First Christmas with Jesus

I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below,

With tiny lights like heaven’s stars, reflecting in the snow.

The sights are so spectacular, please wipe away that tear,

For I am spending Christmas time with Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear,

But the sounds of music can’t compare with the Christmas songs up here.

I have no words to tell you the joy their voices bring,

For it is really beyond compare to hear the angels sing.

I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart,

But I am not so far away, we really aren’t apart.

So be happy for me my loved ones, you know I hold you dear,

And be glad I’m spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I send a special gift from my heavenly home above,

I send you each a memory of my undying love.

For after all, love is a gift more precious than pure gold,

And was always most important in the stories Jesus told.

Please love and keep each other as my Father said to do,

For I can’t count the blessings or love he has for each of you.

So have a happy and peaceful Christmas, and wipe away that tear,

And remember I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

Fr Tom Ryan (Author and Parish Priest)

A Christmas Prayer

Loving God, Help us remember the birth of Jesus,

that we may share in the song of the angels,

the gladness of the shepherds,

and worship of the wise men.

Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world.

Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting.

Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings,

and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.

May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children,

and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts,

forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus’ sake.

Amen.

The next bulletin will be printed on weekend 12/13 January 2019

All notices to be included in this bulletin should be sent to the Parish Office or

emailed to: parishoflimavady@btinternet.com before 1.00 pm on Wednesday 9 January 2019

Limavady Parish Bulletin

4th Sunday of Advent 23 December 2018

With a deep sense of gratitude for your kindness, support and encouragement throughout the year.

Wishing you all a very blessed Christmas

and a joyful and peaceful New Year.

Monsignor McCanny

In case of an emergency contact Mgr McCanny on 028 777 29759

Month’s Mind Mass

The Month’s Mind Mass for Noelle Forrest will be celebrated on

Saturday 29 December at 6.00 pm in Christ the King Church.

The Month’s Mind Mass for Bobby O’Connor will be celebrated on

Saturday 5 January at 7.30 pm in St Finlough’s Church.

Anniversaries

23 December: Margaret McLaughlin, Brigid Jane McGahon, Geraldine Connolly,

Julie Kealey, Veronie Craig, Gerard Hegarty, Harry Toner, Alphonsus Hasson,

Brian McElhinney, Helen Hession, Elizabeth McLaughlin, Patrick Convery, Rose Convery,

Anthony Convery, Sean Convery Jnr, Helen Clarke, Charles Canning, Catherine McIvor,

Jane & George O’Brien, Patrick Joseph Mulhern, Mary & Thomas McLaughlin,

James Mulgrew, Catherine Rea, Sarah Mullan, Jack Farell, Jim Logue, William Burke,

Barney & Elizabeth Mullan, Alice Lennon, George Harrigan, Margaret Harrigan,

Joseph & Elizabeth Quinn, Patsy McKeever, Mairead Crampsie, Brian McElhinney

30 December: Molly McGuinness, Alice Lenaghan, Maureen Mullan, Sean Mackle,

Eddie McGuinness, James & Mary Forrest, Emma McIntyre

6 January: Anna McVeigh, Jean Karczewski, Bernard O’Neill, William Boyce,

Frank Rafferty, Robert Hassan, William Morrow, Irene Somers, Sean McCloskey

MAY THEY REST IN PEACE

FIRST FRIDAY Mass on Friday 4 January at 10.00 am and 7.30 pm in St Mary’s Church.

Confessions after the 10.00 am and before the 7.30 pm Mass.

BAPTISMS We welcome into the parish community through the Sacrament of Baptism:

Lola-Rose McGonigal

CHRISTMAS MASSES

Christmas Vigils Christmas Morning Monday Tuesday

Christ the King Church 6.00 pm & 9.00 pm 12.00 noon

St Mary’s Church 6.00 pm & 7.30 pm 9.00 am & 11.00 am

St Finlough’s Church 9.00 pm 10.00 am

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION There will be no Eucharistic Adoration on Thursday 27 December or Thursday 3

January. Adoration will resume again in St Mary’s Church on Thursday 10 January after the 10 am Mass - 8 pm.

