Sunday 29th November 2009

1st Sunday in Advent.

Jesus said to his disciples: "hold your heads high, for your liberation is close at hand". Over the past few years, with all the revelations of scandals in the Church and society, there is a lot for us to be ashamed of and repent for. However, the resulting despair that some people have experienced is not necessary because there continues to be so much goodness in the Church and society that we can be proud of. This week we begin a new year in our journey of faith with Christ. It is an opportunity to once again have confidence in his presence with us, and his power in us. Without in any way being unrealistic, this is a time to look towards him to save us and to set us free. We will find that freedom in how we are with one another in our homes and in our parish community as we approach Christmas and beyond with love rather than selfishness.

Christmas Events in the Parish

Loreto Primary School Christmas Fun Day
Sunday 29th November @ 1.30 pm
Prize Draws & Santa’s Grotto
Stalls: Craft, Cakes, Bric-a-brac, Lucky Dip
Hot Food Available - Free Draw for those in before 2.30
Come along for a great day out for all the family!

St Conor’s Primary School Annual Christmas Bazaar
Thursday 3rd December @ 7 pm in School Hall
Lots of prizes and attractions for all the family. Everyone welcome

Clanabogan Famous Annual Bazaar
Sunday 6th December
St Eugene’s Hall, Clanabogan
First Spin @ 8.30 pm - Free Draw for all in Hall before 9 pm
Great Prizes – Valuable Star Prize – Refreshments Available

Saints of the Week

Week Beginning Sunday 29th November

Monday 30 November – St Andrew, Apostle
Thursday 3 December – St Francis Xavier, priest
Friday 4 December – St John Damascene, priest and doctor of the Church

Sacred Heart Church Mass Intentions 7.30 pm

Friday Damien Doherty – 1st Anniversary

Anniversary Mass
The First Anniversary Mass for Pat McGread will be in St Mary’s Church, Drumragh on Friday 4th December at 7.30 pm.

Baptisms

Keira Maryann McGuigan, 95 Shandon Park

Prayer for Priests

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

Sunday 29th November – Fr Noel McDermott
Monday 30th November – Fr Eamon McDevitt
Tuesday 1st December – Fr John McDevitt
Wednesday 2nd December – Fr Michael McEldowney
Thursday 3rd December – Fr Kevin McElhennon
Friday 4th December – For All Priests
Saturday 5th December – Fr Dermot McGirr

First Friday Devotions
Friday is the First Friday of the month. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will be in the Sacred Heart Church from after 10 am Mass until 7.15 pm.

Visitation of the Sick

Monsignor Donnelly will be doing his sick visitation next week, on the afternoons of Tuesday 8th, Thursday 10th and Friday 11th December. Fr Canning will visit the country areas and Castle Street on Friday 4th December. He will visit the Brookmount Road area and Hunter Crescent on Monday 7th. Fr McDevitt will visit the sick on Monday and Tuesday of this week.

Confirmation 2010

The Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated on Saturday 27th March 2010. There will be two ceremonies this year in the Sacred Heart Church: 11 am – St Conor’s P.S. & Omagh Integrated P.S. and 3 pm – Loreto P.S., St Colmcille’s P.S., Sacred Heart P.S. & All Saints’ P.S.. The schools will alternate the times next year.

Parish Draw

The final night of this year’s Parish Draw will take place on Tuesday 1st December after the Bingo in St Joseph’s Hall. There will be a £5,000 Star Prize drawn for all those members who have paid the full twelve months subscription. Promoters are asked to bring their returns to the Hall at the usual times. The Parish Draw will recommence in the New Year.

Eucharistic Ministers for December
Vigil Mass – Tony McBride, Brid McCavert, Louise Kirwan, Maura Cox, Catherine Mimnagh, Mary Ellen McSorley; 8.30 am – John O’Neill, Fionnuala Quinn, Joan Conaghan; 9.45 am –Seamus Maguire, Aidan Quinn, Jean McGowan, Anne Mullan; 11 am – Willie Galbraith, Johanna Gallagher, Marie Conway, John McGread, Jeanette Fox; 12.30 pm – Kathleen Winters, Mary Donaghy, Gerard Sharkey, Chrissie Kelly; 10 am Drumragh – Aidan Campbell, Ann Doherty.

Counters for December
Tommy Bradley, Michael Donnelly, John Doyle, Hubert Logue, Dessie McClements, Kevin McCrory, John Meyler, Seamus Sheridan, Leo Turbitt, John McGale.

Readers for December
6 pm – Maureen Bonner; 8.30 am – Brother Gough; 9.45 am – Geraldine McCormick; 11 am – Maura Gallagher; 12.30 pm – Regina Maguire.

