Sunday 7th December 2008

2nd Sunday of Advent

The Good News

It is written in the book of the prophet Isaiah: "A voice cries in the wilderness: Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight." When we hear those words we automatically think of John the Baptist and they are certainly about him. But they are about us also. The task of each one of us is to prepare a way for the Lord so that he can enter into our world today; to make his paths straight so that he can enter into the heart of every human person, where he wants to live. Some of us, like John the Baptist, do this through preaching. The most important way though is through love. Our love needs to be active and growing whether it is in marriage or in family life. This takes commitment and effort every day so that those we love can know how special they are. And this love needs to be brought to the parish community so that everyone can find a home among us.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R.

St Mary’s Church, Bellaghy.

Notices for the bulletin are also taken by email to mail@bellaghyparish.com Please mark this bulletin news and have all notices into the office by lunchtime On Thursdays.

Mass Times
Mon & Frid 7.30pm
Tues, Wed & Thurs 9.30am
Vigil (Sat) 6.30pm
Sun 9am & 11.30am

The Sacred Heart Messenger. The magazine costs £10.80 for the year ahead and should be paid as soon as possible.

The Priests—The Album
The debut album from Fr Eugene O’Hagan,
Fr Martin O’Hagan & Fr David Delargy has now been released. A significant proportion of any profits will go to charity.

Monday 8th December
The Feast of The Immaculate Conception is a Holyday of
Obligation.
Monday: Mass @ 10am & 7.30pm

Feasts of the Week:
Mon: The Immaculate Conception
of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Thurs: St Damasus 1, pope
Frid: Our Lady of Guadalupe
St Finnian, bishop
Sat: St Lucy, virgin and martyr

Christmas Mass Times

(St Mary’s Bellaghy)
Christmas Eve: Vigil @ 8.00pm
Christmas Day @ 9.00 & 11.00 pm

(St Joseph’s Ballyscullion)
Vigil @ 6.00pm.
Christmas Day @ 10 .00am

CONGRATULATIONS
To all who are receiving Gold and Silver Pioneer Pins this weekend. There are 21 Gold and & 7 Silvers,along with 4 new members,Special mention is due for one lady of 60years standing.

Church Photograph. A Framed and Mounted photo of St Mary’s taken by Pat shivers is on display in the Porch .. Price £30. A contribution from the sales will go to St Vincent de Paul. Contact Pat on 07855165678

Prayer Meetings on Wednesday
@ 8pm in the Prayer Room
The last before Christmas

Weddings:
Weddings must be confirmed in
Person. If a wedding is postponed or cancelled please let us know right away.

Baptisms:
1st Saturday of the month &
3rd Sunday of the month

Derry Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage 2009
Why not give someone an opportunity of going on the Lourdes Pilgrimage
16th—21st July 2009 as your Christmas Gift.
Gift vouchers (£25 & £50) are now available from The Pilgrimage Office
Thurs 11am-2pm & Sat 11am-1pm, 2pm-4pm. Tel 71 260293

Altar Servers:
Weekdays:Aimee McGoldrick Vigil: T J McErlean
9.00am: Peter Stuart 11.30: Ryan McPeake

Readers for the month of December
Vigil Mass: Brigid Scullion 9.00am: Caoimhe Scullion 11.30am: Teresa Diamond

.
Daily Readers (December)
Mon: Teresa O’Hagan Tues: Anne Scullion Wed: Tom Scullion
Thurs: Moira Kearney Friday: Marie Kilpatrick.

MEETING FOR ALL DECEMBER READERS IN PRAYER ROOM
ON TUESDAY AT 8.00PM.

Children’s Liturgy Teams December:
Vigil: Claire, Eimear & Deirdre Diamond
11.30am: Fidelma McClenaghan, Helen McErlean, Louise Campbell.

