Entrance Hymn: As I kneel before you

Lent begins next Wednesday with the blessing and distribution of ashes at the 10.00 am Mass

priest and lamb the throne is thine

king whose reign shall never cease

prince or everlasting peace

Refrain

Angels saints and nations sing

praised be Jesus Christ our king

Lord of life, earth, sky and sea

king of love on Calvary

Rule our hearts, our minds, our wills;

Till in peace, each nation rings

With thy praises, King of kings.

Refrain

Entrance Hymn: As I kneel before you

Life Issues:

Valuing every life in every condition
We believe that an absolute commitment to dignity, value and right to life of every person – at every stage and in every condition of life – is vital for the sustaining of a vibrant, hope-filled cohesive, flourishing society.  This commitment must be part of our political dialogue and the actions of those whom we elect.  Over recent years, we have witnessed a diminution in the respect for human life in our political discourse.  The value of people’s lives seems to be calculated as if it were simply part of a cost-benefit analysis.  Where is the hope in this? In recent years we have witnessed the introduction of a very liberal abortion law in Ireland.  Since the introduction of the legislation in 2018, 40,000 abortions have been carried out in Ireland.  And some politicians want to make it even more liberal.  Now we have efforts being made to make legislative provision for ‘assisted dying’ in Ireland.  A recent report from an Oireachtas Committee has made recommendations to the incoming Government that assisted dying be allowed in certain, restricted circumstances.  We totally reject that recommendation because a fundamental principle of civilised society is that no person can lawfully take the life of another. 

Assisted Suicide

The Irish Bishops have issued the following statement:

“Assisted suicide, far from being an expression of autonomy, is a failure of care.  By legislating for assisted suicide or euthanasia, the State would contribute to undermining the confidence of people who are terminally ill, who want to be cared for and want to live life as fully as possible until death naturally comes. In our culture, we rightly hold doctors and nurses in high esteem because they are presumed always to be at the service of life, for as long as their patient lives.  We call on Catholics to stand firmly in support of nurses and doctors who stand for life.  One day it may be your life.”

Life of the Unborn The Pro Life Movement in Ireland is offering an online information session. These are the details:

“Ireland, Abortion and Advocating for Life in 2025”
Hosted by the Pro Life Campaign. March 3rd 7.30pm-8.30pm.
Online free information event, register at prolifecampaign.ie/events

Recent Death: Finbarr Murphy, Doyle Rd. May he rest in peace. We offer our sympathy and prayers to his family, friends and neighbours.

A Mhuire Mháthair

priest and lamb the throne is thine

king whose reign shall never cease

prince or everlasting peace

Refrain

Angels saints and nations sing

praised be Jesus Christ our king

Lord of life, earth, sky and sea

king of love on Calvary

Rule our hearts, our minds, our wills;

Till in peace, each nation rings

With thy praises, King of kings.

Refrain

Entrance Hymn: As I kneel before you

Ceremony of Light

The Ceremony of Light for the young people receiving the sacrament of Confirmation this year will take place on Tuesday at the 10.00 Mass.

The Ceremony of Light is a pre-Confirmation ceremony and is an important event in preparing the children for Confirmation. A key part of the service is when parents hand the lighted Baptismal candle to their child, acknowledging that their child is now ready to become a responsible Christian.

Preparing your child for First Communion and Confirmation

Setting up a Prayer Space in your home:

A prayer or sacred space is a small area in which you can place symbols that help your child to sense and express that God is present in their lives. Children often use their sacred space at home as an area for the “holy objects” that they accumulate from home, school, relations and parish. It doesn’t have to be complicated. A window sill or corner of a table will do. Place a coloured cloth here with a Candle and any other sacred symbols that appeal to your child. Talk with them about the meaning of the objects & symbols they are placing in their sacred space. They can be changed with the different seasons eg. at Christmas and Easter. N.B. Always supervise children around lighting candles.

Suggestions for praying with your child

·       Use the prayers your child is learning at school

·       Ensure that they can pray the Hail Mary and the Our Father

·       Say a grace before meals when you sit down to eat as a family.

·       Encourage them to pray for friends & relatives.

·       Pray with your child before they go to sleep at night. This is a lovely time to talk over their day and to thank God for the good things in our lives and to ask God to bless all the people we love.

Confirmation ceremony 2025: Monday, 24 March

The ceremony this year will be celebrated by Bishop Fintan Gavin. This will be his first celebration of Confirmation in this parish.

Second Collection Today: The annual collection in support of our diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes will be taken up at Masses this weekend.

