St. Patrick's Church, Aghyaran.

Parish Priest: Fr. J. Gilmore

Telephone 8167 0728

Sunday 27th December 2009

Feast of the Holy Family.

"His mother stored up all these things in her heart." One of the lovely things about a new young family is the excitement of recording every movement and sound of the newly born baby. Countless photographs are taken and produced on every occasion. Reports are sent around to family members and anyone else who will listen. This is the picture we have of Mary today as she marvelled at her newborn son Jesus. And this is where real holiness is found. We name Jesus, Mary and Joseph the Holy Family, not because they were pious but because of the great love that filled their hearts and their home. That is the challenge for every home and family. With the pressures of life the wonder of each person can be lost. The pressure of this feast is to get our priorities right, to put our love first and in this way make Jesus present.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R.

Sunday 27th December 2009

Feast of the Holy Family

First Reading : 1 Samuel 1: 20-22, 24-28
The prophet Samuel is dedicated by his mother to the Lord.

Second Reading: 1 John 3: 1-2, 21-24
We are called God’s children, and that is what we are.

Gospel: Luke 2: 41-52
Jesus is found by his parents in the Temple.

Happy New Year.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you A Happy and Peaceful New Year.

A year when hopefully we will all be given many graces and blessings to live out our Christian Vocation as part of the Family of God

Fr. Gilmore

Weekend Masses:

Vigil Mass Saturday evening 6.30pm

Sunday morning 9.00am & 11.00am

Confession Times

Thursday after 10.00am Mass Saturday Evening 6.00pm

Masses during the coming week

Monday & Tuesday 10.00 am

Thursday & Friday 10.00am

Mass Intentions for this week:

Monday - 10.00am Anv. Mass Madge McHugh

Tuesday - 10.00 am - Months Mind Mass Seamus O'Carolan (USA)

Each day in the Derry Diocese we are asked to pray

for our priests named on that particular day.

THIS WEEK WE PRAY FOR:

Fr. A O'Reilly

Fr. D.Polke/Fr.M. Porter

Fr. A. Quinn

Fr.J. Ryder/Fr. G. Sweeney

Fr.J.R. Walsh

Fr. W. Rafferty R.I.P.

Fr.Patrick Arkinson

This Week's Calendar

Monday 28 - The Holy Innocents, Martyrs

Tuesday 29 - 5th Day in the Octave of Christmas

Wednesday 30 - 6th Day in the Octave of Christmas

Thursday 31 - 7th Day in the Octave of Christmas

Friday 1 - SOLEMNITY OF MARY, MOTHER OF GOD.

Saturday 2 - Before Epiphany

Baptisms

We welcome into our Faith Community

Adam Baird

who was Baptised and welcomed into the family of God recently.

THE PARISH BINGO

There will be NO bingo on Friday 1st January 2010

Shanaghey and Ballymongan Mummers.

DANCE in Aghyaran Centre on Friday 1st January 2010

Proceeds to Local Charity

Music by LARRY & CO. Dancing 10 - 1.30.

Please support!

Weekly Church Collection

Last week’s collection totalled: £1016stg. - € 52

Church Door & Car Park Attendants

January 2010

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

Church Readers for the month of January 2010

Vigil Mass 6.30 pm Sat. Barney Byrne Sunday 9.00 am Geraldine Byrne

Sunday 11.00 am Anne Brannigan

If you are unable to attend do try and get another reader to cover for you.

Altar Society for January 2010

Carmel Dolan & Mary McHugh

Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage (Led by Bishop Hegarty) takes place from 16th - 21st July 2010. The fare £629 includes flights, full board hotel, airport taxes, insurance, coach transfers. Fares may be paid by any number of instalments. Booking forms available here in the parish or from the Pilgrimage Office, 164 Bishop Street, Derry. Tel. 028 71260293. Opening hours Tuesday 11am-1pm, Thursday 11am-2pm, Saturday 11am-1pm. for further information.

Why not give someone an opportunity of going on the Lourdes Pilgrimage 16th - 21st July 2010 as your Christmas Gift. Gift vouchers (£25-£100) are now available from the Pilgrimage Office, 164 Bishop Street, Derry. Tel. 028 71260293. Opening hours Tuesday 11am-1pm, Thursday 11am-2pm, Saturday 11am-1pm. for further information.

Lotto: Numbers drawn were 14, 15, 18, 19, 26. Mary Mc Crory wins £100.

Cards: The Christmas card play was postponed owing to poor weather conditions and will now take place next Monday night 28th December. This week's winner was Bridget Harvey, with joint runners up Lucy McGrath and Jimmy Penrose.

Christmas Entertainment: Saturday 26th (Boxing Night) dancing to music by the popular Crystals. On new years night we have the mummers dance.

Commiseration's to our club player Ronan Mc Namee who played on the Tyrone vocational team who lost to Donegal in the Ulster semi final.

The club would like to thank everyone for their support in 2009 and look forward to your continued support in 2010 A happy Christmas and New year to all our members

Questions people ask

Q. The Holy Family of Nazareth was so perfect, how can we call it a model of family life?

A. I'm sure Joseph and Mary had no problems like drugs, teenage drinking or aggressive behaviour to contend with. The gospels stress how they observed the law of the Lord and took part in temple worship. Jesus lived under their authority and he increased in wisdom, stature and in favour with God and people. He spent thirty of this thirty-three years in family life. A law-abiding, prayerful family is the best environment for growth in self-identity, social integration and religious faith

Welcome to all our visitors who have travelled to be with us this Christmas

New Year, New Challenge...

North West Regional College, Derry, Limavady and Strabane is now offering an exciting range of new short, part-time courses, beginning January/February 20100. So if you're looking for something new this year, call 028 7127 6000 or visit www.nwrc.ac.uk Enrolments now open.

Bulletin Notices

Parish email address is kathleen@parishofaghyaran.com

USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS

Accord - 8224 2439
Al-Anon Famly Groups - 9086 2368
Alcoholic's Anonymous - 9043 4848
AWARE - 7126 6602
Care for Cancer - 8224 6599
CRUISE - 8224 4414
Drugs Anonymous - 8224 6177
Gamblers Anonymous - 7135 1329
The Samaritans - 8224 4944
Women's Aid - 8224 5998
Parkinson's Disease - 8224 2889