Sunday,
10th January 2010
The Baptism
of Christ
First Reading
:
The glory of the Lord shall be revealed
and all people shall see it.
Second Reading:
Acts of the Apostles 10: 34-38
God’s grace has been revealed
and taught us that what we have
to do is to give up everything that
does not lead to God.
Gospel:
Luke 3: 15-16.21-22
John declared, I baptise you with
water, but someone is coming, someone
who is more powerful than I am will
baptise you with the Holy Spirit
and fire.
Just
checking in.
A minister passing
through his church in the middle
of the day decided to pause by the
altar and see who had come to pray.
Just then the back door opened,
a man came down the aisle, the minister
frowned as he saw that the man hadn't
shaved in awhile. His shirt was
kinda' shabby and his coat was worn
and frayed. The man knelt, bowed
his head, then arose and walked
away.
In the days that followed each noontime
came this chap and each time he
knelt just for a moment, a lunch
pail in his lap. Well, the minister's
suspicions grew, and robbery was
his main fear. He decided to stop
the man and ask him, "Watcha'
doing' here?"
The old man worked
down the road. Lunch was half an
hour. Lunchtime was his prayer time,
for finding strength and power.
"I stay only moments, see,
'cause the factory is so far away;
As I kneel here talking to the Lord,
this is kinda' what I say: "I
just came again to tell You, Lord,
how happy I've been, since we found
each other's friendship and You
took away my sin. I don't know much
of how to pray, but I think about
You every day. So, Jesus, this is
Jim checking in." The minister
feeling foolish told Jim, that was
fine. He told the man he was welcome
to come and pray just anytime. Time
to go, Jim smiled, said "Thanks."
He hurried to the door.
The minister knelt
at the altar, he'd never done it
before. His cold heart melted, warmed
with love, met with Jesus there.
As the tears flowed, in his heart,
he repeated old Jim's prayer: "I
just came again to tell You, Lord,
how happy I've been, since we found
each other's friendship and You
took away my sin. I don't know much
of how to pray, but I think about
You every day. So, Jesus, this is
me checking in."
It was past noon one day, the minister
noticed that old Jim hadn't come.
As more days passed without Jim,
he began to worry.
He went to the
factory and asked about Jim and
found out he was ill. The hospital
staff was worried, but he'd given
them a thrill. The week that Jim
was with them, brought changes in
the ward. His smiles, a joy contagious.
Changed people, his reward. The
head nurse couldn't understand why
Jim was so glad, When no flowers,
calls or cards came, not a visitor
he had. The minister stayed by his
bed, he voiced the nurse's concern:
No friends came to show they cared.
He had nowhere to turn.
Looking surprised,
old Jim spoke up and with a winsome
smile; "The nurse is wrong,
she couldn't know, that all the
while everyday at noon He's here,
a dear friend of mine, you see,
He sits right down, takes my hand,
leans over and says to me: "I
just came again to tell you, Jim,
how happy I have been, since we
found this friendship, and I took
away your sin. I always love to
hear you pray, I think about you
each day, and so Jim, this is Jesus
checking in."
Baptism:
We welcome into
the Parish Community
through the Sacrament of Baptism
Holly Mai Conway, 14, Glenside,
Killyclogher.
Áine Marie Sutton, 46 Farquhar
Street, Elgin
Kayleigh Geraldine McCoole, 29 Fox
Park, Drumnakilly.
Leah Jane McAlinney, 22 Shergrim
Glen
Requiescat
In Pace:
We extend our sympathy to the
family and relatives of
Martin Stankard,
Shergrim Glen.
Breige Dillon,
Dublin (formerly Knocknamoe Heights)
Ann Kelly, Loughmacrory
Paul McGrath, Farmhill
Road
Anthony McKenna,
St. Mary’s Court
Anniversaries
Ronnie McConnell, Strathroy
Rita Ewing, Westview
Terrace
Bridget McFarland,
Bankmore Road
James Ward, Fairmount
Avenue
James Wallace, Killybrack
Road
Patricia McDermott,
Mountfield
Teddy Baxter, Campsie
Road
Vera Turbitt, Dergmoney
Place
Annie McNally, Winters
Gardens
Gerry McCance, Gortrush
Park
Thomas McGuigan,
Woodside Terrace
Patrick McCrory,
Cullion, Lislap
Mary McCarney, Navan
Rose Sweeney, Hunter’s
Crescent.