A Mhuire Mháthair

priest and lamb the throne is thine

king whose reign shall never cease

prince or everlasting peace

Refrain

Angels saints and nations sing

praised be Jesus Christ our king

Lord of life, earth, sky and sea

king of love on Calvary

Rule our hearts, our minds, our wills;

Till in peace, each nation rings

With thy praises, King of kings.

Refrain

Entrance Hymn: Hail, Queen of Heaven

Our Lady of Lourdes. Tuesday, 11^th February

In the year 1858 Our Lady appeared to Bernadette Soubirous, a 14 year old girl. This is St Bernadette’s account of the first apparition on 11^th February:

One day, when I had gone with two other girls to collect wood by the bank of the river Gave, I heard a sound. I turned toward the meadow and saw that the trees were not moving at all. I looked up and saw a grotto. And I saw a Lady wearing a white dress with a blue sash. On each foot she had a yellow rose; her rosary was the same colour. When I saw her, I rubbed my eyes, I thought I must be mistaken. I put my hands in my pocket, where I kept my rosary. I wanted to make the sign of the cross, but I could not lift my hand to my forehead; it fell back. Then the Lady crossed herself. I again tried, and although my hand was trembling, I was eventually able to make the sign of the cross. I began to say my rosary. The Lady slipped the beads of her rosary through her fingers, but she did not move her lips. When I finished the rosary, she immediately disappeared.

This was the first of 18 apparitions to Bernadette at Lourdes. The Lady identified herself as the Immaculate Conception. Of course the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception had been promulgated only four years earlier, in 1854. The messages Bernadette received can be summarised as threefold: prayer, penance, and the Eucharist. Our Lady told the young girl to go to the parish priest and ask that a church be built in that place. Bernadette wasn’t kindly received and she simply replied to the aggressive PP: I was asked to tell you, not to make you believe it! Her wisdom confirmed her authenticity.

Parish Assembly meets tomorrow, Monday, at 8.00 pm

Sacrament of Anointing will be offered on Tuesday at the 10.00 am Mass.

Dates for our family of parishes:

The meetings of the Parish Assemblies and Finance Committees of Christ the King, Douglas and Frankfield parishes will take place on three consecutive  Mondays:  17^th February; 24^th February; 3^rd March, at 7.00 pm in the parish centre in St Columba’s, Douglas.

Book Launch: Pulmonary Fibrosis book launch–Saturday 15th February 7pm Douglas ICA Hall 

Senior Citizens Dinner at Nemo: TODAY, Sunday, 9^th February, at 3.00 pm. All welcome; no charge. Ring 021 4291038 or 086 3014461

Recent Deaths The deaths have occurred of Michael (Mikey) O’Neill, Blackrock; Margaret Harrington, Capwell Rd. May they rest in peace. We sympathise with their families.

With heart and hands and voices,

Who wondrous things has done,

In whom his world rejoices;

Who from our mothers’ arms

Has blessed us on our way

With countless gifts of love,

And still is ours today

Through all our life be near us,

With ever joyful hearts

And blessed peace to cheer us,

To keep us in his grace,

And guide us when perplexed,

And free us from all ills

Of this world and the next.

Entrance Hymn: Holy God, we praise thy name

The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple

Mary and Joseph must have pondered the words of Simeon and Anna, wondering what this meant for their child. They, like most new parents, probably had dreams for him but the prophecy of Simeon, and the words of Anna sounded somewhat ominous. Incidentally, the custom of blessing candles today comes from the fact in ancient Rome, the “station” for the Mass today was a church in the ruins of the Forum (Santa Maria in Foro) and, since it was in the middle of winter, it was dark and people needed the candles to find their way among the ruins. The devotion to the young Jesus, the Light of the World, presents him as one who overcomes the darkness

When new parents bring their precious bundle home from its birthing place, they feel that their child is the most precious baby in the world and they begin imaging all the great things this child will accomplish. As they share their dreams for their child with family and friends, there is always someone ready to throw a wet blanket on their hopes and remind them of the cost of child-rearing, both in financial and energy terms. The visitor would be better advised to say how lucky they are to have this precious bundle. S/he could then add this bit of advice, “Love your child with all your heart and soul. Encourage him/her in whatever interests s/he displays. If you do that, you will be great parents. But if you try to live out your dreams through what you child does or accomplishes, you will only be frustrated when your child makes his or her own life choices, especially if they are not the ones you had hoped to see.

