PARISH
SAVINGS
At a meeting this week with the Bishop and diocesan
authorities we were informed that Parish Savings Schemes
should not commence for 2009. As you know there has
been significant instability in the financial sector
since September 2008. The diocese, and indeed parishes
and individuals, have, despite the instability, maintained
confidence in the financial sector by continuing to
support banks and other financial institutions through
depositing funds with them. This support continues.
However the nature of the money held in Parishioners’
Savings Schemes is quite different from parish or
diocesan money, in that the money in Parishioners’
Savings Schemes does not at any stage belong to the
parish. At all times – from collection, while
in the bank and at repayment – it belongs to
the individual parishioner.
The parish has a huge ethical responsibility to ensure
the safety and security of parishioners’ money,
remembering that the parishes would not have the financial
resources to repay parishioners’ money in the
event of bank crisis and that for some parishioners
the loss of money would mean real financial hardship.
There is a bond of trust between a priest and an individual
parishioner. This bond of trust could be damaged if
financial crisis led to financial hardship for parishioners.
The suspension of the Savings Schemes will give an
opportunity for the diocese to investigate with various
professional bodies the possibility of devising a
scheme which protects the money of individual parishioners,
obeys the laws on financial regulation and is in accordance
with the new Charities Laws on both sides of the border
which come into effect in the coming year. These Charities
Laws are comprehensive involving new regulations and
accountability. Even if we had stable banking at the
moment, very shortly in the New Year we would be accountable
to these Laws.
Bishops, priests and parishioners very much regret
the suspension of the scheme and hope that a new formula
will be created to allow Parish Savings Schemes to
be re-established.
This suspension will have serious financial consequences
for our parish and our Parishioners. Over the years
any interest on our debt was offset by the Savings
Scheme and that debt was partially reduced from the
interest gained from our Savings. Now we are doubly
exposed, and as our main source of income is the Sunday
collection and the Parish Draw, the Hall struggling
to break even, we are depending on the continuing
support and generosity of all our parishioners.
A sincere thank you to all who have been involved
in any way in the Savings Scheme and all of us hope
that the suspension will be brief. You will be kept
informed of any developments.
COLLECTION
We acknowledge last Sunday’s
collection of £1783.00. Many thanks.
DONATIONS TOWARDS SECURITY
AT PAROCHIAL HOUSE
We gratefully acknowledge the £200.00
donation towards our new security measures. Thank
you for your continuing support.
DEATHS
We offer our deepest sympathy to the family and
friends of:
Daniel Diver, Derry,
formerly of Ashgrove Park
Padraig O'Durcain,
Melmount Manor, formerly of Galway
Gerard Melaugh, England
May they rest in peace.
ANNIVERSARIES
Teresa Conway, Patricia O'Kane,
John McCallion, Peter Hoynes,
Philip McCrossan, Evelyn Conwell.
PRAY FOR PRIESTS
Last year the diocese published
a prayer card with the names of all the Derry diocesan
priests. Many of you have these cards and every day
a specific priest is named. This week we ask you to
pray for:
Fr. Brian McGoldrick PP, Doneloop,
7 Dec
Fr. Neil McGoldrick PP, Fahan, 8 Dec
Fr. Patrick McGoldrick CC, Moville, 9 Dec
Fr. James McGonagle PP, Culdaff, 10 Dec
Fr. James McGrory, Armagh, 10 Dec
Fr. Patrick J McGuigan, Deceased, 11 Dec
Fr. Edward McGuinness CC, Buncrana, 11 Dec
Fr. Kevin McKenna PPVF, Dungiven, 12 Dec
Fr. Sean McKenna PP, Ballymagroarty, 12 Dec
Fr. Con McLaughlin PP, Carndonagh, 13 Dec
Fr. George McLaughlin, Retired, 13 Dec
PRAYER GROUP
The contemplative prayer group will
meet on Monday evening at 8.15pm in the Parochial
House. Newcomers very welcome. This is an opportunity
to experiment with a new form of prayer, especially
if you find that your present methods are unsatisfactory.
