Fr Peter Finnerty, PP, Ph: 01-832-3150.
Fr Séamus Connell, Ph: 087-702-5120.
Fr Cathal Price, Ph: 01-832-3683.
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 | ||
| Day | Date | Time |
| John Drew (A) | Tues. 3rd | 10am |
| Mary Caulfield (A) | Sat. 7th | 6pm |
| Pauline Wogan (3rd A) | Sat. 7th | 6pm |
| Brendan Greene (2nd A) | Sat. 7th | 6pm |
| Catherine Lyne, Month’s Mind | Sat. 7th | 6pm |
| Tony Roach (5th A) | Sat. 7th | 6pm |
| Andrew (Andy) Jackson, Month’s Mind | Sat. 7th | 6pm |
| Martin Horan (A) | Sun. 8th | 9.30am |
| Thomas and Mary Mulryan (A) | Sun. 8th | 9.30am |
| Audrey Cluskey (A) and remember her parents Chris and Christy | Sun. 8th | 9.30am |
| Edward and Liam Connell (A) | Sun. 8th | 12pm |
| Noeleen Pickett, Birthday Rem. | Sun.8th | 12pm |
| Gerry Kiernan (A) | Sun. 8th | 12pm |
Date for your Diary
Take some time out in the run-up to the busy season with a Christmas Retreat which will be held in our Church of
St. John the Evangelist Kilbarrack/Foxfield on
Saturday 7th December from 10am to 4pm.
Led by Fr Séamus. Everyone is welcome.
Please give your name to Janice 01 839 0433 in the Parish Office if you wish to attend the Retreat.
Voluntary contribution welcome to cover the cost of utilities.
New Pilgrim Path – Sacred Space Daily Advent Retreat – We Need Never Walk Alone
Sacred Space has an Advent retreat from today, the First Sunday in Advent. The journey from birth to death and rebirth has always been made. We do not need to walk alone – it helps to have a guide. A wide group of people in the Bible who made the salvation journey before us have much to teach us. Join with one of these each day. What all their journeys have in common is that they feature a crisis, in the original meaning of the Greek word, “turning point”- something to be welcomed rather than feared. See this retreat and other advent resources, with daily prayer, etc.: www.newpilgrimpath.ie
‘Straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near’
Today we begin the season of Advent, a word which means ‘the coming.’ There are three comings: of Jesus’s Nativity at Bethlehem, of the Lord in glory at the end of time, and of Christ’s Spirit into our hearts and lives. The readings invite us to perceive our place in the present world as something that opens us out to others and call us to live according to the perspective of the new world to come.
The great prophet Jeremiah, in the First Reading, offers hope in the promise of that first coming. Through the springing up of the ‘righteous branch of David’ the people will dwell securely. In response, I may imagine myself lifting up my soul to the Lord (Psalm).
St Paul, writing to the Christians at Thessalonica
(Second Reading), reminds them to be ready for that second coming of the Lord in glory. They believed this to be imminent, and being ready for it meant abounding in loving service.
In the Gospel, Jesus consoles his disciples – and us. When the signs of his coming in glory are to be seen, we can stand tall and eager for the gift of redemption, for what we are awaiting is the fulness of Christ’s Spirit, already alive and active in our hearts.
Let’s pray, this week, that we may find every opportunity to live as though Christ died yesterday, rose from the dead today, and is coming in glory tomorrow. Amen.
“The word Advent means ‘expectation’.
What advent can do for us is create a sense of hope.
The Lord is coming, always coming.
When you have ears to hear and eyes to see,
you will recognize Him at any moment of your life.
Life is Advent.
Life is recognizing the coming of the Lord.’
Advent in our Church
Awake is the symbol for the First Sunday. The Advent Wreath will be blessed. The wreath consists of evergreen branches, representing everlasting life, with candles representing the light of Christ. This week we light the purple candle of hope. The symbols of the apple, ark and shepherd’s crook on the Jesse tree remind us of the ancestry of Jesus – Adam and Eve, Noah and Abraham.
Parish Christmas Cards Pack of 5 for €5 on sale in the Repository while stocks last.
Photographs for collection
Photographs from our Annual Mass for the Dead may be collected from the Church.
SVDP Christmas Appeal
The Annual Christmas Collection for our local St Vincent de Paul group takes place next weekend 7th/8th December to raise funds for those who are struggling this Christmas. Please support and give generously.