ALTAR SOCIETY: DECEMBER Kathleen McGoldrick

Church cleaners for December
Josephine & Catherina Brennan, Mary Mawhinney, Marie O’Kane

COLLECTORS FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER

Vigil Mass 9.00 am 11.30am.
Francis Diamond Brian O’Neill James Strathern
Aidan Diamond Peter Doherty Francis Scullion
Danny Quinn

Anniversaries

Emmet McNally, Edward Scullion, Bobby McLaughlin,
Harry Langan, Charles Stewart, James McCloskey, Martin & Eleanor Cassidy, Liz Hutchinson.

www.catecheticalcentre.org

This new website has been launched by Bishop Hegarty. Check out the Youth Section and the popular “Thought for the Day”

Wolfe Tones Bellaghy G.A. C.

GAA Notices:
Lotto No’s: 1, 3, 9, 13 £10 to G & B Hurl, C Gallagher, J B O’Hagan,
K O’Neill , E Hanson.
Next weeks Jackpot £3200.

Congratulations to New Committee
President: Fr Dolan. Chairman: Oliver Hughes.
Vice Chairman: Kevin Doherty Jnr. Secretary: Sean Brown.
Asst Sec: Ann Scullion. Treasurer: Pat Brennan.
Asst Treasurer: Dermot Brady. Registrar: Vincent Cassidy.
Players Rep: Gavin Diamond. P.R.O.: Mickey Convery
Youth Coaching Officer: Damian Cassidy.

New Club 70th Anniversary tie available £10 each. Anyone wishing to purchase contact Sean Brown 07740588353, 1st come 1st served.Camogie Notes: monthly meeting in club on Mon night @ 7pm sharp.

Anyone interested in underage games for 2009 should attend. All club members should attend.

Gym: The Gym will be open for Ladies on Tues, Wed, and Thurs
mornings 9.30—11am also Frid 6pm—7.30pm. £20 per month.
Dancing Class Tuesdays at 7pm. New members welcome

Vote For New Mayor & Mayoress of Bellaghy
You will find voting cards/tickets @£2 a go available in the shops. Do so before next Sunday 14th Fun Day @the Club from 2.30pm. Activities begin with parade of Under age footballers and Camogs from Chapel Car Park @.2.30pm. VOTE EARLY VOTE OFTEN!

St John Bosco Youth Club
Dancing Class: Mondays at 7pm. Tuesday: Under 12’s 6.30pm-8.30pm
Wednesday: over 12’s 7pm—9pm Thursday: over 12’s 7pm—9pm

Legion Of Mary. The Bellaghy Praesidium of the Legion of Mary meet every Monday night @ 8.30pm in the Prayer Room. We would be delighted to welcome new members to our group.
Anyone who would like to have the Legion of Mary Statue in their homes for a week, please leave your name in the sacristy.

Bellaghy Historical Society: meeting on Tuesday 9th December @ 8pm in The Old School Centre, Bellaghy. Mr Alex Blair M.A will speak on “The Planter and the Gael.” Everyone welcome. Tel 79386413

St Malachy’s Castledawson

Lotto No’s: 4, 11, 13, 20 Lucky Dip winners
Ann Heaney & Niall McNicholl. Jackpot now £4500.
AGM on Wednesday 10th December in Pavilion @ 7.30pm, please return nomination forms to secretary.

St Mary’s P.S.—Dates to Remember
St Mary’s P.S. Children’s Concert in Parochial Hall on
Tuesday 16th December @ 7pm.

Sperrins Charity Santa Trail in Rural College, Draperstown 6th—17th Dec
£9 per child £4 per adult. Booking essential Tel 028 79629100.