BLESSED SACRAMENT CHAPEL
Our Blessed Sacrament Chapel is open
every day from 10.00am until the Church closes. It
is located at the back of the Church - when you come
in the main door, turn left, then left again. This
is a sacred space where you can come and pray, ask
for your special intentions and rest a while in the
midst of a busy world.
EUCHARISTIC HEALING SERVICE
There will be Eucharistic Healing
Service in the Church every Sunday during Advent at
6.00pm. Everyone welcome.
FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
Monday 8 December is the Feast of
the Immaculate Conception and is a Holy Day of Obligation.
There will Mass at 10.00am and 6.30pm.
PENITENTIAL SERVICE
Penitential Service and Confessions
for Christmas will be held in St. Mary's Church, Melmount
on Sunday 21 December from 5.00pm to 7.00pm. There
will be eight priests available.
ST. VINCENT DE PAUL COLLECTION
The annual St. Vincent de Paul Christmas
Collection will be taken up at all Masses next weekend,
13 and 14 December, after Holy Communion. We take
this opportunity to thank everyone for their continuing
support.
PARISH DRAW
The Draw for the month of December
will take place on Thursday 11 December at 2.30pm
in the parish office. Promoters are asked to bring
their returns to the parish office on Monday 8 December.
IONA CARMELITE RETREAT CENTRE
Advent Weekend Retreat. Registration
Friday 12 7.30pm to Sunday 14 December. A quiet residential
weekend which will be a spiritual preparation for
the feast of Christmas will be conducted by the Carmelite
Fathers in Termonbacca, Carmelite Retreat Centre,
Derry. All are welcome to attend. For further details
and bookings Tel 71262512.
SACRED HEART MESSENGER
Next year's subscription for the Sacred
Heart Messenger magazine is now due. All Sacred Heart
Messenger promoters should make their returns to the
parish office as soon as possible.
NOTICES FOR PARISH BULLETIN
In order to facilitate printing we
ask that all notices and anniversaries for the parish
bulletin are either given to the sacristan or left
at the parish office by Wednesday morning at the latest.
PAYMENTS BY CHEQUE
The Bank have reminded us that all
payments made to the parish by cheque (for Parish
Savings, Parish Draw, Sunday and Special Collections
etc.) must be made payable to Church of the Immaculate
Conception.
KNOCK MARRIAGE INTRODUCTIONS
BUREAU
The aim of the Bureau is to introduce
people considering marriage to a suitable marriage
partner. For further information contact the Bureau
at Knock, Co. Mayo, telephone (00353) 094 9375960
or visit the website at www.knockmarriagebureau.com
SICK AND HOUSEBOUND TO BE
ATTENDED
Fr. Boland will visit the sick and
housebound in the following areas on Monday 8 December
after 10.00am Mass: Courtrai Park, Barrack Street,
Lower Townsend Terrace, Mount Carmel Heights, Springhill
Park, Mill Street, Newtownkennedy Street, Lower Main
Street, Glenview Park, Church View, Tristan Road.
Fr. Boland will visit the sick and housebound in the
following areas on Thursday 11 December after 10.00am
Mass: Bearney Road, Camus Road, Conthem Road, Upper
Townsend Street, Townsend Terrace, Marian Park, Fountain
Street and Innisfree Gardens.
ADVENT BOOKS
Advent books are now on sale after
all Masses. Books are £1.00 each and 50p for
the childrens book.
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, from 14 countries from Afghanistan to
Zimbabwe. The order forms are available at the back
of the church.
