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

Sacred Heart Church, Derry Road.

(we will rotate the church images each week)

Sunday, 13th December 2009

Third Sunday of Advent.

The theme of this Third Sunday of Advent is rejoicing. This Sunday is known as Gaudete Sunday. The word Gaudete means rejoice; the basis for this rejoicing is the nearness of the Lord. What everybody wants in life is to be happy, but what is the secret of happiness? The secret of happiness consists in being faithful to one’s commitments and responsibilities, while at the same time enjoying life. It’s easy to be happy when we are doing what we want. But to find happiness in what we have to do, not simply in what we want to do, this is a blessing from God. Happiness is not a shallow self-satisfaction. There can be no happiness for us as long as the things we do are different from the things we believe, and then there can be no happiness without love. Sadness falls upon us when we say ‘No’ to love. In the end, only God can fulfil our dreams and happiness is the best sign of his presence. The presence of God is the cause of our joy. The joy that this world cannot give is the joy that comes from a sense of God and his love for us.

Sunday, 13th December, 2009

Third Sunday of Advent
(Gaudete Sunday)

First Reading Zephaniah 3: 14-18
Jerusalem is urged to rejoice because God stands in her midst. We too can take heart from this message of hope.

Second Reading Philippians 4: 4-7
Paul urges us to rejoice in the Lord and to let go of anxiety by living in a spirit of prayer and thanksgiving.

Gospel Luke 3: 10-18
John the Baptist tells the people what they must do to prepare for the Lord’s coming and to escape his searching judgement.

Third Sunday of Advent

What Must We Do?

Some make lists, others don’t. Some panic, more focus. Certain people like a flexible approach to every day, others plan it to extinction! But Christmas preparations can intrude into even the most chaotic or organised of lives. Even the Gospel question [‘What must we do?’] may stir up our thoughts and mock our preparations.

Mind you, it wasn’t mince pies or 101 turkey recipes that were on the minds of the Baptist’s questioners. John avoids strong drink, but not strong words or straight talk, especially for the self-righteous and religiously respectable folks.
John is God’s man. A man who dines on locusts and wild honey has no time for complacency or smugness. We can no longer live in the same old ways, guided by the old values.

It’s the season to be joyful on this Gaudete Sunday. Joyful, mind you, not jolly. The joy of this season comes from a ready heart. Change is never easy and often painful, but it’s always worthwhile. John’s answer to tax collectors, soldiers and people is not some pious action. He points out that they will respond to the ways of God by being what they should be to their neighbours. So ‘What must we do?’ We know the answer to that. Let’s do it!

Last week’s Collection amounted to £1,652.00. Many thanks.

Sick and Housebound

The sick and housebound will be attended on the morning and afternoon of Tuesday 15th December.

Carol Service

A Christmas Carol Service, presented by the pupils of P5, P6 and P7 of St. Mary’s Primary School, Cloughcor will take place in the Sacred Heart Church on Tuesday next, 15th December, commencing at 7.00pm. The proceeds from the retiring collection will be donated to the local
St. Vincent de Paul Conference.

Penance Service in Melmount

There will be a Penance Service followed by confessions in St. Mary’s Church, Melmount next Sunday 20th December from 5.00pm until 6.30pm. Several priests from surrounding parishes will be available.

First Anniversary Mass

The first anniversary Mass for the late Mary Crampsie will be said in St. Mary’s Church, Cloughcor on Thursday next 17th December at 7.30pm.

Times of Christmas Masses

in Leckpatrick

Sacred Heart Church:
First Mass of Christmas at 9.00pm on Thursday 24th December.
Dawn Mass at 9.00am
Day Mass at 11.30am

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

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

Taizé

Christmas Preparation – join us for an hour of meditative prayer and Taizé chant this Wednesday 16th December at 7.30pm in
St. Mary’s Church, Melmount. Everyone is welcome.

Carmelite Retreat Centre, Termonbacca

Three Advent evening retreats in preparation for Christmas on Monday 14th, Tuesday 15th and Wednesday 16th December [7.30pm until 10.00pm]. An opportunity to spend some time is quiet adoration, receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and celebrate Mass. All are welcome to attend.

Fr. Pat O’Hagan

Many people will be sorry to learn that
Fr. Pat O’Hagan has been transferred from Melmount. However, we congratulate him on being appointed as parish priest of Moville, where he will take up his new post this weekend. We wish him every happiness in his new parish and sympathise with Fr. Michael Doherty as he prepares to serve the people of Melmount without the assistance of a curate.

Reflection
There is a clear note in today’s liturgy.
Joy is a blend of laughter and tears.
It consists in having a love affair with life.
It is having a heart aglow with warmth for
all one’s companions on the road of life.

It is looking for the happiness that comes in small packages,
knowing that big packages are few and far between.

It is making the most of the present,
enjoying what is at hand right now.
Joy is love bubbling over into life.
And it can coexist with pain.
Joy is the flag we fly when Christ, the Prince of Peace,
has taken up residence in our hearts.

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 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.