Sunday, 5th February 2012

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Job 7:1-4.6-7
Restlessly I fret till twilight falls.

Second Reading: Corinthians 9:16-19.22-23
I do not boast of preaching the gospel, since it is a duty which has been laid on me;
I should be punished if I did not preach it.

Gospel: Mark 1:29-39
He cured many who suffered from diseases of one kind or another.

Reflection:

Living God, source of light and life,
we come to you as broken members of your body;
your strength is our strength,
your health is our health,
and your being is our being.
Grant us your wisdom in our work,
your love in our pain
and your peace in our hearts.
Send your blessing on all those who care for the sick,
and those whom they serve,
and give us the joy of everlasting love.
In the name of Jesus your Son.
(CARA) (adapted)

I am the Light of the World

It is said that you should never look into a mirror holding a candle close to your face for it will show up all the wrinkles and lines brought on by age or worry. On Candlemas we held up the candles to our own lives but did we dare to look at the person we really are. In the darkness of today’s world, Jesus still proclaims: ‘I am the light of world. The one who comes after me will not walk in darkness.’ We can understand a child who is afraid of the dark but what about the adult who is afraid of the light?

Announcements

Visitation of Sick and Housebound - The sick and housebound will be visited on Monday 6 and Tuesday 7 February as follows:

Monday Morning: The Trust, Knockavoe Area.

Tuesday Morning: St. Colman’s Drive, Pearse Gardens, Bridgend.

Dates for Baptism - The following are the dates for the Sacrament of Baptism during the months of February, March and April:

February: Saturday 11; Sunday 19; Sunday 26.
March: Saturday 10; Sunday 18; Sunday 25.
April: Sunday 8; Sunday 15; Saturday 28.
Times for Baptism: Sunday 1.15pm; Saturday 4.00pm.

Parish Draw 2012 - The new Parish Draw will get underway this month. Returns for January and February i.e. £10.00 for each member, will be taken on Monday 20 February from 2.00pm - 4.30pm and from 7.30pm - 8.00pm at the Parish Office. The draws for January and February will take place on Thursday 23 February at 10.30am in the Parish Office.

Please Note: Promoters are asked to leave their updated lists of members into the Parish Office as soon as possible so that tickets can be issued.

Confirmation and First Holy Communion - Confirmation will take place in our Parish on Saturday 21 April at 11.00am.Monsignor Joseph Donnelly PP VF will be the celebrant of the Sacrament of Confirmation in Melmount this year. First Holy Communion will take place on Saturday 19 May and for the Gaelscoil on Saturday 12 May. A reminder to parishioners whose children do not attend St. Mary’s Boys P.S., St. Mary’s Girls P.S., Gaelscoil or Knockavoe School and who wish their children to receive one of these Sacraments in Melmount to contact Fr. Doherty as soon as possible.

We welcome into God’s Family through the

Sacrament of Baptism:

Donnacha Gerard Massey
Alex John Gallagher
Ruairi Robert Bernard Diver
Freya Alexandra Sorrie

May they Rest in Peace - Deaths

Mary McCrossan, 33 Prospect Road

Hugh P. McGettigan, 32 Urney Road

Mena Kelly, Rossgier

Eddie Earley, Dundalk formerly Mourne Avenue

Jim Maguire, 15 Drumrallagh

Anniversaries

Bridie Henderson, Maggie Hegarty, Dan Devenney,
Pat Dunne, May Elliott, Marie McFadden,
Rose (Birdie) McCallion, Robert McCutcheon, David Aitken,
Andy Browne, Gerard McGeehan, Catherine Gibb,
Toby McGrath Snr, Mary Gallagher, Margaret Ingles,
Mickey Smith, Veronica Patton, Joe Allen,
George Connolly, John Catterson, Michael Frystal.

Taize - Join us for an hour of meditative prayer and Taize chant on Wednesday 8 February in St. Colman’s Chapel from 7.30pm - 8.30pm. Everyone is welcome.

Church Cleaners - Many thanks to the Women’s Cursillo Team for cleaning the church during the month of January.

Collection Counters - The following are asked to count the collection during the month of February: Kathleen McGowan, Margaret Devine, Michael McColgan, Madeline McColgan, Robin McHugh, Tina Clifford, Mary O’Reilly, Mary McGinley and Cath Duffy.

Marian Devotions - The Marian Devotions take place in the Carmelite Retreat Centre,Termonbacca on Tuesday 7 February beginning at 7.30pm. All are invited and welcome to attend.

Strabane Aware Defeat Depression Support Group will hold their February meetings on Tuesday 14 and Tuesday 28 February at 6.30pm in Room 1, Strabane Library. For further information contact Aware Defeat Depression on 71260602.

Melmount Centre - Parish Bingo Sunday 5 February.

International Eucharistic Congress - This year’s International Eucharistic Congress will be held in Dublin from 10th –17th June, the first time the event has been held in this country since 1932. The high point of the many Masses, liturgies and events of the Congress will be the final Mass which will be celebrated in Croke Park on Sunday, 17th June. Admission to the Mass is by ticket only and the tickets are now available. There are only 1600 for all of the Diocese of Derry, 60 of which have been allocated to the Parish of Melmount. Application forms for tickets are available from the Parish Office and should be completed and returned to the Derry Diocesan IEC Office, 55 St. Patrick’s Street, Draperstown, Magherafelt, Co. Derry, BT45 7AJ. Please include £10 with your application form. Cheques should be made payable to Fr Seamus Kelly. In the event that you are not successful with your application your money will be refunded. Fr Michael McCaughey in Derry has agreed to organise buses for those who prefer that means of transport and will give more details later. Details of places and times of departure as well as cost, including refreshments will be made available at a later time. Please mark on form your interest in travelling by bus.

Preparing for International Congress: Fr. Kelly and Colette Furlong will speak in the Thornhill Centre on Saturday 25 February from 2.30pm – 4.30pm. Light refreshments will be served. Cost £5.00 per person. To book telephone 79628248 or email derrydioceseies@btinternet.com.

International Eucharistic Congress - There is a bus available for those who wish to go to Fr. Seamus Kelly’s talk on preparation for the Eucharistic Congress on Saturday 25 February in the Thornhill Centre, Derry. Please contact Margo Doherty on 71883453 for more information and booking.

Derry Eucharistic Conference will take place in Thornhill College on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 April. Theme:‘Come let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord’. Speaker: Denis McBride CSSR. More information will follow.

Lenten Retreat from Saturday 25 - Sunday 26 February in Ards Friary. Directed by Fr. SilvesterO’Flynn and Fr. Kieran Shorten OFM Capuchin. Theme: Journey with the Lord through Lent. Commences at 9.30am and concludes after lunch. Cost 85 Euro residential/60 Euro non-residential. To book contact Ards Friary 00353 749138909 or info@ardsfriary.

A Team from the NI Blood Transfusion Service will be in St. Patrick’s Hall, Barrack Street, Strabane on Tuesday 7 February from 1.45pm - 4.00pm and from 5.15pm - 8.00pm and on Wednesday 8 February from 4.30pm - 8.00pm. In order to maintain the vital supply of blood to our hospitals the Blood Transfusion Service need the help not only of existing donors but of new donors also.

Foyle Hospice would like to invite everyone to Leap into Action on Wednesday 29 February and support their local Hospice. Foyle Hospice are encouraging their supporters to be creative in their fundraising efforts whether it is at school, at home or at work, the Hospice would like everyone to go crazy this leap year and try something different to raise funds. For further information please contact the Fundraising Department, 61 Culmore Road, Derry, telephone 71359888 or email michellemcginn@foylehospice.com.