| Sunday
29th November 2009
First
Sunday of Advent.
Jesus said to
his disciples: "hold
your heads high, for your liberation
is close at hand".
Over the past few years, with all
the revelations of scandals in the
Church and society, there is a lot
for us to be ashamed of and repent
for. However, the resulting despair
that some people have experienced
is not necessary because there continues
to be so much goodness in the Church
and society that we can be proud
of. This week we begin a new year
in our journey of faith with Christ.
It is an opportunity to once again
have confidence in his presence
with us, and his power in us. Without
in any way being unrealistic, this
is a time to look towards him to
save us and to set us free. We will
find that freedom in how we are
with one another in our homes and
in our parish community as we approach
Christmas and beyond with love rather
than selfishness.
Fr. Johnny
Doherty, C.Ss.R.
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To
you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
|
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Sunday, 29th
November, 2009
First Sunday
of Advent
First Reading
Jeremiah 33: 14-16
In those days Judah shall be saved
and Israel shall dwell in confidence.
Second Reading
Thessalonians 3: 12 -4:2
May the Lord be generous in increasing
your love and make you love one another.
Gospel Luke
21: 25-28, 34-36
Stay awake, praying at all times for
the strength to survive all that is
going to happen, and to stand with
confidence before the Son of Man.
MASS
TIMES
Monday, Tuesday,
Wednesday & Thursday, 10 am;
Friday, the first Friday of the
Month, 8 pm; Saturday, 10 am.
Saturday,
Vigil, 8 pm;
Sunday,
8.30 am & 11 am.
Confessions
Friday, 7.15 pm—7.45 pm;
Saturday: 7.15 pm—7.45 pm
Next Week’s Anniversary
Mass:
Saturday Vigil, 8 pm: Mary &
Seamus McLaughlin [Pat] Ballyharry.
Father Joe
Morris [1928-2009]
Father Joe Morris was born on 23rd
December 1928 in Greencastle, Co.
Tyrone. He had four brothers and
two sisters. He was educated in
Greencastle P.S., C.B.S. Omagh,
St Columb’s College, Derry,
and St Patrick’s College,
Maynooth. He was ordained on 4th
April 1954 in the Chapel of St.
Columb’s College, Derry.
His first appointment was to Aghyaran
near Castlederg and he ministered
there from 1954-1961. He first came
to Inishowen in 1961 as curate in
Carndonagh. In 1964 he was transferred
to Clonmany, where he spent 32 years—24
as curate and 8 as Parish Priest.
He came to Culdaff in 1996 as Parish
Priest and retired in 2004. He spent
his final years in retirement in
the Parochial House, Bocan.
In his homily at Fr Joe’s
funeral, Fr Michael Canny, a native
of Clonmany parish, who had known
Fr Joe all his life, summed up his
life as a ‘Silent Presence’.
But it was a powerful presence that
touched the lives of all he encountered,
especially in times of great sadness
or distress.
We all have special memories of
him. But none will forget his signature
theme ‘Live in peace and harmony
with your neighbour.’ It is
a life challenge.
The community of Culdaff and Clonmany
offer their deepest sympathy to
his sisters and brother, his nephews
and nieces, and his faithful housekeeper,
Margaret.
May
eternal rest and peace be his.
Weekly
Offering: €1,300; Development
Collection €750.
Thank
you for your generosity.
Parish Council meeting
on Monday 7th December at 8.30 pm
in Bocan Hall.
All members please
attend.
Whist
1st Matthew Davenport Doherty,
2nd: Mickey O’Donnell
3rd: Fr McGonagle
Tickets
John Duffy, Joanie McLaughlin, Michael
Doherty, Mary Ellen Ruddy
Other Winners
Gerard Doherty, Carrie McLaughlin,
Dolores O’Donnell, Mickey Doherty
.
Whist Every Friday at 8.45
pm
Snowball - €40 for 189 or better
Year
C
Today we begin a new year in the life
of the Church. This is the 3rd year
in the cycle, A, B, and C. These are
challenging times. The Murphy Report
has shook the Church to its foundations.
