Parish News for Sunday 20th Dec. 2009

Vol.36 No.50

Fourth Sunday of Advent

PRIESTS OF THE PARISH
Very Rev Michael Canny Adm
Fr Peter Raftery CSSp
Rev Daniel McFaul CC

Bishop Hegarty, Fr Canny, Fr McFaul and Fr Raftery

wish all parishioners a holy, happy and peaceful Christmas and New Year.

The Nativity of the Lord

Christmas Day is drawing near. We prepare to welcome our Saviour. We look to him as the source of strength, protection and peace. His coming is our great hope. We remember it with great joy. We look forward to it with great anticipation and expectation. Human existence finds its ultimate meaning only in his coming. In his coming we discover the truth about God and about ourselves. His birth, his death, his life, defines and explains the mystery of life. He is the very image of the invisible God, the first born of all creation, the Lord whom we worship and adore. He is the Servant King, the Lord of the Universe, the Creator and the Saviour.

Do not let this Christmas Day go by without speaking about your joy at the birth of Jesus our Lord and Saviour. His birth is the meaning of Christmas; the meaning of life itself. Speak of it to your friends and visitors.

Excerpt from ‘Walk with Me - A Journey of Prayer for Advent and Christmastide 2009’

St Eugene’s Cathedral Carol Service

will take place in the Cathedral at 6.00 pm this evening (Sunday). St Eugene’s Cathedral Choir will lead the carols. We invite children to bring presents of new toys to the altar to make Christmas a happy time for other children in the area. St Vincent de Paul Society appeal for donations of new toys from children who wish to help other children less fortunate than themselves. Adults are invited to donate sweets, biscuits, vouchers or cash (no other foodstuffs) for similar distribution. Please identify wrapped gifts with gender and age. This promises to be an enchanting evening of song, prayer and readings as we prepare to celebrate Christmas.

St Cecilia’s College Christmas Carol Service

on Monday at 11.00 am in St Columba’s Church, Long Tower.

Calling all Instrumentalists:

If you would be available and would like to play in

St Eugene’s Cathedral Orchestra at the

Christmas Eve Midnight Mass please contact Sister Perpetua on 07549801610.

Morning Prayer in Advent

Monday to Thursday inclusive at 9.30 am

Confessions in St Eugene’s Cathedral

on Thursday (Christmas Eve) from 11.00 am to 6.00 pm

Mass times on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday

at the usual times 8.00, 9.00, 10.00 am and 7.30 pm.

Mass times on Christmas Eve (Thursday) at 8.00, 9.00, 10.00 am and Mass at 12 midnight.

MASS TIMES FOR CHRISTMAS DAY

Mass at 12 midnight on Thursday (Christmas Eve).

No Vigil Masses at 6.15 pm or 7.30 pm on Christmas Eve.

Before the Midnight Mass, beginning at 11.30 pm, the Cathedral Choir will sing carols.
This will be an opportunity to be led gently into the Christmas celebration.

Christmas Day: 7.00, 9.30, 11.00 am and 12.30 pm

MASS TIMES OVER THE CHRISTMAS SEASON

Saturday, 26th December: Mass at 10.00 am and Vigil Masses at 6.15 pm and 7.30 pm.

Sunday, 27th December: Usual Masses at 7.00, 9.30, 11.00 and 12.30 am.

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday 28th, 29th & 30th December: Masses at 10.00 am and 7.30 pm.

Thursday, 31st December (New Year’s Eve): Mass at 10.00 and 4.30 pm Concelebrated Mass.

Friday, 1st January: Masses at 10.00 am and 7.30 pm.

Saturday, 2nd January: Mass at 10.00 am. Vigil Masses at 6.15 pm and 7.30 pm.

Sunday, 3rd January: Usual Masses at 7.00, 9.30, 11.00 and 12.30 am.
Normal Mass times resume on Monday, 4th January: 8.00, 9.00, 10.00 am and 7.30 pm.

Tuesday, 5th January: Masses 8.00, 9.00, 10.00 am and Vigil Masses at 6.15 pm and 7.30 pm.

Wednesday, 6th January, Feast of the Epiphany: Masses at 7.00, 9.30, 11.00 am, 12.30 pm and 7.30 pm.