Blessing of Throats

The blessing of throats will take place at the 10.00 Mass tomorrow, the memorial of St Blaise, bishop and martyr. He died in 315, having been bishop of Sebaste. Tradition states that he was a physician before becoming a bishop. Since the eight century he has been venerated as patron of those who suffer from disease of the throat. Hence the tradition of having our throats blessed on his feast. The candles blessed at Mass on the feast of the Presentation are used in the blessing.

Dates for our family of parishes:

The meetings of the Parish Assemblies and Finance Committees of Christ the King, Douglas and Frankfield parishes will take place on three consecutive  Mondays:  17^th February; 24^th February; 3^rd March, at 7.00 pm in the parish centre in St Columba’s, Douglas.

Coffee Morning on Tuesday, 4^th February in the Parish Centre. All welcome.

First Wednesday Prayers will be led today at 10.00 am by the Legion of Mary.

Senior Citizens Dinner at Nemo: Sunday, 9^th February, at 3.00 pm. All welcome; no charge. Ring 021 4291038 or 086 3014461

Sacrament of Anointing will be offered on Tuesday, 11 February, at the 10.00 am Mass. This is the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.

With heart and hands and voices,

Who wondrous things has done,

In whom his world rejoices;

Who from our mothers’ arms

Has blessed us on our way

With countless gifts of love,

And still is ours today

Through all our life be near us,

With ever joyful hearts

And blessed peace to cheer us,

To keep us in his grace,

And guide us when perplexed,

And free us from all ills

Of this world and the next.

Entrance Hymn: Holy God, we praise thy name

Year of Prayer, Listening and Discernment

 Family of Parish Gatherings – Next Steps:

Over the next four months all the Parishes and Families of Parishes of our Diocese will be involved in the next stage of our Year of Prayer, Listening and Discernment. This will involve representatives of each Parish Leadership Team participating in 3 meetings over 3 weeks reflecting on the questions posed in Bishop Fintan’s invitation in September. Since September, people individually and in Parishes have been praying the Diocesan Prayer from the Boat. As we continue to pray this prayer together, we pray for the success of these gatherings and we pray that the Holy Spirit will guide us as together we try to pray, listen and discern God’s future for our Church.

Dates for our family of parishes:

The meetings of the Parish Assemblies and Finance Committees of Christ the King, Douglas and Frankfield parishes will take place on three consecutive  Mondays:  17^th February; 24^th February; 3^rd March, at 7.00 pm in the parish centre in St Columba’s, Douglas.

Congratulations and best wishes to Turner’s Cross native, Deputy Micheal Martin, on his election as Taoiseach.

Senior Citizens Dinner at Nemo: Sunday, 9^th February, at 3.00 pm. All welcome; no charge. Ring 021 4291038 or 086 3014461

Introducing Luke’s Gospel  (Luke 1: 1-4; 4:14-21)

St Luke will be our evangelist for Sunday Mass this year.  Today’s Gospel might well be called “Introductions”.  In separate extracts we have Luke’s introduction to his writing (Luke 1:1-4), followed by his introduction to the public ministry of Jesus (Luke 4:14-21). Like the opening bars of a great symphony, the first words that each evangelist puts on the lips of Jesus announce the major theme of that particular Gospel.  Matthew and Mark quote Jesus announcing that the time has come for the establishment of the kingdom of God.  In John, the first words of Jesus are an invitation, “Come and see.” In Luke’s Gospel the first words of Jesus are about the Holy Spirit.  He reads from the scroll of Isaiah. The Spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for he has anointed me.  He sent me to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives and to blind new sight, to set the downtrodden free, to proclaim the Lord’s year of favour. Luke is the evangelist of the Holy Spirit.  Even in the infancy narrative, the Spirit was active in Mary, Elizabeth, Zechariah, and Simeon.  John the Baptist promised that Jesus would baptise with the Holy Spirit and fire.  Luke’s second writing, the Acts of the Apostles, might well be called the Acts of the Holy Spirit in the early Church.

Recent Deaths: The deaths have occurred of: Carmel O’Regan, late of Capwell Road; Maureen O’Leary, Curragh Road; Kay Twomey, Lower Friars Road. May they rest in peace. We sympathise with their families.

With heart and hands and voices,

Who wondrous things has done,

In whom his world rejoices;

Who from our mothers’ arms

Has blessed us on our way

With countless gifts of love,

And still is ours today

Through all our life be near us,

With ever joyful hearts

And blessed peace to cheer us,

To keep us in his grace,

And guide us when perplexed,

And free us from all ills

Of this world and the next.

Entrance Hymn: Holy God, we praise thy name

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

18^th to 25^th January

This year’s theme: Do you believe this?

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is a response to Christ’s prayer “that they all may be one” (John 17:21). It is an eight-day period of prayer in which all Christians are invited to participate.

