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Abbeylara Parish Bulletin – 4th Sunday of Advent. 24th December 2023
Priest on Duty: Fr. Michael Campbell
Phone 043 6686270. 086 8718999. www.abbeylaraparish.com Email. abbeylaraparish@eircom.net
St. Bernard’s: Saturday 23rd & Sunday 24th December
23rd 7.30 p.m. Parishioners’ Intentions
24th 11.00 a.m. Pat Joe Donohoe, Months Memory, Springtown & Luton.
Francie Sheridan, Springtown, Funeral Mass.
St. Mary’s: Sunday 24th December
9.30 a.m. Parishioners’ Intentions.
St. Bernard’s: Saturday 30th & Sunday 31st h December
7.30 p.m. Mary Jo Lynch, Toneymore, Months Memory.
11.00 a.m. Deirdre Reynolds (A) Ballinacross and all the deceased members of the Reynolds and Boyle Families.
St. Mary: Sunday 31st December
9.30 a.m. Johnny Donohoe, (2nd A) Creevy.
Christmas Eve Sunday 24th Dec. & Christmas Day Monday 25th Dec. Masses as follows:
St. Mary’s Carra: Sunday 24th Dec. Christmas Eve 7.30 p.m. Mary Nicholson. (A)
St. Bernard’s, Christmas Eve. Sunday 24th 9.30 p.m. Parishioners’ Intentions.
St. Mary’s, Christmas Day 9.30 a.m. Johnny Mahon, (42nd A)
St. Bernard’s, Abbeylara: – Christmas Day 11.00 a.m. Parishioners’ Intentions.
Weekday Masses: St. Bernard’s.
No Weekday Masses Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Friday7.30 p.m. Thomas (37th A) and Nancy (17th A) Walsh, Toneymore and all the deceased members of their Families
Rosary: The Rosary is recited each evening before Mass in Carra and Abbeylara Church. Please join in.
Death: Your prayers are requested for the happy repose of the soul of Francie Sheridan, Springtown, died Thursday 21st December. May he rest in peace.
Pioneers: Pioneers around the world are invited to attend Mass next Wednesday 27 December and to prayerfully mark the 125th anniversary of the foundation of the Association in 1898. Mass and prayers will be live-streamed on that day at 10am (Irish time) around the world via www.pioneerassociation.org.
Feast Days:
Tuesday – St. Stephen.
Wednesday – St. John, Apostlle
Thursday –The Holy Innocents.
Friday – St. Thomas Beckett.
Sunday 31st – The Hoy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
Collections: Offertory Dec. –€643; Cemetery – €30; Heating -€30: Thank you.
Abbeylara Parish Centre: The Committee would like to wish our community a very Merry Christmas. Your continued support and help is appreciated and is vital for the running of the centre. We look forward to welcoming you all back in 2024.
Christmas Message from Bishop Paul.
We speak a great deal in Advent about the coming of the light. – as Isaiah puts it – for your light has come, the glory of the Lord has come upon you. What light? The light that has made itself visible in the flesh, in this tiny infant in the crib. We are attracted by the same light that enveloped the shepherds and was the guide for the Magi on their journey. This is the light that was in the world from the beginning and by which the world was made. The message of Christmas as St John puts it – the true light which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. And elsewhere in St John – I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life. The feast of Christmas is full of Christian hope, the light will overcome the darkness in our lives.
And as we ponder on this message at this Christmas time we are all too conscious of how at times we feel surrounded by darkness. There is so much war and destruction in our world, in Ukraine, in Yemen, in Sudan, in Burma and especially in Gaza, the very heart of the Holy Land. Truly we are witnessing yet again the slaughter of the innocents. So much evil. And then there is the darkness in our own lives, the darkness of addiction of various kinds, the threat to human life at its beginning and now mooted for the end of life, the misery of loneliness and the hatred that comes from racism, misunderstanding and ignorance. So much darkness that we can feel overwhelmed. But the message of Christmas is a beacon of hope, the light will always overcome the darkness. Evil will not prevail. The Lord is near, have no fear. This Christmas we are invited yet again to welcome Jesus, the light of truth, hope and love into our lives. Let us make him this Christmas the Lord of our life and let us commit ourselves once again to walking the journey of life with Him.
Christmas Card / New Year Calendar: Each home should by now have received their Christmas Card/Calendar, if not there are some available in our Churches. You may wish to send one to people belonging to you, living elsewhere. You are welcome to take some for these people living away from home.
Contact/Keeping in Touch: Christmas Greetings with prayers to all our people away from home.
Welcome: – To those who are coming home for Christmas, to those with us for their first Christmas, to Foreign Nationalists living among us and to those visiting among us.
Christmas Greetings and Gratitude: Thank you all very much for your support to our Parish which is important and appreciated. My Holy Mass and prayers during Christmas will be offered for each of you and all your intentions.
Christmas Wishes: A very happy Christmas of peace and joy and a blessed New Year is my wish for each of you at home and away this Christmas.
Fr. Michael
