Notices

We welcomed into the Christian Community recently through the Sacrament of Baptism: Eve Olivia Lynch.

Buíochas Dear Parishioners, I would like to thank all of you for making Christmas so beautiful, especially to all who participated in each of the Christmas Masses. Even though the crowds were small in comparison to previous years due to Covid-19, I do believe the liturgies assisted everyone in learning and celebrating the “Reason for the Season.” So again, thank you for all your time and talent. On this Holy Family Sunday let us pray for our own family, as well as for our parish family, that we may be open to the Lord’s direction in our lives. This is how the Holy Family became holy…they followed what God showed them to do in times of joy and in times of confusion and danger. Through the intercession of Mary Our Mother . may God teach to do what is good in life and be filled with God’s abundant blessings. Fr. Tom

Christmas Message 2020 Dear Parishioners of Quin Clooney, Maghera, This has been a difficult and stressful year for many of us. It has been particularly painful because the pandemic has kept us away from our loved ones. The Parish during the course of the year has suffered a number of sad losses. Many are mourning the loss of a loved one whether it was because of the pandemic or other reasons. The fact that people were not able to console one another in person makes that grief more intense. If there is one thing this pandemic has taught us, it is the value of relationships, the value of being together in person, the value of touch. Due to restrictions the sick and housebound were not visited as much as I would have liked. The good community spirit, however, that is within the Parish, kept many in touch with conversations through a window, telephone calls, shopping and helping with basic necessities. We think too at this time of the many that are not able to return home this Christmas because of the pandemic. At Christmas we rejoice in the belief that God loved us so much that He sent His only Son in the form of a child to walk with us on our journey through life. In the past year we have had to social distance from one another but we celebrate at Christmas a God who does not keep His distance from us. He is very close to us during this pandemic because Christmas celebrates how God became man in Jesus Christ and how He wanted to break that barrier of distance by becoming one of us. Jesus came as a light to the world and He penetrates the darkness of this present time. Jesus Christ is God Himself stooping down to us, opening His arms to us, and embracing us with love. Christmas teaches us that God wants nothing more than to love us and to be loved by us in return. Truly God is with us this Christmas. May the peace and joy of the New Born Child touch the heart of each one of us this Christmas. Let us rejoice! God loves us. God gives us salvation in His Son. Christ is born for us! Let us rejoice and delight in that love.

Clooney/Spancilhill Tidy Towns have Our In Memory Tree is now in place and if you wish to add your loved ones names to the Tree Ribbons can be got in Clooney Stores and in the Church once services begin.

Giving Tree: Due to Covid 19, unfortunately we will not be able to facilitate our annual ‘Giving Tree’ whereby parishioners donate food items to families in need at Christmas Time. If however you would like to donate money or vouchers for food stores you can do so by placing them in an envelope at dropping them to the Parish house by 18th of Dec. All money/vouchers donated will be given to families in need via Clarecare.

QUIN CHURCH CHOIR are bringing some festive cheer on Sunday 20th Dec at 6pm with some Carol singing under the Remeberance Tree on the Church grounds all are welcome.

Sick and Housebound: Fr. Tom will begin to visit the sick and housebound for Christmas beginning on Dec. 18th. He will ring prior to coming to set a time convenient for you

Priests’ Christmas Collection: A sincere thank you to all who subscribed to the Christmas Priests’ Collection last weekend. If you were away or forgot you can drop the special white envelope with yellow top in your box of envelopes in the box at the front door of Churches or drop it off to the Parish Office anytime. We thank you for your generosity to this collection throughout the year