PRIESTS OF THE PARISH
Rev John Doherty PP Tel: 028 7188 2274
Rev Paul Farren Tel: 028 7188 3247

St. Joseph’s Church, Glenmornan

(we will rotate the church images each week)

Sunday, 6th December 2009

Second Sunday of Advent.

"(John) went through the whole Jordan district proclaiming a baptism for the forgiveness of sins." Every day we are made aware of how much evil there is in our world, with stories of cruelty and vandalism at home and abroad. And yet in spite of this awareness there is a huge decline in our sense of sin. In some ways this is a good development because in former times so much was thought of as sin. However, as we approach Christmas and beyond, it is important that we hear the call for repentance and leave anything that is harmful in the past behind us by placing it firmly in the hands of Christ, especially through celebrating the great Sacrament of Confession. This makes it possible for us to make a fresh start again and again in our relationships with God and with one another in our homes and in our parish community.

F r. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R.

Sunday, 6th December, 2009

Second Sunday of Advent

First Reading Baruch 5: 1-9
God will guide Israel in joy by the light of his glory.

Second Reading Philippians 1: 3-6
We are to be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.

Gospel Luke 3: 1-6
John the Baptist preaches repentance to prepare for the coming of Christ.

Jim’s Story

Jim had always been a quiet man. His voice was gentle and pleasant, and he had a sincerity about him that held you when he spoke to you. He seemed to have a constant sense of being in contact with God, and of God’s presence in his life, and in the world. He had absolutely no aggression in his personality, but he was always deeply upset by reports of injustice, ethnic cleansing, and the flow of refugees, in search of safety and security.

Jim got cancer. From the very beginning, he was totally aware of his situation, and he insisted on being kept informed of every step of the prognosis. He retained his dignity, his composure, and his peace of mind. He was very realistic about life and about death. Most impressive of all was his attitude towards death. His family knew that his whole life was a preparation for what was to come. It was obvious that he had made a direct connection between the first coming of Jesus, and his return to call Jim home. He was ready, and he had a sense of waiting patiently. He spent a lot of his time, while he still had the energy, in reaching out to others, in sorting our his affairs, and in preparing his wife and family for what lay ahead.

Eventually he died as he had lived, with peace, calm, and dignity. When we read today’s gospel, let’s think of Jim. He represents what today’s gospel is all about. Our own personal reinforcement of the gospel message will come from the people we meet who, like Jim, are living the message.

Last week’s Collection amounted to £1,395.00. Many thanks.

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Tuesday 8th December is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, and is a holyday of obligation. Masses as follows:

Sacred Heart Church: Monday at 7.00pm and Tuesday at 11.30am.

St. Mary’s Church, Cloughcor:
Tuesday at 9.15am

St. Joseph’s Church, Glenmornan:
Tuesday at 10.15am

Derry Diocesan Mass
The 10.00am Mass in the Sacred Heart Church on Monday 7th December will be said for the deceased members of the Derry Diocesan Society.

St. Vincent de Paul Collection

The annual envelope collection for the
St. Vincent de Paul Society will take place at all Masses of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. We are confident that you will show your usual generosity in helping needy families at Christmastime.

Penance Service in Melmount
There will be a Penance Service followed by confessions in St. Mary’s Church, Melmount on Sunday 20th December. We will have further details next week.

Dan Gillespie is 100 Years Young!

This weekend we mark the 100th birthday of Dan Gillespie,

19 Newtown Street. We congratulate him not only on reaching this magnificent age, but also on reaching it in such a healthy state of mind and body. It is truly a remarkable achievement for Dan, and is surely a proud occasion for his sister Jean and his brother Pat. We thank the Lord for all he has done for Dan since the 5th December 1909. And we pray that God may continue to do great things for him in the future. Ad multos annos!

Trócaire Global Gifts

Trócaire has once again launched its hugely successful Global Gift Plan offering a range of nine ethnical non-commercial and life-changing gifts for families and communities in the developing world. Over half a million of the world’s most vulnerable people will benefit for generations to come from the sale of Global Gifts. The global gifts for 2009 are;

Price Gift
£9.00 - School Lunch
£13.00 - Chicks
£22.00 - Vegetable Garden
£30.00 - Food
£40.00 - Goat
£63.00 - Education
£90.00 - Water
£135.00 - Fishing Boat & Nets
£180.00 - House

Under this scheme, shoppers can buy a gift of genuine value for their family, friends and clients which will also change lives in the developing world. Thousands of shoppers have felt that it had given people a real option for the poor and reflects the true spirit of Christmas.

The next Pioneer Meeting will take place tomorrow [Monday] at 8.00pm, followed directly by a meeting of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

The following are asked to assist as collectors and church cleaners during the month of December:

SACRED HEART CHURCH:

Collectors:
Saturday 7.00pm:-
Brian Edwards and Declan Carlin.
Sunday 11.30am:-
Stephen Barrett, Terry McCallion and
Patsy McNulty.

Cleaners: Team A

ST. MARY’S CHURCH, CLOUGHCOR:

Collectors:
Leon Farrell.

Altar Society & Cleaners:
Geraldine Devine, Laura Devine and Terina Devine.

ST. JOSEPH’S CHURCH, GLENMORNAN

Collectors:
Sean McShane and Domnhaill McShane.

Altar Society:
Marie Bradley and Donna Doherty.

Our thanks are due to all who served the parish in any way during the month of November.