Parish Contacts –
Fr Peter Finnerty, PP, Ph: 01-832-3150.
Fr Séamus Connell, Ph: 087-702-5120.
Fr Godfrey Sunday Ph 089 206 4610
Janice Dornan, Parish Sec, Parish Office, Ph 01-839-0433.
Email info@kilbarrackfoxfieldparish.ie
www.kilbarrackfoxfieldparish.ie
Mass times – Mon-Wed 10am; Thurs, 7.30pm; Fri 10am. Sat 6pm. Sun 9.30am and 12 noon. Bayside– Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri &-Sat 10am; Sat 7pm. Sun 8am and 11.00am
Our parish is part of the partnership in the Howth Deanery as follows – Baldoyle, Bayside, Howth, Kilbarrack/Foxfield, Sutton. Registered Charity Number 20016166.
Masses for the coming week
| Name | Date | Time |
| Deceased Members of the Flannery and Crosby families | Mon. 15th | 10am |
| Bily Ridgeway, RD | Wed. 17th | 10am |
| Mary Sex (A) | Wed. 17th | 10am |
| Spec. Int. for Eileen Crowe and family | Thurs 18th | 7.30pm |
| Spec. Int for Marie Darcy | Thurs 18th | 7.302pm |
| Padraig Beirne (A) | Sat. 20th | 6pm |
| Pat McDevitt (3rd A) | Sat. 20th | 6pm |
| Martina Lynch (A) and remember her parents James and Maura Lynch and her partner Michael O’Rourke, RD | Sat. 20th | 6pm |
| Rita Harte, Birthday Rem. | Sun. 21st | 12pm |
| Catherine Doyle (A) | Sun. 21st | 12pm |
| Breeda and Aidan Doyle (A) | Sun. 21st | 12pm |
| James and Nora Brady (A) | Sun. 21st | 12pm |
| Mark Anderson (A) | Sun. 21st | 12pm |
| Cecil Halpin (Birthday Remembrance) | Sun. 21st | 12pm |
Recently Deceased
We remember in our prayers
Anthony (Tony) Lawler RIP late of Greendale Ave.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and neighbours. May he rest in Peace.
Advent in our Church
Rejoice is the symbol for this Sunday. Two purple candles and one pink candle will be lighting on the Advent wreath this Sunday – Hope, Peace and Joy. The Jesse tree symbols are: house of Jesse, father of David; harp of David; crown of wise Solomon, son of David.
Spend time with the Lord in the wonderful ministry of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in our Church from 11am- 3pm Tuesdays to Fridays each week. Please leave your name and time/day available on a card from back table, and put in envelope on Adoration table.
“Advent increases our hope, a hope which does not disappoint.” ~The late Pope Francis
A Reflection on Today’s Gospel
The desert shall rejoice, and blossom abundantly
The readings of this Gaudete (‘rejoice’) Sunday are full of hopeful joy in anticipation of Christ’s arrival.
This will bring an end to all sorrow and mourning (First Reading), because through Christ will come salvation and new life (Psalm).
In the Second Reading, St James calls us to be ready for this arrival. The Lord is near, but to perceive the signs of his coming requires from us both patience and openness of eyes and ears (Gospel).
On this third Sunday of Advent and during this coming week, let us imitate the desert coming to bloom. By eagerly receiving the Lord’s lifegiving and transformational grace, we will have the strength and courage to blossom abundantly in all the areas of our life.
As Pilgrims of Hope towards the close of this Jubilee Year, we pray to be bringers of joy, life, and consolation to those who are feeling bowed down by the burdens of life
SVDP Christmas Appeal
The Annual Christmas Collection for our local St Vincent de Paul group took place last weekend. The count so far has totalled at €6923 (15% up on last year). We thank all our parishioners who donated so generously.
Tax Refund Scheme
A few weeks ago, some parishioners were sent a renewal form for this scheme. Could you please return it as soon as possible to the parish office. If you are not eligible, could you inform Janice on 018390433 and she will take you off the mailing list for any further correspondence.
Would you like to sing carols on Christmas Eve?
If so, come to the Church at 7.30pm on Monday night
to practice. All singers will be most welcome.
Want to make your Sunday Mass more meaningful?
7.15 – 8.30pm each Tuesday in the Parish Centre. Praying, sharing, and staying with the Sunday readings, to make them more meaningful, alive and life-giving in a relaxed prayerful atmosphere. Fr Séamus and prayer group. All welcome.
Schedule Changes for Christmas
Gospel Evenings finish up on 16th December and recommence on Tuesday 13th January at 7.15pm.
Reflections on Zoom will finish on Monday 12th?? And resume on Monday 12th Jan at 7.30pm.