Collectors for December
6.00 pm – James A Devlin, Cathal Cullen, Aidan Lilly, Thomas McElroy, Colm McLaughlin, Pat McCanney; 8.30 am – Peter Haughey, Gerry Broderick, Fursey Mullan, Billy Henry; 9.45 am – Eugene Lynam, Sean Mullan, Patrick Devlin, Raymond McGoldrick, John Rafferty, Eugene Turbitt; 11 am – Robert Colton, James Murray, Kevin McCrory, Pat McGartland ; 12.30 pm – Sean McNamee, John Lagan, Anthony Bradley, Patrick Conway, Dermot O’Kane, Francis Laird.

Cleaners for Drumragh
The cleaners for St Mary’s, Drumragh for the month of December are Brian McKenna, Susan MacNally, Louise Kirwan and Eoin McGread.

SVdP Annual Sale of Work

Saturday 5th December 2009

St Joseph’s Hall, Omagh @2 pm - 8 pm

All donations for Sale of Work to be left in St Vincent de Paul Shop on Castle Street - donations of bric-a-brac, books, small items of furniture, nearly new toys, plants. Home bakes to be left in St Joseph’s Hall on morning of sale.

Adoption

Could you make a child happy again after a difficult start in life? We are seeking adoptive families who would be interested in parenting children aged between 2 – 6 years and who need the love and attention of a caring and understanding family. Contact Family Care Society on 9069 1133 or 7136 8592. Email:email@family-care-society.org or go to www.family-care-society.net

Senior Citizens’ Party

Clanabogan Youth Club will hold its annual Senior Citizens’ Party in St Eugene’s Hall, Clanabogan on Monday 30th November. Doors open at 7.30 pm. Come along for a night of music and entertainment! A light supper will also be served.

PATHS

PATHS is a local interdenominational group set up to help those bereaved by suicide. The group meets on the first Tuesday of every month in the Tara Centre, Campsie, Omagh at 8 pm. On Saturday 5th December PATHS is holding a Service of Reflection and Hope at 6 pm in the Tara Centre for all those bereaved by suicide. All welcome, you do not have to be a member of PATHS.

Christmas Cabaret

Tickets or tables are still available for a Christmas Cabaret on both the 4th and 6th December in Cappagh Parish Hall. Come along and enjoy a festive night out! Call Seamus Mc Garvey on 028 8224 4815 to book.

Omagh Zambia Fundraising

There will be a Book Sale in St Joseph’s Hall after all Masses on Sunday 6th December. The book, written by Deirdre Timoney, tells the story of the volunteer journey, which she and her husband Tom made to Zambia. The book price is £10. All money raised frmom sales will go to support projects in Zambia. Light refreshments will be served.

Pioneers

Pioneer Retreat will be in Termonbacca on Sunday 6th December. Call 8224 2921 or 8224 5710 if interested in attending. The next meeting is on Thursday 4th December at 8 pm. Names for Gold, Silver or other pins to be given to any member of Committee for a presentation to be arranged for December.

Live in Concert

Marilla Ness – An Evening of Hymns & Gospel Music

St Joseph’s Hall
Sunday 6th December
Doors Open @ 7 pm
Concert Begins @ 8 pm
Tickets £10 from St Joseph’s Hall & Top News, George Street

I.N.F. Christmas Bazaar
Sunday 29th November @ 7 pm – 9 pm
Everyone Welcome - Prizes Galore!
Free draw for everyone in before 7 pm.

Home-Start Sale

We are holding a Jumble, Craft and Cake Sale next Saturday 5th December in Omagh College (South-West College) 10 – 2 pm. Fun for all the family!

St Joseph’s Bookshop
Open Saturdays 10.30 am - 4 pm

Wide variety of Books, Holy Ornaments,

Medals, Rosaries & Cards available.

Drumragh GFC
Our A.G.M. will take place on Sunday 29th November at 2pm in St Eugene’s Hall, Clanabogan. All welcome. Nomination forms are available on the website. Please complete and return as soon as possible. Go to www.drumraghgfc.net

Omagh St Enda’s GAC
Gaelic Start continues every Saturday morning from 10 – 11.30 am in the CBS Sports Hall for U6 boys. It's never too late to come along and join in the fun. Bingo continues every Thursday at Healy Park at 9 pm with £4000 in prize money. St Enda's Lotto jackpot also stands at £5,000.

Omagh Independent Advice Centre

Omagh Independent Advice Centre offers a free and confidential advice service to anyone in financial difficulty on all aspects of debt or any associated financial problem. If you would like to speak to someone about your financial difficulties, please contact Michele in the Advice Centre on 028 8224 3252.

St Joseph’s Hall
Timetable of Events
Mon 10.30 am Coffee Morning
6.00 pm Iyengar Yoga
7.00 pm Aerobics
Tue 3.00 pm St Colmcille’s Club
9.00pm - Bingo - Jackpot £1000
Wed 10.00-12.30pm - Weightwatchers
5.45 – 7.45 - Baxter School of Dancing
8.00 pm Ladies’ Club
Thur 4.30 pm O’Neill’s School of Ballet Dancing
7.30 pm Bowls
8.00 pm Line Dancing
Sat 1.45 - 5 pm Groogan O’Doherty School of Dancing