Weekly Bulletin 22nd December 2019

Sunday Collection: Came to £1625. Thank you for your generosity as always. The will be a Development Collection taken up after Communion today.

Today is the Fourth Sunday of Advent: Today all the candles on the outside of our Advent wreath are lit. On Midnight Mass on this Tuesday night the central white candle will be lit representing the birth of the Son of God into our world. Today in the  Gospel Matthew tells the birth story of Jesus from the perspective of St. Joseph. In biblical tradition a name defines the characteristics of a person. In  giving the name Jesus to the child his mission is outlined. “He will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). Jesus is also Emmanuel “God is with us “(Matthew 1:23)

Congratulations to Fr Arthur Mc Cann of this community who celebrated his Golden Jubilee of Ordination on Saturday 21^st December. Arthur ministered for many years in Botswana. We wish him good health into the future and we thank God for his priestly ministry that he shares so generously with is.

Confession Times for Christmas: Today Sunday 22^nd Masses are at 10.30am, 12noon & 4pm. No confessions / duty today. The shop will be open until 5pm. . Monday 23^rd – Confessions 2pm – 5pm. On (Christmas Eve) Confessions – 1pm – 5pm. Confessions will resume on Thursday 2^nd Jan.

St Michael’s Scout Bandwill play at the Christmas Eve Vigil Mass (Dec 24^th) beginning with carols at 7.30pm in preparation for the blessing of the crib @ 7.50pm and Mass @ 8pm.  

Christmas Day Masses will be at 9am, 10.30am, 12noon. There will be no Christmas Day Mass at 4pm.

The Shop: There are still a few cribs, candles, Christmas cards and suitable gifts for Christmas, as well as Christmas Mass Bouquets. They will make ideal gifts for friends and family.

Remembering the Dead at Christmas: We will be praying for all your deceased family relatives over the Christmas period. You can place their names in the special petition box at the front of the altar. They will be prayed for at all our Christmas Masses as usual.

Happy Christmas-: For those who can’t be with us on Christmas Day we wish you every blessing in this Holy Season. Thank you for all your support during 2019. We pray that we will have peace and happiness in our lives this Christmas and New Year.

Post-Christmas Arrangements: St Stephen’s Day (Thursday) & Fri 27th Mass at 11am.

There will be no evening Mass. The shop will be open until 12noon each day.

Saturday 28th Mass @ 6.30pm. The shop will be open from 9.30am – 7.30pm.

Sunday 29th – Masses @ 10.30am, 12noon & 4pm. The shop will be open 9.30am – 5pm.

Monday 30^th & Tuesday New Year’s Eve – Mass @ 11am only. The shop will be open until 12noon.

New Year’s Day (Wednesday) – Mass @ 11am. The shop will be open until 12noon.

Confessions will resume on Thursday 2^nd Jan 2020 from 2pm – 5pm . The shop will open at 9.30am – 8.30pm.

Feasts of the Week: Thurs: St. Stephen – the first Christian martyr. Fri: St. John: brother of St. James and a son of Zebedee, author of the Fourth Gospel. Saturday: Holy Innocents – the children slaughtered by Herod’s forces when on a search for the Child Jesus

New Book:Fr. Brian D’Arcy has authored a new book called “It has to be said” is on sale for £20.

New CD: Sr. Marié Cox: together with two Mercy Sisters, Patricia O’Donovan and Frances Kennedy have a new CD entitled “May Hope Be Yours”. It is available at the Graan shop £15. All proceeds going to the St. Vincent de Paul.

Other CD’s available are from Ally & Marion Harron, Paddy Shannon, Jacqui Bannon and Louise Irvine also.

There will be no Exposition on Friday 27^th Dec. Exposition resumes on Friday 3rd January 2020.

Aisling Centre 3^rd Hope, Healing & Growth, well-being event, Saturday 4^th Jan 10am – 4pm, a packed programme of Inspirational and Motivational speakers with keynotes, life stories and workshops.  Plenary guest Adrian Dunbar.  All proceeds in support of counselling services at Aisling Centre.  Tickets available via Eventbrite or contact Aisling Centre 028 66 325811