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.
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 6.30pm. There
will be eight priests available.
CHRISTMAS ARRANGEMENTS 2008
Penitential Service St. Mary’s Church, Melmount
Sunday 21 December 5.00pm - 6.30pm
CONFESSIONS
Saturday 20 December 10.00am - 12.00 noon
5.30pm - 6.20pm
Monday 22 December 6.00pm - 7.00pm
Tuesday 23 December 7.00pm - 8.00pm
Wednesday 24 December 10.30am - 12.30pm
Christmas
Masses
Monday 22 December 10.00am
Tuesday 23 December 10.00am
CHRISTMAS EVE 10.00am
Vigil Mass 9.00pm
CHRISTMAS DAY 10.00am & 12.00
noon
Friday 26 December NO MASS
Saturday 27 December Vigil Mass 6.30pm
Sunday 28 December 10.00am & 12.00 noon
Monday 29 December 10.00am
Tuesday 30 December 10.00am
Wednesday 31 December NO MASS
Prayer Service for the New Year 11.30pm
NOVENA OF MASSES
from 16 - 24 December for
those included in our special Christmas Mass Cards
CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
FROM FR. BOLAND
Christmas is almost upon us and it is time to reflect
on the wonderful mystery that God became “one
of us” when he took on himself our human flesh
and nature through Jesus His Son. I pray that the
implications of this great event will be made more
evident to us at this particular time.
I am sure that all your preparations are now complete
and that you are looking forward to the family being
around you for the Christmas dinner and for the holiday
period. I truly hope that you all have a well deserved
break and a good rest from the pressures and stress
that can come alongside the joy and celebrations.
I would like to thank all of you, parishioners and
friends of the parish alike for your loyalty, support
and deep faith over the years. It is a joy to behold.
We have a a deep sense of family here in Strabane
Parish, great co-operation and dedication from so
many, some of whom I mention below, and please God
we will never lose that. I thank Bishop Francis for
his loyalty and hard work and Amanda our Parish Administrator
for her dedication and sterling work over the past
year.
Church music:- Thanks to Ronan for leading the choir
at the 6.30pm vigil mass and for the twelve noon mass
as well, Noel McCafferty for the traditional Irish
group, Tommy Barr and St Joseph’s Brass Band,
Ciara Doherty will have a school choir once a month
in the new year
Church:- Hugo, Columba, lay ministers, (Raymonde
for his help) readers, (organised by Sheila, Paddi
and Mary) altar personnel, collectors, counters, (Maisie,
Susie and John), St Vincent de Paul, Legion of Mary,
flowers, (Marion and Maisie), St Pio Group:- (Mary,
Denis and Margo). Parish Savings:- Eamon, Eunan and
Kevin and all savers and promoters. Parish Draw:-
all our collectors and promoters. St Patrick’s
Hall:- Brian, John (plus the extras around the church
and house) Raymond and the team in the Hall. Strabane
Community Project:- Danny, Lillian and their team
(particularly the Bingo Team), Eileen and the entertainment
committee (they had a great success with the West
Side Story). St Vincent de Paul Society (Raymonde
McDaid).
Grotto:- Mary, John and their support group. I make
special mention of the Sisters of Mercy for all their
kindness and support to the parish over the years
and Srs Carmel and Benedict in particular for their
outstanding contribution. We welcome back Sr Maria
Lagan. There are many others who work away quietly
yet do great work for the parish and I wish to acknowledge
very gratefully their significant contribution.
Geraldine Connolly came as housekeeper in January
and we thank her for her work and special presence.
We continue to manage our parish debt. We had some
big expenses this year:- storm proofing stained glass
windows (£12,500), new PA system which everyone
is very satisfied with (£16,000), fixing of
outhouse roof, grounds enhancement, stonework on church,
(£10,328) work on avenue trees,(£3,000)
painting of church doors, (£2,035) upgrade of
telephone system in parochial house, (£2,000)
upgrade of parochial house security and installation
of cctv cameras, (£3,700) roof repairs to church,
(£1,800) renewal of toilet in church conference
room (£2,100). These expenses over and above
routine running costs came to £53,463. The appeal
towards church windows PA system and security came
to £14,680. The church is insured for seven
million pounds and we pay one thousand pounds a month
on the premium. This gives you a flavour of what is
happening. We will publish a full financial account
early in the new year.
