Baptism
With joy you will draw water
from the wells of salvation.
John the Baptist explained that he baptised with water but that Jesus would baptise with the Holy Spirit. He sent out his followers to baptise in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Baptism is the sacrament that marks the new birth of a person as a child of God and heir of the kingdom of heaven.
The story of the woman at the well on Samaria illustrates the personal relationship with Jesus which commences at the well of baptism. Jesus spoke to that lonely foreigner of an inner spring of water to satisfy all thirst. He brought her acceptance and friendship, forgiveness of the past and the invitation to worship the Father in spirit and in truth.
With joy you will draw water
from the wells of salvation.
Shout with joy for great in your midst
is the Holy One of Israel.
A Gift
Several times in our lives we may be asked to produce a baptismal certificate: as we approach First Communion, Confirmation, marriage or ordained or religious life. Wed be forgiven for thinking that baptism is a past event, over and finished with.
While most parents choose baptism for their child, it tends to be something of a ritual that they go through, rather than the expression of a strong faith. The few hardy souls who point out the oddness of baptising where parental faith is absent are guaranteed screaming headlines like: Priest refuses baptism.
But baptism is a gift of the community to the new member. It is not a right of a family to incorporation. Preparing and being active in the local Christian community is not an extra it is a given. It is about welcoming this lovely child into a new family that of Christ.
Church Restoration Fund
Full details and the three years report of the Church Restoration Fund account will be published in our Sunday Bulletin at the end of February.
The amount collected each month is posted on the Notice Board at the back of the Church.
St. Vincent de Paul
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul would like to thank the people of the Parish most sincerely for their kind and generous donations of Food and Toys during the Christmas Season, and also the generous giving at our Christmas Collection.
The amount collected was €2,627, which compares with an average of €1,825 for the previous 3 months.
St. Josephs Young Priests Society
Monthly meeting on this Tuesday 14th January at 8 pm in the Parish Centre.
Turners Cross I.C.A. Guild Meetings
will be resuming on Thursday, January 16th, at 7.45 pm in the Parish Centre. New members are very welcome.
LOTTO DRAW Jan. 7th
Numbers drawn: 8, 13, 19, 22.
NO WINNER
€35 CASH
L. OConnor, K. Cotter, L. Keane, D. Crowley
THIS WEEKS JACKPOT : €2300
Last weeks net take €3,497
Last weeks second Collection €1,421
Anonymous Donations: €100, €25
The Old Money is still welcome for the Restoration Fund. Box at back of the Church.