Christmas: Once again it has been a lovely Christmas, with great crowds and a great atmosphere during the Advent and Christmas Liturgies. The joyful preparation, anticipation, participation, celebration and sense of community were inspiring, we thank all who participated. Fr. Kerry joins me in thanking you for your Christmas wishes and generous Christmas offerings. We appreciate your encouraging words. As we begin the New Year we pray that 2017 will bring us many blessings. Fr. Billy
WORLD MEETING OF FAMILIES 2018
Pope Francis has chosen Ireland to host the next World Meeting of Families in August 2018. The Pope proposes to visit Ireland to coincide with this event. The Diocese will be offering programmes of preparation for all ages over the coming months leading up to this event. Prayer cards are available at the front and side entrances of the church on this weekend. These have a prayer by Pope Francis to the Holy Family for all our families.
HOLY MARY MOTHER OF GOD
At the beginning of a new year the Church invites us to think about Mary, the Mother of God. Mary believed the message of the angel and conceived her Son. Through her “Yes” the work of our redemption was begun.
Blessed are you, Mary, for you gave the Son of God to our world, even more blessed for believing in him. Full of faith, full of grace, you conceived Jesus in your heart and in your womb, and became the Mother of all believers. Send us your blessing on this day dedicated to you, show us the face of Jesus your Son, who offers mercy and peace to the entire world. (from a homily of Pope Francis)
THANK YOU
In our Parish of Christ the King, there are many families and individuals who live the faith they profess and whose contribution to parish life is essential and immense. Through their quiet and unnoticed work, the Parish runs smoothly and parish life is enriched.
As 2017 dawns The Parish Assembly and the Priests of the Parish would like to thank you for your help and support.
We offer our special thanks also to those who care for the Church and clean it every week, look after the flowers and altar linens, to the Choir, to Ministers of Word and Eucharist, to Altar Servers and their parents. We thank the Church Collectors, Sacristan, Parish Dues Collectors, those who care for the sick and elderly. Thanks are also due to St Vincent de Paul Society, St. Joseph’s Young Priests Society, the Legion of Mary, the Parish Baptismal Teams, our Child Protection Representatives. We thank those who put up the Crib, Easter and Remembrance Gardens and decorate the sanctuary so beautifully.
We thank you for your generosity in the offertory collection each week for the upkeep of the Church and payment of staff. Our thanks to the Parish Finance Committee and to Sr. Karen and Fr. Charlie from the Pastoral Development Office who have been so helpful.
We thank all who contributed so generously during 2016 to Trocaire Christmas Gift Cards, to the Trocaire Lenten Campaign, the Lourdes Fund, and to our collections for the Episcopal Commission, the Holy Places, Pastoral Planning, the Pope’s Collection, the Education Fund, Marriage Care and the Mission Sunday collection.
Parish Calendars: It would be great if the area collectors could help to distribute these to the remaining areas. They are in the Sacristy. Many thanks.
Congratulations to Fr. Kerry, our Pastor Emeritus, on his Eightieth Birthday. We wish him well and thank the Lord for his more than fifty three years of Ministry and his sixteen years as Parish Priest at Turners Cross. It is good to have him with us and we thank him for his generous help, even in retirement.
Feast of the Epiphany: Friday 6th January, Holy Day of Obligation. Vigil Mass on Thursday 6.00 pm. Masses on Friday at 10.00 am and 6.00 pm.
Training for Parish Catechists: A two year training course for the Maryvale Certificate will begin in Cork in January. Information/ registration forms from the Pastoral Development Office phone 021 4537601 and must be returned by 10th January. Also open to those wishing to enhance their understanding of the Catholic faith.
Blessing of Newly Baptised Children
On Sunday next 8th January the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, at the 12.00 noon Mass there will be a special Blessing for all the Children who were baptised in our parish in the past year.
We welcome parents and infants, Godparents and Grandparents and family members. We thank the Parish Assembly who are contacting the families and our Baptismal Team for their help and commitment during the year in visiting the families and helping them prepare for Baptism. As we begin the new year we pray God’s blessing on all your families.
Pope Francis’ Prayer to the Holy Family
Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
in you we contemplate
the splendour of true love,
to you we turn with trust.
Holy Family of Nazareth,
grant that our families too
may be places of communion and prayer,
authentic schools of the Gospel
and small domestic Churches.
Holy Family of Nazareth,
may families never again
experience violence, rejection and division:
may all who have been hurt or scandalized
find ready comfort and healing.
Holy Family of Nazareth,
may the approaching Synod of Bishops
make us once more mindful
of the sacredness and inviolability of the family,
and its beauty in God’s plan.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph,
graciously hear our prayer.
AMEN