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.
THE MYSTERY OF DARKNESS
In the northern hemisphere this is the season of
the longest nights. Because of the tilt of the earth
the sun seems far distant from us, and the hours of
darkness are long. But in this darkness are hidden
gifts of insight for those who wish to look.
Light and darkness have, over the centuries, been
cast as enemies: light has become a sign of the holy
and the good and the darkness a symbol of evil and
ignorance. Yet it was at night, in the surrounding
intimacy of darkness, that some of the greatest religious
events in our tradition occurred: the Passover meal,
the birth of Jesus and his Last Supper. Since Christ
was absent from the tomb at dawn on Easter, he must
have risen in the darkness. We are told he went into
the mountains to pray at night or before dawn, and
these were the times of Jesus' most intimate communion
with the Divine Mystery. This love of night by God
should not surprise us, for is night not the time
of lovers?
We need to appreciate darkness as the soft companion
of prayer and love. With a gentle touch, darkness
closes our eyes to the world of work, shrinks our
cosmos to a close circle and produces an inner prayerful
proportion. The mystery of night not only allow us
to feel closer to each other but closer to God as
well. Perhaps this is why night vigils are practised
by persons of all religious beliefs.
Jesus said, " I am the light of the world"
(Jn. 9.5). We would probably have more difficulty
saying "Jesus is the night-time darkness",
yet this alone is also true. Perhaps these final days
of Advent could be a time of atonement for our failure
to love night as we love the day, for our sin of prejudice
against the darkness, for our failure to see how darkness
and light play together in the circle of God's wholeness.
And when our day is finished, our work at rest, with
a sense of accomplishment and gratitude, we open our
arms, as the French poet, Peguy would say, to the
embrace of God's dark-eyed daughter, night.
For darkness is more than the absence of light. As
we consider the opening words of Scripture in the
book of Genesis, we see that "the earth was a
formless waste of darkness covered by abyss"
(Gen. 1:2). The darkness of space covered the earth.
There was just darkness and God, intimate in their
ageless embrace. And when God said, "Let there
be light!" (Gen. 1:3), from the very heart of
darkness light appeared.
Advent is the ageless season of waiting for the birth
of Emmanuel into the world. And it is appropriate,
for those of us who live north of the equator, that
Advent comes at the darkest time of year. For Advent's
silent sister, the dark, holds the gift that allows
us to wait quietly for the Light of Lights.
Let us use these Advent days around the Winter Solstice,
earth's darkest day, to wait in open stillness for
the "light that shone in the darkness" (Jn.
1:5).
DEATHS
We offer our deepest sympathy
to the family and friends of:
Agnes McElroy, Church
View
Vera McGrotty, Ardmore
Seamus Hoynes, Newtownkennedy
Street
May they rest in peace.
ANNIVERSARIES
Attracta Harron, Peter McHugh
Ann McNally, Patrick McGhee
Jim McNally, Matthew Tighe
Seamus McNally, Molly Goan
Patricia O'Kane, Neil Goan
Michael Conwell, Mary Boggs
Evelyn Conwell, Bridin Grimley, Denis Hegarty
PRAYER GROUP
The contemplative prayer group will
meet on Monday at 8.15pm in the
Parochial House. Everyone welcome.
PRAY FOR PRIESTS
The diocese published a prayer card with the names
of all the Derry diocesan priests.
This week we ask you to pray for:
Fr. Edward McGuinness CC, Buncrana,
11 December
Fr. Kevin McKenna, Retired, 12 December
Fr. Con McLaughlin PP, Donagh, 13 December
Fr. George McLaughlin, Retired, 13 December
Fr. Patrick McLaughlin CC, Lavey, 14 December
Fr. Peter McLaughlin PP, Sion Mills, 14 December
Fr. Stephen McLaughlin PP, Creggan, 15 December
EUCHARISTIC HEALING SERVICE
There will be Eucharistic Healing Service in the Church
every Sunday during Advent at 6.00pm. Everyone welcome.
PENITENTIAL SERVICE
Penitential Service and Confessions for Christmas
will be held in St. Mary's Church, Melmount on Sunday
20 December from 5.00pm to 6.30pm. There will be eight
priests available for confession.
SICK AND HOUSEBOUND TO BE
ATTENDED
Fr. Boland will visit the sick and housebound in the
following areas on Thursday 17 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, Patrick Street and Tristan
Road.
Fr. Boland will visit the sick and housebound in the
following areas on Friday 18 December after 10.00am
Mass: Bearney Road, Camus Road, Conthem Road, Upper
Townsend Street, Townsend Terrace, Marian Park, Fountain
Street and Innisfree Gardens.
CHRISTMAS ARRANGEMENTS 2009
Penitential Service St. Mary’s Church, Melmount.
Sunday 20 December 5.00pm - 6.30pm
CONFESSIONS
Saturday 19 December 10.30am - 12 noon, 5.30pm - 6.20pm
Monday 21 December 6.00pm - 7.00pm
Tuesday 22 December 6.00pm - 7.00pm
Wednesday 23 December 6.00pm - 7.00pm
MASSES
Monday 21 December 10.00am
Tuesday 22 December 10.00am
Wednesday 23 December 10.00am
CHRISTMAS EVE 10.00am
Vigil Mass 9.00pm
CHRISTMAS DAY 10.00am & 12 noon
MASSES
Saturday 26 December 6.30pm
Sunday 27 December 10.00am & 12 noon
Monday 28 December 10.00am
Tuesday 29 December 10.00am
Wednesday 30 December 7.00pm
Thursday 31 December 10.00am
Prayer Service for New Year 11.30pm
NOVENA OF MASSES from 16th - 24th
December for
those included in our special Christmas Mass Cards.