Anniversary
Masses for the week
Monday 11th Brigid
McCaskie
Strathroy (CTK 7.30pm)
Wednesday 13th Leo
& Kathleen Campbell
Omagh
Geraldine Scott
Toronto (KC 10.00am)
Thursday 14th Eugene
Taggart
Mullaghmore Drive (KC 10.00am)
Saturday 16th James
Mitchell
Strathroy Park (CTK 6.30pm)
Saturday 16th Shea
Hutchinson
Knocknamoe Bungalows (KC 8.30pm)
Sunday 17th Patrick
McCrory
Cullion, Lislap. (KM 10.30am)
PRAY FOR
PRIESTS
This week we ask you to pray
for the following priests:
Fr. Thomas Canning Monday 11th January
Fr. Michael Canny Tuesday 12th January
Fr. John Cargan
Wednesday 13th January
Fr. Neal Carlin
Thursday 14th January
Fr. Walter Carolan
Friday 15th January
Fr. Colum Clerkin
Saturday 16th January
Fr. Roland Colhoun
Sunday 17th January
St Mary’s Primary
School + Nursery Unit, Killyclogher
Applications Forms for admission
to Nursery and Year 1 are now available
from the school office. Closing
date for returning forms is Wednesday
20th January 2010 at 12 noon. If
you would like to view our modern
facilities appointments may be arranged
at a time to suit prospective parents.
To arrange a suitable time contact
telephone: 028 8224 2313 e-mail:
info@stmarysps.killyclogher.ni.sch.uk
The January Parish Dance
has been cancelled due to the inclement
weather.
Get your
body healthy for the New Year with
the Health For Life 6 Week Program
in the Strule Arts Centre. Starting
Mon Jan 11th – Feb 15th 7.30
– 9.30pm. Contact Bernie Canavan
@ 02885568673 / 07941994815
Foundations
in Liturgy: A 12-week Liturgy
course led by the Thornhill Centre
team will be held in Sion Mills
Parish Centre beginning Tuesday
19 January 2010 from 7:30 to 9:30
pm. This course is designed to foster
an understanding of the richness
of the Liturgy of the Church, examining
core elements and symbols of our
ritual and worship. Course cost:
£100. For further details,
please contact Thornhill Centre
at 71351233.
Old Tyme
Dancing Class will resume
on Wednesday 18th January in Cappagh
Parish Centre from 8.30 - 10pm.
Everyone welcome.
The Omagh
Famine Group wishes to
extend a big thank you to all who
participated in their Christmas
fund raising activities which raised
£7,610 on behalf of the third
world. A street collection, bag
packing at Asda, carol singing by
the local schools all contributed
and the money will be shared between
Concern, Trocaire, Oxfam and Save
the Children.
“Prayer
in Daily Life”:
This weekly 8-session
course begins in Thornhill Centre,
121 Culmore Road on Monday 18 January
2010 from 7:30 until 9:30 pm for
those interested in developing their
prayer life in a simple but effective
way. This is an opportunity to use
the Bible in prayer. All welcome!
Cost: £4 per Session. For
further details and to book, please
contact us at 71351233.
Funeral
Lunches: The Cappagh Parish
Centre is available for funeral
lunches and we are happy to provide
this service. We have however had
a few issues lately and we have
decided that in future you may only
book the centre through the parish
office or directly with Fr. Boland.
People are very vulnerable after
a bereavement and it is important
to make them aware of their options.
Wedding Congratulations
to the following
couple who were married recently
Granville
Atherton and Ann Crossey.
May they enjoy a
long and happy union and may the
grace of the
Sacrament sustain them in the years
ahead.
Last
week’s collection £3,704.
Renovation fund : £1,400.
Thank
you.
The
priests of the parish would like
to thank you most sincerely for
your very generous Christmas Stipend.
We realise that there are many claims
on your purses at this time of the
year and we do appreciate your generosity.
We will continue to keep you in
our prayers in 2010.
Cappagh Parish Centre
Weekly Bingo: Each Monday evening
in Cappagh Parish Hall at 9 pm.
GAA - The Bingo is still a victim
of the weather and therefore there
was no Lotto draw. We hope to be
back in business soon.
