Sunday 2nd December 2007

First Sunday of Advent

Reflection

The Word of God is alive and active. It reminds us what He has done for us in the past, speaks to us in the present and reveals to us His plan for our future. In Advent, as we recall once again the great saving deeds of our God, we pray to him to help us in our turn and to enable us to stand ready for his call in the future. We trust always in his promise of salvation.

YOU ARE INVITED TO OUR NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR
in St Columba’s Church, Long Tower. The Novena takes place today, Sunday at 6.00 pm and will continue every Sunday leading up to Christmas. Devotions will take the form of Rosary, a short talk given by a guest speaker, novena prayers and benediction.

BAPTISMS
We welcome:
Sarah Duffy, 62 Ivy Terrace, who was baptised recently.

DEATHS
We wish to express our deepest sympathy to the relatives and friends of
Rosaleen Worrall, 18 Glenbank Road
Lily Wilson, 16 Belview Avenue, who both died recently.

LAST WEEK’S RENOVATION COLLECTION £ 832.00

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF OUR LADY
On Saturday (8th December) we celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
It is a Holyday of Obligation.
Masses for the Holyday are as follows:
Friday: Vigil 7.30 pm
Saturday: 8.00 am, 10.00 am, 12.00 noon
Please Note: Saturday 6.00pm is the Vigil Mass for Sunday.
This Vigil Mass will fulfil the obligation for the Holyday or for Sunday but not for both.

FAMILY ROSARY FOR ADVENT
We are inviting families to pray the Rosary in the home each day of Advent as a spiritual preparation for Christmas. The season of Advent lasts 4 weeks, beginning today, 2 December, and ending on Christmas Eve. Rosary leaflets are available at the church doors. Each day Fr Colhoun and Fr Mongan will pray the Divine Office for the families who are able to make this commitment. If you would like to write your family name (address not necessary) on the page at the church doors the priests will put your intentions before God each morning of Advent. If you live alone and would like to introduce the Rosary to your home, you too can add your name to the list.

YOU DON’T BRING ME FLOWERS
during Advent. Similar to Lent, Advent is a slightly subdued season, a season of waiting and anticipation. The Gloria is omitted from the Mass so as to more fully express our joy at the Nativity. The Advent wreath is the principal symbol of these four weeks leading up to the Birth of Christ. Accordingly, we would ask you to postpone the donation of flowers until the 25th of December. Thank you for your generosity.

We Gratefully Acknowledge
The Anonymous Donations To The General Renovation Fund: £20, £10, £10, £10, £25, £60.

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS please collect your new rota and notes in the Sacristy.

ROSARY for the Holy Souls in Purgatory will be held on Sunday 2nd December in St Brigid’s Church, Carnhill at 5.00 pm. Everyone welcome.

PRECIOUS LIFE’S ANNUAL CANDLE-LIGHT ROSARY PROCESSION will take place on Sunday 9th December, assembling at the Guild Hall at 4.30 pm. You are invited to join us and carry a ‘Light for Life’ and to pray for the protection of Ireland’s unborn children from abortion. Candles will be supplied. Come along and join this family event. For further information, contact Precious Life on 028 9027 8484.

CHRISTMAS CARDS
The new Long Tower Christmas card is one of our fund-raising initiatives for the centenary of the church in 2009. We have many restoration projects in view and all money raised from the cards will go to this cause. We are very grateful to the Restoration and Projects Committee for their hard work and to all of you for your constant support.
Price: £3.99 for a pack of 12 assorted cards.
Request: We need many distributors to help us sell the cards. Could you help us? If you could do so, please give your name, address and phone number to the committee in the back corridor of the Sacristy after any of the Masses today. Alternatively, ring Charlie or Moira Doherty at 7126 6808. Thank you.

ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY
During the year ending 31st December 2006, the conferences in the parish had an income from Sunday collections and donations of £14, 102.73. Expenditure for the period was £16,211.13. The main items of expenditure were cash grants of £3740, furniture, electrical goods and clothing £8639, food parcels £2042.05, holidays and outing £1588.80. Once again the members wish to thank sincerely all who contributed and appeal for your generous support for the Annual Church Door Collection before Masses on 8th and 9th December.

MASS IN HONOUR OF ALEXANDRINA MARIA DA COSTA
on Sunday 9th December at 7.30 pm in the Carmelite Retreat Centre, Termonbacca.

ADVENT MORNING
Thursday, 6th December, Thornhill Centre is hosting a ‘Reflection Morning’ for Advent beginning at 10.30 am and concluding with a light lunch at 1.00 pm. Time includes a talk, quiet reflection and prayer. A donation of £5 per morning is suggested. Please ring 7135 1233 to book.

MEMORY TREE OF LIGHTS FOR THOSE BEREAVED BY SUICIDE
The Northwest Bereaved by Suicide Support Group are organising a Memory Tree of Lights event on Sunday 9th December 2007 at 5.30pm at the Foyle Search & Rescue Headquarters, Victoria Road, Derry. The Northwest Bereaved by Suicide Support Group meets the first and third Monday of the month in Foyle Search and Rescue Headquarters at 7.30pm. For further information contact: 7161 1188/7161 1429/7186 5127.

DIABETIC ASSOCIATION
Meeting on Wednesday, 5th December at 8.00 pm in the Multi Disciplinary Unit of Altnagelvin Hospital.

VIATORES CHRISTI is a catholic lay missionary movement. It’s development workers are assigned to projects which deal with a range of social and justice issues throughout the world including AIDS/HIV projects, displaced peoples, healthcare, intellectual disability, education and indigenous peoples. They need people from all disciplines, from teachers to electricians, doctors to administrators, farmer to childcare workers. Please come along to the information evening and recruitment session on Tuesday 11th December at 7.30 pm in the Pastoral Centre, 164 Bishop Street. To book your place at an information session please contact Colette Rooney at Colette@viatoreschristi.com or telephone 00353 1874 9346.

FOUND Purse found in Foyle Road on Saturday 17th November. Please contact Sacristy.