Sunday 20th December 2009

4th Sunday in Advent.

Elizabeth said: 'Blessed is she who believed that the promises made to her by the Lord would be fulfilled'. This week we celebrate the wonderful feast of Christmas. Mary is by far the best person to teach us what it is about, as she was very central to the first Christmas. The first thing she teaches us is that Christmas is primarily about Christ. How obvious that should be and yet it is about so many other things for so many people today. The second thing Mary teaches us about Christmas is that it is about God's extreme love for us as we are. Each one of us is so precious in God's eyes that Christmas would have happened even if we were the only person ever to live. It is a time to let go to that love. And the third thing is that it is about family - our love for one another in our homes and being a family together in our parish community.

Fr. Johnny Doherty. C.Ss.R.

Frequent Flyer Syndrome

Miles and miles are traversed by millions all over the world this week, whether they travel by land, sea or air. Families, homes and fridges will never be fuller than at this time. We have probably more opportunities for travel than any other generation.

A fair part of the travel industry’s budget is spent entertaining and occupying the passenger. Novels, tapes, laptops, magazines and film all play their role.

Look around you on any flight and the faces reveal that this is ‘old hat’, routine, the same old grind, business as usual, just ‘going through the motions’ again. There’s no magic, no wonder at the sheer miracle of flight. ‘Frequent flyer syndrome’. It can even affect Christmas.

We have forgotten the joy of the journey, the joy of the moment, the excitement of the experience and, somewhere in it all, the miracle of life.

As Christmas draws near, recall the joy in the journey, celebrate each moment, take nothing for granted. Don’t be a frequent flyer with Christmas.

Fr Tom Cox

Monsignor Donnelly, Fr Canning and Fr McDevitt

would like to wish all their parishioners a Happy and Peaceful Christmas.

Mass and Confession Times for the Christmas Period

Monday 21st December

Sacred Heart Church

Masses 8 am, 10 am & 7.30 pm

Confessions Advent Penitential Service @ 8 pm

Tuesday 22nd December

Sacred Heart Church
Masses 8 am, 10 am & 7.30 pm

Confessions 10.30 am – 12.30 pm & 6.30 pm - 7.15 pm

Wednesday 23rd December

Sacred Heart Church
Masses 8 am, 10 am & 7.30 pm
Confessions 10.30am – 12.30 pm & 6.30 pm – 7.15 pm

(These are the last Confessions being heard in the Sacred Heart Church before Christmas)

Thursday 24th December

Sacred Heart Church Masses

(Morning) 10 am

Mass for the Elderly & Families 6 pm

(Mass of Midnight) 10 pm

St Mary’s, Drumragh
(Mass of Midnight) 8 pm

Friday 25th December

Masses - Sacred Heart Church

(Christmas Day) 8.30 am, 9.45 am, 11 am, 12.30 pm

St Mary’s, Drumragh 10 am

Saturday 26th December

(St Stephen’s Day)

Masses - Sacred Heart Church 6 pm Vigil

Confessions After Vigil Mass

Parish Notes

The 8 am Mass recommences on 4th January.

Eucharistic Ministers who are on duty on the Sundays of this month

are requested to please cover the relevant Christmas Day Masses.

Prayer for Priests

We ask for your prayers for the following priests this week:

Sunday 20th December – Fr Michael F Mullan & Fr Patrick J Mullan
Monday 21st December – Fr Francis Murray & Fr Seamus O’Connell
Tuesday 22nd December – Fr Joseph O’Connor & Fr Colm O’Doherty
Wednesday 23rd December – Fr Kieran O’Doherty & Fr Brian O’Donnell
Thursday 24th December – Fr Francis P O’Hagan & Fr Patrick O’Hagan
Friday 25th December – Fr David O’Kane & Fr Patrick O’Kane
Saturday 26th December – Fr Peter O’Kane & Fr Seamus O’Kane

Saints of the Week

Week Beginning Sunday 20th December

Monday 21 – St Peter Canisius, priest and doctor of the Church
Wednesday 23 – St John of Kanty, priest
Friday 25 – The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Annual Carol Service

On Sunday 20th December the Annual Carol Service will take place in the

Sacred Heart Church at 6 pm.

The service should last no longer than one hour.

All parishioners are welcome.

