Fr Peter Finnerty, Parish Priest, 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
Weekday Mass times – Mon-Wed 10am; Thurs, 7.30pm.
Fri 10am. Bayside– Mon-Sat 10am.
Weekends: Saturday Vigil 6pm, Sunday 9.30am and 12pm. Bayside – Saturday Vigil 7pm. Sunday 8am, 10am,11.30am. Parish Office: Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri 9.30am to 12.30pm. Closed Wednesday.
| Masses for the coming week | ||
| Name | Date | Time |
| Mary Sex (A) | Fri. 16th | 10am |
| Breda Doyle and Nora O’Connor (A) | Sat. 17th | 6pm |
| Dec. Members of the Flannery Family | Sat. 17th | 6pm |
| Mary McCabe, (Birthday Rem.) | Sat. 17th | 6pm |
| Padraig Beirne (A) | Sun. 18th | 12pm |
| Rita Harte (Birthday Rem.) | Sun. 19th | 12pm |
Morning Prayer in our Church
Please join us for morning prayer in the Church on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 9.45am.
Advent in our Parish
This week we light the purple candles of hope and peace and the pink candle of joy. The symbols for the Jesse tree are house reminding us of Jesse, father of David; the harp which David played to make people feel happy; a crown, a symbol of Solomon, son of David, who had the gift of wisdom. The focus this week is Rejoice.
This weekend, 10th/11th December, the Annual Collection for the St Vincent de Paul Society will replace the Share Collection. Please be as generous as possible during these very difficult times for the Society to meet the needs of those they support.
Prayer for Ukraine
Holy and Gracious God, We pray for the people of Ukraine and the people of Russia, for their countries and their leaders. We pray for all those who are afraid; that your everlasting arms hold them in this time of great fear. We pray for all those who have the power over life and death; that they will choose for all people life, and life in all its fullness. We pray for those who choose war; that they will remember that you direct your people to turn our swords into ploughshares and seek for peace. We pray for leaders on the world stage; that they may be inspired by the wisdom and courage of Christ. Above all, Lord, today we pray for peace for Ukraine. And we ask this in the name of your blessed Son. Lord, have mercy. Amen.
The Holy Face of Jesus prayer meeting will now take place on Fridays after the 10am Mass in this Church. For more information call 085 252 5612.
Dear Parishioners
Christmas time is fast approaching.
Decorating the Church will start very soon, which will give a great sense of joy and anticipation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.
I take this opportunity to say a special thanks to all volunteers who help to clean the Church all during the year; your work is so vital and very much appreciated.
The Christmas card, dues envelope, and calendar for 2023 will soon be distributed to all households. It includes the Christmas timetable.
As I said in the newsletter last week, we are extremely grateful for your generous donations throughout the year which enabled us to go ahead with the vital maintenance work needed. Hopefully in the new year we can continue with this work,
Best wishes, Fr Peter
Christmas Cards are available in the Sacristy/Office €5 for pack of 6. Only while stocks last.
Sacrament of Reconciliation
A communal Penitential Service will take place at the following 10am Masses: Tuesday 20th December, Wednesday 21stDecember and Friday 23rd December. Confessions Friday 24th 10.30am-12noon and on request.
Christmas Schedule
Christmas Eve Saturday 24th December – Vigil Mass 6pm and Mass of the Nativity 9pm. Christmas Day: Sunday 25th December 9.30am and 12noon. St Stephen’s Day Monday 26th December Mass at 10am.
Reflection on Readings for this Sunday
On this ‘Gaudete’ Sunday, we are invited to ‘Rejoice!’ The Scriptures encourage us to listen and see the prophetic voices and signs of our times. In the First Reading, Isaiah speaks of Christ’s coming – Dimmed eyes will be opened; the lame will leap for joy; and we can have courage because the Lord is near. Second Reading, a letter of encouragement, counsels us to be watchful and patient. The Lord is close at hand. The Gospel describes a meeting between Jesus and the followers of the imprisoned John. John is a prophet of their time, and Jesus encourages John’s disciples not to lose faith. Jesus is the one of whom the ancient prophets spoke. As followers of Christ, let us take courage, and prayerfully support one another to be patient and faithful to the liberating message of the Good News. We belong to a loving community that longs for, and trusts in, the light of Christ, even in the midst of long winter nights and during these challenging times.
Our Parish Partnership from Archbishop Farrell
Our parish is part of the partnership within the Howth Deanery as follows – Baldoyle, Bayside, Howth, Kilbarrack/Foxfield, Sutton. While each parish will retain its identity, its sense of community and its financial independence, it will be enabled under the partnership structure, and with respectful synodal structure, to draw strength for its shared mission.
