First Sunday of Advent - Year A

2nd December 2007

Reflection

The Word of God is alive and active. It reminds us what He has done for us in the past, speaks to us in the present and reveals to us His plan for our future. In Advent, as we recall once again the great saving deeds of our God, we pray to him to help us in our turn and to enable us to stand ready for his call in the future. We trust always in his promise of salvation.


THE PARISH BINGO
The parish bingo continues in the Parish Hall @ 9.00 pm on Friday evening.

Masses during the coming week
Monday to Friday 10.00 am each day
First Friday Evening Mass 8.00 pm
Saturday morning 10.00am

Weekend Masses
Vigil Mass Saturday evening 8.00 pm
Sunday morning 9.00 am & 11.00 am

Confession Times
Thursday after 10.00am Mass.
Saturday Evening after Vigil Mass

Mass Intentions for this week:
Monday 10.00am - Anv. Mass May Harvey
Tuesday 10.00am - Anv. Mass Packie McGuire
Thursday 10.00am - Anv. Mass Jimmy Joe Gallen
Saturday 8.00pm - Anv. Mass Charlie Connolly

This Week’s Calendar
Monday 3rd - St Francis Xavier, priest.
One of the first seven Jesuits, he was sent to India by St Ignatius. He converted many in Goa and Japan. He was killed as he tried to enter China. A patron of the missions.

Tuesday 4th - Advent weekday. St John Damascene, priest and doctor of the Church.

Wednesday 5th - Advent Weekday.

Thursday 6th - Advent Weekday. St Nicholas, a fourth century bishop of Myra (in modern Turkey) whose legendary kindness inspired the Santa Claus tradition.

Friday 7th - St Ambrose, bishop and doctor of the Church.

Saturday 8th - The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
On this holy day of obligation we celebrate Mary, mother of Jesus.

CHRISTMAS BAZAAR. Commencing at 8 pm sharp Sunday 2nd. DEC. Ticket sellers and committee please be there before 7.45 pm. We look forward to the support of the whole parish at this our annual bazaar.

First Friday Sick.
The sick of the parish will be attended this incoming week: Wednesday: Tullycar, Ballymongan,Killeter, Segronan ,Shanaghy & Scraghey. Friday: The CorgaryÕs, Carn, Carndreen, Dreenan, The GarvaghÕs, Laught & Aghyaran Can neighbours inform the housebound that I will be calling.

The monthly devotions, in honour of Our Lady, will take place in the Carmelite Retreat Centre, Termonbacca, Derry on Tuesday 4th December starting with confessions at 7.30 p.m. followed by Rosary and Mass, finishing around 10.00 p.m. All are welcome to attend.

Ladies
Hard luck to the senior Ladies who lost 4-6 to 0-8 to Ardboe in the final of the Division 2 league in Gortin last Sunday. The club would like to thank the players and management for their commitment and effort throughout the year.
Sc—r na nîg Well done to our representatives in Sc—r na nîg on heir excellent performances in the Final last Sunday.

U-21's
U-21s lost 0-14 to 2-7 to Rock on Tuesday evening under floodlights in Cookstown in the Championship to end their campaign.

Cards
25 Card play every Thursday at 9pm everyone welcome.

Lotto
Last weekÕs lotto numbers were: 1, 2, 13, 15 & 26. No winner of £10,000 jackpot. £100 consolation prize winner: Kevin Lynch.

Bazaar
Parish Bazaar in the Centre on Sunday evening.

Seniors Citizens Christmas Party
Seniors Citizens Party will take place on Sunday 9th December

Children's Christmas Party
Children's Christmas Party on Sunday 16th December.

Christmas Party Night in Garvagh Hall on Friday 7th December Music by Glenside Country. Everyone welcome.

Aghyaran Development Association are hosting a Senior Citizens Party in the Centre on Sunday 9th Dec. at 5pm. An evening of song, music and dance. Supper served. Music by Country Legends.

Border Arts 2000 invite you to their 3rd Annual Community Carol Service on Wednesday 5th December at 7.30pm in Aghyaran Methodist Church. Everyone welcome.

The Moss Family, Lisnacloon Road, present their Christmas Wonderland each evening from 7pm to 10pm. until Friday 4th January.. Visit Santa - Book now to avoid disappointment Tel. 028 816 71889. £3 including gift. Santa available out of hours for groups by prior arrangement. Voluntary Donations in aid of Castlederg Patient Comfort & Terminally Ill Fund, C.R.Y. , Koram Centre, Strabane.

Thank You!
The North West Action Group for Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) would like to thank all who supported their concert/dance in February and Home & Leisure Exhibition in June. After expenses a cheque for £1834stg. has been forwarded to CRY for the support of the Screening Clinic in the University of Ulster, Jordanstown. For appointment Tel. 01737 363 222 email cryni@c-r-y.org.uk www.c-r-y.org.uk/ni.htm

Saturday is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and is a holiday of obligation and we all are bound to hear Mass on that day. Mass times for the holiday: Vigil Mass on Friday at 8.00 pm and on Saturday morning at 10.00 am

Umbra Collection Support The Poor in Africa.
Unwanted Clothes and Shoes will help the Children of Kenya. All types of clean dry ladies, gents, children's clothing, bed linen, curtains, towels and shoes. Collection Thursday 6th December 2007 from 9.00 am until 12.00 Noon.

Legion of Mary
The weekly meeting of the Legion of Mary takes place in the parish hall on Thursday at 8pm.

Omagh Prayer Guides ask you to join with them in an Advent Reflection Journey with Mary in the church each morning after mass from Monday 3rd to Friday 7th December.

Marriage Preparation Courses.

2007

October 26th & 27th.
November 23rd & 24th.
December 8th & 9th Courses

2008

January 25th & 26th,
February 22nd & 23rd,
April 4th , 5th, and April 25th & 26th,
May 23rd & 24th,
June 13th &14th.
Numbers on courses are limited. The fee of £80 per couple must be included with completed application form and forwarded to the Accord office