Third Sunday of Advent We light the third (pink) candle of the Advent Wreath on the third Sunday of Advent. This Sunday is called Gaudete, the Latin for “Rejoice,” after the first word of the Entrance Antiphon for today: “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice.”
PREPARATION FOR CHRISTMAS
As we prepare for Christmas, John the Baptist reminds us to: “prepare the way of the Lord.” God is coming to save us, to rescue us from sin, fear, unhappiness and death. And the Baptist tells us: “be content;” an attitude of contentment may not be in tune with our consumerist society, but it does bring happiness and the freedom to enjoy what we have. Jesus tells us that life is more than food and clothes, more than material goods. Christmas is a time of giving, giving presents to those we love, giving gifts to those in need, a time of sharing, giving of our surplus to ensure others have food and clothes, have the basic necessities of life.
Religious observance without generous giving is worthless, and of course it is more blessed to give than to receive. We wish each other “Happy Christmas,” and St Paul says to us today that God wants us to be happy. “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice.”
We pray for peace and joy this Christmas, and may the peace of Christ renew our minds and guard our hearts throughout the coming year.
Confessions: each morning this week after the 10.00 am Mass,
Christmas Penitential Services: Next weekend Saturday 22nd after 6pm vigil Mass, 
and Sunday 23rd December after 10.00 am & 12.00 noon Masses. A number of priests will be available for Confessions as we prepare for the coming of the Christ Child at Christmas. We are all in need of forgiveness. God knows that deep down in our hearts we want to turn more fully to him. He offers us this most wonderful gift, the assurance that no matter how we have failed his forgiveness is there for us all.
Christmas Masses:
Christmas Eve: 6.00 pm & 10.00pm.
Christmas Day: 9.00 am, 10.00 am and 12.00 noon
(note the extra Mass at 9.00 am).
St. Stephen’s Day: 10.00 am.
Memorial Acclamation (response to “The Mystery of Faith”) for the coming year:
My Lord and my God.
Infant Jesus Sunday (Bambinelli Sunday):
Families are invited to bring their crib figure of the Infant Jesus to Mass this weekend for blessing. After the blessing take your figure home and gift wrap it and place it under the Christmas tree so that on Christmas morning it is the first gift the family open for Christmas, and it is then placed in your family crib.
Exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament: after 10.00 am Mass to 11.00 am on the Wednesdays of Advent.
Morning Prayer on Fridays of Advent:Morning Prayer of the Church (Lauds) after 10.00 am Mass on each Friday of Advent. This takes less than ten minutes, leaflets for everyone.
Parish Christmas & Triduum Cards will be available in the Parish Office after Masses. The Triduum of Masses will be offered on 23, 24, 25 December.
Christmas gifts with a difference. Trocaire Gifts and Gift Cards will be available at the back of the Church from members of the Parish Assembly during the Sundays of Advent.
Trocaire Christmas Appeal
‘Do not let the downtrodden retreat in confusion, give the poor and needy cause to praise your name.’ Ps 74:21.
Millions of people have had to flee conflict in South Sudan and Yemen. In an area alone in northern Uganda, 33,000 women and children from South Sudan have arrived traumatised and broken. Trocaire’s Christmas Appeal will help these people and many others rebuild their lives. Visit www.trocaire.org <http://www.trocaire.org> to find out more.
Ministers of the Word may collect their Rota from the Sacristy.
Ministers of the Word may collect their Missal for 2019 from the Sacristy.
Deaths: We pray for Joseph Galway, Connolly Road, and Kathleen Desmond, St Anthony Villas, Friars Walk, who died recently. We extend our sympathy to their families.
Congregational Singing. We continue to select Entrance and Recessional hymns suitable for congregational singing, and would encourage (with the emphasis on courage!) everybody to join in.
Walk with Me: A journey of prayer for Advent & Christmastide 2018. Copies of the excellent booklet Walk with Me are available after Masses at the back of the Church (Cost €1.30).
Altar Decoration for Christmas: If you would like to give a Red Poinsettia plant to decorate the Altar for Christmas, it would be much appreciated.
Giving Sunday: The third Sunday of Advent is when Santa will help our local St. Vincent de Paul Society and Santa’s Giving Tree is in place. Instead of toys, we request non-perishable foods to help struggling families. Any of the following items – tea, coffee, sugar, Tayto, chocolates, selection boxes, biscuits, soup, may be placed at the Santa Tree in the Church (no toys). The members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society will collect them after the Masses
Frankfield Gospel Choir presents “JOY” an evening of festive favourites for all the family, Sunday 16th December at 5.00pm, Church of the Incarnation, Frankfield (donations at the door in aid of St. Vincent De Paul).