UNITY
Jesus came to Nazareth in Galilee filled with the power of the Spirit to announce “good news” and “freedom.” St Paul reminds us that we are all baptised into the one Spirit, through whom we share the life of Christ. The life we are called to is one of joy and sharing, we see an echo of this in the reading from Nehemiah, “do not be sad, for the joy of the Lord is your stronghold,” a call to rejoice together and to share with those who had nothing. We are called to a practical unity which is not to be a matter of words only. We pray for unity among Christians, unity within our own church, in our local community and in our parish. We pray also for unity in our family, our workplace, our neighbourhood, among our friends. The call to unity is very personal. It is a question of real love and service, of responding as followers of Christ to his prayer that “all may be one.”
Alpha
I attended my first Alpha with some reluctance, but found to my surprise that it was friendly and enjoyable. It explored the faith in a “non-Churchy” and adult way. Our Turner’s Cross Parish Alpha begins on Wednesday February 6th, and provides an opportunity to explore the faith in a friendly environment. It continues in the Parish Centre each Wednesday evening from 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm for ten weeks. A talk is followed by a tea/coffee break and then we divide into small discussion groups. Alpha is for everyone; no question is out of bounds and you are free to discuss as much or as little as you wish. We don’t assume any background knowledge or belief and everyone is welcome. You don’t have to come to the whole course – just pop along for the first night and see what you think.
Fr. Billy
Teamspirit: at our meeting before Christmas a number expressed a willingness to make the project happen in Cork for the Year of Faith. There will be a meeting for the City & surrounding parishes in Turner’s Cross Parish Centre, on Tues. 29th Jan, 8pm – 9.30pm
St. Brigid: Wednesday 1st February, Secondary Patron of Ireland. La le Brid coincides with longer days and the beginning of spring. We ask for her intercession for a new springtime for the faith in Ireland, that we may face our many challenges with renewed confidence.
Candlemas Day: On Saturday next 2nd February, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, candles will be blessed at the 10 am Mass.
Feast of St Blaise – The traditional blessing of throats will take place on Monday, February 4th after the 10am and 6pm Masses (note the extra Mass at 6pm).
Deaths: We extend our sympathies to the families of Liam Neville of Shanballymore, Co. Cork and late of Turners Cross, and of Josephine (Baun) McCarthy also of Shanballymore and late of Turners Cross, whose funerals took place during the past week. May they rest in eternal peace.
First Friday. Fr Billy will visit the sick and housebound in his area of the parish on this Thursday and Friday at the usual times and Fr Kerry will visit the sick and housebound in his area on Friday of next week, February 8th. If you would like a visit please contact us.
Ministers of the Word can collect their Rotas for the coming weeks in the Sacristy.
Ennismore Retreat Centre next week – new programme on Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction starts on Thursday evening 31st January. The talk in the Series on New Ecclesial Communities on Monday 28th January at 7.30p.m. will be on Youth 2000. Further information and booking at 021 4502520 or ennimore@eircom.net.
The Parenting Course will be facilitated by Mary Ryan in the Parish Centre, on Tuesday nights beginning 12th Feb. from 7:30 pm – 9:30pm. Contact Beth O’Sullivan at 085-2832707 or one of the Priests at 087-2610276 with your name and phone number as soon as possible.