Annual Christmas Carol Service
The annual St. Patrick’s Parish Carol Service takes place on this Sunday, 12th 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 the St. Patrick’s Parish Centre after the service.
Do This In Memory
We welcome the candidates for First Holy Communion and their families who have joined us for the Do This In Memory programme this weekend.
We continue to support the young people and their families as they prepare to celebrate the sacrament next year.
Parish Christmas Programme
Christmas Day falls on a Saturday this year. The following parish Mass schedule will apply.
St. Fiacre’s Church: Vigil Mass at 9.00pm
Mass of Midnight (Latin)
10.30am, 12.00 noon
St. Patrick’s Church: Midnight Mass
9.30am, 11.00am, 12.30pm
St. Joseph’s Church: 10.00am
Please note there will not be evening Vigil Masses on Saturday, 25th December (Christmas Day).
Masses on Sunday, 26th December will follow the usual Sunday Mass schedule.
During the week after Christmas the only public Mass in our parish will be at St. Patrick’s Church at 11.00am each day.
Come and celebrate the birth of our Saviour.
Christmas Penitential Service
The St. Patrick’s Parish Christmas Penitential Service will be held at St. Patrick’s Church at 7.30pm on Monday, 20th December. Visiting priests will attend. Please use this opportunity to prepare for Christmas.
Weekly Envelope Collection
The envelope collection last week amounted to €1,545.00. Standing Order contributions during November came to €4,456.00. Thanks.
SVP Annual Appeal
The annual Christmas collection for the St. Patrick’s Parish Conference of the Society of St. Vincent De Paul takes place at the church doors this weekend.
SVP helps individuals and families in the area who are struggling to cope, often to ensure that there is light in the home and food on the table. About 9,500 volunteers in 1,200 local groups across the country give their time freely so that the donations you make can go straight to the people who need help the most in your locality.
Make a donation and give hope to a local person in need this Christmas.
The members of the Society meet at the Parish Centre on Monday evening from 8.00pm. In urgent cases the member on duty may be contacted on 087 681 0589.
Fundraising Bag Pack
A fundraising bag pack for the parish will take place in Supervalu, Loughboy on Thursday, Friday and Saturday of this week. Some of our parishioners will pack your shopping to raise money towards the cost of our new Parish Centre. If you have a couple of hours to spare on any of the days and would like to help out, please contact the Parish Office on 056 776 4400. Many hands make light work!
Keep Christ in Christmas
Our parish shop, located in the foyer of St. Patrick’s Parish Centre, has a range of Advent calendars, candles, cribs, Christmas candles, children’s Christmas books and religious gifts available. Come in a browse during the next few days and select items with a Christian theme for Christmas.
Trocaire
This Advent Trócaire is asking us to remember children in Somalia. Somalia is desperately dangerous with only 30% of children able to attend school and many are forced to become child soldiers. This Christmas through its Global Gifts Trócaire is hoping to keep 15 primary schools open giving 3,500 children the chance to go to school for a year and stay safe. www.trocaire.org/globalgift.
Pray for our Deceased Friends
Recently Deceased: Christina Walsh, Haltigan Terrace. Maeve Healy, Laurel Green. Fr. Benjamin O’Connell OFM Cap, Rochestown and late of Capuchin Friary, Kilkenny (Mass will be offered at the Capuchin Friary when the weather improves).
Months Mind: Peggy Costigan (Fri 7.30 Foulkstown).
Anniversaries: Florrie Cleere (Sat 6.15), Pat Kearney (Sat 7.00), Michael Hynes (Sun 9.30), Jeff & Jane Power (Sun 10.00), Kathleen Redpath (Sun 10.30), Eddie Slattery (Sun 11.00), Podge Butler Jnr (Sun 12.00), Michael Dollard (Sun 12.30), Peggy Quinlan (Tues 10.30), Mary O’Neill (Wed 10.30), James Hogan (Thurs 10.30), Patrick Morris (Sat 9.30), Peter & Diana Keenan, Anna & Larry Quinn, Paddy Griffin, John O’Rourke, Tommy Fahey, Margaret Larkin, John Egan, John & Ann Fogarty.
Intentions for next weekend: Elizabeth Comerford (Sat 6.15), Christopher & Mary Coogan (Sat 7.00), John Carroll (Sun 9.30), Joe & Nan Mulhall (Sun 10.00), Patricia Fitzpatrick (Sun 10.30), George Byrne (Sun 11.00), Dick Lynch (Sun 12.00), Mary Blanchfield (Sun 12.30).
