Importance of Being Little
Size matters, even when it’s small. Take, for example, the Galápagos Islands. They’re not small nor a problem but the mosquitoes brought there by chartered flights and tourist boats are. Getting its name from the Spanish for ‘small fly’, the mosquito is a real and present danger to the islands’ unique species. Many mosquitoes carry deadly diseased such as avian malaria or West Nile fever. They could endanger even the Galápagos tortoises, marine iguanas, sea lions and Darwin’s famous finches. But small things can do much good too. Take, for example, bacteria. A controversial scientist trying to sequence the human genome (containing 3 billion DNA base pairs) claimed last August that by the end of this year artificial life would be produced in the lab. For some time now he has been trying to produce bacteria that would change coal into natural gas, and algae that would absorb carbon dioxide and turn it into hydrocarbon fuels. Small things can indeed have an enormous impact. Today’s First Reading knows the value of small things too, for it foretells the impact that the emergence of a ruler of Israel from one of Judah’s little clans will have. Repeatedly God chooses the small and insignificant in the world’s eyes, have been chosen for mission too. When at Christmas we celebrate that ‘Ruler’s’ birth let us be aware that in a very real sense we celebrate our own – our birth into greatness.
Fr. Tom Cahill SVD
Parish Shop
Our parish shop, located in the foyer of St. Patrick’s Parish Centre, has a range of cards, cribs and religious gifts available for Christmas. Come and browse during the next few days and get items with a Christian theme for Christmas.
Parish Penitential Service
In preparation for Christmas we will have our Christmas Penitential Service on Monday, 21st at 7.30pm in St. Patrick’s Church. Other priests will join us for this celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Annual Parish Carol Service
The annual St. Patrick’s Parish Carol Service takes place on this Sunday, 20th December at 4pm in St. Joseph’s Church, Foulkstown. For many this has become a must-attend event in the lead up to Christmas and all are welcome. Seasonal refreshments will be served in St. Patrick’s Parish Centre after the service. All are welcome to come and prepare for Christmas.
Parish Christmas Programme
The following Christmas schedule will apply.
St. Fiacre’s Church: Vigil Mass at 9.00pm
Mass of Midnight (Latin)
8.30am (Latin)
10.30am, 12.00 noon
St. Patrick’s Church: Midnight Mass
9.30am,11.00am, 12.30pm
St. Joseph’s Church: 10.00am
Mass will be celebrated at St. Patrick’s Church at 11.00am on Saturday, 26th December. That evening the usual weekend Mass schedule returns. During the week after Christmas the only public Mass in our parish will be at St. Patrick’s Church at 11.00am each day.
Please come and join with your neighbours and friends as we celebrate the birth of Christ in our parish churches.
Questions People Ask
Q. Why was 25 December chosen for the birthday of Jesus?
A. The conception of Jesus at the Annunciation to Mary, nine months earlier, was an older celebration than his birthday. 25 March was a very important date, regarded as the first day of creation and the day of Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son, Isaac. Thus the conception of Jesus was linked with creation and the cross. Another reason for choosing 25 December was that this date was decreed by the Emperor Aurelian as a feast for the return of the Unconquered Sun after the mid-winter solstice. Christians put their own spin on the feast by celebrating the coming of Christ, the light of the world. (Fr. Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap)
Pray for Our Deceased Friends
Recently Deceased: Bill Deegan, Castlegardens. Bart Keaney, Blackrock.
Months Mind: John Joe Kealy (Sun 11.00), Una Heffernan,.
Anniversaries: Christopher & Mary Coogan (Sat 6.15), Geraldine Cody (Sat 7.00), O’BrienReardon Family (Sun 9.30), Jeff & Jane Power (Sun 10.00), James, Brigid & Della Maher (Sun 10.30), Elizabeth Comerford (Sun 12.00), Mary Blanchfield (Sun 12.30), Tommy Clooney & the Clooney Family (Tues 9.30), Felix & Mary Campbell (Tue 10.30), Margaret & Patrick Cantwell (Wed 10.30), Thomas Saunders (Thurs 10.30), Anne & John Bissett, Peggy Blanchfield, George Byrne, Nora Bartholomew, Richard & Maureen Free, Jim Dollard, Nora, Patrick & Catherine Bambrick, Maurice & Margaret Maher, Sean & Mary Fitzpatrick, Kitty, Christy & Eileen Grace, Richard Gaule, Milo, Ann & Seamus Fry, Patrick Burke, Edward Geoghegan, Ann Holohan.
Intentions for Next Weekend: Richie Delaney (Sat 7.00), Angela Murphy (Sun 10.00), Tommy Doran (Sun 10.30), George Byrne (Sun 11.00), Mark Butler (Months Mind, Sun 12.00), Edward Taylor (Sun 12.30).
Eucharist Adoration
There will be no adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in St. Patrick’s Church on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day. Adoration will resume again on Friday, 8th January 2010.
Carol Singers
A big thank you to all from St. Patrick’s 7pm Choir for carol singing outside Supervalu on Thursday evening. They collected €266 which they kindly donated to St. Patrick’s Parish.
Youth Choir
All members of St. Patrick’s Youth Choir are asked to attend a practice for Midnight Mass on Wednesday 23rd December at 7pm in St. Patrick’s Church.
Society of St. Vincent De Paul
Thanks to all who donated so generously to the St. Patrick’s Conference this Christmas.
Remembrance Service
The Irish Sudden Infant Death Association will hold a Remembrance Service in St. John's Community Centre, Kilkenny on Monday, 28th December 2009 at 11.00am.
This service is dedicated to all our children who have died no matter how or when. All welcome!
Latin Mass
The Society of St. Oliver Plunkett organises the Mass in the ‘Usus Antiquior’ in St. Patrick’s Church at 5.00pm on Sunday afternoons. The Society will gather for Mass at St. Fiacre’s Church at midnight on Christmas Eve and at 8.30am on Christmas Morning before reverting to St. Patrick’s Church for future Masses. All welcome. Further information about this group available at
http:/societyofstoliverplunkett.blogspot.com/
Christmas at Loughboy Library
The library will close on Wednesday, 23rd December at 2pm and re-open on Wednesday, 30th December at 10.30am. Closed on New Year’s Day. Books can be renewed online www.kilkennylibrary.ie with your pin number. Christmas Storytime for aged 8 and under in the library at 12 noon on Wednesday, 23rd December...all welcome. Exhibition of the Loughboy Community Mapping Project continues until 31st December.
Fundraising Bag Pack
Thanks to the many volunteers who raised invaluable funds for the parish by bag packing at Supervalu on Thursday, Friday and Saturday of this week. We understand there was great camaraderie and fun while raising much needed funds for our parish. Full report next week.
Christmas Stamps
A woman went to the Post Office to buy stamps for her Christmas cards. “What denomination?” asked the clerk?
“Oh, Good Heavens! Have we come to this?” said the woman. “Well, give me 20 Catholic stamps for me and 20 Protestant stamps for my husband.”
