|
Cappagh
Parish News
(Vol.32 No 52) - 21st December 2008
4th
Sunday of Advent.
Mary,
the Ark of God's Covenant
"Rejoice
so highly favoured; the Lord is with
you." The Angel addressed
these words to Mary, the Mother of
Jesus, and our Mother. But they are
also addressed to each of us who have
the wonderful privilege of knowing
Jesus through our Baptism. They have
a very special significance for couples
who are privileged to have each other
and to be united in the Sacrament
of Marriage. In the course of this
week of Christmas, be aware of all
the good that is in your love relationship,
how highly favoured you are to have
this person as your wife/husband.
Be aware also of the goodness of each
one of your children and how privileged
you are to have them. As you celebrate
the Eucharist during this week leading
up to Christmas, make a special effort
to appreciate the people of your parish.
And know that your love makes Christ
present.
Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R.
4th Sunday
of Advent
Parish Missal Readings
(Year 2) p 410 & Proper p 990
First Reading
2 Samuel 7: 1-5, 8-11, 16
Daniel wants to build a house for
God, but instead God promises to build
an everlasting dynasty for him.
Second Reading
Romans 16: 25-27
God’s plan of salvation for
Jews and Gentiles has come to fulfillment
in Christ.
Gospel Luke
1: 26-38
God’s promise to David was fulfilled
in Jesus.
ARRANGEMENTS
FOR CHRISTMAS
MASSES
AND CONFESSIONS
Masses
Christmas
Eve (Wednesday)
8pm Christ the King
9pm Corpus Christi
Mountfield
10pm St Mary’s,
Killyclogher
10pm St Mary’s
Knockmoyle
11pm Christ the King
Confessions
KC Christmas Eve
after 10am Mass
MF
Christmas Eve 12 noon.
KM
Christmas Eve after 10am Mass
CTK
Monday before evening Mass & Tuesday
after 9.30 am Mass
Christmas
Day (Thursday) Masses are the same
as Sunday
THE
MIRACLE OF THE POINSETTIA!
At Christmas in Mexico,
most houses display the Poinsettia.
Just as we have Holly, Mistletoe and
the Christmas Tree, the Mexicans have
the poinsettia. They believe that
the beautiful plant brings a blessing
that will last all year. The tradition
has existed since 1834 when a miracle
occurred in a tiny village.
In those days it
was customary for people in the villages
to take gifts to the Baby Jesus at
Christmas Eve. Little Maria, a poor
peasant girl had no gift, but she
did so want to enter the church and
see the Baby Jesus in His crib.
She stood outside,
watching others as they entered, carrying
their gifts. Some took food, some
took crochet and lacework. Others
carried flowers. But little Maria
had nothing. One lady passed her with
a huge bundle of flowers in her arms.
As she walked by, a leaf fell from
the enormous bunch and landed at Maria’s
feet. She picked it up and thought,
“I will take this leaf”.
Others saw Maria
pick up the leaf and smiled as she
carefully wrapped it in her small
handkerchief. And then, clutching
her tiny gift, Maria entered the church.
She took her place at the end of the
line of people waiting to make their
offerings. Then at last, it was Maria’s
turn. She stretched out her arm and
carefully opened her fingers to place
the leaf on the altar in front of
the crib.
There was a gasp
from the adults who had seen Maria
fold the leaf into her tiny handkerchief.
For as her fingers separated, it was
seen that the little peasant girl
was now holding a beautiful flower.
The miraculous bloom was formed like
a star with brilliant scarlet leaves
Word of the miracle
spread quickly through the church
and people fell to their knees. The
gift of the Poinsettia came to be
known as “The Flower of the
Holy Night”.
Father
Boland, Father Murray, Father McElhennon
and Father Sweeney would like to take
this opportunity to wish all our parishioners
a happy and holy Christmas and a peaceful
new year.
We pray for
Rose O’Hagan, Woodvale
Avenue. May she rest in
peace.
Anniversaries
Gertie McSorley, Richmond Park
Catherine McKeown, Mountfield
Kathleen Neill, Strathroy
Josephine Garrity, Strathroy
John Gallagher, Inisclan Road
Peter McGirr, Lisanelly Avenue
Duncan McLean, England
Patrick Mayse, Castleview Court
Anniversary
Masses for the week
Monday 22nd Kathleen
Montague, Castleview Court (CPC 10.00
am)
Sunday 28th Ignatius
Neville, Old Mountfield Road (CPC
12 noon)
Sunday 28th Teresa
Gorman, Killens Road MF (MF 10.00
am)
Baptism
We welcome into
the Parish Community through the Sacrament
of Baptism
Amy Louise Hubbard,
50, Glenside
Christmas
Prayer for Present Opening Time
I Lord Jesus, Wise
men travelled for miles to bring you
the first Christmas presents. So may
we, too, remember with thankful hearts
the love that comes with each present
we open. We also thank you for the
amazing love you have for each of
us, and we thank you for the many
gifts that you give us. Amen
Killyclogher
readers for Christmas Masses
Christmas Eve John McKenny Christmas
Day 10. 30 am Cara McAleer
Christmas Day 12 noon Kieran Downey.
