THANK YOU
There are many families and individuals 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 2019 dawns we would like to thank you for your help and support.  Those to whom special thanks are due include those who care for the Church and clean it every week, look after the flowers and altar linens; those who put up the Crib, Easter and Remembrance Gardens and decorate the sanctuary so beautifully. those who help in administration, the Sacristan, members of the Parish Finance Committee, the Safeguarding Representatives, the Church Collectors and Parish Dues Area Collectors.  Special thanks are due this year to Sharon O’Sullivan and Sheila Anne Twomey who worked so hard on the renovation of the Parish Centre.  those who help in the Parish Pastoral Mission, members of the Parish Pastoral Assembly, our Parish Catechist Bernadette Hegarty, our parishioner Deacon Frank McKevitt, our Ministers of Word and Eucharist, the Altar Servers and their Parents, the Choir and the Parish Funeral and Baptismal Teams, and Sr. Karen and Fr. Charlie from the Pastoral Development Office who have been so helpful.   The congregation for your generosity in the offertory collection each week for the upkeep of the Church and payment of staff. We thank all who contributed so generously during 2018 to Trocaire Christmas Gift Cards, to the Trocaire Lenten Campaign, and to all the special collections.
 Thanks also to Christ the King Conference of the Society of St Vincent de Paul, to St. Joseph’s Young Priests Society and the Legion of Mary.

2019 Parish Calendars are available at the back of the church. Please consider taking one for a housebound neighbour or friend.

Alpha Course
Explore:       life,   faith,  meaning
Turner’s Cross Parish Alpha 2019 starts on Wed. 30th January.

                                          Invitation
 We invite you to try Alpha with us on Wednesday evenings from 7.30 to 9.00 pm at the Parish Centre.  This session caters especially for young adults (20’s – 30’s), but all are welcome regardless of age.
Sessions begin with some hot food – come along on the first evening and see what you think!  Each Alpha is limited to 20 people.
Alpha is a 10-week experience covering such topics as Who is Jesus? Why did Jesus die? How does God guide us? and Why and How do I pray? Alpha is relaxed, non-threatening, low key friendly and fun. Alpha can help us to deepen our relationship with the Lord.
What is involved?
We begin every session by chatting with one another over a cup of tea/ coffee.  Then we watch a DVD and hear an interesting talk.  After that we divide into groups and discuss some of the questions relevant to the teaching.
Comment made on completion of an Alpha Course in Glasthule:
I found a community that I did not know was available to me as a young person.   I have friends for life now.
Cost?
Alpha is free – so why not come along and give it a try.
Contact Br Andrew at 086 1522160

NEW YEAR RESOLUTION
New Year is a time for reflection and of course New Year Resolutions. Some of us tend to make the same resolutions we made last year, and hope for a better hit rate this time around. As a parish we can look forward together to 2019, and reflect on the role of the parish in our lives.   Last year was a difficult year for the Church and for faith in Ireland and it is clear that there are problems ahead.  If we ignore those problems and do nothing, then nothing will happen, and the slow decline will continue.
So, what should we do, what can we do?  Perhaps for a start we might consider making a new year resolution to take up Pope Francis’ invitation of a few years ago: I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting him encounter you.
 Jesus says to us: you shall be my witnesses (Acts 1:8), and we are called to be witnesses of God’s wonderful love. In the period up to Easter of this year we will consider in prayer what practical steps are open to us as a parish to be faithful to the mission the Lord has given to each of.

 Deaths:  We pray for Breda Murphy, Blarney and Pat McCarthy (nee Dineen), (Rockfort, Upton) who died recently.  We extend our sympathy to their families.