Parish News for Sunday 21st Dec 2008

Vol.35 No.51

4th Sunday of Advent

PRIESTS OF THE PARISH
Very Rev Michael Canny Adm
Rev David O'Kane CC
Rev Daniel McFaul CC

Bishop Hegarty, Fr Canny,

Fr O’Kane and Fr McFaul

wish all our parishioners a holy, happy and peaceful

Christmas and New Year.

The Nativity of the Lord

During Advent we have prepared for the coming of Christ and on Christmas Day we celebrate his arrival and presence among us. Our preparations help us deepen our understanding of who it is that is coming. They help us to prepare a welcome in our hearts, to be open to receive him and the gifts he wants to give us.

There can be no greater joy than to know Christ Jesus, to sense the unreserved love he has for each of us and to realize all the ways in which he touches our lives with that love. Who is he? Why do we celebrate his birth with such joy?

He is the Lord, the King of Glory. The promised Messiah. The Way, the Truth and the Life. He is goodness, beauty and love. He is forgiveness and hope. He alone can read for us the entire story of our lives. He is the Eternal Word made flesh. He is Emmanuel, God-with-us.

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.

Services

Confessions in St Eugene’s Cathedral on Wednesday (Christmas Eve) from 11.00 am to 6.00 pm

Mass times on Monday and Tuesday, 22nd and 23rd December at the usual times 8.00, 9.00, 10.00 am and 7.30 pm.

Mass times on Wednesday, 24th December at 8.00, 9.00, 10.00 am and Mass at 12 midnight.

MASS TIMES FOR CHRISTMAS DAY

Mass at 12 midnight on Wednesday (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

Friday, 26th December Masses at 10.00 am and 7.30 pm.

Saturday, 27th December Masses at 10.00 am. Vigil Masses at 6.15 pm and 7.30 pm.

Sunday, 28th December Usual Masses at 7.00, 9.30, 11.00 and 12.30 am.

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

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

Thursday and Friday, 1st & 2nd January Masses at 10.00 am and 7.30 pm.

Saturday, 3rd January Masses at 10.00 am. Vigil Masses at 6.15 pm and 7.30 pm.

Sunday, 4th January Usual Masses at 7.00, 9.30, 11.00 and 12.30 am.

Monday, 5th January Masses at 10.00 am. Vigil Masses at 6.15 pm and 7.30 pm.

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

Normal Mass times resume on Wednesday, 7th January 2009

Welcoming in the New Year at St Eugene’s Cathedral

On New Year’s Eve (Wednesday) to give thanks to God for 2008 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.

Sympathy

We offer our sympathy to the family and friends of

John Dunnion, 12 Argyle Terrace.
Peter Dentith, 16 Marlborough Street.
Jackie McKenna, 32 Marlborough Road.
Danny Bryce, 41 Lavery Fold.

May they rest in peace.

Baptisms

We welcome as members of the Christian community:

Téaghan Anne McGettigan, 127 Mount Carmel Heights, Strabane.
Samantha Leah Pauline Duddy, Flat 3 Shepherds View.
Aoife Catherine Doherty, 101 Creggan Road.

Readers

Weekdays (22.12.08)
10.00 am Eugene McClintock
07.30 pm Anna Peake

Christmas Eve: Midnight Mass

1st Reading: Michael Roddy
2nd Reading: Gráinne Nugent
Intercessions: Piaras O Meallain

Christmas Day:

09.30 am Brendan Burns
11.00 am Geraldine Ui Meallain
12.30 pm Michael Wilson

Readers on duty next weekend (28.12.08)

06.15 pm Garvin Kerr
07.30 pm Stephen Orr
09.30 am Brendan Burns
11.00 am Eoin Garvin
12.30 pm Don Clarke

Weekdays (30.12.08)

10.00 am Terri Willman-Gallagher
07.30 pm Adele McCauley

Eucharistic Ministers

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

Fr Canny acknowledges with thanks donations for: Trócaire: £30. Zimbabwe: £500 St Pio: £20. Congo: £200. Famine Relief: £58.

Fr Canny will forward donations totalling £220 to LASCO.

Last Week’s Collection amounted
to £3,845. Thank you.

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

Feast of the Epiphany

Tuesday, 6th January is the feast of the Epiphany. It is a Holyday of Obligation. The Epiphany tells the story of the Wise Men (Magi) from the East who followed the star until it led them to Bethlehem where they adored the new born, Jesus.

The Magi represent all the nations of the world coming to worship the new born King and they were the first to recognise Christ outside his own people. Their journey had been long and dangerous but in faith they had followed the mysterious star. The Epiphany invites all of us to worship God made man.

Last year on the Feast of the Epiphany the collection for Parish Missionaries Working Overseas was taken up. The collection helped the following during the year: Fr Paddy McIntyre’s missionary work in Quito, Ecuador, Fr Noel Brown’s projects in Africa, Sister Patricia McLaughlin for the Children of Nausori, Fiji, Sister Deirdre Mullan for project in Cambodia, Sister Angela’s project in Nairobi and Sister Maureen Coyle for her work in South America.

Fr Canny made donations during the year to the following charities from donations received for charities of the Administrator’s choice: missionary work in Africa and Ecuador, Leratong Hospice, South Africia, Nexus, Zest, Samaritans, The Foyle Haven Association, Foyle Womens Aid, Foyle Search & Rescue Services, and Youth Accommodation Support Project.

Children in Crossfire would like to thank anyone in the Parish who used one of the Children in Crossfire Advent Calendars.    Please return them at the Vigil Masses on Saturday, 27th December and Sunday Masses, 28th December. Baskets will be provided at the entrance to the Cathedral. Thank you for your support to this campaign to give some of the world’s most vulnerable children a chance of a better future. If you would like any more information please call 71269898.

Precious Life will hold their monthly Pro Life Mass in Termonbacca on Monday, 22nd December at 7.30 pm.

St Vincent de Paul Society (St Eugene’s Branch) thank you for your generous response to their Annual Collection which raised £7,231.

Dates for the Diary

2009 Confirmations

Saturday, 31st January at 11.00 am -
St Anne’s Primary School and
Model Primary School.

Sunday, 1st February at 3.00 pm -
St Eugene’s Primary School and
Rosemount Primary School.

2009 First Holy Communion

09th May St Eugene’s Primary School
16th May St Anne’s Primary School
23rd May Rosemount Primary School
30th May Model Primary School

The Christmas Crib

The Christ Child in the manger and other pictures of Bethlehem have been used in Church services from the first century . The Crib in its present form and its use inside and outside churches originated with St Francis of Assisi. Through his famous celebration on Christmas Eve in 1223 at Greccio (Italian town) with the Bethlehem scene including live animals he made the Crib popular. Since then the Crib has become a familiar site in Christian homes all over the world.

The Crib should be a cherished part of the Christmas celebration of every family. It is not only rich in religious significance but also presents to children and adults alike a beautiful way to reflect on the central figures of the Christmas story. The Crib should be placed in a central position in every home.

Prayer for the Feast of the Holy Family
Sunday, 28th 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, 4th January 2009

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