The Church - A Voice in the Wilderness
In today’s Gospel St. Luke paints a picture as dramatic as any Hollywood epic. While the list of historical figures pinpoint a particular date in history, their inclusion has a deeper significance. Even before Jesus’ public ministry begins, Pontius Pilate, Herod, Philip, even Caiaphas the high priest, with their legions of supporters are lined up as a massed army of opposition forming a ring of steel ready to attack and destroy all that Jesus stands for. Who dares to challenge such a force?
John the Baptist, a very strange character, out in the wilderness with no army behind him, steps forward and proclaims that things are about to change. The Messiah is coming. Very unsettling news for those in power! John’s courageous preaching isn’t about advancing his own importance. He could have been tempted to cash in on the positive reaction he got from the masses as many thought he may be the Messiah. He was clear that his role was to proclaim the Christ, the Messiah.
That is also the role of the church today. In a homily a few years ago, Pope Francis pointed to St. John the Baptist as a model for Church: he didn't claim the Truth, the Word as his own; he diminished himself so Christ could shine.
The Church today, must hear the Word of Jesus and raise her voice, proclaim it boldly. The Church which is the mysterium lunae which has light from Christ must diminish herself so that He may grow!
Feast of The Immaculate Conception
Tuesday is the feast of the Immaculate Conception and is a holyday of obligation. Beginning with 6.15pm Vigil Mass on Monday evening our Mass times will follow the usual weekend schedule.
Rosary Procession
The annual Candlelight Rosary Procession on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception will leave from the Parade at 8.00pm on Tuesday, 8th December. Benediction will take place at the Black Abbey.
Christmas Mass Cards
Christmas Mass Cards, offering Masses celebrated in our parish, are available at the Parish Centre. €3.00 each.
The Great Jubilee Year of Mercy
The Jubilee Year of Mercy will be inaugurated on 8th December 2015, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and will run until 20th November 2016 which is the Solemnity of Christ the King. Bishop Freeman will inaugurate the Great Jubilee Year of Mercy in our diocese with the celebration of the Eucharist with priests, religious and the lay faithful, on Sunday, 13th December 2015 in St. Marys Cathedral at 5.30pm. The beginning of a Jubilee Year is always solemnly marked by the opening of a Holy Door by the Pope in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. For this Jubilee Year of Mercy Pope Francis asks each bishop throughout the world to include a Holy Door of Mercy in their dioceses so that everyone throughout the world may be able to celebrate the Jubilee. Bishop Freeman will officially open the Holy Door of Mercy, which is currently being prepared in St. Mary’s Cathedral, the Mother Church of our diocese. All are welcome.
Parish Carol Service
Our parish choirs are busy practicing for our annual Parish Christmas Carol Service which will be held at St. Joseph’s Church, Foulkstown on next Sunday, 13th December at 4.00pm. All welcome - keep the date free.
St. Joseph’s Young Priest Society
The monthly meeting of St Joseph Young Priests Society will be held in Parish Centre after 10.30 Mass on Friday next 11th December. All are welcome.
Annual Christmas Concert
St. Patrick’s Brass & Reed Band will hold their 16th Annual Christmas Concert in St. Patrick’s Church on Wednesday 16th December at 8.00pm. Guests Artists: En Caelo Chamber Choir. A great evening promised.
Book Signing by Local Priest-Author
Fr. Jim O Connell, Mill Hill Missionaries, will be in the Cathedral Bookshop to sign copies of his book: A Life to Live – Awakening to God’s Abiding Presence (Columba Press 2015) on the 12th December from 11.00am to 3.00pm. An ideal Christmas present.
St. Vincent De Paul Christmas Collection
The annual Christmas Collection for our local conference of the Society of St. Vincent De Paul will take place outside our churches next weekend. Please note that the society will not hold the usual indoor collection that weekend. We ask you to be as generous as possible in helping the volunteers in our local conference support people in need in our community this Christmas.
