Parish News for Sunday 23rd Dec 2007

Fourth Sunday of Advent

PRIESTS OF THE PARISH
Very Rev Michael Canny Adm
Rev David O'Kane CC
Rev Gary Wade CC

Vol. 34 No. 51

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.

Bishop Hegarty, Fr Canny, Fr O’Kane and Fr Wade wish all our parishioners a holy, happy and peaceful Christmas and New Year.

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

MASS TIMES FOR CHRISTMAS DAY
Mass at 12 midnight on Monday (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
Wednesday - Friday, 26th to 28th December Masses at 10.00 am and 7.30 pm
Saturday, 29th December Masses at 10.00 am.
Vigil Masses at 6.15 pm and 7.30 pm
Sunday, 30th December
Monday, 31st December (New Year’s Eve) Masses at 10.00 and 4.30 pm Concelebrated Mass
Tuesday - Friday, 1st to 4th January Masses at 10.00 am and 7.30 pm
Saturday, 5th January Masses at 10.00 am. Vigil Masses at 6.15 pm and 7.30 pm
Sunday, 6th January, Feast of the Epiphany Masses at 7.00, 9.30, 11.00 am, 12.30 pm and
Normal Mass times resume on Sunday, 6th January 2008

Sympathy
We offer our sympathy to the family and friends of
Mary Quigley, Ardlough Nursing Home.
May she rest in peace.

Baptism
We welcome as members of the Christian community
Eábha Doherty, 3 Creggan Street.

Welcoming in the New Year at St Eugene’s Cathedral
On New Year’s Eve (Sunday) to give thanks to God for 2007 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.

Important Events during 2008
Thursday, 17th January at 7.30 pm
Church Unity Service with guest speaker Rev Alan Harper, the Anglican Archbishop of Armagh

Thursday, 24th January at 10.00 am
Official visit by Cardinal Brady to St Eugene’s Cathedral

6th February Ash Wednesday
3rd, 4th and 5th March
Three day Retreat with Sister Breige McKenna

23rd March Easter Sunday

10th to 18th May The Little Way Novena

Readers Christmas Masses:
Christmas Eve: Midnight Mass
1st Reading: Charlie McDermott
2nd Reading: Adele McCauley
Intercessions: Brendan Burns

Christmas Day:
9.30 am: Gráinne Nugent
11.00 am: Gatha McClintock
12.30 pm: Michael Wilson

Weekdays
10.00 Jimmy Doyle
07.30 Adele McCauley

Readers on duty next weekend:
6.15 pm: Monica Gavin
7.30 pm: Kieran Kehoe
9.30 am: Michael Roddy
11.00 am: Mary McDowell
12.30 pm: Piaras O’Meallain

Weekdays
10.00 Eugene McClintock
07.30 Charlie McDermott

Eucharistic Ministers
Team *C* begins its rota at the 6.15 pm Vigil Mass next weekend

Thank You
Fr Canny acknowledges with thanks donations for: St Pio: £5. Trócaire: £60. St Vincent de Paul: £5. Bangladeshi Floods: £5. Darfur: £100, £5, £100. Fr Canny will forward a donation of £50 to LASCO.

Fr Canny acknowledges with thanks an anonymous donation of £1000 for Cathedral Funds.

St Vincent de Paul acknowledge with thants receipt of donations of £40, £50, £100.

Last Week’s Collection amounted to £3,383. Thank you.

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

Feast of the Epiphany
Sunday, 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 Shaun O’Donnell of the Columban Missionaries for his work in the Philippines, Fr Paddy McIntyre’s missionary work in Quito, Ecuador, Fr McKinney from the Jesuit Fathers for their Chikuni Mission. Sister Maureen Coyle for her work in South America, Sister Bridie McKenna for her missionary work in Brasil and Fr Charlie Toland’s work in South Africa.

Fr Canny made donations during the year to the following charities from donations received for charities of the Administrator’s choice: missionary work in Belize, Fiji, Peru and Ecuador, the Moshi Project, a school project in Cambodia, Nexus, Zest, Samaritans, The Foyle Haven Association, Foyle Womens Aid, Foyle Search & Rescue Services, and Young Peoples Beginning Experience.

Parish Savings Scheme begins again on Friday, 28th December. Savers please note: have your card ready each week for your collector to enter the amount saved and initial it. Check your card after each entry. Do not change or alter any entries. If you have a query regarding an entry verify it with your collector or contact the Parish Secretary during office hours (71262894). No cheques will be paid out without your savings card - there will be no exception to this rule. At the end of the year a cheque will be paid out to the person named on the Savings card. All cheques will be crossed ‘account payee only’ and you must have a bank, credit union or building society account. Thank you for supporting the Parish Savings Scheme.

Friends of St Eugene’s Cathedral
‘£100 Ticket’ 2008 Parish Draw
Draw will take place in 21st November 2008

1st Prize: £25,000.
2nd & 3rd Prize: £5,000.
4th – 8th Prize: £2,000.
9th – 18th Prize: £1,000.
19th – 28th Prize: £500.
Total prize payout - £60,000.

Draw tickets available from the Parochial House during office hours
from Thursday, 3rd January 2008.

Please note: The next Parish Bulletin will be Sunday, 6th January 2008

Prayer for Priests

Eucharist: a prayer inspired by the Mass

O Lord!
Look into our hearts this day and read us
Look in our souls this day and hear us
When we thrust out our hands for help - hold us
When we open our arms for love - embrace us
When we bow our heads to thee - bless us
When we give of ourselves - come to us. Amen.
Judith Ann Pounder

Lord Jesus, bless all priests and give them grace to do your great work on earth. Keep them, Lord, close to your heart and under the shadow of your protection. Bless their labours for you and grant that their harvest of souls may be a source of joy and consolation to them during life and may merit an everlasting reward for them in death, that having led many souls to you they may see you to face to face. Amen.

Hospital Visitation: If you would like a priest to visit a relative in hospital or in a nursing home, please fill in the card at the back of the Cathedral and leave it at the Parochial House. It is the only way we will have of knowing who is in hospital and who would like a visit.

New Parishioners: We welcome you to the parish and invite you to leave your name and address at the Parochial House and one of the priests will arrange to visit your new home for a chat and to bless the house.

Telephone numbers if you feel you cannot cope

Samaritans - 0845 790 9090

Zest - a counselling service offering free support to those who feel suicidal, friends and loved ones who have been affected by suicide and those who self harm. Telephone 7126 6999 or e-mail. zestni@yahoo.co.uk

Prayer for the Suicidal

O Eternal Father, we pray for all those who are suicidal.
May Your loving hand guide and protect them
so they receive the help they need,
preventing them from dying from suicide.
Let them know that we need them and love them,
show them Your love Lord Jesus.
Remind them that they are very special people,
filling their minds with beautiful memories.
Give them everything they need so as to ease their pain,
grant that they may find hope, comfort, guidance
and healing in every way possible.
Let them feel our love, and Your love,
carry them when they are weary.
Embrace them and let Your love
shine down upon them always. Amen.