Weekly Bulletin 3rd January 2021

Today is the Second Sunday of Christmas. The first words of the Old Testament are: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). The first words of today’s Gospel (John 1:1-18) “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” This Gospel is a theological and literary masterpiece. It begins using the opening words of the Bible…. “In the beginning” These words were familiar to every reader of the Jewish Scriptures. The opening lines of John’s Gospel indicate that a new creation is taking place in Jesus. God speaks. Words are expressive of who we are. We humans find it difficult to express the fullness of who we really are. We are finite beings. However God can speak Himself utterly in all clarity and fullness. In the Creed of the Mass we pray: “I believe in the one Lord Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God born of the Father before all ages, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God” This Gospel goes on to state: “Through him all things came to be, not one thing had its being but through him” (John 1:3) God is the great Artist, everything is stamped by intelligibility, reason and understanding through the Word that God expresses. At Christmas we celebrate the astounding mystery that this Word was made flesh (John 1:14). The Word does not turn into flesh but takes it into his Being. The translation actually states that the Word “pitched his tent among us” He “tabernacled” Himself among the human race. St. Paul in writing to his friends in Corinth states: “And for anyone who is in Christ, there is a new creation; the old creation has gone, and now the new one is here” (2 Corinthians 5:17). We are called to become that new creation in Christ. Paul had a hard time in Galatia with those who wanted the new Christians to be circumcised according to the Jewish law, however, he states at the end of his letter to them “As for me the only thing I can boast about is the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world is crucified to me and I to the world. It does not matter if a person is circumcised or not, what matters is for him to become an altogether new creation” (Galatians 6:14-15). As we move into this New Year 2021 it is a time of new beginnings, becoming a new creation, a time to allow God to form and re-form us to be the people who we are called to be! 

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Tuesday is the feast of St. Charles of Mount Argus: (1821-1893): Passionist priest buried in our mother-house in Mount Argus Dublin. Mass will be celebrated here in honour of St Charles @ 11am with a general blessing with the relic of St. Charles after the Mass. There will also be a blessing with the relic after the Vigil Mass for the Epiphany @ 7pm.

Wednesday: Feast of the Epiphany: The word Epiphany means manifestation of Jesus as Messiah of Israel, Son of God and Saviour of the World. 

Masses will be celebrated in the Church and by webcam at 10.30am, 12noon & 7pm.

Christmas Crib: Thank you for all your kind contributions. It will be distributed next week to St Vincent de Paul to help their work with those in need. If you would like to give a donation please place it in the box next to our Crib.

Friday Exposition resumes on Friday next 8^th January from 10am – 2pm.

Confessions: Sun 3^rd &  Mon 4^th  No Confessions. Mon – Mass @ 7pm –  Arthur.

(Tues to Fri 2pm – 5pm.    Sat 5pm – 6pm). Tues – Charles. Wed – Arthur. Thurs – Charles.   Fri – Arthur.  Sat – Charles 

The Shop: Due to Covid regulations our shop will remain closed, but if you wish to contact us as regards purchasing cards please ring us during office hours (9.30am – 4pm) and we will try our best to facilitate you.

Thank you for your very generous donations over this Christmas season. We also appreciate the wonderful work done by our ushers and Ministers of the Eucharist in making themselves available to help in the smooth running of our Church services.  Be assured of the prayers of this community.  May 2021 be a blessed year for all of us. 

A Day of Healing: There is a Virtual Day of Inspiration, entitled “Hope, Healing and Growth” on Saturday 9 January 2021 conducted by the Aisling Centre from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Please contact www.theaislingcentre.com to register.  Thank you.