Thanks from
the Philippines: A letter
of thanks and photographs from Fr.
Bennett’s Handicapped Children’s
Housing Charity in the Philippines
are on display on the Church Notice
Boards.
Church Seats:
Anyone who has booked church
seats and who haven’t yet
received them, please contact Paddy
Quinn on 8224 4185. All modifications
requested have now been completed.
Children in Crossfire would
like to thank everyone in the Diocese
for taking an Advent Calendar. If
everyone could please return their
boxes to their Chapel on Saturday
vigil 27th December and Sunday masses
28th December. Baskets will be provided
at the entrance to the chapel to leave
the boxes. Thank you for your support
in this campaign to give some of the
worlds most vulnerable children a
chance of a better future. If you
would like any more information please
call 02871269898
Christmas
lights and shiny decorations are but
a sign of the “real light”
That shines in our hearts through
Jesus.
Jesus is the light of the world,
Sent to banish the darkness and show
us the way.
Cappagh Parish
Centre
Weekly Bingo: Each
Monday evening in Cappagh Parish Hall
at 9 pm
GAA - Weekly Lotto
Numbers: 1, 7, 18, 19 & 25. Two
lucky
winners, Eilish Moynagh & Mary
Donaghy each received £50.
The jackpot has been
capped at £5,000 and the new
jackpot now
stands at £4,425.
PRAY FOR PRIESTS
This week we ask
you to pray for the following priests:
Fr. Joseph O’Conor
- Monday 22nd - Fr. Colm O’Doherty
Fr. Kieran O’Doherty - Tuesday
23rd - Fr. Brian O’Donnell
Fr. Francis P. O’Hagan - Wednesday
24th - Fr. Patrick O’Hagan
Fr. David O’Kane - Thursday
25th - Fr. Patrick O’Kane
Fr. Peter O’Kane - Friday 26th
- Fr. Seamus O’Kane
Fr. Arthur O’Reilly - Saturday
27th - Fr. Kieran Page
Fr. Desmond Polke - Sunday 28th -
Fr. Michael Porter
Questions
people ask
Q. How do
we know that Jesus was born on 25
December?
A. We
have no idea of the date of his birth.
This date was chosen as it was mid-winter’s
day in the Julian calendar used in
Rome in the 4th century. In our calendar
the winter solstice occurs on 21 December.
In an ancient Egyptian calendar it
fell on 6 January, a date still followed
by some Eastern Churches for Jesus’
birthday, and in our Church for celebrating
the Epiphany. As pagans celebrated
the winter solstice as the return
of the unconquered sun, Christians
celebrated the coming of Christ, the
light of the world.
Last week’s
collection:£4,149.
St Vincent de Paul Society,
Killyclogher are starting their Annual
Christmas tree and holly wreath sale
on Monday 1st December and continues
until December 24th weekdays 12noon
- 5 pm and Sundays 1.30 pm - 5 pm.
Killyclogher Collectors -
December: Vigil Mass: (1)Matt
Swift (2) Terry McGinn (3) Sean Deehan
(4) Danny McCusker (5) Brian McGlone
(6) Pat Livingstone 10.30am: (1) Raymond
Fox (2) Ennis Dobbin (3) Aidan McPhillips
(4) Patrick Campbell (5) Niall Duffy
(6) Brian McMenamin 12 Noon: (1) Frank
Donaghy (2) Bob Lingwood (3) Tony
McKenna (4) Basil Neville (5) Gerry
Kelly (6) Eamon McGlone.
Killyclogher Counters - December:
Philomena O’Donnell,
Noel & Marie McDevitt. Others
welcome.
Knockmoyle Collectors –
December: Kieran McGrath,
Enda McCrory, John McKinney and Aidan
McGlinchey.
Mountfield - Collectors –
December: Patrick McKeown
(Jun) and Stanley McDonald.
Readers for Killyclogher
for October: Vigil Mass: Molly Keenan
10.30 am: Sheila McCaul : 12 noon:
Kieran Downey
Omagh Credit Union: A.G.M.
on Wednesday 3rd December at 8 .00
pm in Credit Union Office. Interest
members are requested to attend.
|
