Second Sunday of Advent

Sat 5^th                    6:00 pm Owen & Mary Lee (M)

Sun 6^th                   10:00 am              Bridgie Connolly & of the

Connolly family (M)

Mon 7^th                  St Ambrose (bishop & doctor of the Church)

10:00 am        Harry McCarrick (M)

The Immaculate Conception of the BVM

Mon 7^th 6.00 pm                 Johnny & Nora Dunleavy (M)

Tues 8^th                 10:00 am              Frank & Bridget Gannon (M)

Wed 9^th St Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin (visionary)

                 10:00 am              Tom & Minnie O’Donnell (M)

Thurs 10^th             Our Lady of Loreto

10:00 am        Private Intention (M)

Fri          11^th         St Damasus I (pope)

10:00 am        Private Intention (M)

Sat 12^th                  10:00 am              Private Intention (M)

Third Sunday of Advent

Sat 12^th                  6:00 pm Mary Henry & her niece Mairead (M)

Sun 13^th                 10:00 am              People of the Community (M)

Readers of the Word

Saturday 12^th Dec 6pm …. (M)

Sunday 13^th Dec 10am: …… (M)

1^st Reading Is 61:1-2, 10-11. Psalm Ps Lk 1:46-54.

2^nd Reading 1 Thess 5:16-24. Gospel Jn 1:6-8, 19-28.

2^nd Sunday of Advent 6^th Dec: Focus: Stay awake for the day of the Lord is at hand. – The voice of God breaks into our world through sacred Scripture & the witness of modern-day disciples. Does it resound & echo in our thoughts, words, & actions, forming & shaping our lives? Or, is it dulled & dimmed by our worldly ways? Now is the time to listen, now is the time to act, for the kingdom of God is at hand.

2^nd Sunday of Advent – Dec 6: “He will feed his flock like a shepherd.”
Allow our Lord to enrich your life through service to Him.
Speak to your local priest or your Diocesan Vocation’s Director, or email the National Vocations Office on info@vocations.ie

Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary 8^th Dec.

“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” Do you hear our Lord calling you to a more fulfilling life following the example of His mother?
Speak to your local priest or your Diocesan Vocation’s Director, or email the National Vocations Office on info@vocations.ie

Priesthood in Achonry Diocese – It is worth saying “yes” to God

6 residential weekends in Mullaghmore over the coming months for men who are exploring a call to priesthood. For more info contact Vocations Director, Fr Paul Kivlehan, Ballaghaderreen. 094-9860011, or 087- 3683535, E-mail pkivlehan@achonrydiocese.org  

A series of Sunday Advent Reflections continues for the next three weeks. The link to relevant post on our Diocesan Website https://achonrydiocese.org/advent-prayer/

Religious Services Guidance

Special concession for Places of Worship to reopen for religious services at Level 3, from 1 December, in light of the upcoming Christmas period, to be reviewed in January. This will allow for up to 50 worshippers to attend Services with the Covid 19 protocol being followed. Wearing of face coverings. Separate entrance & exit points clearly marked. No congregation by people outside the premises before & after any service. Stewards on site to assist in this regard. Additional measures to be put in place to address overcrowding, to include scheduling additional Services, increased stewarding where necessary. Our churches are not large enough to have sub-divisions. We will abide by the same rules that were in place during the August/September opening. Choirs (as part of the Service), chanting & congregational singing is allowed.

Achonry Farmers Market - Christmas Markets

The Christmas Markets at the new Achonry Farmers Market continue on Saturday Dec 5^th, 12^th & 19^th along with extra date Sunday 13^th. Each day from 10am – 1pm. There are lots of offerings with a host of great food stalls along with many craft stalls for Christmas present ideas. Christmas wreaths, trees, mulled wine, hot chocolate, live music & lots more with something for all the family in a safe outdoor shopping environment. The Northwest Hospice will also have a stand at the market for December.

Let's bring a bit of cheers to the community this Christmas. Great way to support local businesses in 2020. Sanitisers are in place & masks are recommended. Your support is greatly appreciated for this community led initiative which also serves as an important safe social outlet.

Covid 19: The number of deaths worldwide is now over 1,521,000 & Republic of Ireland deaths at 2,086. That’s 64,000 deaths this week.

Achonry Mullinabreena Community Enhancement Group

Due to the inclement weather the new rain date for turning on the new Christmas Lights at Achonry Church Carpark is 7pm on Sunday 6^th Dec. The Christmas Lights in Mullinabreena will be turned on Saturday 5^th Dec. at 7pm. Well done to all involved.

Trócaire Christmas Gifts: We want you to know that now more than ever your support is invaluable to us at Trócaire & the work we do with the world’s most vulnerable people. We could not do the life changing work we do without the hard work & dedication of our parish supporters. For that we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
As you know Christmas is a busy time for Trócaire & we have recently launched our Christmas Gifts of Love which allows people to buy vital gifts for the people we support.  We have 17 gifts in total this year ranging from a 6 months supply of Soap for a family to our new Quarantine Care Kit which gives a family everything they will need for 16 days of quarantine. This year we are asking for your help to promote our Gifts of Love by donating for one of these gifts & asking others to do likewise. Thank you.

