NEWSLETTER
CASTLEPOLLARD, CASTLETOWN & FINEA PARISH
14th. December .THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT.Gaudete Sunday and Feast of Sts;John of the Cross and Spiridion Blessing of Crib Figures today.Cardinal Toppo appeal continues.
MAKING READY FOR THE FEAST OF CHRISTMAS THROUGH THE ADVENT OPPORTUNITY FOR CONVERSION AND CONFESSION IN THE COMING WEEKS OF THE SACRED TIME.
During a recent liturgical study evening, the following suggestions were made, to help us think through a preparation in Advent, which would include Sacramental individual confession,for welcoming Jesus into our lives and hearts at the feast of His Birth;Suggestions that we look at a ( i.)large stone.This represents our hardness of heart, our selfishness, our lack of sensitivity to the feelings of others and our need to change and soften things in our lives.(ii). a mobile phone.This represents our excessive preoccupation in the modern world with noise and electronic distraction and constant restlessness.Being too much available and having no moments to self for achieving inner peace and tells us to slow down, to talk less and not to have the urge to be always in touch, to create some privacy for more essential things in life. (iii). an empty plastic bottle.This represents our lack of care for all God has entrusted to us, spiritually and materially.It stands for waste, carelessness with the goods of the earth, our environment our talents and all God has given us.It makes us think with gratitude for the gifts of nature and all we have and are.It calls on us to never do anything wilfully to damage what has been given us and to pass on a cleaner, morally sound and healthier world to the next generation.(iv).a clock. This represents one of the most rampant forms of poverty today… lack of time, wasting time, not valuing time as a gift from God.We are so caught up working, earning money, going places, that we have no time for prayer, for worship for the needy and poor and those who could do with our talents and friendship to give them a boost in daily living.It urges us to think about giving quality time to God and others. And finally (v). a chain. This represents the slavery of addiction to alcohol, drugs, sex, violence,gossip, gambling or self preoccupation,destroying the lives of many people and those who depend upon them.We are urged to break the chains that bond us to destructive addictions and come free.In confession, we can break free by telling our sins, to God through the priest and receiving God`s grace of absolution giving us true inner freedom.But, we must first prepare ourselves carefully.This is helped very much by our focusing on the figure of Jesus on the Cross, reminding us pungently of the love and compassion of the forgiving Father, who comes to welcome and forgive us in Confession.
Fr.Patrick A. Moore P.P.VF.
Parochial House.
0449661126/0872510855.
e.mail: moorep@eircom.net
Fr. B. Condron.C.C.
Castletown Finea.
043.81141.
Sunday Masses
10.15 St. Peter’s Centre. Weekday Mass 8.15.a.m. St.Michael`s
11.00. Castletown or Finea Saturday Mass at 10.a.m.
11.15. St.Michael’s Confessions. 10.20.a.m.; 3.00.p.m. and
Vigil 7.p.m. St. Michael’s 6.45.p.m. and 7.30.p.m. Sats.
Vigil 8.p.m. Castletown or Finea.
Adoration. 3-8.p.m. Mon-Thurs incl.
10.a.m.-12 noon. Tues and Wed.
LITURGICAL CALENDAR FOR THE COMING WEEK IN THE PARISH POPE`S INTENTIONS FOR PRAYER DURING THE MONTH. FEASTS OF SAINTS AND IMPORTANT CELEBRATIONS.
Collection for December 6th./7th.Weekly Envelope,€709.00 and Offertory Collection €565.98.7th/8th. Offertory Collection €364.84. Thank you for supporting the Weekly Collections,List of the Dead,Cardinal Toppo Appeal,November Offerings and other occasional collections. Month of December dedicated to the Nativity of Our Divine Saviour, Jesus Christ.Year of intense prayer for Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life..Year of St.Mark in the Liturgy.Year of St Paul in the Universal Church and 150th.Ann of the Apparitions by Our Blessed Lady at Lourdes.U.N.Year of Potatoe.
Monday 15th. Third Week of Advent and Feast also of Sts;Valerian, Victoria,Mary de Rossa, Nino,Celian and Agnellus.
