Sunday 16th December 2007

Third Sunday of Advent

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 allows 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).

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COLLECTION
We acknowledge last Sunday’s collection of £1633.00. Many thanks.

ANNIVERSARIES
Patrick Kirk, Philip McCrossan, Patsy Porter, Jim McNamee, Dominic Carlin, Alex McNulty,
Bridin Grimley, Matthew Tighe, John Gallagher, Colette Gallagher, John Parke,
Denis Hegarty, Mary Boggs, Jimmy McCallion, Molly Goan, Jim McNally,
Ann McNally, Seamus McNally

DEATHS
We offer our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of
Jim McCay, Artigarvan
Mary Devine, Bowling Green who died during the week. May they rest in peace.

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 the following priests:
Fr. Peter Madden ADM, Desertmartin, 16th Dec
Fr. Anthony Mailey CC, Iskaheen, 16th Dec
Fr. Eamon Martin, 17th Dec
Fr. Gerard Mongan CC, Long Tower, 17th Dec
Fr. Colm Morris, Retired, 18th Dec
Fr. Joseph Morris, Retired, 18th Dec
Fr. Aidan Mullan PP, Waterside, 19th Dec
Fr. Kevin Mullan PP, Drumquin, 19th Dec
Fr. Michael F Mullan CC, Dungiven, 20th Dec
Fr. Patrick J Mullan PP, Faughanvale, 20th Dec
Fr. Francis Murray CC, Cappagh, 21st Dec
Fr. Seamus O'Connell PP, Maghera, 21st Dec
Fr. Joseph O'Conor PP, Plumbridge, 22nd Dec
Fr. Colm O'Doherty CC, Castlederg, 22nd Dec

PRAYER GROUP
The contemplative prayer group will meet on Monday night at 8.15pm in the Parochial House. Newcomers very welcome.

PARISH DRAW
The winners of the December Draw are:
£50.00 Sean & Ann McHugh
£50.00 Helen Gallagher
£50.00 Jackie Hunt
£100.00 Orla McCallion
£100.00 Elizabeth McConnell
£100.00 Paul Diver
£100.00 Patsy McAteer
£100.00 Pauline Kelly
£200.00 Kathleen Colhoun
£1000.00 Anna Boggs

SICK AND HOUSEBOUND TO BE ATTENDED
Fr. Boland will visit the sick and housebound in the following areas on Monday 17th 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 Wednesday 19th December starting at 2.00pm: Bearney Road, Camus Road, Conthem Road, Upper Townsend Street, Townsend Terrace, Marian Park, Fountain Street and Innisfree Gardens.

EUCHARISTIC HEALING SERVICE
There will be a Eucharistic Healing Service in the Church this Sunday 16th December at 6.00pm.
Everyone welcome.

PARISH SAVINGS SCHEME
The Parish Savings Scheme for next year will commence on Monday 31st December 2007. We remind all our savers again that in order to join the scheme they must have a bank account, building society account or credit union account.

PENITENTIAL SERVICE AND CONFESSIONS
There will be a Penitential Service and Confessions in St. Mary's Church, Melmount on Sunday 23rd December from 5.00pm - 7.00pm. Eight priests will be available for confessions.

A CHILD OF THE SNOW
Following upon the success of the Sacred Christmas Concert 'A Child of the Snow' which was performed in the Church of the Immaculate Conception in December 2005, local composer Ronan Doherty has produced an album of original music featuring material first aired in that initial concert. The CD features the talents of soloists and choirs from the Northwest performing extracts from 'A Child in the Snow'; songs, instrumentals and bible texts which celebrate the essential Christian essence of the Christmas message. CDs can be purchased at the parish office, the parochial house, the Foyle Hospice shop in Church Street or from Ronan directly (Tel: 02871884827).
CD's cost £10.00 and all proceeds will go to the Foyle Hospice.

PARISH CAROL SERVICE
Evish Primary School will once again host the annual parish carol service which will take place in the church on Thursday 20th December at 7.30pm.

CONFIRMATION 2008
Please note the date for Confirmation for the parish of Camus is 18th May 2008 at 3.00pm.

ST PATRICK’S HALL

Bingo and Lucky 4 Draw as usual this
Thursday.
All our patrons are very welcome

ANNUAL PARISH CHRISTMAS DRAW
The Christmas Draw will be held at the Christmas Bingo on
Thursday 20th December in St. Patrick's Hall.
1st Prize £1000.00
2nd Prize £300.00
3rd Prize £200.00
4th Prize £100.00
Tickets £5.00 each.


PARISH WEBSITE
Visit our website at www.strabaneparish.com

PRAYER CORNER



A PRAYER FOR HEALING

Healing God,
come to my hidden corners
open the doors of my soul rooms
that are tightly locked.

Awaken in me.
Bring to life all my deadness.
Enthuse the depressed emotions.
Reenergise my inner weariness.
Bathe the grime of my ego-centredness.
Clarify my confusions.
Fire my neglected loves.
Brush off my dusty dreams.
Nurture my spiritual hungers.
Ease my sore relationships.
Deepen my sense of self-esteem.
Stir up my connection with the world.

Tenderly gather in your arms
all that still needs healing,
all that remains wounded and wanting.
May I grow each day into greater wholeness
with a stronger, purer inner freedom.

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.

PRAYER OF ONE WHO YEARNS FOR A NEW HEART.

Spirit of God, I feel too tired to go on, too empty even to want to be filled, too broken to put the pieces together again. Still, I feel a quiet stirring in me. It is the call to come back to life, to be energised and renewed. It is my heart crying out for newness, for a lighter spirit, for a keener sense of hope in the future.

Spirit of God, who draws together bones of the desert and dryness of the heart, come and take of my spirit all that has died in me. Dream in me again. Create of my brokenness a new and free heart. Draw together life in me. Let the dancing that is meant to be start its moment anew. The grace of freedom, the gesture of rebirth, all of this awaits me. I want to believe it in my depths.

The pain of my hurts keeps me in a foreign land where I do not feel at home with myself or others. Help me to believe that you will lead me into a future rich with growth and peace. Show me where to rest, how to lay down my burdens and what to do in order to be healed.

Loving shepherd, I need to find a source of new life. Come, bandage my wounds and grant to this weak one a profound and deep strength to go on.

A PRAYER FOR OTHERS

Through the open door of your divine heart may blessings pour forth in great abundance to those I love :__________. I pray for those who are prisoners of fear or hate and for the intentions of all peoples of this planet, in particular this night for:___________. May those who find it impossible to pray, who are burdened with cares or lost in the desert of loneliness, be touched by your gentle healing and find peace today and always.