2nd Sunday of Advent, 9th December 2012

Advent Text Message

Prepare to receive Christ this Christmas by receiving a free scripture text message each day for Advent - text your number to 085 831 3100 and Ossory Adult Faith Development will be in touch.

Scripture Booklet and CD

You might also consider using the Ossory Adult Faith Development’s Scripture Booklet and CD.  These can be used individually or in groups.  Booklets cost €3 and the CD costs €5 and both are available at St. Kieran’s College.

Evening Mass in Kilkenny

There will be 6.00pm evening Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral during Advent - another good way of preparing for Christmas.

Children’s Liturgy

We welcome the return of the children’s liturgy and choir to St. Fiacre’s Church for 10.30am Mass on Sundays.  All young people and their parents are welcome to join in. The practice will be held every Thursday in St. Fiacre’s Church at 6.30pm. While we hope many will come to the practice your absence should not stop you from coming forward and joining in the liturgy. 
This initiative needs the support of parents and young people!  Please be part of it.

Finding Hope in Advent Time

Fr. Willie Purcell will give a talk and lead a discussion entitled Finding  Hope in Advent Time at 11.00am on this Wednesday morning. Please note this talk was to have taken place on Tuesday but had to  be postponed  because of Fr. Willie’s unavailability. We apologise for the inconvenience.   The concluding talk will be at 11.00am on Tuesday of next week.  All are welcome.  Tea/coffee provided.

Weekly Envelope Collection

Last week’s envelope collection amounted to €2,025.71.  Many thanks.

Pray for our Deceased Friends

Recently Deceased: Sr. Conleth Donohoe, St. John of God Convent. Paddy Kelly, 23 Larchfield.  Rena Sheridan, Newpark.  Etta Shine, Old Sion Road.  Veronica Phillips, Middleknock, Dublin Road: Requiem Mass at St. John’s Church at 12.00 noon on Sunday followed by burial at St. Kieran’s Cemetery. 
Anniversaries:  Christina & Thomas Walsh (Sat 6.15). Patricia Fitzpatrick (Sat 7.00). Florrie Cleere (Sun 9.30). Angela Murphy (Sun 10.00). Elaine Kelly (Sun 10.30). Margaret & Michael O’Brien (Sun 11.00). Michael O’Dwyer (Sun 12.00). Eddie Slattery (Sun 12.30). Teresa Howe (Birthday Remembrance Fri 10.30). Eric & Mary McGrath. Annie Wall. Bart Keaney. John & Anne Fogarty. Sean & Kitty Ryan. Patrick & Rose Wixted. Maureen Mullally. Sr. Marie Joseph Fleming. James Hogan. Joe Murphy. James Donnelly Snr. James Donnelly Jnr. Sean Donnelly. Christy Galvin.
Intentions for next weekend:  Michael Dollard (Sat 6.15). Dick Lynch (Sat 7.00). Michael Hynes (Sun 9.30). Joe & Nan Mulhall (Sun 10.00). Kathleen Redpath (Sun 10.30). John Carroll. Thomas. Barbara & Eileen Gunn. Brian & John Gavin (Sun 11.00). Padraig ‘Podge’ Butler (Sun 12.00). Martin & Hugh McCorry (Sun 12.30).
May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace.  Amen.

Annual Christmas Carol Service

The annual St. Patrick’s Parish Carol Service takes place on next Sunday, 16th December at 4.00pm 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 Springhill Court Hotel after the service.  Please come along and join in the carols.

Christmas Mass Cards

Cards offering the recipient a share in the Christmas Masses celebrated by the priests of our parish are available at the Parish Centre.  Cost €3.00 per card.

St. Vincent de Paul Annual Appeal

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is collecting outside all City churches this weekend.  This is the society’s Annual Christmas Appeal and we ask that you support our parish conference as generously as possible. 
As we face into Christmas the members are doing their best to help those hardest hit as a result of the current economic downturn. Each week the members of the society in our parish face growing challenges from the new and already existent poor within our community.  An ever increasing number of calls for help are being received from parishioners in financial trouble and the parish conference is dependant on your gifts to help those in greatest need.  Please help make life better for a neighbour this Christmas by giving what you can to this local charity.  Every little helps.

St. Joseph’s Young Priests Society

The monthly meeting of St. Joseph’s Priests Society will take place on Fri Dec 14th immediately after the 10.30am Mass in the Parish Centre.

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 for the parish.  Please support our volunteers.
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!

Christmas Concert

St. Patrick’s Brass and Reed Band Annual Christmas Concert will take place in St. Patrick’s Church on Monday, 17th December at 8.00pm.  Guest artists: St. Andrew’s Church Choir, Bagenalstown, Audrey Larkin, Eugene Dewberry, Rory Broderick, Johann Dewberry.  MC: Noel Power.

Divine Mercy

An hour of adoration and prayer in honour of Divine Mercy will take place in the Capuchin Friary on Sunday 9th December from 3.00pm - 4.00pm.  All are welcome.

Kilkenny Art Exhibition

6^th – 16^th December (beside Tynan’s Bridge House). Fifty per cent of sales will go to  Cois Nore Cancer Support Services.

Cois Nore Cancer Support Centre

A Day of Light & Hope: 12-12-’12
Join us on Wednesday,  12th December 2012  at 11.00am for a Coffee Morning at The Ormonde Hotel.  At 12.00 noon join us on The Parade for Ringing in Noon with the Universal Call of the Bell followed by Poetry Reading and Reflection to remember and encourage everyone affected by cancer.  At 7.30pm that evening at St. Mary’s Cathedral there will be a Service of Light and Hope with Kilkenny Gospel Choir.   Following the service at 8.30pm there will be time for refreshments and chat at the Chapter House Tea Rooms, in the Cathedral Grounds.  All welcome.

Christmas Shop at the Parish Centre

Come and see the large range of Christmas Cribs and other seasonal gifts at the Parish Centre. 

Kilkenny Flower Club

Kilkenny Flower Club will meet in Butler House on Thursday, 13th December at 8.00pm.  Club members will demonstrate Christmas Arrangements.  All welcome.

Used Clothing Collection

Dochas Nasamu Orphanage, Nairobi, Kenya is holding a used clothing appeal on this Wednesday, 12th December at the St. Patrick’s Parish Centre Car Park. Van will be present until 11.00am.  For further information, please contact Marie on 087 689 0995.