John Mullen,

Betty Sharkey, Noel Logue, Patrick Herron,

Joseph McGinty, Kian Lafferty, Rita Gorman,

Molly Connolly, Paddy Ramsey, Joe Dolan, Eddie O’Neill.

Christmas Celebrations

Congratulations to Strabane Concert Brass, St. Mary’s Girls P.S., St. Mary’s Boys P.S., Holy Cross College and the Gaelscoil on their Christmas Pageants and Carol Services which were held in the Church. They were very enjoyable evenings. We would like to thank all those who contributed in any way to the Christmas Masses and other Celebrations which took place in our church. Well done to all.
Melmount Centre - Parish Bingo on Sunday 27 December and Sunday 3 January 2010.

St. Mary’s Girls and St. Mary’s Boys

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.

Children in Crossfire would like to thank all those who took an Advent calendar at the end of November. Donations can be returned to the church over the weekend of 2/3 January. Containers will be provided at the entrance of the church to leave the boxes in.

A team from the NI Blood Transfusion Service will be in St. Patrick’s Hall, Barrack Street, on Wednesday 6 January from 1.30pm - 4.00pm and from 5.15pm - 8.00pm. In order to maintain the vital supply of blood to our hospitals we need the support not only of existing donors but also of new donors.

New Year, New Challenge

The N.W. Regional College, Derry, Limavady and Strabane is now offering an exciting range of short part-time courses beginning Jan/Feb 2010. For information telephone 71276000 or visit www.nwrc.ac.uk