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Sunday,
21st December 2008
4th
Sunday of Advent
PRIESTS
OF THE PARISH
Rev John Doherty PP Tel: 028 7188 2274
Rev Paul Farren Tel: 028 7188 3247
The
Unexpected Happens
By now, except
for some fine details, our Christmas preparations are
nearing completion. Lists have been checked, the perfect
gift obtained and wrapped [receipts kept just in case].
Cards that we seriously meant to deliver on time have
now been sent. Menus are in their final stages.
But things can
and will happen. As one writer put it: ‘Life is
something that happens to us as we’re busy planning
for it’. What happens when we’re confronted
with things beyond our control?
Mary had her
own plans. Divine pregnancy and human accusations of
infidelity and pleadings of innocence were not part
of them. Joseph didn’t plan to feel lost, unable
to understand the situation. If ever a reassuring angel
was needed it was now. Familiarity has dulled the drama
of the Gospel scene today. Misunderstandings, false
assumptions, fear, and disappointment have their place
in the jigsaw puzzle of our own lives.
Not the perfect
situation for the Messiah to be born into. But it was
the right one. God only wants a little room, a heart
prepared to trust him even when the unknown, the unplanned,
the unexpected happens. God is Emmanuel – God
is with us.
| TIMES OF MASSES
AND CONFESSIONS |
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| DAY OF WEEK |
Sacred Heart Church
Derry Road
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St. Mary’s
Church
Cloughcor
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St. Joseph’s
Church
Glenmornan |
| Monday 22nd |
Mass – 10.00am
Confessions after Mass
Confessions at 7.00pm
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| Tuesday 23rd |
Mass – 10.00am
Confessions after Mass
Confessions at 7.00pm
|
Confessions at 7.00pm |
Confessions at 7.30pm |
Wednesday 24th
Christmas Eve
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Mass – 10.00am
First Mass of Christmas – 9.00pm |
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Thursday 25th
Christmas Day
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Mass
9.00am and 11.30am
|
Mass – 9.15am |
Mass – 10.15am |
| Friday 26th |
Mass – 11.00am |
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| Saturday 27th |
Vigil Mass – 7.00pm |
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| Sunday 28th |
Mass – 11.30am |
9.15am |
10.15am |
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CONFESSIONS
Please note there will be no confessions on Saturday
morning [27h December]
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Last
week’s Collection was £1,262.00. Many thanks.
The Christmas
Collection will be taken up on Christmas Eve night and
on Christmas morning.
The St. Vincent
de Paul Conference wishes to thank you very much for
your generosity towards their recent collection.
A few weeks
ago we invited parishioners to take a special Advent
calendar issued by the charity ‘Children in Crossfire’.
The calendar provided an opportunity for us to prepare
for Christmas in a different way. Each day we were asked
to contribute to Children in Crossfire and also get
a short reflection to help focus on what Christmas is
really about.
We would be grateful
if you would return your contributions to any of the
parish Masses next weekend. ‘Children in Crossfire’
would like to express its gratitude to you for your
generosity.
St. Mary’s, Melmount
There will be
a Penance Service and Confessions this evening [Sunday
21st] from 5.00pm until 6.30pm. Several priests will
be available for confessions.
Derry
Diocesan Society
New names for
the Derry Diocesan Society should be handed in by tomorrow
at the latest.
Our Thanks
to You
As we come to
the end of another year, we would like to thank you,
our parishioners for the support and encouragement you
gave us in 2008.
In particular
we thank the teachers and staff of our schools; our
sacristans, altar servers, organists, instrumentalists,
soloists and choirs; the readers, the Eucharistic ministers,
those who take care of our churches and grounds, our
housekeepers, secretary ad the savings committee, savers
and collectors. We are grateful to those who sell the
Catholic papers; the St. Vincent de Paul Conference;
and indeed to all who help in any way.
We
wish you all a very happy and peaceful Christmas.
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