Gospel Evenings
“Heaven and Earth will Pass Away, but My Words will NOT Pass Away (Mark 13/31)
You are invited to enrich your Life, your Mass, by making the Readings of the Word of God more understandable, more meaningful, more life-giving by coming to Our Parish Centre, Tuesday evenings from 7.15pm to 8.30pm
Organised by Fr Séamus and team. All most welcome.
Family Offering Boxes 2025
There is an urgent need for more contributors so please consider being part of this – the smallest amount each week would be most welcome. Our parish can benefit by an Income Tax claim, from the total amount collected each year per family or household. Contact Janice at 01-839 0433.
Parish Christmas Cards Pack of 5 for €5 on sale in the Repository while stocks last.
Foxfield/Kilbarrack Community group asks that people donate selection boxes or a small donation to cover delivery of these boxes to local schools by Mrs. Claus. These can be dropped into the box in Centra.
Big thanks to Martina and some children from Kilbarrack/Foxfield Afterschool for a great ‘leaf and sweep’ effort in our Church grounds – very much appreciated.
Great selection of books (new and second-hand) in our Parish Centre – call in and browse – maybe find a gift for someone this Christmas!
What’s On
- Vocations Society of St Joseph Holy Hour for Priests and Religious 2-3pm Tuesday 3rd Dec. our Church. https://www.mcn.live/Camera/st-johns-church
- Come and join us for a cuppa and chat after the 12pm Mass today, 1st December in the Parish Centre. Everyone is welcome.
- Reflection on the Scriptures on Zoom 30pm each Monday. Contact Sr Phyllis – 086 890 9488.
- Eucharistic Adoration Monday to Friday. 11am – 3pm. All welcome.
- Pop Up Gaeltacht Naomh Barróg 8.pm Thursday 5th All levels of Irish welcome. Bígí ann! Contact: John.c.carroll@gmail.com /0831003931
- Christmas Bake Sale in Scoil Eoin. Friday, 6th 1.15-2pm. Christmas Hamper Raffle tickets on sale. Please support.
- Annual Christmas Tree Lighting at Greendale Shopping Centre. 5-6.30pm Saturday 7th Lots of surprises. DJ. KASA choir. Santa etc.
- Country Market. All Saint’s Hall Raheny. Each Thursday to mid-December. 10.45am-12.15pm.
- Coffee morning for Capuchin Day Centre. Monday 2nd Dec 10am-12 noon. Bayside Community Centre. Details from Mary 0872925706/Anna 0871389351.
- First Saturday devotions intention of making reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary Saturday 7th Dec. 8.45am Bayside Church.
- Anam Cara online Bereavement Information Event Tuesday 3rd 7pm for bereaved parents. Details info@anamcara.ie or 085 2888 888.
- Bayside Alpha on Zoom – two-part series: St Francis of Assisi: Sign of Contradiction. Bishop Barron and Franciscan Friar Fr Dave Pivonka. Sunday 15th and 22nd Dec 7:30pm. email Paul alphabayside@gmail.com.
Christmas Concerts
- Third Day Chorale plus guests. 3pm today 1st St Gabriel’s Church, Clontarf. Collection for Irish Guide Dogs.
- Portmarnock Singers. 7.30pm 8th Portmarnock Church. €15. €5 children.
- Forget-Me-Nots plus others. 8-9.30pm. 9th St Patrick’s Cathedral. €10. www.eventbrite.ie/e/community-christmas-concert-tickets-1043825027757
- The Seafield Singers – A festival of Christmas Music, John the Baptist Church of Ireland, Clontarf. Wed. 18th Dec at 8pm Admission 20.
God Saved Me
I believe in God. Not because of how I was raised. Not because of church. Not because of worship music. Not because others influenced me. But because I’ve encountered His relentless, steadfast, unfailing and merciful love over and over again. He saved me from myself. That’s why.
I am Not Old
I am not old, she said. I am rare.
I am the standing ovation at the end of the play.
I am the retrospective of my life as art
I am the hours connected like dots into good sense
I am the fullness of existing.
You think I am waiting to die. But I am waiting to be found. I am a treasure. I am a map.
And these wrinkles are imprints of my journey.
Ask me anything.
~ Samantha Reynolds
Be Yourself
Be yourself and keep spreading love without expecting anything in return. The right people will appreciate and reciprocate your kindness. Dorina Costras
Thought for the Week
If you don’t leave your past in the past, it will destroy your future. Live for what today has to offer, not what yesterday has taken away.
