Feast of the Holy Family
This feast always occurs on the Sunday after Christmas. The Holy Family like most families, had it's trials and joys. As Catholics, we can look to the Holy Family as a role model. They have qualities that make a family unit work. They also tell us that you don't need to be perfect to be a family. Joseph and Mary had faith in each other and love to build the family. For a family to work, there needs to be a few main characteristics. Love is of course the most important one. Love is the glue that keeps families together. The love between a husband and wife is just as important as parent to a child. Love embraces trust and safety. A family without love is not going to be happy. Children should respect their parents. Mutual respect makes relationships comfortable and easier in the long run. Showing respect and love takes knowledge and experience. Children learn these in families by making mistakes along the way. It's a growing process that even our Lord Jesus had to do.
A Prayer for the Family
Jesus, our most loving redeemer,
You came to enlighten the world
with your teaching and example.
You willed to spend the greater part of Your life
in humble obedience to Mary and Joseph
in the home of Nazareth.
In this way, You sanctified that family,
which was to be an example for all Christian families.
Graciously accept our family,
which we dedicate and consecrate to You this day.
Be pleased to protect, guard, and keep it in peace.
By conforming ourselves to the Divine model
of Your family. May we attain to eternal happiness.
Amen
Tues. Jan. 1st – Feast of Mary, Mother of God. It is also World Day of prayer for Peace.
Sunday next Jan. 6th – The Feast of The Epiphany of The Lord.
Thank You
Every parish is a kind of family – an extended family. Together united in faith, hope and love groups of followers of Jesus Christ gather in mutual support to live a Christian life. Together they worship God, especially at Mass; together they share their faith with their children and with others. Such it is, or should be, in every parish.
As the year ends, we thank God that in our Parish of Christ the King there are so many families and individuals who live the faith they profess. There are many people whose special contribution to parish life is essential and immense. Through their often unnoticed work, the Parish runs smoothly and parish life is enriched. Today we offer our special thanks to these – Ministers of Word and Eucharist, the Choir, Altar Servers, Church Collectors, Sacristan, Altar Society, our Teachers, those who care for the Church and clean it every week, Parish Dues Collectors, those who care for the sick and elderly. We thank those who put up the Crib, Easter and Remembrance Gardens and decorated the sanctuary so beautifully, those who gave poinsettia pot plants and flowers. We thank you for the welcome you give us when we visit your homes and for your support in the Parish Dues and the Christmas and Easter offerings. It is much appreciated.
The Parish Steering Committee have completed their task, we thank them for the great work they did during the past year. We congratulate the 25 people who have been nominated and have accepted to be part of The Parish Assembly, they will have their first formation meeting on the 14th Jan. May the Holy Spirit guide us in the year ahead. We wish you a very happy and peaceful New Year.
Fr. Kerry & Fr. Charlie
A New Beginning
As the New Year starts and the old year ends,
There's no better time to make amends
for all the things we sincerely regret
and wish in our hearts we could somehow forget.
We all make mistakes and it's human to err,
but no one need ever give up in despair,
for God gives us all a brand new beginning,
a chance to start over and repent of our sinning.
We thank the people of our Parish who contributed so generously to the following causes during 2007:
Trocaire Lenten Campaign 12,669
Lourdes Fund 1,558
Episcopal Commission 1,361
Holy Places 1,290
Pastoral Planning 1,913
Peter's Pence 2,250
Education Fund 1,408
Mission Sunday. 3,533
The Diary of the Parish Pilgrimage to the Holy Land last October is on the Parish Website: www.turnerscross.com or
http://turnerscross.com/smf/index.php?topic=442.0
Family Prayer
O God,
bless our family
and all its members and friends;
bind us together by your love.
Give us kindness and patience
to support each other;
and wisdom in all we do.
Let the gift of your peace
come into our hearts
and remain with us.
May we rejoice in your blessings
for all our days. Amen.
Websites you may find helpfull
The Irish Catholic :
http://www.irishcatholic.ie/
LOsservatore Romano: http://www.vatican.va/news_services/or/or_eng/index.html
Vocations: http://www.vocations.ie/
Daily Prayer:
http://churchresources.info/pray/
Prayer with Children:
http://www.cptryon.org/prayer/child/
Faith at Home:
http://www.faith-at-home.com/tips/
Missing People: http://www.missing.ws/_nationalMonument/nationalMonument.asp
Vocation Prayer
Gracious God, you bless us, your people, in every season and provide for our needs through your providential care. Your Church is continually in need of priests, sisters, and brothers to offer themselves in the service of the gospel through lives of dedicated love. Open the hearts of your sons and daughters to hear your call to serve. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.