Against this backdrop the loss of our parish savings
scheme this year is a major blow, which means that
anything over and above essential items must now be
put on hold. I make a major appeal for full support
of the parish draw. We will need many more new subscribers
to help us in the coming year.
As important as finance may be a parish is about
much more than that and we are blessed with an active
and faithful parish community and many friends who
avail of our parish as a spiritual base. There is
a wonderful joy and heart evident in all our Eucharistic
and liturgical gatherings and the fruits of the spirit
are evident. We should thank God for all our many
blessings. The parish pastoral council, contemplative
prayer group, and the Blessed Sacrament Chapel continue
to be sources of deep renewal.
We are privileged to be living in these exciting
and demanding times for the church. We all need to
be men and women aglow with the spirit, rooted in
Christ, allowing the grace of the risen lord to transform
us personally and society in general. The witness
of each one is now more important than ever. Our joy
is not shallow but based on the conviction that Jesus
has taken on our human condition, and is in solidarity
with us. That is the real message of Christmas, God
becoming man, becoming one like us.
With this note of supreme confidence as we face into
uncertain times, I wish you and your families every
possible joy and blessing that this holy season brings.
May the light of Christmas brought by the Infant Christ
shine forever in our hearts and may we share that
light in the coming year with all our brothers and
sisters.
Fr.
Declan Boland PP
COLLECTION
We acknowledge last Sunday’s
collection of £1740.00. Many thanks.
DONATIONS
TOWARDS SECURITY AT PAROCHIAL HOUSE
We gratefully acknowledge the following
donations towards our new security measures:
£100.00, £100.00, £60.00,
£40.00.
Thank you for your continuing
support.
PRIEST'S
CHRISTMAS COLLECTION
The Priest's Christmas Collection
will be taken up at Mass on Christmas Eve (Vigil)
and Christmas Day. You will find a special envelope
in your box.
DEATHS
We offer our deepest sympathy to the
family and friends of:
Mary Crampsie, late
of Ballycolman Avenue
Terence McGillian,
Philadelphia
Mary McDonagh, Linkside
Park
May they rest in peace.
ANNIVERSARIES
Colette Gallagher, John Gallagher,
John Mullen Jnr, Marian Kennedy,
Eileen Donaghey, Jim Donaghey,
Eileen Casey, John Francis Casey,
Michael Casey , Cassie Patton,
Patsy Porter, Jim McNamee,
Mary Millar, Danny Molloy,
Lily McDevitt, John Parke,
Michael McGrinder, Minnie McGrinder,
Brian Casey, Kathleen Montague,
Danny Harkin, Anthony Boggs,
Gertrude McDevitt, Patrick Kirk,
Edward O'Kane, John Harper,
Kathleen McBrearty, Annie McCrossan,
Mary Ellen Caulfield, Dominic Carlin,
Sarah McCrossan, Kathleen Winters,
Phil Madden.
PRAY FOR PRIESTS
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. Francis Murray CC, Cappagh, 21
Dec
Fr. Seamus O'Connell PP, Maghera, 21 Dec
Fr. Joseph O'Conor PP, Plumbridge, 22 Dec
Fr. Colm O'Doherty CC, Castlederg, 22 Dec
Fr. Kieran O'Doherty PP, Swatragh, 23 Dec
Fr. Brian O'Donnell PP, Lavey, 23 Dec
Fr. Francis P O'Hagan PP, Magilligan, 24 Dec
Fr. Patrick O'Hagan CC, Melmount, 24 Dec
Fr. David O'Kane CC, Templemore, 25 Dec
Fr. Patrick O'Kane PP, Moville, 25 Dec
Fr. Peter O'Kane CC, Waterside, 26 Dec
Fr. Seamus O'Kane, 26 Dec
Fr. Arthur O'Reilly CC, Banagher, 27 Dec
Fr. Kieran Page CC, Ballymagroarty, 27 Dec
PENITENTIAL SERVICE
Penitential Service and Confessions for Christmas
will be held in St. Mary's Church, Melmount this Sunday
21 December from 5.00pm to 6.30pm. There will be eight
priests available.
