Second Sunday of Advent

10th December 2023

The beginning of the good news......

The second Sunday of Advent turns our attention to John the Baptist. John was an interesting individual. We are told he dressed a bit strangely, had an odd diet and spent a lot of time in the desert. Yet it seems he was very popular with the whole of Judaea and ‘all the people of Jerusalem’ went out to hear him. John must have been a dynamic speaker and one in whom people found hope and inspiration. Who are these attractive messengers for us today? Who brings us good news and hope? Whose message makes sense for us? Who do we flock to hear?

Today we might also reflect on the messengers in our own lives. Who did God send to you while you were in your own wilderness? Perhaps they brought with them a moment of grace reassuring you that you would not be drifting aimlessly forever. Perhaps the evidence at that moment in your own life stated the contrary, yet these words of encouragement or comfort gave you reason to hope and to hang in there. These ‘John the Baptists’ are messengers of the light. 

They are all around us. Sometimes we are the ones called upon to be a messenger of light for someone else. The good news of the gospel today is that even in times of desolation there is a hope, a promise that urges us on. How we prepare for this journey determines our experience. See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you.......                                                                                                                 

                                      Jane Mellett

Announcements

Last week’s collection amounted to £3241.00. Thank you.

Those who pay to the weekly collection or any special collections, including Priest’s 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. Contributions can be made by cheque made payable to Melmount Parish or cash. If the Office is closed please use the letterbox.

Clergy Retirement Fund Collection amounted to £2228.39. Thank you.

Advent

Monday 11 December

11.15am: Carol Service with Junior pupils of Holy Cross College

2.15pm: Carol Service with Senior pupils of Holy Cross College

Saturday 16 December

11.30am – 12 .00 noon:  Confessions

Penitential Service and Confessions for Christmas will be held in the Church on Sunday 17 December at 6.00pm. Six priests will be available and the whole service including Confessions will last only 40 minutes.

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

Noah Hunter

May they Rest in Peace

Deaths

Martin McCay, 20 Greeves Park                   

Raymond McNally, 146 Laurel Drive

Claire Devine, Birmingham                                  

Margaret Tighe, 52 Fountain Street

Teresa O’Kane, Sion Mills                           

Betty McColgan, Lifford  

Brian McCrory, Dunamanagh                               

Jim Douglas, Burndennett

Anniversaries

Dan McCormack, Robert Houston, Annie May Gallagher

John Duffy, Michael Houston, Susan Smyth

John Harkin, Aaron Harkin, Susan Reilly

Celine Neeson, Kathleen Scally, Tanya McDaid

Liam Hannigan, Patrick Conwell, Paddy Patton

Patrick McGhee, Attracta Harron, Brian Patton

Roy Houston, Thomas Semple, Tommy Moss

Ainsley Catterson, Bridget Devine, Margaret Kelly

John Patton, John Gallagher

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament: There will be no Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament until the New Year.

Blessing of Graves: The Annual Ceremony of the Blessing of Graves will take place here in Melmount on Sunday 19 May 2024 at 4.00pm.

Baptism Dates

December: Saturday 16; Saturday 30.

January: Sunday 7; Saturday 20; Saturday 27.

February: Sunday 4; Saturday 17; Saturday 24.

March: Sunday 3; Saturday 16; Saturday 23.

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

To book a Baptism contact the Parish Office on 71383777 during office hours.

Advance Notice of Masses for Christmas Day

Christmas Eve: 6.00pm & 8.00pm.

Christmas Day: 8.30am; 10.30am & 12.30pm.

Accord Derry Marriage Preparation Courses (Pre Marriage Courses) will take place on January 19/20; February 23/24; March 22/23, 2024. Venue:  Everglades Hotel, Prehen Road, Derry. Please note that these courses are NOT virtual and are in person. Bookings are now being taken on www.accordni.com

Strabane History Society will hold their next meeting on Thursday 14 December at 7.00pm in the Music Rooms, John Wesley Street, close to the back gate of the Post Office. This month’s talk will be ‘Tell me that one again! Storytelling and oral history’. The speaker is Liz Weir, well known storyteller.

Vocations We pray for our diocesan seminarians and those currently discerning their vocation to the priesthood, like John the Baptist, they will prepare God’s people for the coming of Jesus at the end of time and as He comes to us every day.

Trócaire Gifts of Change: Trócaire gifts will be on sale next weekend, 16/17 December, at all Masses here in Melmount. Trócaire Gifts of Change help some of the poorest people in the world to work their way out of poverty. There are 22 gifts to choose from starting at £5 for the Gift of Soap. All these Gifts help families in war torn South Sudan, Ethiopia and Ukraine. 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. 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 14 December at 7.15pm in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Letterkenny. This event is free and open to all bereaved parents regardless of the age your child dies, the circumstances of their death or whether their death was recent of not. We also offer an online service. For more information telephone 003531 4045378.

The Parish Draw for December took place on Wednesday 6 December. The winners are as follows: 

£500:  1496 Annette McGarrigle – Ann Donaghey

£250:  1311 Michael & Anne Kennedy – Katrina Houston 

£250:  1374 Betty Foley – Sheelagh McKelvey

£250:  1268 Mary Patton – Elizabeth O’Hare

£150:  1055 Barbara MacIntyre – Katrina Houston 

£150:  1592 Mary Maguire – Ann Donaghey 

£150:  1445 Annette Sharkey – Brenda Brolly

£100:  1235 Ann Devine – Carolann Stewart  

£100:  1254 Martin Langan – Michelle Langan       

£100:  1560 Kathleen Magee – Katrina Houston

Additional Parish Draw for Fully Paid Members

£500:  1638 Mary & Daniel Donaghey – Elizabeth O’Hare

£250:  1317 Andrea Falconer – Ann Donaghey      

£250:  1159 Ruari Maguire – Elizabeth O’Hare

£250:  1147 Philomena Duffy – Elizabeth O’Hare   

£150:  1262 Claire Dooher – Brenda Brolly

£150:  1307 Susan McCafferty – Katrina Houston

£150: 1556 Cynthia Quigley – Katrina Houston

£100: 1023 Kim Mallon – Dolores Houston

£100: 1292 Margaret & Seamus McDaid – Maureen Hegarty

£100: 1048 Marie Kelly – Pauline Wilson      

We would like to thank all those who participated in this year’s draw. Special thanks to our many promoters for their miles and hours of foot soldiering during the year especially during such difficult times.