Parish News for Sunday 29th Nov. 2009

Vol.36 No.47

First Sunday of Advent

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

Advent

The purpose of Advent is to help us prepare for Christmas. One can’t understand the message of Christmas unless we are familiar with at least the broad outlines of the history of salvation.

The Advent liturgy relives in a microcosmic way the history of Israel, viewing it through the eyes of Christian faith. It shows that all of that history was pointing and leading towards Jesus. He was the one who fulfilled the messianic prophecies.

Advent takes us back in time so that we may appreciate the greatness of what we are heirs to. We are the heirs to the promises God made to the prophets. Advent helps us to appreciate the great blessings God has given us in Christ.

Today’s First Reading points to the first coming of Christ. It says that the Messiah will be descended from the stock of David, and his reign will be marked by wisdom, justice and integrity.

The Gospel deals with the Second Coming of Christ. The early Christians believed that the Second Coming was near, and would be preceded by cosmic signs. The disciples are urged to await the Lord’s coming with confidence, vigilance and prayer.

Excerpt from ‘New Sunday and Holy Day Liturgies,
Year B’ by Flor McCarthy SDB

Morning Prayer in Advent

Monday to Friday inclusive at 9.30 am

Next Sunday’s Readings:

First Reading (Bar 5:1-9).
Jerusalem is told to forget the sufferings of the past because God is going to bring back her exiled children to her.

Second Reading: (Phil 1:3-6, 8-11)
Paul urges his fellow Christians to prepare for the second coming of Christ by pure and blameless lives.

Gospel: (Lk 3:1-6)
John the Baptist urges the people to prepare a way for the Lord through penance.

Advent Morning: Thornhill Centre is holding a ‘Reflection Morning’ for Advent beginning at10.30 am on Thursday, 10th December and concluding with a light lunch at 1.00 pm. Time includes a talk, quiet reflection and prayer. A donation of £5 per morning is suggested. Please ring 71351233 to book.

Sympathy

We offer our sympathy to the family and friends of:

Willie Doherty, 23 Abbey House.

Pat Breslin, 18 Oakfield Crescent.

Catherine Bradley, 3 Argyle Terrace.

John Friel, 3 The Village.

May they rest in peace.

Anniversaries

We remember the anniversaries of:

Frances McBride, Daniel Ryan and Martin Dunleavy.

May they rest in peace.

Baptism

We welcome as members of the Christian community:

Olivia Grace Horton,
59 The Branch.

Caragh Erin McMonagle,
151 Glenowen Park.

Sophie Christina Dalton,
80 Whitehouse Park.

Callum Daniel John McLaughlin,
19 Fairman Place.

Readers

Weekdays
10.00 am Rita McCauley
07.30 pm Anna Peake

Readers on duty next Weekend
06.15 pm Mary McDowell
07.30 pm Stephen Orr
09.30 am Laura Kelly
11.00 am Vanessa McGeehan/
Patrick Lynch
12.30 pm Charlie McDermott

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

Mass in honour of Blessed Alexandrina Maria Da Costa in Termonbacca today (Sunday) at 7.30 pm.

Monthly Devotions in honour of Our Lady in Termonbacca on Tuesday starting with Confessions at 7.30 pm followed by Rosary and Mass finishing around 10.00 pm.

St Vincent de Paul acknowledges with thanks donations of £200 and £220 recently received.

Residential Advent Weekend Retreat. Registration Friday, 11th December at 7.30 pm finishing Sunday, 13th December at 2.00 pm. A quiet residential weekend which will be a spiritual preparation for the feast of Christmas, conducted by the Carmelite Fathers’ in Termonbacca. For details/bookings telephone 71262512.

Fr Canny acknowledges with thanks donations for: Trócaire: £1000. Altar Flowers: £20. Upkeep of Cathedral: £1000.

Last Week’s Collection amounted to £3,345.

Derry Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage 2010: Why not give someone an opportunity of going on the Lourdes Pilgrimage 16th-21st July 2010 as your Christmas Gift. Gift vouchers (£25 to £100) are available from the Pilgrimage Office, 164 Bishop Street. Office opens Tuesday 11.00 am to 1.00 pm, Thursday 11.00 am to 2.00 pm and Saturday 11.00 am to 1.00 pm.

‘Memory Tree Of Lights’

Ceremony For Those Bereaved By Suicide.

Sunday, 13th December at 5.30 pm at the Foyle Search & Rescue Headquarters, Victoria Road organised by the Northwest Bereaved by Suicide Support Group supported by the Western Health & Social Care Trust. This event is held to remember loved ones lost to suicide. Family and friends will be invited to take part in a candlelight ceremony. and to leave a message to their loved one on the tree. The Northwest Bereaved by Suicide Support Group meet the first and third Mondays of the month in Foyle Search and Rescue Headquarters at 7.30 pm. For further information contact Barry McGale at 71320138 or 07949914100.

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