Tuesday 16th.Third Week of Advent and Feast of Sts;Adelaide and Albinia. The O antiphons commence tomorrow.Maple Court Mass at 3.p.m.
Wednesday 17th.Third Week of Advent and Feast of Sts;Olympias, Begga and Lazarus.Pre-Baptism Meeting at 8.p.m. O WISDOM.
Thursday 18th.Third Week of Advent and Feast of Sts;Flannan,Quintus, Irmina and Rufus.Legion of Mary Meeting 8.p.m.Room I.O ADONAI
Friday 19th.Third Week of Advent and Feast of Sts;Urban V.O ROOT OF JESSE.Communion calls for Christmas to ill and housebound 9.45.a.m. to 1.00.p.m.
Saturday 20th.Third Week of Advent and Feast of Sts;Fachanan. Confessions at 3.p.m. and before and after Vigil Mass today today.Confessions after Mass at 10.00.a.m. O KEY OF DAVID.
Sunday 21st. FOURTH SUNDAY OF SACRED SEASON OF ADVENT and Feast of Sts;Peter Canisius. O MORNING STAR.Confessions after 11.15.a.m. Mass and Carol Service at 8.00.p.m.Seasonal Refreshments in Parish Centre afterwards.
MASS INTENTIONS (14th.December to 21st.December.)
Sunday.14th.Readings;Is 61.1-2,10-11.Ps.Lk.1.46-50,53-54. I Thess.5.16-24.Jn.1.6-8,19-28.Mass.at 10.00.a.m.Richard Clogher, Confessions after Mass but not at 3.p.m.and before and after Mass at 7.p.m. Vigil.May O Reilly, Mullingar. Sunday.Mass of Christian Burial at 2.30.p.m. Sunday.No 10.15.a.m.but 1.00.p.m.St.Peter`s.Lily and Jimmy Thornton.11.15.a.m.First Anniv. Rita Cooney.The Square.
Monday: 15th.Readings;Num.24.2-7,15-17.Ps.24.Mt.21.23-27.Mass.8.15.a.m.Ann. Margaret and Larry Halpin, Slieveboy.7.30.p.m. Flood Co. Memorial Mass for Christoph Kaupert.
Tuesday 16th.Readings.Zeph.3.1-2, 9-13.Ps.33.Mt.21.28-32.Mass at 8.15.a.m.Maple Court Mass at 3.p.m..
Wednesday 17th.Readings.Is.49.2,8-10.Ps.71.Mt.1.17.Mass at 8.15.a.m.Special Intention. Pre-Baptism Meeting at 8.p.m.
Thursday 18th.Readings;Jer. 23.5-8.Ps.71. Mt.1.18-24.Mass at 8.15.a.m. Ann.Decd McGoveran Family, Shrunaheala.Legion of Mary Meeting at 8.p.m. Room I.
Friday 19th.Readings.Jdg. 13.2-7,24-25. Ps.70.Lk.1.5-25.Mass at 8.15.a.m.Ann. James and Jane Gibney and decd.Gibney Family, Newcastle. Communion calls. 9.45.a.m. to 1.00.p.m..
Saturday 20th.Readings.Is.7.10-14.Ps.23.Lk.1.26-38.Mass at 10.00.a.m.Ann.Decd. Gaffney Family, Dublin Rd.Confessions after Mass and at 3.p.m.and before and after Vigil Mass at 7.p.m.Ann.Michael Fagan, Dublin Rd.
Sunday 21st.Readings.2 Sam.7.1-5,8-12,14,16.Ps.88.Rom.16.25-27.Lk.1.26-38. St.Peter`s. at 10.15.a.m.Ann.Roger and Nancy O Hara.Green St. Mass at.11.15.a.m.Ann. Alice Courtney, The Square.Final Sunday of.Cardinal Toppo appeal,which was each Sunday of Advent, as our Advent Charitable Project.Confessions after 11.15.a.m. Mass today.Carol Service at 8.00.p.m.
R.I.P.
Please pray for all who have died in recent times
all whose anniversaries occur around this time and all whose remains are interred in our cemeteries,
May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace.