Pope Francis this Week
Pope Francis spoke about how freeing it can be to let go of things that we are most attached to in life and place them in God’s “benevolent hands.” In the face of rejection, when things do not go our way, it is good to remember that “only God knows what is truly good for us.”
What’s On!
- Crosscare Christmas Urgent Food Poverty Appeal – donate at crosscare.ie, phone 01 836 0011 or post cheque/postal order toCrosscare Christmas Appeal, 2 Saint Mary’s Place North, Dublin D07 Y768.
- Visit the Country Market in All Saints Hall next Thursday 10.45am-12.15pm.
- A Little Lifetime Christmas Tree Lighting Service Sunday, today 4pm, New Angels Plot, Glasnevin.
- Catholic Grandparents Association online meeting30pm Tuesday 13th December. Details from info@catholicgrandparentsassociation.com
- Local Carol Concerts in December – Third Day Chorale and others in St Gabriel’s Church 3.30pm today 11th; Portmarnock singers in Portmarnock Church today 11th 8pm; Palestrina Girls’ Choir St Ann’s Church, Dawson St., 7pm Monday 12th; Gardiner Street Gospel choir 7pm Tuesday 13th; Dolce Raheny Church Thursday 15th30pm.
- Anam Cara Support evening for bereaved parents Hilton Hotel, Malahide Road 7.15pm 21st Contact info@anamcara.ie or 085 288 8888.
Anam Cara Appeal
At Anam Cara, we know that facing the festive season can be hard for those who have lost a child. This Christmas, we are asking you to remember and celebrate a loved one by lighting up our virtual Christmas Tree with a very special “Light of Love”. Follow this link and click dedicate- https://visufund.com/lights-of-love-in-aid-of-anam-cara.
By donating, you will be helping Anam Cara to be there throughout the whole year to support Bereaved Parents.
Advent calls us back to our core, our centre and re-connects us to who we really are – people of hope, peace, joy and love. Advent is about slowing down, taking a step back and seeking a quiet time away from the frenzy and the unrealistically high expectations of a material Christmas. Advent offers time for introspection, for listening, for resetting and rebooting our lives in preparation for what is about to happen.
New Pilgrim Path – Advent is not only a period of joy
“It is also a time when those who are lonely feel lonelier than during other periods of the year. Knowing that when Jesus was loneliest, he gave most, should help to deepen my commitment to service and let my desire to give become independent of my actual experience of joy.” These words are from a short reflection by renowned spiritual teacher, Henry Nouwen. www.newpilgrimpath.ie
Blood Donors Needed Urgently in the Area
The Blood Transfusion Service mobile unit will be at Gaelscoil Míde tomorrow 12th December from 5 – 8.30pm
Our Christmas Mailing is ready for delivery on the back table of our Church. Each bundle contains approximately 20 envelopes. We would be very grateful if you could help by delivering the road you live on. Please do not disturb the bundles as they have been counted per road. Spare envelopes are available beside the bundles.
Not Everyone Loves Christmas
Although it might seem strange
Some people just don’t like the fuss
And long to rearrange
The pressures of perfection
Sensory overload
Hearts that ache for absentees
Heads threatening to explode
The lonely and the lost ones
The penniless and poor
No presents, food or sparkling tree
No family at the door
So please don’t think us rude
Ungrateful, self-absorbed
It’s just at times these big events
Are easier ignored
Enjoy the day you’re given
Love and understand
That those who don’t love Christmas
Might need a helping hand. Laura Ding-Edwards
Don’t Make Quick Judgments
It’s easy to look at people and make quick judgments about them, their present and their past, but you’d be amazed at the pain and tears a single smile hides. What a person shows to the world is only one tiny facet of the iceberg hidden from sight. And more often than not, it’s lined with cracks and scars that go all the way to the foundation of their soul.” ― Sherrilyn Kenyon
Take Only What You Need
I am afraid my culture has little to offer yours. But my culture did prize friendship and companionship. It did not look on privacy as a thing to be clung to, for privacy builds walls and walls promote distrust. My culture lived in big family communities, and from infancy people learned to live with others. My culture did not prize the hoarding of private possessions, in fact, to hoard was a shameful thing to do among my people. The Indian looked on all things in Nature as belonging to him and he expected to share them with others and to take only what he needed. Chief Dan George.
Don’t Make to be Kind
“You don’t wait to be kind. The world needs your kindness right now, all the time. There will be a place for your kindness: Provide it. You also don’t wait to be a writer or an actor: You study and you prepare and you respect the ground on which you might not yet walk. You are whatever you need to be before anyone else makes the judgment that you’re ready for public display. Craft yourself into a kind and giving and curious person. That is something the world needs, and there will be no unemployment and a lifetime of riches.” –Julie Harris
| Thought for the Week
Not all storms come to disrupt your life; some come to clear your path. – Paulo Coelho |
