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St
Mary’s Church Bocan 23rd December
2007—No 4
Fourth
Sunday of Advent
The Good News and Comfort Zones
A gem of Cherokee
wisdom goes as follows: When you were
born you cried and the world rejoiced.
Live your life so that when you die
the world cries and you rejoice. Christmas,
in its own way, confirms that we can
do just that. That is what the Good
News proclaims: death is not the end
of everything, but the beginning of
something new. Death is our passage
to the rejoicing.
Our faith is not for pessimists unless,
that is, to transform them into optimists.
Recently I came across an amusing
definition of a pessimist as one who
feels bad when he feels good for fear
he’ll feel worse when he feels
better. No, our faith is not for those.
Our faith instils joy, optimism, hope,
vision, and trust. Otherwise, how
could it be considered good news?
Some people, it seems, just cannot
be happy being happy. They seem to
feel there’s something wrong
with it. God doesn’t want us
to be happy in this vale of tears.
A modern-day spin on this dreary spirituality
is the blithely imposed duty to leave
our so-called comfort zones.
I say, Thanks be to God for them.
Just try living without any of them!
Fr Tom Cahill SVD
Responsorial
Psalm
Let the Lord enter!
He is the king of glory.
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‘Are
you the one who is to come,
or have we to wait for someone
else?’
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Today’s
Readings
1st
The prophet Isaiah points to a new
dispensation, when a virgin will give
birth to a Son whose name will be
Emmanuel, meaning’ ‘God
is with us’;
2nd
Paul invites us to be amazed at what
God has done in giving us Jesus, truly
human ‘son of David’,
and truly Son of God ‘proclaimed
in power’;
Gospel
Matthew’s version of the Christmas
story gives prominence to Joseph and
his dilemma.
Money
Matters:
Weekly Offering, €1,680;
Development Collection, €1,000.
Thank you for your generosity.
N.B. Priest’s Christmas Collection
will be taken up at all christmas
Masses.
St Vincent de Paul Christmas
Appeal
A big thank you to all who contributed
so generously to the Annual Appeal
– it will bring hope and joy
to others.
Moll
Carn Drama Club are presenting John
B Keane’s “Moll”
in Bocan Hall on Sunday, 6th January
2008. Doors open at 8 pm and the Play
commences at 8.30 pm sharp.
Carrowmena Annual Christmas
Concert in the Community
Centre on Friday, 28th December at
8 pm.
Whist Winners
1st Congratulations to Margaret
McGilloway, Malin on winning the Snowball;
2nd Eamon Donaghy, Effishmore;
3rd Seamus Harkin, Gleneely.
Highest Score: Catherine
McGilloway, Patricia Harkin, Dylan
Doherty;
Lowest Score: Brian Diver,
Buncrana.
Draw Winners: [1st] Catherine
McGilloway, Malin [2nd] Mary McDermott,
Falmore [3rd] James McLaughlin, Cashel
[4th] Eamon Donaghy Effishmore.
The Whist is on every Friday night
at 8.45 pm. Snowball this week: €35
for a score of 185 or better Everyone
welcome
Bocan Community Playgroup
The Fund Raising Committee would like
to thank all who bought tickets and
contributed in any way to the success
of the event which realised €1,128
to the Playgroup Funds.
Wanted
New Readers
We have a very faithful band of dedicated
readers, but we do need more. Especially
welcome would be Secondary School
Students. The rota for 2008 is being
drawn up. Please contact Fr McGonagle
this week if you can help.
Carndonagh Community School
Back to C.C.S – a very special
welcome is extended to the parents
of former [and current] Carndonagh
Community School pupils to a Guest
Tea Reunion to be held in the Sports
Hall on Friday, 22nd February. Tickets
are on sale from local former “Hostesses”
or contact the school. Make sure you
keep this date free!
Culdaff Football Club
Culdaff FC are introducing a new yearly
Lotto membership where people can
ensure their entry is in every draw
at a reduced rate of €80 for
the year. Special envelopes are available
from players and committee members
and this offer will commence on the
weekend of 14th January 2008.
Jobseekers
New Job Seeking Programme for Buncrana,
Carndonagh and Moville beginning in
the New Year. If you wish to apply
for jobs and gain great interview
skills contact the Job Centre on 9361376.
Serenity House
Would like to wish all their patrons
a very Happy Christmas and Peaceful
New Year.
North West College
Would like a New Year Challenge? Then
contact 048 71 276000 for a full list
of the courses available in2008.
The Nativity
by C.S. Lewis
Among the oxen (like an ox I'm slow)
I see a glory in the stable grow
Which, with the ox's dullness might
at length
Give me an ox's strength.
Among the asses (stubborn I as they)
I see my Saviour where I looked for
hay;
So may my beastlike folly learn at
least
The patience of a beast.
Among the sheep (I like a sheep have
strayed)
I watch the manger where my Lord is
laid;
Oh that my baa-ing nature would win
thence
Some wooly innocence!
C. S. Lewis
C.S. Lewis may well have subtitled
this little gem as ’Learning
from the animals.’ A prayer
calling for strength, patience and
innocence.
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