But Advent is a time of hope, a time
to humbly look to God for mercy and
forgiveness, to pray with all our
hearts that those who have been harmed
in any way by the very people that
they had trusted most, find joy and
purpose in their lives once again.
Weakness
Lord,
In the weakness that has overcome
me,
I cry to you for help,
You took our weakness on yourself
when you suffered and died for us.
You share our weakness now
as though it were your own,
so that it may have some purpose and
value.
I cannot understand this myself;
but trusting in you I surrender my
weakness,
my pain, my sickness, my fears to
you.
Help me to bear this ungrudgingly
and to offer this generously through
you
to the Father of mercies who awaits
us all with the gift of eternal life
Amen.
Bishop Francis Thomas 1930-1988
Youth Club
Rota
Friday, 4th December:
Gina Crossan, Noleen Ruddy,
Seamus Doherty, Mary
Collins.
Carrowmenagh
Community Centre are holding
and Arts and Crafts Fair on Sunday
6th December from 2-6pm - To book
a table telephone 074 93 67251.
The Cancer
Support Group meeting will
take place in Serenity House, Moville
on Monday 30 November at 7.30pm. All
are welcome.
A bus will leave Moville
at 4pm on Monday 7 December for an
all night vigil in Knock.
Price is 30 euro including meal. For
further information please contact
Eileen 9382442.
Serenity House,
Moville are organising a trip to Belfast
on Thursday 10 December which
will include a meal. For further information
or to book a place contact Serenity
House on 9382945.
A training
course on Depression will
take place in Serenity House, Moville
in February 2010. Anyone interested
please contact Serenity House on 9382945
for further information.
Culdaff Care
of the Aged
A meeting of the Culdaff Care
of the Aged Committee takes
place on Wednesday 2nd December at
8 pm in Bocan Old School. All members
please attend.
Senior Citizens Christmas
Party – takes place
next Saturday, 5h December at 2.30
pm in McGrory’s Hotel, Culdaff.
All senior citizens welcome.
The Bocan
Parent and Toddler Committee
would like to acknowledge and sincerely
thank the Culdaff Ceile Club for their
kind donation towards setting up the
Group.
Advent Weekend
Retreat.
Registration Friday
11th 7.30p.m. to Sunday 13th December.
A quiet residential weekend, which
will be a spiritual preparation for
the feast of Christmas, will be conducted
by the Carmelite Fathers in Termonbacca,
Carmelite Retreat Centre, Derry. All
are welcome to attend. For further
details and bookings Tel 71262512
The
Deep End – Caterpillars Beware!
Fr Tom Cahill SVD
What a way to enter with a bang! Enter
a new liturgical year, that is. Just
look at our Second Reading today [1
Thess 3:12-4.2]: ‘may the Lord
make you increase and abound in love
for one another and for all’.
What a way to start the year if love
means , as it must, seeing butterflies
in caterpillars! Not even Specsavers
could do that for you.
Advent is a time
for staring: at the Creator coddled
in a cot, at heaven harboured in a
home, at power naked in swaddling
clothes, at divinity bubbling through
a baby, at the darkness of a silent
night illuminated by a cosmic chorus
of heavenly hosannas. Indeed it is;
but don’t forget the caterpillar.
Why should we be
stumped by a muddled Marian message
ringed in a tree? Why have apparitions
in strange places? Don’t we
have divinity at our fingertips each
day? We need but reach out in friendship
to another human being to touch the
face of God . For if not there, where
else?
Advent is a time
for daring: to find the intimately
elusive God nestling in our hearts,
to find his sacred face imaged on
the heart of those we love and, dare
we admit it, those we don’t;
to trust our instincts for the promised
paradise to come. Indeed it is, but
don’t forget the caterpillar.
Next time you meet
one stare and dare. Stare until its
lowly form morphs before your eyes.
Then dare to believe what your eyes
tell you. Advent has arrived; can
birth be far behind?
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