Parish of Castlebar

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

Sunday Newsletter

4^th Sunday of Advent

21^st December 2003

'Thought for Sunday'

Notices

Mass Intentions

Altar Society

Eucharistic Ministers

Rest in Peace

Lay Readers

Previous Newsletters

‘Frequent flyer’ syndrome

Miles and miles are traversed by millions all over our world this week, whether they travel by land, sea or air.

Families, homes - and fridges - will never be more full than at this time.  We have probably more opportunities for travel than any other generation.

A fair part of the travel industry’s budget is spent  entertaining and occupying the passenger.  Novels, tapes, laptops, magazines and film all play their role.

Look around you on any flight and the faces reveal that this is ‘old hat’, routine, the same old grind, business as usual,  just ‘going through the motions’ again.  There’s no magic, no wonder at the sheer miracle of flight.  ‘Frequent flyer syndrome’.  It can even affect Christmas.

We’ve forgotten the joy of the journey, the joy of the moment, the excitement of the experience and, somewhere in it all, the miracle of life.

We’re ‘back to basics’ in the Gospel.  Two pregnant women meet.  No flights for them, save the heart-lifting feeling of God’s grace all around them.

As Christmas draws near, recall the joy in the journey, celebrate each moment, take nothing and no one for granted.

Don’t be a frequent flyer with Christmas.

Fr. Tom Cox, Intercom

Email the Presbytery

Priest on Call:

Fr. P. Curran

Tel. (094) 9021274

NOTICES

CHRISTMAS WISHES

The Priests of the Parish wish you all a peaceful and holy Christmas.  May the joy of Christmas fill your hearts and your homes now and throughout the New Year.

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

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.

No Confessions on 27^th December.

Reposition of the Blessed Sacrament

22^nd - 27^th December

Mon.     -           P. Tuohy          

Tues.     -           M. Fahey         

Wed.    -           T. Coady          

Thurs.   -           CHRISTMAS DAY

Fri.       -           J. Byron

Sat.      -           M. Cresham

Service for the sick and housebound

Mass is broadcast daily from the Parish Church for the sick and housebound on 103.7 fm radio.

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

Narcotics Anonymous meetings every Sunday at 2p.m. in the Social Service Centre. 

MORNING MASSES IN THE PARISH CHURCH

On Fri. 26^th, Sat. 27^th and from Mon. 29^th Dec. to Thurs. 1^st Jan., morning Masses will be at 10a.m. and 11a.m. (no 8a.m. Masses).  The Church will open at 9a.m. on these mornings.

Welcome Home

We extend a very warm welcome to all who have come home for Christmas, students and relatives and all our people who have returned from abroad.

We hope you  enjoy your visit and we wish you  all a very happy and blessed Christmas.

The Parish Office will be closed on Wed. 24^th Dec. and will reopen on Mon. 5^th January.

Live Radio Show from Mayo General Hospital on Mon. 22^nd Dec. on CRC 102 fm from 11a.m. to 3.30p.m.

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.

No Bingo in An Sportlann on Tues. 23^rd Dec.

The Priests’ Christmas Collection will be taken up at all Masses on Christmas Day.

No Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on Christmas Day in the Parish Church.

MASS INTENTIONS

PARISH CHURCH

Monday, 22^nd December:

  8           -              Michael Brophy & dec. members of family, St.                               Bridget’s Crescent.

10           -              John & Nora Gallagher & dec. members of                Gallagher & Halligan families, Swinford.

Tuesday, 23^rd December:

  8           -              Michael & Katie Murphy, Newport Road.

10           -              Kathleen Cannon, Cloonferth.

Wednesday, 24^th December:

  8           -              John Heneghan & parents, Rathbawn Road.

10           -              Dec. members of Denneny, McQuaid & Cusack                               families.

Thursday, 25^th December: Christmas Day Mass times:

                              9p.m. (Wednesday)

                              8a.m., 10a.m., 11.15a.m. & 12.30p.m.                                       (Thursday)

Friday, 26^th December:

10           -              Tony Lavelle, Tullycommons.

11           -              Paddy Flannelly, Moneen.

Saturday, 27^th December:

9.30       -              Carmel Cawley, Goldenstrand, Achill. (M.M.)

10           -              Thomas Garvey & sister Josie & dec. members                               of Garvey family.

11           -              Patrick Dyar & Lucy Lavelle, Newport.

BALLYHEANE MASS INTENTIONS

Saturday,  27^th December:   

8.00p.m.-              Jim Grady, Ringeraun.      

Sunday, 28^th December: 

10.30a.m.-            Mike King, Knockmoyleen.

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS:

Sun. 28^th -  4^th  Sun.

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

Helen Byrne, sister of Sheila Joyce, Pheasant Hill, Westport Road;

Frances Curley, mother of Geraldine Cresham, 88 Chestnut Grove;

Bridget Burke, 20 Thomas Street;

Mary Foy, 13 Fr. Meehan Place;

Seamie Moylette, San Francisco, late of Market Square;

Maive McLoughlin, Mountain View, daughter of the late Liam McLoughlin.

LAY READERS:  Christmas Day

Parish Church:

 9.00: Mary Tighe

 8.00: Bernard Gallagher

10.00:Children’s Mass

11.15:Brendan Mullins

12.30:Joe Staunton

Feast of the Holy Family Year III

Parish Church

 7.30: Úna Ní Ghabhlain

10.00:Michael Treacy

11.15:Dearbhla Kearney

12.30:Regina McGarrigle

Breaffy:

10.00:Seamus O’Shea

11.30:Grace Jackson

St. Mary’s:

11.30: Tommy Butler

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