Second Sunday of Advent - 5th December 2021

Make his paths straight

Preparing for the arrival of someone important takes care and attention. Think of a family preparing to welcome a loved one home from abroad, perhaps a son or daughter who lives in Australia or someone who has been off travelling the world. They get their bedroom ready, buy their favourite foods, perhaps put-up banners or even organise a ‘welcome home’ party. It is all done with great excitement and love and is a way of easing the path home for the traveller. Or imagine new parents preparing for the arrival of a baby. There are practical considerations such as buying nappies and clothing and getting a cot ready and of course the nerves and excitement as they prepare to welcome the new arrival.

On a larger scale, when an important dignitary visits a venue or a country there is also a flurry of activity in preparation. Such high-profile visits often involve a literal preparation of the way - organising a welcome reception, planning the best route from the airport, clearing the streets of traffic, as well as much chatter and anticipation.

Today’s Gospel brings these two types of welcome to mind. During Advent, we prepare for the coming of Jesus by our actions, when we are generous with our time, patient with our families, and help those in need. And we do all these things with excitement and love, so that Christ will find the warmest of welcomes and a clear route into our hearts.

Triona Doherty

Announcements

Last week’s collection amounted to £2828.00. Thank you.

Those who pay to the weekly collection or any special collections, including Priests’ Collection, by cheque are asked that all cheques should be made payable to ‘Melmount Parish’. 

Parishioners can still leave their contributions in the Parish Office during this time of uncertainty. Contributions can be made by cheque made payable to Melmount Parish or cash. If the Office is closed please use the letterbox.

Mission Sunday Collection amounted to £1785.75. Thank you.

Clergy Retirement Fund Collection amounted to £1483.79. Thank you.

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will take place on Monday 6 December after 10.00am Mass until 6.00pm.

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Wednesday 8th December is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and is a Holy Day. Masses for the Holy Day are:

Vigil: Tuesday 7.00pm

Wednesday: 10.00am and 7.00pm

We welcome into God’s Family through the Sacrament of Baptism:

Oisin Micheal Ferry

We congratulate the following couple who were recently united in the Sacrament of Marriage:

Terri Earley and Pierce McLaughlin

May they Rest in Peace

Deaths

Leslie Morrison, 187 Ballycolman Estate                 

James Cairns, 59 Peacock Road

Seamus O’Kelly, 71 Laurel Drive                   

Patsy Quinn, 4 St. Mary’s Place

Patrick O’Brien, 6 Ulster Cottages                          

Denise McGrath, 43 Glebe Gardens

Kate Ward, Surrey

Anniversaries

Paddy Mullen, Mary Diamond, Peter McMenamin

Michael Houston, Charles McShane, Dan McCormick

Jackie Vaughan, Brian Sharkey, Zita Mullen

Liam Hannigan, Agnes McElroy, Frank Donaghey

Danny McCallion, Mary McGrath, John Duffy

Josephine McGarrigle, Paddy Bradley, Bridget Devine

Margaret Kelly, Patrick Conwell, Tommy Moss

Annie May Gallagher

Parish Draw: Promoters should make their returns for December to the Parish Office tomorrow Monday 6th December from 2.00pm - 4.30pm. The draw for December will take place on Wednesday 8th December at 10.30am in the Parish Office.

Baptism Dates

December: Sunday 12th.

January: Sunday 9th; Saturday 15th.

February: Sunday 6th; Saturday 19th; Saturday 26th.

Baptisms will be at 4.00pm on a Saturday and 1.15pm on a Sunday.

Because of the present Covid regulations Baptisms will be limited to 3 per session. To book a Baptism contact the Parish Office on 71383777 during office hours.

Advance Notice of Times of Masses for Christmas Day

Christmas Eve: 6.00pm & 8.00pm

Christmas Day: 8.00am; 9.30am; 11.00am & 12.30pm

Advent is in many ways a forgotten season in the Church’s calendar and so it is in a very real

sense a hidden treasure. It is a time to tune into the longing in our hearts for our Saviour and to draw closer to Christ as we prepare to celebrate his incarnation. Escape the hustle and bustle of secular Christmas preparations and join us as we spend some time pondering the virtues and gifts of faith, hope, joy and peace symbolised by the candles of our advent wreath. We will gather in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament in the Day Chapel and our prayer time will be accompanied by some Advent hymns. All are welcome to participate on the Tuesday evenings of Advent after Mass in the Day Chapel (approx. 35 - 40 mins).

Advent Day Retreat will take place in the Carmelite Retreat Centre, Termonbacca on Monday 13 December from 10.00am - 3.00pm. Cost for the day, including meals £25.00. Booking necessary. To book telephone 71262512.

Novena in Honour of the Divine Child will take place in the Carmelite Retreat Centre, Termonbacca from Wednesday 8 December - Thursday 16 December. Mass each evening at 7.30pm. Booking necessary. To book telephone 71262512.

Accord Derry: Marriage Preparation Courses (Pre-marriage courses) on January 25th/26th; February 8th/9th; February 22nd/23rd; March 8th/9th; March 22nd/23rd; April 5th/6th. All of these courses are Virtual Interactive Courses. They are held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 7.00pm - 9.00pm. Booking online: www.accordni.com.

Trócaire Gifts of Love will be on sale this weekend 4th/5th December: Trócaire Gifts of Love help some of the poorest people in the world to work their way out of poverty. There are 21 gifts to choose from starting at £5.00 for the Gift of Soap for families in war-torn South Sudan. All the gifts are real items, sourced in-country which go to families in need of our support. For more information go to https://www.trocaire.org/gifts. Leaflets showing the various gifts will be available in the church before mass if you would like to take one. Also, it would be a great help if you had the correct money for the gifts you are purchasing. We thank you for your help in this.

Anam Cara Donegal, the organisation that supports bereaved parents, is holding its monthly Parent Evening for bereaved parents on Thursday 9th December at 7.20pm in the Radisson Blu, Letterkenny. This event is free and open to all bereaved parents regardless of the age your child died, the circumstances of their death or whether their death was recent of not.

Sands Northern Ireland invite you to join us for ‘Lights of Love’ on Monday 13th December at 7.00pm in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Strabane to remember precious babies gone too soon. We hope the service of readings and music will offer a sense of peace, comfort and hope to those joining.

Guidelines for your safety when the Church is Open

Keep social distancing unless you are with someone from the same house.

There has to be social distancing, so you might not get your usual seat.

The church will be cleaned each day.

If you come under the category of being vulnerable or are nervous about being with other people at this time, do not come to Mass. If you have any illness at all, even a cold, stay at home as coming to Mass could be risky for you and for other people. Watch Mass via the webcam or on television.

In the church, please sanitise your hands and wear a mask or face covering.

Follow instructions for receiving Holy Communion and for leaving the church. Please remember that Holy Communion is to be taken in the hand and not on the tongue.

Do not touch statues. And if all this is not strange enough, we are asked to do something which is very unnatural for us - we are asked not to congregate outside the church after Mass.