NEW LAY MINISTERS
Nine new lay ministers who will serve in the church
for the next number of years will be commissioned
this Saturday at the 6.30pm vigil Mass. We would like
to thank them for their generosity in accepting the
invitation to serve and we wish them every blessing
in their new ministry. The following are the names
of the new lay ministers:
Coleen McHugh Geraldine
McCauley Sarah Quinn
Catherine Quigley Geraldine Boggs Paul Billson
Dermot Lynch Gerard McCrossan Kevin O'Donnell
IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR ALL PARISH
SAVINGS COLLECTORS
I would ask the twenty-nine existing
Parish Savings collectors to get in touch with me
over the next number of days by ringing the parochial
house (02871883293). I am asking for your assistance
to help promote the Parish Draw for 2009.
PARISH BULLETIN
Please note there will be no parish
bulletin until Sunday 11 January 2009.
Marriage Preparation Workshop 30 &
31 January 2009, Thornhill Centre, Derry. Friday 7.00pm
- 10.00pm and Saturday 10.00am - 4.00pm. Booking forms
available from the Pastoral Centre, 164 Bishop Street,
Derry. Telephone 028 71362475.
NORTH WEST REGIONAL COLLEGE
NEW YEAR, NEW CHALLENGE
North West Regional College, Derry,
Limavady and Strabane is now offering an exciting
range of new part-time courses, beginning January
or February 2009. So, if you think you would like
to try a new challenge in the New Year, then call
028 71276000 or visit www.nwi.ac.uk for the course
options now on offer.
LUCKY
4 DRAW
There was 1 match 3 winners in last
week's Draw
Mary Hegarty
The numbers drawn were:
6, 8, 9, 18
The next Lucky 4 Jackpot is £800.00
CHARITY DANCE
There will be a Charity Dance in St.
Patrick's Hall on Saturday 27 December. Music by Kenny
Paul & Fontana. Dancing 9.00pm 'til late. Admission
£6.00 (payable at the door). Proceeds in aid
of Marie Curie Cancer care and Friends of the Cancer
Centre.
PRAYER
CORNER
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.
A CHRISTMAS PSALM
O Blessed One,
it is said that Christmas is for children.
Indeed, I agree:
it's only a feast for the young of heart,
a feast for finding beneath tree
gifts to surprise and delight the eternal child.
Peel back the scabs of cynicism from my eyes
so that this calloused and ageing child,
may see holiness blazing at the tip of every branch,
may see every tree as a Christmas tree.
Let me not be ashamed to dance with delight
at hidden gifts wrapped in shimmering paper
with bows of rainbow coloured ribbon.
But also grant me the youthful and wide-eyed wonder
to recognise, and even to expect,
life-giving miracles on every street corner,
miracles of kindness and generosity and care.
Gift my all-too-calculating heart
with the excitement of anticipation
to truly receive the gifts of life,
the capacity to feast and rejoice.
Give birth within me to a to a spaciousness of heart
that can celebrate this feast
of the birth of Christ, the Child,
as a child.
AND THEY SHALL NAME HIM EMMANUEL
God of all ages,
maker of time,
mark of the alpha and
point to the omega,
Creator, sustainer of everything living,
touching us all who hold a hope
with a vision that breaks through boundaries
to grasp the blurred horizon.
You gave your promise,
a blessing of joy
to those who've not lost their faith in you.
Now time is poised with renewed expectation
of Emmanuel, God with us.
To know our time
of proclaimed favour
we make again the pledge you ask:
'Share justly the good things I give you.
Reconcile with peace the rule of abuse.
Give courage to those who voice the words
of lives that have been silenced.'
Send us to carry your good news
to those burdened with debt.
Transform their chains into clasps of love,
of prayer, concern and then action.
Aware of your Spirit always among us
we sustain your purpose with passions.
Increase our endeavour to do what you ask,
of 'Where there are wrongs, they be righted.'
Now is the time.
It will be achieved.
In acting justly,
in loving tenderly,
and in walking closely
with you, our God.