         This year the ecumenical celebration has been prepared by the community of Bose, an ecumenical monastery of brothers and sisters in northern Italy. As we celebrate 1,700 years since the Council of Nicaea (325), the worship service has at its heart, the Nicene Creed. Reflecting this, the scripture readings for this year focus on belief.

We are invited to reflect on the story of Martha’s confession of faith in Jesus as narrated in John 11:17-27. Each is called to sit with Jesus’ provocative question to Martha: “Do you believe this?”

Click on the link for the official booklet:  

https://ctbi.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/WP”CU-2025-English-Pamphlet-for-website.pdf

Much progress has been made in the last 100 years to bring all Christians together. One good example is the fact that the Baptism celebrated by all Christian denominations is mutually recognized. This means that if a Methodist wants to become a Catholic (or vice versa) the Baptism they received in their ‘mother’ church is accepted by the ‘adoptive’ church.

The Council of Nicea 325

This was the first Council of the Church and its teaching is accepted by all Christian denominations. So it is a strong basis on which to focus the week of prayer for Christian unity. Furthermore, this year is the 1700 anniversary of Nicea. The issue in question was that Jesus Christ was not fully divine, not equal to the Father. This view is particularly associated with Arianism. Arius (260-336) was a priest of Alexandria in Egypt who, quite late in life (318-320), provoked hostile reactions due to his teaching about the Son of God. Arius preached that Jesus was just a creature. The Father is the only God and the Son is inferior to him, created out of nothing before the world was made: ‘There was a time when he was not.’

            The religious turmoil was now becoming a political problem and the Emperor Constantine called a Council, the first oecumenical council of the Church. The Council of Nicea  taught that the Son was of the same substance as the Father, ‘consubstantial’ with the Father (homoousios). He is ‘of the substance of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one substance with the Father.’ The Council rejected the belief that the Son was created and that there was a time when he was not. The Son is co-eternal with the Father.

            Nicea marked the birth of a language that is properly dogmatic in the Church. It was the first time that an official and normative ecclesial text used words that didn’t come from Scripture, but from Greek philosophy.

Second Collection Today is for Diocesan Needs.

With heart and hands and voices,

Who wondrous things has done,

In whom his world rejoices;

Who from our mothers’ arms

Has blessed us on our way

With countless gifts of love,

And still is ours today

Through all our life be near us,

With ever joyful hearts

And blessed peace to cheer us,

To keep us in his grace,

And guide us when perplexed,

And free us from all ills

Of this world and the next.

Entrance Hymn: O Come, all ye faithful

The Origins of Baptism

The practice of Baptism goes back to the very origins of the Christian Church. First, there was the ministry of John the Baptist. The ritual washing at that stage was only a prefiguring of the Christian sacrament. John’s ritual was all about forgiveness of sin in order to escape the wrath of God at the end of the world, which many people of the time thought was imminent. Jesus was baptised by John to identify with sinful humanity, though he was without sin himself.  As a result, from then on, the ritual began to have a new meaning. The heavens were opened; the Father spoke; the Holy Spirit descended (Mk 1:9-11). The ritual was radically changed: the presence of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit make it a Trinitarian experience.

The basic reality of Baptism lies in the fact that people are not born Christians; they have to become Christians. Baptism is the beginning of that process. It is not a once off, an end in itself; it is the gateway to Christianity and the door of the Church. 

St Paul gives us a profound and mysterious notion of the grace of Baptism. For the Apostle the death and resurrection of Christ form the watershed from which all the graces of salvation come to us (Rom 4:25). Our Baptism is our first immersion in that mystery of Christ’s death and resurrection (Rom 6:3-6). As Paul understands it, we share in Christ’s death by dying to our old selves, and we are said to rise with him by coming to share in the graces of his risen life. There is further evidence of this understanding of baptism in the Pauline corpus; it occurs in Colossians: ‘When you were buried with him in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead’ (Colossians 2:12). Full immersion in water is the symbol of entering into the death of Christ and rising with him. The term baptism is derived from the Greek baptizein, meaning to immerse, to plunge.

            Here in the parish of Christ the King we celebrate infant baptisms on the first and third Saturday of the month, at 4.30 pm. Application forms are available from the sacristy. In preparation for that important event we have a meeting with the parents in the Parish Centre about a fortnight before the ceremony. This gives parents the opportunity to reflect on the decision they are taking in relation to their child. Baptism should be requested when parents want to raise their child in the Catholic faith. Just because it is customary to have a baby baptised is not sufficient reason to apply for the sacrament of baptism. As a community we pray that the sacrament of baptism celebrated here in 2025 will be a genuine initiation of a new Christian.