Lifeline Helpline : No matter what your age or where you live in N.I. if you or someone you know is in distress or despair, Lifeline have counsellors available 24hrs a day, 7 days a week. TEL NO 0808 808 8000
Calls are free from landlines & mobiles

Christmas Youth Retreat: A National Youth 200 retreat for young people aged 16-35 takes place a Newbridge College, Co Kildare from Fri 19th to
Sun 21st December. Contact Youth 2000 office 003531 6753690 or Carla 07521708876. No charge—donations only. Special buses from some locations.
www.youth2000.ie

Pilgrimage to Holy Land Sept 2009
Direct flights from Belfast 11 days 1395euros (currently £975stg)
Spiritual directors Fr. Miko Poter & Fr. Gerry Sweeney, Killyclogher
Saving scheme in operation
Details contact Charlie Gillespie 07533330756

Parochial Hall Activities:
Monday @ 8.30pm - BINGO
Lines £20. Houses £40 Last House £200
Books £6. Flyer £1

Wednesday nights—WHIST

St Joseph’s Ballyscullion

Mass Times
Sunday @ 10.00am

Monday 8th December
The Feast of The Immaculate Conception
is a Holyday of Obligation.
Monday: Mass at 8pm.

Eucharistic Minister for next Sunday
Kathleen McErlain

Reader for December
Helen Griffin

Collectors for December:
John McLaughlin &
Joseph Scullion

ALTAR SOCIETY:
Tracey, Cora & Lizzie Scullion

St Benedict’s College Summer 2008 GCSE Certificates are now available for collection in the school. Any year 12 pupil who did not
receive their certificates at Prize giving can call and collect their certificates from the General Office. Certificates will not be posted.

Newbridge Comhaltas.
Usual monthly session on Thursday 4th
December with juniors starting at 7.30pm in Sean O’Leary’s Hall. Admiss £2 light supper all welcome.
Traditional singing lessions for all ages to start on Fri 5th Dec @ 7pm in committee room.
Tutor Mairead Walls Tel 79650408 or 468428

St Ergnat’s GAC

Lotto No’s: 2, 6, 11, 15 £50: T. Close. £25 :M urray, (Yorkie)
AGM 16th Dec @ 8pm in clubrooms
2009 Club Calendar onsale from
Tumbledown, Crosskeys Inn, Hair Corner & Cahal Boyd’s Garage. Christmas Party
for members in Clubrooms on Sat. 13Dec 8– late..

Mass in Swatragh AOH Hall for deceased members on Sunday 7th Dec @1.00pm Sunday 7th December at 1pm.

Parish Draw Winners ( Wk. 10).

£500 St Mary’s P.S. 1839 Maura McCloy
£200 Rebecca McCauley, Ballynease 1214 Rosemary McCauley
£200 Sean McGurk, William Court 1952 Mary Scullion
£100 Rose Murray, Oldtown Rd 1670 Patrick Brennan
Promoters please note on Monday 22nd December both weeks 13 & 14 will be drawn at the bingo. This will be the last draw before Christmas. The draw will resume on 12th January 2009 with week 15.

Trocaire Global Gifts Change someone’s world with a Global Gift from Trocaire. Gifts include, a school lunch, an olive tree, mother & childcare, food, water, land etc. Pick up a leaflet in the Church porch or telephone 0800 912 1200 or online at trocaire.org/globalgift

Trocaire Global Gifts Change someone’s world with a Global Gift from Trocaire. Gifts include, a school lunch, an olive tree, mother & childcare, food, water, land etc. Pick up a leaflet in the Church porch or telephone 0800 912 1200 or online at trocaire.org/globalgift

All notices to be in Parish Office by Thursday morning

Accord (Catholic Marriage Care Service)
Provides confidential counselling for couples or individuals who are experiencing problems in their relationships.
Accord also runs marriage preparation courses throughout the year. For further information on our services call 796 42983

Baptisms
To book a Baptism please contact the Parish Office 028 79386259

Weddings
Please check your wedding day details with Parish Office before you finalise your other arrangements for the day; 6 months in advance is advisable

New Cemetery
We request that no headstone should exceed 3ft 6` in width; and the height should be in keeping with the rest of the graves.

Glad that the “Derry Post” has at last picked up on this Info. This has been the way since 1981 when New Cemetery was opened. Bosses of Bellaghy Cemetery take a bow!