Kilkenny Christmas Tree Festival
An event which displays Christmas trees of all kinds - natural or artificial, big or small, baked or crocheted, metal or paper - all of which have been decorated by our participants. Coffee shop, seasonal stall, events for children, a class in seasonal decorations and a raffle. St. Canice’s Cathedral from 11th to 13th December.
Pray for our Deceased Friends
Recently Deceased: Brede Dunne, Nore Terrace. Requiem Mass at St. John’s Church at 10.30am on Monday. Anne Madden, Larchfield & Friary Street. Lorcan Bergin, Rioch Street. Vitalijus Sidorovas, Robertshill. Johanna Hayes, Lower Newpark.
Anniversaries: Michael Dullard (Sat 6.15). James Fox (Sat 7.00). James Rafter (Sun 9.30). Angela Murphy (Sun 10.00). Laurence & Maeve Healy (Sun 10.30). Eddie Slattery (Sun 11.00). Michael O’Dwyer (Sun 12.00). Eileen & Gerard Moynihan (Sun 12.30). Myra Treacy & Margaret Doyle (Tues 10.00). Christopher Lawlor (Tues 12.30). Seamus & Mary Kelly (Wed 10.30). Bart Keaney (Fri 10.30). Thomas Dowling. Rory McPhillips. Philip & Richard O’Dwyer. Mick & Bess Delaney. Patricia Fitzpatrick. Michael Fitzmaurice. Christina Walshe. Margaret & Michael O'Neill. Maureen Mullally. Christy Galvin. Annie Wall. Paddy Griffin. Joseph Emery. Eric & Mary McGrath.
Intentions for Next Weekend: Christina Comerford (Sat 6.15). The O’Neill & Brett Family (Sat 7.00) . Martin McCorry (Sun 9.30). Charles Carroll (Sun 10.00). Padraig Butler (Sun 10.30). Michael Bartholomew (Sun 11.00). Rita Gaule (Sun 12.00). Dick Lynch (Sun 12.30).
Public Rosary
The monthly rosary on the First Sunday in James Green at the statue of Our Lady of Kilkenny continues this Sunday, 6th December at 3.00pm.
Westcourt News
The monthly Mass to pray for the intercession of Blessed Edmund Rice in our lives and for his canonisation will take place in Westcourt on Monday, 14th December at 7.30pm. St. Joseph’s Young Priests Society will organise the liturgy. Please note the change of date.
Christmas Fair
St. Patrick’s Special School, Kells Road will host a fantastic Christmas Fair on this Sunday, 6th December between 2.00 and 6.00pm. Books, DVDs, CDs, Jewellery, Toys, Paintings, Prints, Cakes, Sweets, Bric a brac, Santa’s Golden Ticket, Nail Painting and Present Wrapping. Come along and support us.
Events at Cois Nore
Sunday, 13th December: Carols for Cancer with the Kilkenny Gospel Choir and Trish Carroll in Rothe House at 6.30pm. Tickets: €10. Contact Cois Nore Centre on 056 775 2222 or 085 888 2583.
Handel’s Messiah by Candlelight
50th Anniversary Gala concert. Carlow Choral Society, Niall Kinsella - conductor. Saturday 12th December 2015. 8.00 pm in Carlow Cathedral. All welcome.
Lost and Found
A sum of money was found in St. Patrick’s Church recently. Please contact the Parish Office 056 776 4400.
Used Clothing Collection
Clothes Collection supporting Friends of Calcutta on Friday, 11th December with collection from 2.00pm-4.00pm at St. Patrick’s Parish Centre. All enquiries to Michael Hopkins 087 907 3074.
Loughboy Library
Traditional Christmas Storytime for all the Family featuring Jim Maher, Seanchaí and Geoff Rose takes place on Friday 11th December at 6.30pm. Free event; all welcome.