Comfort My People: The First Readings of Advent. With Fr Noel Rooney at  https://www.galilee.ie/online-programmes/   

In Advent the Church selects readings to draw us more deeply into the mystery of the season. In these four short videos Fr Noel introduces each of the first readings, its context & characters, & helps us to connect it with our own Advent journey. The Work of your Hands. Comfort my People. Good News to the Poor. Promises to Keep.

Fr Noel Rooney is a priest of the Diocese of Elphin, currently serving in St Joseph's parish in Sligo town. Fr Noel studied Scripture in the Biblical Institute in Rome and graduated with a licence in Sacred Scripture (LSS).

Advent Invitations for COVID Times. Online Advent Retreat with Sr Finola Cunnane. Amid the challenges of COVID & 2020 can we hear the words of Isaiah, "See, I am doing a new thing?" Can we hear God's invitation to listen, hope, uncover & discover the hidden treasures within our being?  In this two-part retreat we will pay attention to how we are & open our hearts to Christ's life-giving invitations for Christmas & beyond.

Part 1 recording available https://www.galilee.ie/online-programmes/  from Nov 30^th.  Part 2 – Sat, 5^th Dec 10.30am-1pm 'live' via Zoom. 

Cost €25 Details and booking: info@galilee.ie . 

Dr. Finola Cunnane, SSL is a St. Louis Sister with wide experience in retreats and education. She has lectured in scripture, theology and spirituality in Ireland and internationally. 

COVID-19 Support Line for Older People: ALONE manage a national support line & additional supports for older people who have concerns or are facing difficulties relating to COVID-19. Professional staff are available to answer queries & give advice & reassurance where necessary. The support line is open seven days a week, 8am - 8pm, by calling 0818 222 024.

Free Living Well Programme - : Thurs 7^th, Tues 12^th, Mon 18^th January. If you are living with a long term heath condition you may be interested in doing the “Living Well” formally known as the ‘Self Care to Wellness Programme’.  This is a six week programme delivered in 2.5 hour weekly sessions online where you will learn new skills to manage your health condition on a day to day basis. You must register in advance as places are limited to 10/12 participants. Please note you do not have to disclose your health condition on the programme. Please contact Olga on 086 6078950 or email: olga.maguire@mayocil.ie

If you are an older person and would like someone to talk to, particularly since Covid-19, consider phoning SeniorLine.​ We are Ireland's national confidential service for older people. We are open every day 10am-10pm.​ We are older people too, trained to listen & support.​ We would love to hear from you.​ Freefone 1800 80 45 91

NEW CATHOLIC TALK-RADIO STATION FOR IRELAND!

RADIO MARIA IRELAND is an Irish-run Catholic Talk-Radio Station. Established since 2015 with the aid of the World Family of Radio Maria – with 83 Stations Worldwide. Our modern studio is situated in Ballymount, Dublin. We have recently surpassed 20,000 monthly online streaming listeners in Ireland & around the world & a further estimated 20,000 listeners via Saorview TV. Our mission is to help spread the Gospel message of Joy & Hope with a mixture of Prayer, Catechesis, Uplifting music, Talks, Interviews & Testimonies – all commercial free. We broadcast 24/7. You might particularly like to join us Monday – Friday from 9.15am with live Morning Prayer followed by daily 10am Holy Mass. 11am Catechesis - with Fr. Eamonn McCarthy (Cloyne Diocese) our full-time Priest Director - Angelus & Midday Prayer. Live Evening Prayer at 5pm is followed by News & the Rosary. You can listen in via Saorview TV Channel 210, RADIO MARIA IRELAND is available to download FREE by App "RADIO MARIA IRELAND" on mobile devices, FREE streaming on www.radiomaria.ie & our Facebook Page – Radio Maria – Ireland by clicking on the "LISTEN" link or on the telephone via a live radio feed by calling +353 (0) 1 437 3277 (no extra charges apply). If you would like information locally. Please contact: Eamonn Hennessy, 085-8174799 or by E-mail  info@radiomaria.ie

Caring for our Common Home:  Coming together with Laudato Sí (Pope Francis' letter to the world on the environment). With presenter Ms Jane Mellett, Laudato Sí Officer, Trócaire.

Connection: The Big Picture of the Web of Life. February 16^th

Action: Getting down to Working for our Future. February 23^rd

RHS are a Not for Profit Home Care Provider that’s been operating in the West of Ireland for the past 21yrs and are looking for Carers and occasional cleaners in your area if you feel you have the correct qualifications and would like work please: 09066 25988 or jobs@rhshomecare.ie