The Epiphany of the Lord - Year A

Sunday 6th January 2008

The Deep End

 

All Kinds of Everything

Someone once described love as the ability to see butterflies in caterpillars. I think that holds true for faith too. The feast we celebrate today, the Epiphany, is a good example of that.

Epiphany, a strange sounding word of Greek origin, simply means seeing something, or someone, more clearly than ever before. It s sudden, and it takes your breath away. Something we are very familiar with we suddenly discover has more to it than we thought. Someone we thought we knew inside out suddenly gob-smacks us into seeing that we can't take her, or him, or anyone else for granted ever. Mystery rules, ok! That's epiphany. We need constant contact with mystery so life's richness isn't diluted.

After their vision, the three wise men in today s gospel reading (Mt 2:1-12) have their dream. It warns them to avoid Herod. Some people can't cope with mystery. Their attitude is all wrong, their values are all wrong, they are all wrong. As the wise men avoided Herod, so too must we, with whatever name or in whatever form he may appear. He's the one who tramples on caterpillars and thinks butterflies are for the birds. Clearly, besides mystery we also need our dreams.


THE PARISH BINGO
The parish bingo continues in the Parish Hall @ 9.00 pm on Friday evening. We look forward to the parish support

Masses during the coming week
Monday to Friday 10.00 am each day

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

Confession Times:
Saturday Evening after Vigil Mass

Mass Intentions for this week:
Saturday - 12 noon
Hugh Breslin R.I.P.

Baptisms.
We welcome into our Faith Community Kalee Ann Goan & Liam Byrne who were Baptised and welcomed into the church recently.

Church Door & Car Park Attendants - January 2008
Sat Night: Killian Arkinson, Barney Byrne & John James Kelly
Sunday 9 am Michael Healey & Eamon Dolan
Sunday 11 am Jim Falls, Kevin McHugh & Aaron McGuire

Legion of Mary meetings continue every Thursday at 8pm in the parish hall. New members welcome.

This Week's Calendar
Monday 7 Weekday. After Epiphany. Also St Raymond Penyafort, priest (1175-1275). He was a very brilliant lawyer when at the age of 47 he became a Dominican. Later he became Master General of the Dominicans and Archbishop of Tarragona.

Tuesday 8 Weekday. After Epiphany.

Wednesday 9 Weekday. After Epiphany.

Thursday 10 Weekday. After Epiphany

Friday 11 Weekday. After Epiphany.

Saturday 12 Weekday. After Epiphany

ACCORD. Marriage Preparation Courses 2008
January 25th & 26th
February 22nd & 23rd
April 4th , 5th, - 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, 48 Brook Street, Omagh. Couples are advised to attend a course six to twelve months before their wedding.

Charity 25 Card Drive in Killeter Heritage Centre will resume on Tuesday 8th January commencing at 9.00pm. Usual prizes plus £150 Jackpot for nine games or more.

Notice
Due to printing error at local paper please note that the Months Mind Mass for Tommy Moss, Strabane will take place in St.Mary's Church, Melmount on Wednesday 9th January at 8.00pm.

Sacrament of Confirmation.
For the benefit of parents with children for Confirmation in 2008 the date will be Sunday May 18th when Bishop Hegarty will be here in the parish to celebrate the 11.00 am Mass and administer the Sacrament of Confirmation to the Primary Seven children in the parish.

The monthly devotions, in honour of Our Lady, will take place in the Carmelite Retreat Centre, Termonbacca, Derry on Tuesday 8th January starting with confessions at 7.30 p.m. followed by Rosary and Mass, finishing around 10.00 p.m. All are welcome to attend.

Questions people ask
Q. If it was alright for the Magi to follow a star, why does the Church frown on using astrology as a means of gaining knowledge of our future?
A. Because it's absolute nonsense! The same Bible which has the story of the Magi clearly forbids any form of divination, that is, seeking divine knowledge or power through reading omens or by means of magic. When the Magi (magicians) bow before Jesus and offer their gifts, it shows that they are giving up their religious systems and adoring Jesus as Lord. Far from supporting astrology, this story announces its termination because Jesus is the light to be followed.

Marriage Preparation 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