Parish of Kilbarrack/Foxfield, St. John the Evangelist Church – Christmas Schedule 2025
Normal Mass times
Mon. 15th to Wed. 17th and Friday 19th Dec.
Thurs. 18th Dec. No Divine Mercy Hour.
Sat. 20st to Tues. 23rd Dec.
Wed. 24th Confessions: 10.30 am – 12 noon.
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will cease from:
Tues. 16th Dec. and resume on Tues. 6th Jan.
A communal Penitential Service will take place at the following Masses:
Saturday 20st December at 6pm
Monday 22nd December at 10am
Tuesday 23rd December at 10am
Christmas Masses
Christmas Eve: Wed. 24th Dec. 6pm (Mass of the Nativity)
Christmas Day: Thurs. 25th Dec. 9.30am and 12noon
Normal Mass Times
Friday 26th – Tuesday 30th December
New Year’s Masses
Wed. 31st Mass 10am and Mass of Thanksgiving 6pm.
All Masses on Webcam.
See www.kilbarrackfoxfieldparish.ie
Bayside Christmas Schedule
Wednesday 24th December Vigil Mass 9pm
Christmas Day Masses 8am. 9.30am and 11am (children).
Friday 26th – Tuesday 30th normal Mass times.
Invitation to be part of an Important Research Study
A PhD researcher is seeking volunteers to be part of an important research study exploring the experiences and needs of people living with both cancer and dementia, and the family members who care for them. This study is funded by the Irish Cancer Society, in partnership with St Vincent’s Hospital and Our Lady’s Hospice. Its aim is to understand the challenges faced by people with these conditions and their caregivers, and to identify ways healthcare services can provide better support. Please contact Jane at 089 216 3991 or jane.gaffey4@mail.dcu.ie
Have Your Say about your Catholic School
For Attention of Parents of children attending Primary Schools or have yet to start: The Department of Education is conducting a Primary School Survey to decide the future provision of Primary Schools and crucially could lead to lasting changes in your school. You are being asked if you want your school to stay a Catholic school or if you want that to change. Don’t leave it to others, have your say before 16 December See – https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/campaigns/primary-school-survey/
It will be open until next Tuesday 16th December.
Parents will need their Eircode to complete the survey. Your input matters. Take the time to make sure your voice is included so that decisions about the future of your parish school reflect the views of your community.
Make sure to “Have your Say”
Mgr Dan O’Connor, Episcopal Vicar for Education
Volunteer drivers are sought by the Irish Cancer Society to drive patients going for cancer treatment. Contact Monica at volunteer@irishcancer.ie.
Christmas Mailing
Our Christmas mailing is now ready for delivery on the back table of our Church. We are reaching out to parishioners to help deliver a bundle which contains a maximum of 20 envelopes. You could deliver to the road you live on. We need volunteers especially to make sure the sick and housebound get our Christmas schedule so they can view Mass online.
Photographs for collection
Photographs from our Annual Mass for the Dead may be collected from the Church at the back table.
What’s on:
- Chairobics in the Parish Centre, Tuesdays, 11.30am.
- Country Markets. C of I Raheny. 18th
- Visit Sensory Garden Edenmore. 14th from 2.30pm for children and adults with autism and special needs. Booking on Facebook.
- Third Day Chorale Christmas concert today Sunday 14th December in St Gabriel’s church at 3pm. Donation.
- The Ramparts Festive Concert – 18th/19th Gardiner Street Church. Tickets €20. Conc.€10. Eventbrite.
- Crosscare Christmas Food Poverty Appeal.Your donation will help provide food, stability, and a pathway towards independence for those who need it most. Donate at crosscare.ieor call 01 836 0011.
- Palestrina Choir Christmas Concert. Sunday 21st 3.30pm. St Mary’s Cathedral.
“Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received – only what you have given: a full heart enriched by honest service, love, enriched by honest service, love , sacrifice and courage.” St. Francis of Assisi
For Anyone Learning to Live with Grief
Five things grief taught me that life never could.
- Goodbye is a lifelong process.
- Love survives the person.
- Small memories hit the hardest.
- Your heart keeps two timelines.
- Healing doesn’t erase the missing.
Every Day Gives Your Two Choices
Focus on problems or look for possibilities.
Complain or choose gratitude.
Live in fear or move with faith.
Your experience changes with your perspective.
Gratitude and joy aren’t accidents – they’re conscious decisions.
And when you choose them, your entire life begins to shift.
Thought for the Week
We are called to wait for the birth of Jesus, and we are to wait in hope joyfully. As we wait, we are not to be afraid, anxious or worried. We are to wait in joyful hope.