Sacred Music from Paris
The Kilkenny Choir together with Kilkenny Youth Orchestra will present a concert on Sunday 13th December, 2015 at 4.30pm in St. John’s Church, Kilkenny entitled Sacred Music from Paris with compositions by Liszt, Gounod and Saint-Saens, conducted by Philip Edmondson. Tickets at the door before the concert. €8/€5.
Night of Reminiscing
Invitation to join the South Kilkenny Historical Society for its Night of Reminiscing on Thursday, December 10th, at 8pm at Mullinavat Parish Hall (opposite church). Free admission. Refreshments served later. This will be a night of recalling, with affection, old habits and customs which have since died away. There will be opportunities for all in attendance to participate if they so wish in remembering Irish history and social change. All are welcome.
Retrouvaille a Lifeline for Marriage
Is your marriage stressed, unloving or cold? Do you feel alone or distant from your spouse? Have you lost the desire to communicate with each other? Do you feel disillusioned or bored in your marriage? Have you separated, divorced, or are you thinking of doing so, but want to try again? The Retrouvaille programme can help you recover your marriage. Next programme 5th – 7th February. For information contact Tony & Anne 01 495 3536 or visit www.retrouvaille.ie.
L’Arche Charity Trek
L’Arche provides supported living for people with intellectual disabilities. On St. Stephens Day we are holding our inaugural Slievenamon charity trek. Registration will be open from 9am in the community hall Kilcash, Co. Tipperary. Please come along and walk off the Christmas Day excess while supporting a wonderful cause.
For more details please visit the L’Arche Ireland Facebook page or contact Paul Ahearne @ paul@larcheireland.org.
Cois Nore
Monday, 21st December: Christmas Coffee Morning with Festive Treats, Tea, Coffee and the St John of God School Choir. €5 on the day. All proceeds will go to Cois Nore.
Strictly Let’s Dance with the Village
Saturday 13th February at Lyrath Estate Hotel. MC’s Marty Morrissey & Edward Hayden . Celebrity Judges Michael Duignan, Tomas Mulcahy and Tracy Millea. A great night to be had by all.
Silence?
In liturgy, silence is not meant to be an embarrassed, barren or uncontrolled lack of sound which occurs because things have broken down, or no one knows what to do next, but a purposeful period where people communicate in a way that is deeper than words. For this reason we try to develop in the celebration of our Mass a calmness that provides silence after the readings, after the homily or during or after Holy Communion, so that the powerfulness of God's presence may be sensed in the unique experience of people gathered and being still in silence together. (Fr. Turlough Baxter)
Papal Blessings
Papal blessing parchments to mark weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, jubilees and some other occasions are available through the Parish Shop.
Please enquire at the reception desk in the Parish Centre. There are lots of other items of a religious nature available at reasonable prices in our parish shop which is located in the Parish Center.
Thinking of Getting Married Soon?
Couples wishing to be married in our parish are asked to note the following: Contact the Parish Office (776 4400) as early as possible to book your preferred date. Bookings are on a first-come-first-served basis. Please note that it is a civil requirement to inform the Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths of your intention to marry at least three months before the date - see www.gro.ie for more information about this aspect of preparations.
Contact the parish where you now reside where pre-marriage papers will be prepared for forwarding to the place of marriage. www.gettingmarried.ie is a useful source of information for couples as they plan the big day.
Parish Newsletter
All items for inclusion must be submitted by Thursday afternoon before publication. Parish and diocesan notices take priority. Late notices will appear on our Facebook and web page.
Afternoon Bridge
Join us on Tuesday afternoons from 2.30pm - 4.30pm in the Parish Centre for an afternoon of bridge. No partner required.
World Youth Day 2016
World Youth Day 2016 will take place in Poland at the end of July 2016. Pope Francis will attend the overnight vigil on Saturday and celebrate Mass on Sunday 31st July. The Diocese of Ossory invites young people to attend. Young people (over 18) are invited to make contact through wyd@ossory.ie or Fr Richard Scriven (087 242 0033) or Derek Dooley (087 938 4242).
