Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

17 November 2024

World Day of the Poor

My words will not pass away

This chapter from Mark is part of a farewell speech from Jesus to his followers in the last days of his earthly life. It sounds almost apocalyptic because we are nearing the end of the Church’s liturgical year and so the texts we read take this tone. Jesus is revealing to his disciples something about the new order which is coming. He talks about the ‘end times’ and this can appear frightening at first. However, if we enter into a meditation on this Gospel we might bring to mind something of those moments in our own lives when we felt like our world was ending. Perhaps it was the end of a relationship, the death of a loved one, the end of one stage of your life. 

Things which seemed so familiar and helped keep us secure suddenly changed. These can be extremely difficult periods of one’s life. It is during those times that someone comes to us offering prophecy of better times to come, of words that ‘will not pass away’. Jesus is preparing the disciples for what is about to happen to him and with assurance that God’s kingdom is far greater than any evil that is about to occur. The passage is often interpreted as referring to the second coming of Christ or his resurrection. Whenever we experience trauma we keep going with the assurance that resurrection is all around us and a new way of being is on the horizon.

Jane Mellett

Announcements

Last week’s collection amount to £2780.00. 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. Contributions can be made by cheque made payable to Melmount Parish or cash. If the Office is closed please use the letterbox.

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will take place in the church on Monday 18 November after 10.00am Mass until 6.00pm. During the month of November, the Holy Rosary will be recited at approximately 5.30pm at the closure of Exposition.

Vocations We pray that our seminarians and those discerning a vocation as priests of this diocese will ‘shine as brightly as the stars of heaven’ and be zealous in the instruction and example they give of Christian living to God’s people.

Pioneer Pledge for the month of the Holy Souls A short-term pledge gives spiritual support and encouragement to people and their families who are living under a shadow of addiction. Contact the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association on 003531 8054226 or www.pioneers.ie/pray.

May they Rest in Peace

Deaths

Annette Lynch, 143 Ballycolman Estate        

Susanne Campbell, 22 Urney Road

Anne Stevenson, 32 Towncastle Road

Anniversaries

Ruby McConnell, Seamus O’Kelly, Mary Shiels

Owen Ward, Bredge Ward, Billy Diver, Tommy Woods 

Dolores McLaughlin, Kevin McBride, Ann Crawford

Suzanna McGarrigle, Fidelma Doherty, James McBride

Annie McCrory, Mary Moss McCafferty, John Christy Jnr

Mary McKenna, Danny Carlin, Susan Carlin

John McDaid, Phil Madden, Bella Moore, Mary McCrossan

Parish Draw Promoters should make their returns for December to the Parish Office on Monday 2 December from 2.00pm - 4.00pm. The Draw for December will take place on Wednesday 4 December at 10.30am in the Parish Office.

Baptism Dates

November: Saturday 30.

December: Sunday 8; Saturday 14; Saturday 28.

January: Sunday 5; Saturday 18; Saturday 25.

February: Sunday 2; Saturday 15; Saturday 22.

March: Sunday 2; Saturday 15; Saturday 22.

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.

Termonbacca Carmelite Retreat Centre, Derry will hold a Sr. Clare Crockett Advent Retreat from Friday 29 November - Sunday 1 December in preparation for Christmas. This weekend is open to both women and men. Cost £100 residential/£70 non-residential. For more information and booking telephone 71262512 or email termonbaccaderry@gmail.com

Trócaire School Volunteers Are you a retired teacher or someone who has experience presenting to groups of school children? Do you have a passion for making this world a better place, especially for the most vulnerable? Trócaire is looking for volunteers to support our 2025 Lent Appeal in the Derry Diocese. If you think you have the right skills and experience and will be available to help during school hours over Lent, then we would love to hear from you. Full training and ongoing support will be provided. For more information telephone Naomis Purnell on 90808033 or email naomi.purnell@trocaire.org

Pilgrimage to Fatima 7 Nights from 19 June 2025. Spiritual Directors: Fr. Malachy Gallagher, Mgr Bryan McCanny and Fr. Sean O’Donnell. £849 per person sharing. For more information telephone Patricia 07743936548 or Anne 07784953408.

N.I. Blood Transfusion Service: Strabane is hosting a Blood Donation session in Holy Cross College on Thursday 5 December between 12.30pm - 7.30pm. Book your appointment now by telephoning 08085534653 or log on to www.nibts.org. Every Blood Donation saves 3 lives.

Graveyards We would ask that when you are having headstones and surrounds erected in the graveyards or having any work carried out to existing graves that you put any ornaments or flowers etc that are on the grave in a safe place while the work is being carried out. The parish is not responsible for any damage or loss of these items. A reminder that there are specific measurements for surrounds and headstones in the newest of our graveyards and benches are not permitted. Please ensure that whoever is erecting the headstone and surround for you in this graveyard, contact the Parish Office on 71383777 before any work commences.

Advent Reflection Retreat Walking with the Franciscan Mystics Retreat. Friday 22 November to Sunday 24 November. In this workshop we will encounter some of the great Franciscan Mystics and find ways we can share in their wisdom and vision for a world renewed by the light of Christ and communion with creation. Facilitated by Br. Richard Hendrick. Cost €240.00. For more details email info@ardsfriary.ie

SPARK: A weekend of fun, faith and friendship for 12–16-year-olds Do you know a young person who would like to build their faith and make new friends? Spark is a weekend experience which follows core themes from YouCat as well as stories of role models such as Blessed Carlo Acutis and Sr. Clare Crockett, to help young people learn about their faith, while making friends and hopefully having a bit of craic in the process! The weekend will take place from 22 - 24 November in the Carmelite Retreat Centre, Termonbacca. To book or for more information text or WhatsApp Brendan on 00353 86 8043065. Cost £70/€80 per person (to cover food & board).

Advent The youth department of the Catechetical Centre, in conjunction with Youth Link NI, will be delivering a four-week course for Advent in two venues – Derry City in the Cathedral Hall on Monday 25 November, 2, 9 & 16 December from 6.00pm – 7.30pm and in Maghera Pastoral Centre on Thursday 28 November, 5, 12 & 19 December from 6.00pm – 7.30pm. This is open to young people including JP11 students of the Parish. If you are interested or would like more information, please contact lizzie.rea@derrydiocese.org.

Class Act Theatre Group will be presenting Elf the Musical in St. Patrick’s Hall from 20 - 23 November. Tickets are £12 and can be ordered by phoning Leah on 07541763410 or by messaging the Class Act Theatre Group Facebook page.

The Parish Draw for November took place on Thursday 14 November. The winners are as follows: 

£500: 1435 B. Flanagan – Carolann Stewart

£250: 1470 Mary Donaghey – Elizabeth O’Hare

£250: 1355 Kathleen Bonner – Sheelagh McKelvey

£250: 1134 Vincent Hegarty – Ann Donaghey

£150: 1125 Pat McGonigle – Ann Donaghey

£150: 1509 Terry Doherty – Maureen Hegarty

£150: 1268 Mary Patton – Elizabeth O’Hare

£100: 1408 May Kirkpatrick – Elizabeth O’Hare        

£100: 1632 Sinead Melaugh – Dolores Houston

£100: 1313 Carmel McShane – Katrina Houston