CHRISTMAS YOUTH 2000 RETREAT
A National Youth 2000 Christmas Retreat
for Young People aged 16-35 years takes place at Newbridge
College, Newbridge, Co. Kildare from Friday 19 to
Sunday 21 December. An opportunity not to be missed
to experience the Catholic faith and meet many new
friends! Contact Youth 2000 office (Dublin) 00353
1 6753690 or Carla 07521708876 for information. No
charge - donation only. Special buses available from
some locations. See poster at back of church. Website:
www.youth2000.ie
ST. ANNE'S PRIMARY SCHOOL
Application forms for children starting
P.1 in September 2009 are now available in St. Anne's
Primary School. Closing date for applications is 21
January 2009.
BARRACK STREET BOYS' PRIMARY
SCHOOL
There will be a Nursery and P.1 Open
Day in Barrack Street Boy's Primary School on Wednesday
10 December from 1.00pm - 2.30pm. Enrolment forms
are now available from the school.
MEETING OF DRAW PROMOTERS
There will be a meeting of all parish
draw promoters on Monday 8 December at 8.00pm in St.
Patrick's Hall. We ask all our promoters to attend.
ST. PATRICK’S
HALL
Bingo and Lucky 4 Draw as usual this
Thursday.
All our patrons are very welcome.
LUCKY 4 DRAW
There were 7 match 3 winners in last
week's Draw
Mary O'Hagan, Joe McDaid, Brendan
Devine, Eugene McDaid, Rose Hannigan,
Susan Sheerin, Ethel McGinley
The numbers drawn were:
7, 11, 20, 22
Next Week's Lucky 4 Jackpot is £750.00
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
NOLLAIG SHONA!
FELIZ NAVIDAD!
St. Anne's Primary School proudly
presents their Christmas Concert in St. Patrick's
Hall on Monday 15 December and Tuesday 16 December
at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £3.00 for adults and
£2.00 for children and will be available from
the school.
CONCERT OF SPIRITUAL SONG
There will be a concert of spiritual
song featuring Louise Irvine in St. Patrick's Hall
on Sunday 14 December commencing at 8.00pm. Louise
was first heard singing in St. Mary's Church, Melmount
at the special Mass to welcome the statue of Our Lady
of Fatima.
PRAYER CORNER
A BLESSING
OF ANGELS
May the Angels in their beauty bless
you.
May they turn towards you streams of blessing.
May the Angel of Awakening stir your heart
To come alive to the eternal within you,
To all the invitations that quietly surround you.
May the Angel of Healing turn your wounds
Into sources of refreshment.
May the Angel of the Imagination enable you
To stand on the true thresholds;
At ease with your ambivalence
And drawn in new directions
Through the glow of your contradictions.
May the Angel of Compassion open your eyes
To the unseen suffering around you.
May the Angel of Wildness disturb the places
Where your life is domesticated and safe,
Take you to the territories of true otherness
Where all that is awkward in you
Can fall into its own rhythm.
FOR SOLITUDE
May you recognise in your life the
presence,
Power and light of your soul.
May you realise that you are never alone,
That your soul in its brightness and belonging
Connects you intimately with the rhythm of the universe.
May you have respect for your individuality and difference.
May you realise that the shape of your soul is unique,
That you have a special destiny here,
That behind the facade of your life
There is something beautiful and eternal happening.
May you learn to see yourself
With the same delight,
Pride and expectation
With which God sees you
in every moment.
A BLESSING OF ANGELS
May the Angels in their beauty bless
you.
May they turn towards you streams of blessing.
May the Angel of Awakening stir your heart
To come alive to the eternal within you,
To all the invitations that quietly surround you.
May the Angel of Healing turn your wounds
Into sources of refreshment.
May the Angel of the Imagination enable you
To stand on the true thresholds;
At ease with your ambivalence
And drawn in new directions
Through the glow of your contradictions.
May the Angel of Compassion open your eyes
To the unseen suffering around you.
May the Angel of Wildness disturb the places
Where your life is domesticated and safe,
Take you to the territories of true otherness
Where all that is awkward in you
Can fall into its own rhythm.
