3rd Sunday of Advent 
 Today we celebrate the 3rd Sunday of Advent (Joyful Sunday) and light the pink candle. The symbols for the Jesse tree this week are an empty tent reminding us of all that needs to be fulfilled in our lives. The symbol of the watch tower reminds us of waiting and being ready for The Lord in our lives. The scallop shell reminds us of when John the Baptist preached preparation for the lords coming and urged us to say sorry for the times we were not so good. The symbol of the city walls reminds us of the times Jerusalem was attacked and the walls rebuilt; when we fall we can rebuild our lives again.

Christmas Penitential Services
 Next weekend 21st & 22nd December after 6pm vigil, 10am & 12 noon Masses. A number of priests will be available for Confessions.  We have an opportunity of preparing for the birthday of Jesus. We come together in faith as a community to celebrate God’s forgiveness. None of us is without sin. We are all in need of forgiveness. God knows that deep down in our hearts we want to turn back to him.  God offers us this most wonderful gift, that is the assurance that no matter how we have failed his forgiveness is there for us all.

Handel’s Messiah: SS Peter & Paul’s Cork City Sat.21st Dec. at 8pm  In aid of Church Organ Restoration Fund.   With Soloists, Choir and full Ochestra  Tickets  €20/€15. Full details on Church Notice Board

Flowers:
 Like other years would you like to donate a Red Poinsettia Pot Plant  to decorate the altar for

Christmas 

Parish Christmas & Triduum Cards are available after Masses   in the Parish Office.  The Triduum of Masses will be offered  on the 23/24/25 Dec.

Christmas Mass Times:  Christmas Eve: 6pm & 10pm.  Christmas Day: 9am, 10am  12noon (note extra Mass at 9am)

There will be Exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament on Wednesday after the 10am Mass until 11am.

Christmas gifts with a difference.  
Last year there was a very good response to the Gift with a difference. You can purchase one of the Trocaire gifts  and get the card to sent or give to a friend. They are available at the back of the Church after Mass today.  This Christmas change someone’s world for the better with a Trócaire Gift.

Death: Our prayers & sympathy to the family of Larry O’Brien, Capwell Rd who died recently.  May  he be at peace with God.
Exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament after the 10am on Wednesday Mass until 11am.

Visitation of Sick: Fr. Kerry & Fr. Billy will visit the sick and housebound this week on Thursday & Friday

Vespers Turner’s  Cross Advent Triduum 16th, 17th and 18th Dec.  Please join us for Evening Prayer of the Church (Vespers) followed by Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament in the Parish Centre from 7.30 pm to 7.50 pm on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesdayevenings this week.

Credit Union:  The Annual General Meeting of Comhar Creidmheasa Chriost Ri Teoranta will be held in Bunscoil Chriost Ri (Convent Hall ) on Thur. 19th Dec. áat 8.00 pm.

Synod Survey:   Pope Francis has called a special Synod of Bishops for next year to discuss present day pastoral challenges to the Family and these will be considered further at the general synod in 2015.  The Pope wishes the working documents used by the synod to be based on wide consultation with priests and lay faithful in local churches.  A series of questions has been issued and Bishop Buckley wishes these to be discussed at Parish level.   The thirty nine questions covering eight main topics are complex and need serious and adult reflection.  They deal with such matters as the nature of marriage, the pastoral response to difficult situations, same sex unions and the degree to which church teaching on marriage and family is known and understood.

As part of the consultation process a detailed questionnaire is available in the church at Masses from now until the Sunday after Christmas.  You are invited to complete one of these, in whole or in part, and to hand it in by January 4th.  The forms need not be signed though some basic information is needed such as age and whether married or single so we can understand how wide the consultation has been.  The returns will be collated and considered by the priests together with members of the (old) Parish Assembly on 6th January, and a composite response from our parish will be given to the Bishop on 9th January.  The diocesan return will be made by 15th January and the national  return sent to Rome before 31st January.

Ministers of Word & Eucharisrt  five new ministers are being commissioned this weekend we congratulate then and thank them.  We thank the coordinators  Eddie Sheehan and Stephen Warner.

Pope Francis Person of the year     This week, I was pleased to see that Time Magazine has chosen Pope Francis as their Person of the Year. However, I don’t think Catholics really needed Time magazine or anyone else to confirm what we already know: that the Holy Father has captured the imagination of the world with his simplicity and emphasis on the message of love and compassion of Jesus Christ. So, we are happy when people recognize this, but not at all  surprised.   We hope that people will listen carefully to the message that he is trying to communicate, which is a message that is so sorely needed. In today’s world, where there is so much pain, isolation and despair, the Holy Father, like John the Baptist, is pointing us to a path that leads to Christ, the Light of the World.