ADVENT SERVICE on Sunday 23 December at 6.00 pm in St Mary’s Church. This will

incorporate exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Rosary, Divine Chaplet and concludes with

benediction. It will be offered for family life in the parish.

MASSES FOR WEEK COMMENCING 23 DECEMBER St Mary’s Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 10.00 am

There will be NO 7.30 pm Mass on Friday 28 December in St Mary’s Church.

MASSES FOR WEEK COMMENCING 30 DECEMBER St Mary’s Monday - Friday 10.00 am

St Mary’s Friday 7.30 pm

PLEASE REMEMBER ST VINCENT DE PAUL RED BOX Helpline No 07512 360 388

16TH DECEMBER

COLLECTION

Town Churches £4,335

Ballykelly £579

IMPORTANT DATES

Confirmation Saturday 9 March 2019

First Holy Communion (Termoncanice) Saturday 18 May 2019

First Holy Communion (Ballykelly) Saturday 1 June 2019

First Holy Communion (Irish) Saturday 1 June 2019

First Holy Communion (St Finlough’s) Sunday 2 June 2019

First Holy Communion (Integrated) Saturday 8 June 2019

Counters for January Isobel McKeown, Kathleen McNicholl, Hugh Roddy, Anna Roddy,

Marty Tierney, Veronica Herron, Vincent Devlin

WEEKDAY EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION FOR JANUARY

Monday M McCloskey Wednesday M McVeigh Friday P O’Kane

Tuesday N McClarey Thursday A Diamond

EXTRAORDINARY MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION FOR JANUARY

St Mary’s 9.00 am Agnes Diamond, Maria Matthews, Marie Keown

11.00 am Susan Hanna, Mary Lennon

Christ the King 6.00 pm Tony Karczewski, John McCloskey, Leo McCloskey,

Mary McDermott, Naomi McDermott

12.00 noon Patricia Somers, Kate McQuillan, Allison Mulhern

St Finlough’s 7.30 pm Jim Kelly

10.00 am Aine McSheffery

READERS FOR JANUARY

St Mary’s 9.00 am Desmond Lowry 11.00 am Grammar School

Christ the King 6.00 pm Brian McNulty & Christine Boldman

12.00 noon Howard Wood & Leona Kealey

St Finlough’s 7.30 pm Marie McNicholl 10.00 am Jimmy Deighan

WEEKDAY READERS FOR JANUARY

Monday Rose Kilburn Wednesday Geraldine Carlin Friday Termoncanice

Tuesday Veronica Herron Thursday James O’Kane

ALTAR SOCIETY FOR JANUARY Christ the King - Mina Wood

St Mary’s - Mary Harron St Finlough’s - Susan Kerr

CHURCHES RESTORATION FUND—DECEMBER WINNERS

£1,000 Denis McCann c/o V Devlin

£100 Fr Gerald Hasson c/o J Toner

£100 Niall McKeever c/o M Diamond

£100 Paul Eakin c/o M Eakin

£100 Margaret Burke c/o A McCambridge

£100 Phelim Mullan c/o G Carlin

Collector’s Prize Mary Mulgrew

BLESSED ALEXANDRINA Mass in honour of Blessed Alexandrina will be held in

Termonbacca on Sunday 30 December at 7.30 pm. Everyone welcome. We thank you for

your support, throughout the year, in our efforts to have Blessed Alexandrina canonised and

we wish you all a happy and peaceful Christmas and new year.

PARISH BREAKFAST Thank you to all who attended and helped with the Parish Breakfast.

Special thanks to Paddy O’Brien, Brian McNulty and the Drummond Hotel. £1,350 has been

raised towards Parish Funds.