Sympathy

We offer our sympathy to the family and friends of

William Duffy, 2 Edanmount Park.

Norah McCafferty, 12 Ardglen Park.

Bernadette Curran, 180 Hatmore Park.

Paddy Bradley, 69 Glenvale Park.

Doreen McGuinness, 2 Westland Street.

Tony Coll, 191 Kylemore Park.

May they rest in peace.

Anniversaries

We remember the anniversaries of: Richard (Dick) Gillespie, Frances Kearney,

Margaret McCourt, Dan Cullen, Peter Griffin, Peter Brendan O’Donnell,

Margaret McChrystal (Nee Sweeney), Sylvia Page and Maureen Horner.

May they rest in peace.

Baptisms

We welcome as members of the Christian community:

Jamie Daniel Havlin,
14 Claremont Manse, Northland Road.

Haydn James Raymond Duffy,
31E Lower Nassau Street.

Readers

Weekdays
10.00 am Rita McCauley
07.30 pm Mona Tracey

Christmas Masses
Christmas Eve: Midnight Mass

1st Reading: Geraldine Uí Meallain
2nd Reading: Brendan Burns
Intercessions: Mary McDowell

Christmas Day

09.30 am Gráinne Nugent
11.00 am Gatha McClintock
12.30 pm Michael Wilson

Readers on duty next weekend (26th/27th Dec)

06.15 pm Sharon Duffy
07.30 pm Christine McDevitt
09.30 am Brendan Burns
11.00 am Eugene McClintock
12.30 pm Charlie McDermott

Eucharistic Ministers

Team *B* begins its rota
at the 6.15 pm Vigil Mass next weekend

St Eugene’s Conference of St Vincent de Paul

St Vincent de Paul Society (St Eugene’s Branch) thank you for your generous response to their

Annual Collection last weekend which raised £7,642.

During the year 2008/9 the members of

St Eugene’s Conference of the Society of St Vincent de Paul made 642 visits.

£29,124 was dispensed as follows:

Financial assistance £14,500
Clothing/furniture £ 8,899
Heating fuel £ 5,725

Most of this money was provided by your generosity. £20,138 was donated in the collection boxes and £2,439 given in private donations - total income £22,577. The shortfall was made up by grants from the Derry Area Council of St Vincent de Paul.

Your financial generosity throughout the year and at Christmas as well as the donations of toys and gifts at the Carol Service are very much appreciated.

Fr Canny acknowledges with thanks donations for: St Pio: £60, £5. Altar Flowers: £20, £10, £20, £20. Charity of Adminstrator’s Choice: £50. Fr Canny will forward donations totalling £20 to LASCO.

Last Week’s Collection amounted to £3,514. Thank you.

The Christmas Box Collection will be taken up at Midnight Mass and at all Masses on Christmas Day.

Welcoming in the New Year at St Eugene’s Cathedral

On New Year’s Eve (Thursday) to give thanks to God for 2009 there will be a concelebrated Mass at 4.30 pm here in the Cathedral. During the Mass water will be blessed and everyone present can bless themselves and bring some home. Candles will also be available to renew our baptismal promises, these can also be brought home and lit at special times.

After the 4.30 pm Mass there will be a period of Eucharistic Exposition concluding with

Rosary and Benediction at 11.45 pm to welcome the New Year.

Dates for the Diary

2010 Confirmations

Saturday, 30th January at 11.00 am -
St Anne’s Primary School and
Model Primary School.

Sunday, 31st January at 3.00 pm -
St Eugene’s Primary School and
Rosemount Primary School.

2010 First Holy Communion

08th May Rosemount Primary School
15th May St Eugene’s Primary School
22nd May St Anne’s Primary School
29th May Model Primary School

Prayer for the Feast of the Holy Family

Sunday, 27th December

Loving God,
guardian of our homes,
when you entrusted your Son
to the care of Mary and Joseph,
you did not spare them the pains
that touch the life of every family.

Teach us to rely on your word,
that in our trials as in our joys
we may be clothed in gentleness
and patience
and united in love.

Make us ever thankful
for the blessing you give us
through Jesus Christ, your Word made flesh,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
in the splendour of eternal light,
God for ever and ever.

Please note:

The next Parish Bulletin will be Sunday, 3rd January 2010

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