We remember in prayer:
Boherlahan
Sat 1 Jan 7.30pm Tom & Mairéad Kevin, Lr Nodstown and dec members of the Stokes and Kevin families
Sun 2 Jan 11.00am Stephen O’ Dwyer, Bawnmore & dec members of the O’ Dwyer family
Mon 3 Jan 10.00am Fr J. Feehan & Fr M. Morrissey
Sat 8 Jan 7.30pm Pauline Tanner, Gaile & her sister Joan Hanly
Sun 9 Jan 11.00am Mattie Connolly, Ardmayle West; Mattie & Winnie Browne & son Matthew, Ballytarsna
Dualla
Sat 1 Jan 6.30pm Tom Hannon, Meldrum & Twickenham, England
Sat 8 Jan 6.30pm Liam Hallinan, Ballykelly
Thu 6 Jan is the solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord. Masses on Thursday: Dualla 4.00pm; Boherlahan 5.00pm. The great feast of the Epiphany recalls the adoration of Jesus by the Magi. They represent followers of neighbouring pagan religions who come to recognise in Jesus the one and only Saviour. In this way they represent the call to all people to come to faith in Jesus as Saviour.
Fri 7 Jan is the First Friday of January. Fr Egan & Fr Dunne will contact the housebound. Masses in each of the churches on Friday morning at the normal times.
New Year Good Wishes and Thanks: as priests of the parish, we wish to express sincere good wishes to all the people of the parish. We are indeed very grateful for the friendship, support and cooperation we receive from so many people. We have so many loyal, committed and dedicated people in the parish and we appreciate you all. Thanks to all who have helped in so many different ministries in the parish during the past year. We pray that all the parishioners of Boherlahan-Dualla will find good health, friendship, hope and peace in 2022.
Holy Communion Ministers (on duty next weekend)
Boherlahan: Julia O’ Dwyer; Mary Quinn
Dualla: Anne Marie O’ Keeffe; Gerard Kennedy
We need new volunteers in Boherlahan to help as Communion Ministers. The meeting of the new ministers has been postponed until further notice due to Covid-19.
Ministers for the Month of January:
Boherlahan (We invite those normally collectors to act as ushers in each church.)
Ushers: (Sat) Brendan Ryan; Margaret O’ Dwyer; (Sun) Willie Joe Dwyer; Tricia Donnelly; Mary Ryan (F)
Readers: Sat. eve. John Devane: Sun. Morn. Michael Taylor
Dualla
Readers: Willie Fahey; Muriel Cummins
Stewards: Willie O’ Gorman; Catherine Hayes; Carmel Flanagan; Maura Lahart
Altar Society: Kate Ryan; Maura Hunt; Aileen Sheehy; Mairéad Power
Boherlahan-Dualla End of Year Parish Report: The annual Parish Report was distributed recently. In the report you will find the Parish Calendar, the End of Year Letter, a Financial Statement and a packet of envelopes for each week or a single envelope incorporating all collections. We express our sincere and heartfelt thanks for your support, your friendship and your loyalty. If you have not received your copy of the Parish Report, please let us know.
Booking of Masses: anniversary Masses etc. continue to be offered as usual. Bookings may be made by contacting the sacristan or either of the priests of the parish.
Covid and Safety in Church
- We ask those coming into the church to wear a face covering.
- We again encourage you to follow the direction of the stewards/ushers at each Mass.
- Please sanitize your hands entering and leaving the church and at all times respect appropriate distancing.
- The Collection Box is in the porch of the Church if you wish to make a contribution.
- At the end of each Mass, we are hoping for volunteers to help in sanitizing the pews and seats. Some cloths and sanitizing liquid are available in the church.
- We ask everyone to use good common sense in respecting all the protocols. We thank you for your wonderful cooperation thus far.
Prayer for the Epiphany: God our Father, the star that led the Magi to the stable announced to the world that its Saviour was born. Today we live in a world that is still covered by darkness, and still needing to make that journey to the stable door. May our lives reflect your light day by day, as we seek to serve where you have placed us. May we, through your grace, be the means through which others can encounter Jesus Christ each day. Amen.
Epiphany Home Blessing: a custom in homes of many countries including Austria, Czechia, Slovakia, Germany, Hungary, Poland and Sweden, is to inscribe the letters CMB above the front door, placing a cross between each letter, framed by the date of the current year: 20 + C + M + B + 22 . This is done each year on January 6, the Epiphany, commemorating the wise men led by a star to the new-born Jesus. Legend has it their names were Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar. Many people interpret the three letters as the initials of those names. In reality these letters originate from the Latin phrase Christus Mansionem Benedicat (May Christ bless this home). This religious custom expresses the belief that the Lord remains close to his people throughout the year.
Prayer at the Start of a New Year
What better time
And what better season,
What better occasion
Or more wonderful reason,
To kneel down in prayer
And lift our hands high
To the God of creation
Who made land and sky…
And oh, what a privilege
As the New Year begins,
To ask God to wipe out
Our errors and sins…
And to know when we ask,
If we are sincere,
He will wipe our slate clean
As we start the New Year…
So at this glad season
When joy’s everywhere,
Let us meet our Redeemer
At the altar of prayer.
(Helen Steiner Rice)
Prayer to St Roch (Protector against infectious diseases)
O Blessed St Roch, Patron of the sick, look with mercy on those who suffer illness. Your power was so great when you were in this world, that by the sign of the Cross, many were healed of their diseases. Now that you are in heaven, your power is no less. Offer to God our intentions and tears and obtain for us the physical and spiritual health we seek. This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
St Roch: Pray for us, that we may be relieved from all diseases of body and soul.
