Sunday, 29th November, 2009

First Sunday of Advent

First Reading Jeremiah 33: 14-16
In those days Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell in confidence.

Second Reading Thessalonians 3: 12 -4:2
May the Lord be generous in increasing your love and make you love one another.

Gospel Luke 21: 25-28, 34-36
Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and to stand with confidence before the Son of Man.

Caterpillars Beware!

What a way to enter with a bang! Enter a new liturgical year, that is. Just look at our Second Reading today (1 Thess 3:12-4.2): ‘may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all’. What a way to start the year if love means, as it must, seeing butterflies in caterpillars! Not even Specsavers could do that for you.

Advent is a time for staring: at the Creator coddled in a cot, at heaven harbored in a home, at power naked in swaddling clothes, at divinity bubbling through a baby, at the darkness of a silent night illumined by a cosmic chorus of heavenly hosannas. Indeed it is; but don’t forget the caterpillar.

Why should we be stumped by a muddled Marian message ringed in a tree? Why have apparitions in strange places? Don’t we have divinity at our fingertips each day? We need but reach out in friendship to another human being to touch the face of God. For if not there, where else?

Advent is a time for daring: to find the intimately elusive God nestling in our hearts, to find his sacred face imaged on the heart of those we love and, dare we admit it, those we don’t; to trust our instincts for the promised paradise to come. Indeed it is, but don’t forget the caterpillar.

Next time you meet one stare and dare. Stare until its lowly form morphs before your eyes. Then dare to believe what your eyes tell you. Advent has arrived; can birth be far behind?

Fr. Tom Cahill

St. Vincent de Paul Collection

The St. Vincent de Paul Society depends on your generosity all year round but especially weekend. There is a special envelope in your box for this. Anyone contributing to this collection by cheque should make it payable to ‘St. Vincent de Paul Society’.

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.

Dates for Baptism

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

December: Sunday 6; Friday 11; 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:

Ben William John Devine

Aoibheann Marie Duddy

Lorcan Patrick Rouse

Parish Draw 2009

Promoters should make their returns for December to the Parish Office on Monday 7 December from 2.00pm - 4.30pm. The Draw for December will take place on Thursday 10 December at 10.30am in the Parish Office.

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 71 384444 or www.alley-theatre.com.

Admission £5.00

Gaelscoil Ui Dhochartaigh

Carol Service for the Gaelscoil will take place in the Church on Wednesday 16 December at 7.00pm.

Christmas Pageant

The Christmas Pageant with the pupils of St. Mary’s Boys P.S. and St. Mary’s Girls P.S. will take place in the Church on Monday 21 December at 7.00pm. There will be no 7.00pm Mass that evening.

Penitential Service

Penitential Service and Confessions for Christmas

will be held in the Church on Sunday 20 December from 5.00pm - 6.30pm.

A number of priests will be available.

Strabane Sigersons Annual Club Mass for deceased members and their relatives will take place on Tuesday 1 December at 7.30pm in Holy Cross College Oratory.

May they Rest in Peace

Fr. Joe Morris, Culdaff

Johnny McGinley, Portnablagh

Anniversaries

Mary Harley, Hugh McCormack, Sarah Devenney,

Eddie MacIntyre, Eddie Maxwell, Bridget Devine,

Margaret Kelly, Helen McDermott, Colum Duncan,

John O’Kane, Mary McColgan, John Doherty,

Jack Gallagher, James Gallagher, Anthony McBrearty,

Winifred McCanny, Mae McGillian, Jim McGrath,

Hugh McDermott, Frank Gallagher, Sally Bradley.

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.

Children in Crossfire Advent Calendars are still available to collect at the back of the church after all Masses this weekend. Donations can be returned at Masses over the weekends of 2/3 and 9/10 January 2010. All funds raised will go towards supporting projects that help vulnerable children and young people in Ethiopia and Tanzania.

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.

Sharing Fair Christmas Sale November 28 & 29

Once again the Good Shepherd Sisters will be in ‘The Den’ with their Sharing Fair Sale over this weekend 28 & 29 November. Through this project aid is given to disadvantaged girls and women in developing countries. All crafts sold at the fair are the product of the girls’ labour. Thank you for your generosity last year and we realise that times are hard but please remember that by spending just £2.00 you help to feed a family for one week! Please come and see.

Derry Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage 2010

Why not give someone an opportunity of going on the Lourdes Pilgrimage 16 - 21 July 2010 as your Christmas gift. Gift vouchers (£25.00 - £100.00) are now available from the Pilgrimage Office, 164 Bishop Street, Derry. Office opens Tuesday 11.00am - 1.00pm, Thursday 11.00am - 2.00pm and Saturday 11.00am - 1.00pm. Telephone 71260293.

Parish Christmas Bingo

will take place in the Melmount Centre on 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.

Melmount Centre - Parish Bingo Sunday 29 November.

A Night of Inspirational and Spiritual Music with Marilla Ness

live in concert in St. Joseph’s Hall, Omagh on Sunday 6 December at 8.00pm.

Admission £10.00.

Community Based Sale today,

Sunday 29 November, in Ballycolman Community Centre from 12 noon - 5.00pm.

Contact Kate 07855852754.