Today is the First Sunday of Advent. Welcome to a new liturgical year! The word “advent” means “coming” or “arrival.” It is about keeping watch as the preface puts it “we who watch for that day” The focus of the entire season of Advent is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in His First Advent, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in His Second Advent. The four Sundays of Advent symbolise the four centuries of waiting between the prophet Malachi and the birth of Christ. Advent stresses the importance of the human ancestors of the Lord, the patriarchs and the prophets. We are invited, during this holy season, to identify with the people who waited for Christ to come into our world. We may think that there is something artificial about pretending to look forward to Christ’s coming when we know that He has come already. He has come, certainly, and that historic moment of His human birth cannot be repeated. The clock cannot be put back. The first Christmas was a gift from God which has changed human life and history. But the Advent we keep is not a poetic make-believe, or a nostalgic historical pageant, or even an exercise in remembering our roots, although this might have value. The coming of Christ still continues and will be consummated in a coming and a gift beyond the stretch of our hope. We are an Advent people. The season of Advent celebrates in symbolic form a reality of our own lives and all people’s destiny with God, because He who came in weakness in Bethlehem is He who will come again. The one historical unique birth at Bethlehem makes possible his birth in the many lives of those who will receive him, to whom He gives the power to become children of God. Our lives are an Advent, a time of waiting, listening and hoping, a time of openness to the unimaginable gift of God.
Come Lord Jesus!
Come to us now and make your home within us.
Come to us in the people we meet.
come to us in the beauty of the world,
come to us in our joys and sorrows,
come to us in Word and Sacrament.
Come and make yourself known to us
in the breaking of the Word,
in the breaking of the Bread,
in the breaking of our hearts,
today, tomorrow and for ever.
Feasts of the Week: Wednesday: St. Andrew – from Bethsaida was a disciple of John the Baptist. In the Gospel he is always bringing people to Jesus. He brought his brother Peter to Jesus. He suffered martyrdom on an X-shaped Cross. He is patron of seven countries including Scotland and Russia. Saturday: St. Francis Xavier (1506-1552) One of the first seven Jesuits. Patron saint of the Missions
Thanks: Thank you for your very generous collection of £2000 last weekend. Thanks also to our Ushers and Eucharistic ministers, Singers who help in our liturgy over the weekend
Graan Draw: Our draw is this Friday 2nd December @ 6pm. The draw will take place in our Church and can be viewed on our web-cam. Tickets are available in the church porches. You can buy the tickets on line from our web-site just follow the DONATE link or you can phone the Monastery or buy them at reception. If you have tickets at home please make sure you have your counterfoils in to us early in the week.
Passionist Vocation Retreat: A weekend retreat for young men interested in knowing more about life as a priest or brother in the Passionist Community will be held at the Passionist Monastery, Tobar Mhuire, Crossgar, Co Down, from Friday, 2nd Dec and ending with lunch on Sunday, 4th Dec. Please contact Fr Paul Francis CP at passionistvocations@gmail.com
Confessions & Duty: Sun & Mon no duty. Mon (28th) Mass @ 7pm – Charles. Tues – Arthur. Mass @ 7pm – Arthur. Wed – Victor. Mass @ 7pm – Victor. Thurs – Charles. Mass @ 7pm – Charles. Fri – Anthony. Sat 5 – 6pm Anthony.
The Shop has restocked for Christmas. There are a great selection of cribs on display as well as candles, diaries, cards and suitable gifts for Christmas and new Christmas Mass Bouquets. Cost £2 / €2.50.
Carols with Caritas. Takes place on Friday 9th December @ 8pm here at The Graan. A voluntary collection will be taken up on the night for Enniskillen foodbank.
Recently Deceased
Mary Boyd, Abbey Drive, Enniskillen
Tommy Mc Brien, Derrin Rd, Enniskillen
Patricia Hoy, Old Rossorry Rd, Enniskillen
Mary Gray, Manchester formerly Maguiresbridge
Bernadette Beirne, Ballinamore formerly Kinawley
Liam Kane, Irvinestown
Nora Mc Gowan, Blaney, Shore Rd, Enniskillen
Anniversaries
Bobby, Robert & Sean Beatty, Rosnarick Close, Derrygonnelly
Larry & Peggy Kinahan, Belcoo
John & Margaret Greene, Belcoo
Margaret Byrne, Drumclay Rd, Enniskillen
Claire Ryan, Sligo
Packie & May Maguire & the Maguire family, Drumgamph, Boho
Paddy Flanagan, Garrison
Margaret Green, Coa
Frank & Nigel Corrigan, Hillview Pk, Enniskillen
Hugh, Agnes & Kathleen Mc Manus, Lougview Dr, Enniskillen