May they rest in peace. Amen.
Divine Mercy
In honour of Divine Mercy there will be an hour of adoration and prayer in the Capuchin Friary Church on this Sunday, 12th December from 3 - 4pm. All welcome.
Questions people ask
Q. I’ve struggled for years with an addiction. I keep on falling. Is there any hope for me?
A. There is always hope for the simple reason that God’s love for you never ceases, no matter how often you fall. God’s help comes in many ways such as medical help, addiction counselling, prayer, pilgrimage to a holy place and especially through the understanding and support of fellow strugglers in an addiction fellowship. Advent is the season of hope. Come, Lord Jesus, into our desert areas and places of darkness.
Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap
KSP Christmas Fair
KSP Annual Christmas Fayre is on this Sunday 12th from 12 noon until 2pm. Fab Food Stall with lots of Christmas goodies, Wheel of Fortune, Raffle, Café and fun Kid’s Stalls. All are very welcome!
SOS
SOS Callan Road will hold their Christmas Craft Fair and Coffee Afternoon on this Sunday, 12th December from 2pm - 5pm. Everyone is welcome. Admission free. The workshop will reopen on Monday, 13th December.
Imprisonment
What is always most striking about Advent is the liturgy’s lack of reference to Christmas itself. My awareness of this may easily be a consequence of growing up in a time when Christmas became highly delineated by seasonal imagery; religious, commercial, religiously commercial and commercially religious. Either way, the image of John imprisoned is yet another telling reminder that Advent is more than preparing for turkey or, indeed, a sentimental manger scene. As we draw ever closer to Christmas, a noticeable thrust emerges from the liturgy of the word. Namely, the exasperated longing for God encapsulated in Isaiah’s urge to hope, James’ call to patience, and Jesus’ request for faith.
John is impatient in his questioning. Fearful of dying without knowing, he sends his disciples to ask the young prophet about his intentions. Jesus urges them to believe and sends them on their way. But his response is no impatient dismissal; instead, it is full of the real emotion which is evident in the absence of friends. Just as John misses Jesus, so Jesus misses John. The Baptist is not imprisoned by the walls of a cell; rather, it is his sense of detachment from the coming which he has heralded that dominates his concern. Jesus’ call to believe is the key which frees both us and John from our cells. Christ came to preach to those in prison. John, then, is closer to his esteemed rabbi than he knows. And it is most certainly the same for us who read. (Paul Clogher)
Attention Parish Readers
The first talk for Ministers of the Word which was held on last Thursday evening was a great success despite the weather conditions. The second evening will follow on this Thursday, 16th December in St. Patrick's Centre, Kilkenny, also, with guest speaker Olivia Maher. Talk starts at 7.30pm.
Advent Series of Talks
The series of Advent talks organised by the Diocese of Ossory entitled Look not on our sins but on the faith of Your Church has been postponed because of the inclement weather.
Loughboy Library
Exhibition of art works by local artist Kristina Dragoman until Christmas.
Exhibition space is still available for 2011 - please book at 779 4176.
Toddler Hour - Christmas crafts and stories are on the agenda on Thursday, 16th December at 11.30am. All toddlers and minders are welcome.
Computers - a tutor will be in the library every Tuesday and Wednesday 10am - 1pm to give you tips for free.
Family Liturgy
The 10.30am Mass at St. Fiacre’s Church on Sundays continues to be family focused. Practice takes place on Wednesday evenings between 6.30pm and 7.15pm. Young people and parents are welcome.
Cookery Demonstration
Ann Neary and Edward Hayden will give a cookery demonstration in Coláiste Éamann Rís, Callan at 8.00pm on Thursday, 16th December. A great night’s entertainment guaranteed. Tickets are €20 and all proceeds are in aid of the school. Tickets available from the school at 056 772 5340 or members of the Parents’ Council.
Charity Christmas Concert
The local group of the Irish Pilgrimage Trust is holding a fundraising concert at St. Patrick’s Parish Centre on Sunday, 19th December at 3.30pm. Acts include D-tour, Tom Bolger & Sons, Trish Carroll, Jimmy Byrne, St. Fiacre’s Church Choir, Nicky McCullagh, Peter Prendergast and Noel Power. Tickets €5 from the Sacristies, Parish Centre and Fr. Dan. Proceeds to help children with special needs pilgrimage to Lourdes at Easter. Please support.