PARISH DRAW
The winners of the Draw for the month
of December are:
£1000.00 Ann Madden 744
£300.00 Geraldine Sharkey 594
£200.00 Pauline Casey 524
£100.00 Patricia O'Doherty 157
£100.00 Kevin Taggart 765
£100.00 Jeanette Coyle 947
£100.00 Susie McMonagle 550
£100.00 Michael McCallion 813
The winners of the Extra Draw are:
£100.00 Brigid Mullen 822
£100.00 Eleanor McCarron 415
£100.00 Dessie Kelly 465
£100.00 Coleen Kelly 353
£100.00 Pat & Cathy Brennan 587
PRIEST'S CHRISTMAS COLLECTION
The Priest's Christmas Collection will be taken up
at Mass on Christmas Eve (Vigil) and at all Masses
on Christmas Day. You will find a special envelope
for this collection in your box.
FR. PAT O'HAGAN
Fr. Pat O'Hagan, a curate in Melmount parish, who
served in this parish for a number of years has been
appointed as Parish Priest of Moville. We wish him
every blessing and success as he takes up his new
post this weekend.
SACRED HEART MESSENGER
Subscribers please note the price increase of the
Sacred Heart Messenger magazine. From January 2010
the magazine will be £1.00 per edition. Promoters
are asked to bring their returns to the parish office
as soon as possible.
CHRISTMAS PREPARATION
Join us for an hour of meditative Taize Prayer and
Chant on Wednesday 16 December in St. Colman's Chapel,
St. Mary's Church, Melmount at 7.30pm.
HOLY FAMILY PADRE PIO PRAYER
GROUP
The Holy Family Padre Pio Prayer Group will hold their
last monthly meeting of the year in the Holy Family
Church, Ballymagroarty, Derry on Tuesday 15 December
starting with 7.30pm Mass. There will be two 1st class
relics of St Pio at the meeting. Everyone is welcome.
ST. VINCENT DE PAUL COLLECTION
This year's Annual Collection amounted to £1488.00
and €235.00. Sincere thanks to everyone for their
generosity and support.
ST. VINCENT DE PAUL LUCKY
LOTTO DRAW
The numbers drawn were 5, 10, 16, 20.
There was 1 Jackpot winner - Ryan Fleming.
Jackpot for January is £1000.00. Next Draw will
take place on Sunday 3 January at 9.00pm at Melmount
parish bingo.
TROCAIRE GLOBAL GIFT
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. The order forms are available at the back of
the church.
IOSAS CENTRE AND CELTIC PRAYER
GARDEN
Why not visit our gift shop? Christmas gifts, cards
and handmade items on sale. Tea and Coffee Shop available
also. Lenamore Road, Muff. Everyone welcome
STRABANE PARISH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS
1000 DRAW
The winners of the Annual Christmas Draw are:
1st Prize Kieran Quinn
2nd Prize Stan Caulfield
3rd Prize Morgan McCay
4th Prize Patsy & Peggy Mohan
ST. PATRICK’S
HALL
Bingo and Lucky 4 Draw as usual this
Thursday.
All our patrons are very welcome.
Snowball £2500.00
LUCKY 4 DRAW
There were 4 match 3 winners in last week's Draw
Catherine McGrath
Bridget Harper
Joe Porter
Kathleen McCay
The numbers drawn were:
8, 9, 17, 19
Next Week's Lucky 4 Jackpot is £1975.00
PRAYER CORNER
THE SHINING WORD "AND"
"And" teaches us to say yes
"And'' allows us to be both - and
''And'' keeps us from either - or
''And'' teaches us to be patient and long-suffering
''And'' is willing to wait for insight and integration
''And'' does not divide the field of the moment
''And'' helps us to live in the always imperfect now
''And'' keeps us inclusive and compassionate toward
everything
''And'' demands that our contemplation become active
"And" insists that our action is also contemplative
"And" keeps us from the false choice of
liberal or conservative
"And" allows us to critique both sides of
things
"And'' allows us to enjoy both sides of things
"And" is far beyond any one nation or political
party
"And" helps us face and accept our own dark
side
"And'' allow us to ask for forgiveness and to
apologise
"And" is the mystery of paradox in all things
"And" is the way of mercy
"And'' makes daily, practical love possible
"And" does not trust love if it is not also
justice
"And" does not trust justice if it is not
also love
"And" is far beyond my religion versus your
religion
"And" allows us to be both distinct and
yet united
"And'' is the very Mystery of Trinity
FOR SELF-FORGIVENESS
Today I am overcome with a sense of failure.
I am painfully aware of dreams not fulfilled,
of ambitions not realised, of work left unfinished,
of people not cared for, of bridges not mended,
of promises not kept.
I feel that I have wasted the days of my years.
Awaken within me an acceptance of
myself as I am.
Quieten the voice of excessive self criticism within
me.
Awaken in me a forgiveness that is unconditional.
Lead me to the conviction that:
in you all is forgiven,
in you all is understood and accepted,
in you the prodigal is welcomed home.
ADVENT PEACE PSALM
O Prince of Peace,
whose Advent we seek in our lives,
come this day and show us
how to beat our swords into ploughshares,
tools of life instead of instruments of fear.
May your love strip us
of all weapons and strategies of conquest
which are not the tools of lovers,
wise ones and God's children.
Let us not lust for power
but rather strive for the insight
to be guided on the Way of Peace.
Let us not yearn for a victory
that requires a sister's sorrow
or a brother's shameful defeat.
Let us be Advent adventurers and peacemakers,
hammering swords into shovels,
filling holes and levelling peaks.
Let us be disarmed and vulnerable,
for only through such open hands and hearts
can Emmanuel come.