Baptisms

Darragh Joseph Brown, 1 Slievard Mews
Benjamin Tom Jeffrey, 172 Killowen, Grange, Lisburn
Chloe Marie Corrigan, 7 Ardmore Heights
Ciara Ann McGlinchey, 12B Dergmoney View
Caílin John Kennedy, 30 Kildrum Dromore

Advent Penitential Service

On Monday 21st December we will be holding our Advent Penitential Service in the Sacred Heart Church. Confessions will be immediately after the 7.30 pm Mass. There will be several priests hearing confessions and we ask as many parishioners as possible to attend.

Omagh Waterford Peace Choir

The Omagh Waterford Peace Choir will be singing at the 12.30pm Mass today (Sunday). This will be a Christmas carol service and promises to get everyone in the festive spirit.

The parish would like to thank an anonymous donor

for their generous gift of £2,000.

The Baptism of Our Lord - Service for Children Baptised in 2009

The Parish of Drumragh is hosting a liturgical celebration for all babies baptised in our parish during the year 2009. The celebration will take place in the Sacred Heart Church at 3 pm on Sunday 10th January – the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. It is hoped that all of these babies will be able to attend with their parents, godparents, grandparents and all family members.

Derry Diocesan Society

The following names have been added to the list of Deceased Members of the Derry Diocesan Society:

Margaret (Besey) Gormley, 15 Brookmount Heights
Frank O’Neill, 19 Brook Valley
Thomas Curran, 6 Cunningham Terrace
Sarah Ann McNabb, Dromore
Kathleen Doherty, 18 Gortrush Park
Damian Doherty, 46 Strule Park
Stephen Doherty, London
Terence (Terry) McGread, Tattysallagh
Jinny Loughran, 29 Tattysallagh Road

That these and all who sleep in Christ find in your presence, light, happiness and peace.

Parish Office Notice

The Parish Office will be closed for Christmas Holidays from Wednesday 23rd December, reopening on Monday 4th January. Anyone wishing to submit an article for the Sunday 27th December or Sunday 4th January newsletters, please do so no later than Monday 21st December.

Holy Communion to the Sick & Housebound

The Ministers will bring Holy Communion to the sick and housebound, who have requested it, today after 9.45am Mass and 11am mass and after 10am Mass in St Mary’s Church, Drumragh.

The annual Sale of Work held in St Joseph’s Hall on Saturday 5th December raised the grand total of £4038. We would like to thank everyone for their generous donations and help, especially Sacred Heart College, C.B.S. and Loreto Grammar. All your help helps us to help the community. We wish you a happy and peaceful Christmas

Street Collection for Macmillan Cancer Support

Wednesday 23rd December 2009

Anyone who would like to collect, contact

Patsy on 0777 460 7074,

Hazel on 0790 959 6018 or

Trevor on 0773 348 4766.

GRAND CHRISTMAS CONCERT

St Joseph's Hall, Omagh

Featuring the King of Country, Mick Flavin and his band
Special Guests - Carmel Mc Loughlin, Kevin Logue and Sinead Taggart

Monday 28th December 2009 @ 8pm

Tickets are £15, available from Tops News - George's Street,

Music Master - Foundry Lane and Xclusive - High Street, Omagh

Parish Dances

St Joseph’s Hall, Omagh

St Stephen’s Night (26th December)
Music is by Country Traditions

New Year’s Eve Dance
Music is by Cascades
Dancing 10 pm – 12.30 am

St Joseph’s Bookshop

Open Saturdays 10.30 am - 4 pm

Religious Christmas Gifts Available

Christmas Opening Times:

Mon 21st - 10.30 am - 4 pm
Tue 22nd - 10.30 am - 4 pm
Wed 23rd - 10.30 am - 4 pm
Thur 24th - 10.30 am - 1 pm

Omagh St Enda’s GAC

Gaelic Start for Y1, Y2 and Y3 boys will recommence in January. Good luck to our Minor team who will be representing the parish and Tyrone in the Ulster Minor Semi-final on Boxing day in Belfast, when they take on Dungiven at St Paul’s GAA pitch on the Shaws Road.

Give Blood – Save Lives

There will be a blood donation session in St Joseph’s Hall, Omagh on Thursday 24th December (Christmas Eve) from 9.30 am to 3.30 pm. Please come along – you could save a life!