Parish of Castlebar

Church of the Holy Rosary, Castlebar; St Aloysius's, Breaffy; St. Patrick's, Ballyheane

Sunday Newsletter

3^rd Sunday in Advent

14^th December 2003

'Thought for Sunday'

Notices

Mass Intentions

Altar Society

Eucharistic Ministers

Rest in Peace

Lay Readers

Previous Newsletters

What must we do?

Some make lists, others don’t.  Some panic, more focus.  Certain people like a flexible approach to every day, others plan it to extinction!  But Christmas preparations can intrude into even the most chaotic or organised of lives.  Even the Gospel question (‘What must we do?’) may stir up our thoughts and mock our preparations.

Mind you, it wasn’t mince pies or 101 turkey recipes that were on the minds of the Baptist’s questioners.  John avoids strong drink, but not strong words or straight talk, especially for the self-righteous and religiously respectable folks.

John is God’s man.  A man who dines on locusts and wild honey has no time for complacency or smugness.  We can no longer live in the same old ways, guided by the old values.

‘Tis the season to be joyful on this Gaudete Sunday.  Joyful, mind you, not jolly.  The joy of this season comes from a ready heart.  Change is never easy and often painful, but it’s always worthwhile.  John’s answer to tax collectors, soldiers and people is not some pious action.  He points out that they will respond to the ways of God by being what they should be to their neighbours.  So: ‘What must we do?’  We know the answer to that.  Just do it.

Fr. Tom Cox, Intercom. 

Email the Presbytery

Priest on Call:

Fr. Ml. Farragher

Tel. (094) 9021844

NOTICES

Children’s Liturgy Nativity Play and Carol singing on 21^st Dec. in the Parish Church at 6p.m.  Children can come dressed as kings, shepherds or angels.  All are welcome.

Parish Carol Service - Thanks to all who helped and took part in last week’s Carol Service in the Parish Church.  Thanks also to all who attended.

Reposition of the Blessed Sacrament

15^th - 20^th December

Mon.     -           S. Brennan

Tues.     -           E. O’Boyle

Wed.    -           G. Munnelly

Thurs.   -           A. Waldron

Fri.       -           C. McSharry

Sat.      -           M. Dunne

Altar Servers - Parish Church

Week starting Mon. 15^th Dec.:

8a.m.                -           Team  A   

9.30a.m.           -           Team  B

10a.m.              -           Team  C

Weekday funerals -      Team  D

7.30p.m. Mon.   -           Team  E

Service for the sick and housebound

We have started to broadcast Mass daily from the Parish Church for the sick and housebound on 103.7 fm radio.

Charismatic Prayer Group - Christmas Mass will be held on Wed. 17^th Dec. at 8.30p.m. in the Social Service Centre.  All are welcome.

Altar Society

Anyone wishing to donate pot plants or flowers to the Church for Christmas please leave them in by Mon. 22^nd December.

CHRISTMAS CONFESSIONS

Penitential Service on Tues. 23^rd at 8p.m. in the Parish Church.

Christmas Eve: Confessions from 11a.m. to 6p.m. in the Parish Church.

Castlebar Parish Magazine now on sale in all the usual outlets.  Price €5. 

Tax Relief Forms

As you already know the parish has  received €23,000 in tax relief from the Revenue Commissioners.  If there is anyone else who would like to complete the forms please do so before the end of the year.  Forms are available at the back of the Church.

Apostolic Work

Apostolic Work members would like to thank everyone who supported them in their cake and craft sale.  It was a great success.

Monster Christmas Bingo in An Sportlann on Tues. at 8.45p.m. Books €8.

Snugboro Dev. Assoc. car boot sale today Sunday in Main Street Car Park from 10a.m. to 3p.m.

Carol Service with the Castlebar College of further education in the Parish Church on Friday 19^th Dec. at 12 noon.  All are welcome.

Christmas Communion to the sick

The priests will visit the sick in their areas on Mon. 22^nd December.  This replaces the January first Friday calls.

MASS INTENTIONS

PARISH CHURCH

Monday, 15^th December:

  8        -           Helena, Patrick & Tony Flynn & Phil                              Murphy, Lisnacurley, Ballyheane.

10        -           Margaret Brady & son Charles,                           Mountgordon.

Tuesday, 16^th December:

  8        -           Tom, Peter & Margaret Flannery,                                   Mountdaisy.

10        -           Michael & Willie Cameron, Westport Road.

Wednesday, 17^th December:

  8        -           James Heston & Peter Sherrard, Ballycroy.

10        -           Vincent Moran, Boradruma, grandparents                         James & Cecelia & Fr. Joe Gibbons.

Thursday, 18^th December:

  8        -           Tom Courell, Rathbawn Road.

10        -           Benny Forkan & parents Ann & Bill, Patrician                         Park.

Friday, 19^th December:

  8        -           John & Teresa King, Riverdale Court.

10        -           Kathleen & Willie Irwin, Monaghan.

Saturday, 20^th December:

  8        -           Philip & Catherine Derrig, Tourmakeady.

9.30      -           Maureen Mongey, Blackfort.  (1^st Ann.)

10        -           Agnes & John Roche, Breaffy Road.

ALTAR SOCIETY: 20^th December        

Agnes McKenna          Agnes McLoughlin

Maureen Davoren

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS:

Sun. 21^st -   3^rd  Sun.

REST IN PEACE  We commend into your hands Lord, the souls of

Katie Heraty, Westport, mother of Celia Coen, Kennedy Gardens.

LAY READERS:  4^th Sun. of Advent

Parish Church:

 7.30: Kay Campbell

10.00:Gerry Ryder

11.15:Ml. Gormley

12.30:Michael Reynolds

Breaffy:

10.00:Amanda Mulderry Fiona Jennings

11.30:Marie Tuohy

St. Mary’s:

11.30: Mary Connell

DAILY READERS

Mon.      -              Miriam Fadden

Tues.      -              Mary Fox

Wed.      -              Rita Walsh

Thurs.     -              Bernie Johnson

Fri.         -              Ita Sarsfield

Sat.         -              Jo Kearney

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