Sunday 14th December 2008

3rd Sunday of Advent

Our Joy in Christ

"He (John the Baptist) was not the light, only a witness to speak for the light." We live in a world where we take light for granted - until there is a breakdown in the electricity service! Then we can feel lost and fearful and angry. We also live in a world that we take for granted is in good shape and yet there is so much pain and distress in the lives of people all around us. We don't have to save the world we live in. Our task is to make it possible for Christ to save our world. We do this by being the witness for the light through the quality of our love radiating out to all we meet. This is done in all kinds of ways through the gentleness of the intimate relationships of marriage and family life. But, as we approach Christmas, we can make a special effort to reach out to those who are in need or living in isolation, especially in our parish community.

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

Christmas Mass Times

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

Confessions (St Mary’s Bellaghy) Mon 22nd Dec after 7.30pm Mass.
Wed 24th Dec 12noon—1pm

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

Confessions (St Joseph’s) Thurs 18th Dec after 7pm Mass

There will be no Mass on Friday 26th December.

The Wedding Mass at 1pm on Tuesday 30th December will be the
Mass of the day.

Tuesday 6th January is The Feast of the Epiphany
Vigil Mass on Mon 5th January @ 7.30pm. Mass @ 10am on Tues 6th January

Carol Service on Sunday 21st December @ 6pm.
All welcome to Parochial Hall afterwards for refreshments

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

We welcome into God’s Family through Baptism:

Aibhlinn Anne Pauline Henry, Ballydermott Road.
Naoise McCallion & Amelia Mary McCallion, Ballymacombs Road.

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

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

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

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.

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS SCHEDULE
Weekend of 20th & 21st December
Vigil: Margaret Diamond, Margaret Larkin, Pius Diamond.
9.00am: Hannah Magee, Jean McGoldrick, Kevin Toner.
11.30am: Philomena Cassidy, Pat Brennan, Carmel Scullion.
Weekdays: week commencing 14th Dec:
Mornng: Betty Campbell Evening: Dympna Hughes

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

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

ALTAR SOCIETY: DECEMBER Kathleen McGoldrick

Anniversaries: Sadie Kilpatrick, Kevin Agnew, Sarah Doherty,
Elizabeth Gallagher, Mary Marron, John O’Boyle, Mickey Agnew,
Tommy O’Neill, Hugh McErlean.

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: 4, 7, 17, 21 One winner Caroline McLarnon
Next weeks Jackpot £2000.

New Club 70th Anniversary tie available £10 each. Anyone wishing to purchase contact Sean Brown 07740588353, 1st come 1st served.

Camogie Notes: Under 14 Camogie training in hall every Mon
night 6-7pm. Trainer Damien Cassidy. All those aged 10 to 14 should
attend and take advantage of pre season training.

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.

Comhaltas Notes: The Branch officers would like to wish all our members a Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
Music Classes end on 19th December and resume 23rd January.
Christmas Session in McKenna’s Bar on Tues 23rd Dec. All welcome

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
St Malachy’s Castledawson Lotto No’s: 7, 12, 22, 23 Lucky Dip winners
Claire Diamond & Anne O’Kane. Jackpot now £4600.

The McGlinchey Family would like to thank all who supported their recent Eel and Game night in the Elk £7,500 was raised for the Mid Ulster Cardiac Fund.

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

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

Eucharistic Minister for next Sunday
Edmund O’Donnell

Reader for December
Helen Griffin

Collectors for December:
John McLaughlin & Joseph Scullion

ALTAR SOCIETY:
Tracey, Cora & Lizzie Scullion

Mass on Thursday 18th Dec @ 7pm will be offered for Sheila Kidd.( nee Laverty) who died recently in Rochdale. Mass will be
followed by Christmas Confessions and Choir practice.

Christmas Mass Times:
24th Dec: Vigil @ 6pm
25th Dec: Mass @ 10am
Tuesday 6th Jan is
The Feast of the Epiphany
Vigil Mass on Mon 5th Jan @ 8pm

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.

St Ergnat’s GAC
Lotto No’s: 8, 11, 15, 19
£50Eamon Marron
£25 Catherine Maguire
& Frankie Tully.

Parish Draw Winners ( Wk. 11).

£500 Leo McPeake, Drumard Rd 2797 Kathleen Diamond
£200 C Brady, Hunters Pk 2468 Dolores Convery
£200 Carmel Nugent, T’duff Rd 1857 Maura McCloy
£100 McTaggart Family, L’beg Rd 1337 Maura McTaggart
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

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!