Second Sunday of Advent

Sunday, 8th December 2024

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 amount to £2855.00. 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.

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be celebrated this year on Monday 9 December. Mass is at 10.00am.

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament: There will be no Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament during the month of December.

Advent

Monday 9 December

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

2.00pm: Carol Service with Senior pupils of Holy Cross College

Saturday 14 December

11.30am – 12.00 noon : Confessions

Carols by Candlelight will take place in the Church on Sunday 15 December at 5.30pm in aid of the Kevin Bell Repatriation Fund.

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

Luka Jay McElwee, Reon Reynolds

May they Rest in Peace

Deaths

·         Eileen Lynch, 324 Ballycolman Estate

·         Thomas Howard, 73 Laurel Drive

·         John Marriott, Colman Fold

·         Frankie Dunne, Mulvey House

·         Mary Caulfield, 22 Glen Road

·         Gerry French, Feeney

Anniversaries

·         Harry Doherty, Martin McCay, Tommy Moss

·         Pete McMenamin, Robert Houston, Brian Sharkey

·         Dan McCormick, Agnes McElroy, Margaret Hunter

·         Patrick Conwell, Michael Houston, Dolores McCormick

·         Celine Neeson, Tanya McDaid, Liam Hannigan

·         Brendan McLaughlin, Joe Neeson, Paddy Bradley

·         Patrick McGhee, John Harkin, Aaron Harkin

·         John Duffy, John McGurk, Brian Patton

·         Roy Houston

Baptism Dates

December: 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.

Trócaire Gifts of Change: Trócaire gifts will be on sale over this weekend of 7/8 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 23 gifts to choose from starting at £5 for the Gift of Soap. All these Gifts help families in war torn South Sudan, Gaza 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.

Penitential Service and Confessions for Christmas will be held in the Church on Sunday 22 December at 6.00pm. Six priests will be available and the whole service including Confessions will last only 40 minutes.

Advance Notice of Masses for Christmas Day

Christmas Eve: 5.00pm & 8.00pm

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

Anam Cara, the organisation that supports bereaved parents, will hold its monthly meeting on Thursday 12 December at 7.30pm in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Letterkenny. This event is free and open to all bereaved parents regardless of the age your child died, the circumstances of their death, or how recent their death was. We also offer an online support group meeting. For more information telephone 00353 1 4045378 or email info@anamcara.ie.

Vocations: We pray for the future priests of the diocese of Derry that, like St. John the Baptist, they will work to ‘... prepare the way of the Lord and make his paths straight... so that all mankind can see the salvation of God.’

Marie Curie Community Carol Service in the Alley Theatre on Tuesday 10 December at 7.30pm. Music by Strabane Brass Band, Strabane Junior Brass Band, Class Act Singers. Featuring Soloist Ciara Quinn.

Derry Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2025: led by Bishop Donal McKeown, from Monday 30 June to Friday 4 July, leaving from City of Derry Airport. Price £849 plus insurance and single supplement if required. The Pilgrimage Office does not open for booking until Saturday 1 February. Gift Vouchers are available from the Pastoral Centre, 164 Bishop Street, Derry. Enquires can be made to derrypilgrim@outlook.com.

Pilgrimage to Medjugorje 2025. Bookings are now being taken for a Pilgrimage to Medjugorje on July 2, leaving from Belfast International Airport. Cost £765 per person sharing. Cost includes return flights, accommodation and meals. (Additional charge for single occupancy). Discount of £50 if deposit is paid before 31 January. Organised through Marion Pilgrimages, Dublin. For more information contact John Murray on 07801105575.

Strabane History Society will hold their next meeting on Thursday 12 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 ‘History of St. Lugadius’ Church, Lifford and the speaker is Averil Meehan.

The Parish Draw for December took place on Wednesday 4 December. The winners are as follows: 

£500:       1280 Paula Doherty – Pauline Wilson

£250:       1428 Jean McDermott – Sheelagh McKelvey

£250:       1269 Pauline Lynch – Elizabeth O’Hare

£250:       1058 Sandra Wilson – Pauline Wilson     

£150:       1548 Mary & Michael Bradley – Katrina Houston

£150:       1576 Terri McLaughlin – Elizabeth O’Hare

£150:       1041 Patrick Glackin – Katrina Houston

£100:       1443 Frances Patterson – Brenda Brolly    

£100:       1348 Conor Rice – Elizabeth O’Hare

£100:       1164 Brian McKee – Elizabeth O’Hare

Additional Parish Draw for Fully Paid Members

£500:       1568 Marie McEvoy – Katrina Houston

£250:       1180 Christina O’Shea – Dolores Houston

£250:       1451 Joanne McGrath – Elizabeth O’Hare

£250:       1658 Tina Fraser – Ann Donaghey 

£150:       1535 Susie Roarty – Katrina Houston

£150:       1496 Annette McGarrigle – Ann Donaghey

£150:       1359 Michael Gallagher – Sheelagh McKelvey

£100:       1091 Jim Gallagher – Pauline Wilson

£100:        1493 Mary McGinley – Ann Donaghey

£100:       1272 Bernadine Glover – Elizabeth O’Hare

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.