Parish Assembly meets tomorrow Monday 13^th January

Second Collection Next Sunday is for Diocesan Needs.

Local Writer’s Course for all levels starting on Wednesday 15th January 2025 8-10pm: 6-week In-person course. Write Poems & Stories. Refreshments served each week

Phone Martin 0876007100 

(SMA Wilton Parish Community Centre )

2.          Hark! the herald angels sing,
Glory to the new-born king!

Christ, the everlasting Lord,

Late in time behold him come,

Offspring of the virgin’s womb;

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;

Hail the incarnate deity,

Pleased as man with man to dwell,

Jesus, our Emmanuel.

Entrance Hymn: O Come, all ye faithful

Jubilee Year of Hope

The Jubilee has its origins in an ancient biblical tradition (Leviticus).  Every 50th year was celebrated as a time for setting slaves free, for forgiving debts, and for allowing the land to rest.  In our Christian tradition the Jubilee has a strong focus on reconciliation and renewal, including reaching out to people on the margins.  It is normally celebrated every 25 years, so that more people can celebrate it at least once in a lifetime.  Already in Ireland, many different groups: clergy, religious various ministries and lay apostolates, are preparing to celebrate specific jubilee occasions locally and in Rome over the year ahead. 

Monday, 6^th Janurary Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

Holy Day of Obligation. Mass here at 10.00 am

Coffee Morning Tuesday 7^th January after the 10.00 am Mass

Senior Citizens Dinner: Nemo 5^th January: 0214291038 No Charge

Recent Death The death has occurred of Fr Michael Carroll, Capwell Road, a priest of the diocese of Sacramento in California.  We pray for Fr Mike and his family. Leaba i measc na naomh go raibh aige..

Christ, the everlasting Lord,

Late in time behold him come,

Offspring of the virgin’s womb;

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;

Hail the incarnate deity,

Pleased as man with man to dwell,

Jesus, our Emmanuel.

Entrance Hymn: O Come, all ye faithful

Happy New Year

I wish you every blessing, good health and freedom from needless worry in 2025. The future is always uncertain. We rely on God’s providence to lead us into the future with hope, hope being the theme of the Jubilee Year, opened by Pope Francis on Christmas Eve.

Thanks

Very many people helped to make our celebration of Christmas so special. We are most impressed that the parish community came together with such generosity of spirit to prepare the Church for this great feast and to give of their talents and service to ensure that our Masses were memorable celebrations. May the graces of Christmas enrich all our lives and prepare us to enter into the New Year with courage and hope.

A special word of thanks for the generous response to the collection at Christmas Masses. The Christmas collection is a pivotal part of the priests’ income. May I also take this opportunity to thank parishioners for their contribution to the Autumn Dues.

Launching the Jubilee Year of Hope

What is the Jubilee Year?

A Jubilee Year is a special time of grace and spiritual renewal, rooted in the tradition of the Church and celebrated every 25 years. It is a time for pilgrimage, prayer, reconciliation, and hope. The Holy Father has called us to become “Pilgrims of Hope,” journeying together in faith as witnesses of God’s steadfast love in a world longing for healing and peace.

The Launch of the Jubilee Year: January 6, 2025:

We will formally launch the Jubilee Year in the Diocese of Cork and Ross on the Solemnity of the Epiphany, January 6th, 2025, with Mass in St. Mary and St. Anne’s Cathedral. I invite all parishes to join in prayer and celebration on this day, marking the beginning of this sacred year.

Integration with the Year of Prayer, Listening, and Discernment:

In our diocese, the Jubilee Year will be deeply integrated into the ongoing Year of Prayer, Listening, and Discernment. The theme “Pilgrims of Hope” resonates strongly with our collective discernment, as we continue listening to the Spirit, fostering hope for the future of our diocese, and renewing our commitment to mission.

New Year’s Day: Wednesday 1^st January. Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God.  Mass at 10.00 am. This is not a Holy Day of Obligation.

Senior Citizens Dinner: Nemo 5^th January: 0214291038 No Charge

Recent Deaths The deaths have occurred of Mary O’Connell, McSwiney Villas; William (Bill) Collins, Kinsale Tce. We pray for them and we sympathise with their families.

2.          Hark! the herald angels sing,
Glory to the new-born king!

Christ, the everlasting Lord,

Late in time behold him come,

Offspring of the virgin’s womb;

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;

Hail the incarnate deity,

Pleased as man with man to dwell,

Jesus, our Emmanuel.