1st December 2013 First Sunday in Advent

Newsletter for the Parishes of Saggart - Rathcoole - Brittas & Newcastle Parish Team Fr. Enda Cunningham PP St Mary’s Parochial House Saggart. Tel: 4589209 Mob: 087-1380695 Fr. Aidan Kieran CC 1 The Glebe Peamount Road Newcastle. Tel: 4589230 Mob: 087-6397744 Fr. Aloysius Zuribo C.C. c/o The Parish Office St. Mary’s Parochial House Tel: 4589209 Parish Pastoral Worker Mr Sean O’Rourke c/o The Parish Office St. Mary’s Parochial House Tel: 4589209 Mob:087-0540695 Fr. Michael Shortall PC 87 Beechwood Lawns Rathcoole Tel: 4587187 Mob: 087 -2861765 Fr. Michael McGowan PC 7 St. Patrick’s Crescent, Rathcoole Tel: 4589210 Parish Secretary Martina Hopkins The Parish Office St. Mary’s Parochial House Opening Hours: 9.30-1.30 Monday to Friday Tel: 4589209 www.saggartparish.com [email protected]

Eucharistic Adoration Holy Family Church Rathcoole Every Friday 7.30 – 8.30pm Items for Newsletter If you have any items for the newsletter, please contact the Parish Office or email to the addresses given below. Please indicate clearly that the items are for inclusion in the Parish Newsletter. Many thanks. [email protected] or

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We pray for Cathleen Connolly (Newcastle) Sr.Concepta Rose Williams (Glasgow and Tootenhill) who are recently deceased. We extend our deepest sympathies to their families and friends. Holy Family Church Rathcoole 25th Anniversary Mass Sunday 1st December, 12.00 Noon Holy Family Church, Rathcoole was dedicated in the Autumn of 1988, so this year the silver jubilee of the church occurs. We will celebrate this milestone at the 12 Noon Mass on Sunday 1st December. Bishop Eamonn Walsh will be the main celebrant of the Mass. It promises to be a wonderful occasion, so make sure and put the date in your diary. The Mass will be a little bit longer than usual, but it will be a great experience. St Finian’s Church, 5th December 7.30pm We Are Go For Launch! Unveiling of Church of Ireland Plaque Launch of St. Finian’s NS CD Launch of Bicentenary Commemorative Book The book commemorating 200 years of St Finian’s Church will be launched in St Finian’s Community Hall on Thursday December 5th at 9pm. With 250 colourful pages, it includes a history of the church, local history from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, recollections, over 200 photographs and a diary of events that marked the bicentenary year. There are just 25 copies of a limited edition of the hardback book still available for sale. These can be ordered from Bridget Breen (086/1762532), Eileen O’Connor (086/0773340) or any member of the Bicentenary Book Committee. On the same evening, at 7.35pm, there will be a concert in St Finian’s Church to launch the National School’s Festive Album. And there’s even more...Newcastle Church of Ireland parishioners have donated a plaque for St. Finian’s to commemorate the bicentenary. This plaque will be presented and unveiled in the church by Geoffrey McMaster on behalf of the Church of Ireland community at 7.30pm on this evening. All welcome. A community evening not to be missed! Crosscare Advent Food Appeal Beginning this week, parishioners can bring to Sunday Masses during Advent, donations of non-perishable food and hygiene products, for distribution by Crosscare to those in need. Archbishop Martin launched this appeal on the feast of St. Laurence O’Toole, because Crosscare cannot cope with the demand for food this winter, such is the level of poverty in our community at present. Types of food urgently needed include: pasta/rice, fruit juice, tea/ coffee, soup, sugar, powdered milk, tinned meat/fish, tinned veg/ fruit, packaged desserts, biscuits and hygiene products. Please ensure that any food you bring is non-perishable. Thank you for your generosity. Next Weekend: Annual Collection St. Vincent de Paul Society

Mass Schedule Saggart: Sunday: 9 am & 11.30 am Weekday: 9.30 am Rathcoole: Saturday Vigil: 6.30 p.m. Sunday: 10 am & 12.00 pm Weekday: 9.30 am Saturday: 10.00 am Brittas: Sunday: 10.30 am Newcastle: Saturday Vigil: 7.00 p.m. Sunday: 10.30 am Weekday: 10.00am Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri. Confession Saggart: Friday, after 9.30am Mass Rathcoole: Saturday after 10.00am Mass Newcastle: Saturday after 7.00pm Mass Baptism Saggart 2.00pm Sunday Rathcoole 4.00 pm Saturday Newcastle 2nd Saturday 4pm Last Sunday 2pm Please contact the Parish Office Marriage Please contact the Parish Office

Missing Persons Day Spare a thought on the Wednesday, 4th December for all missing people and their families, by saying a prayer or by lighting a candle on the day. If you have any information on a Missing Person, please contact the Gardaí or The Missing Persons Helpline on 1890 442 552 or [email protected].

ReNewcastle Community Group Light Up Newcastle – “Switch On” Event Sunday 1st December 5pm to 6pm St. Finian’s Community Centre Includes festive light refreshments, entertainment and a special appearance from Santa! Mass with Anointing of the Sick Newcastle, Saturday 7th December, 2.00pm The Sacrament of the Sick will be offered in St. Finian’s Church, Newcastle on Saturday 7th December for anyone who would like to avail of the anointing of the sick during the season of Advent. There will be a celebration of Mass at 2.00pm, during which the Anointing of the Sick will be available for anyone who wishes to receive this sacrament. You can receive the Sacrament of the Sick: 1) if you have a medical diagnosis; 2) if you are going to hospital in the near future; or 3) if you are over 65 years of age. The sacrament may be received once a month. Sister Concepta (Rose) Williams RIP The death occurred on Monday 25/11/2013 last in Glasgow of Sister Concepta (Rose) Williams, Little Sisters of the Poor, Ireland and Scotland, originally from Tootenhill, Rathcoole. Burial will take place on Monday 2/12/2013 in Glasgow. Forthcoming Concerts Dominic Mc Gorian Tenor & Jacinta Malone Dowling Soprano Rathcoole Community Centre Wednesday 4th December & Sunday 5th January at 8pm. Tickets 15 euro from Paddy Byrnes Newsagents & at the Door. Including: Oh Holy Night, Silver bells , The Prayer & Many more. Little Lifetime Foundation Remembrance Service Francis Street Church, Sun 1st Dec, 7.30pm In the presence of Archbishop Diarmuid Martin. We look forward to seeing families and welcome any newly bereaved parents who are facing their first Christmas without their baby. Also: Blessing of Remembrance & Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, Glasnevin Cemetery, Sunday 8th December at 4.00pm at the New Angels Graves only. Trócaire Global Gifts 2013 This year Trócaire’s Christmas gifts include chickens, goats and school kits to help families in developing countries build a better future. Ranging from €7/£5 to €200/£170, they are on sale on the Trócaire website www.trocaire.org and by calling 1850 408 408 (RoI) or 0800 912 1200 (NI). They are also available in Veritas stores, selected Easons stores and in Trócaire centres in Maynooth, Co Kildare, Cathedral Street, Dublin, Cook Street, Cork and King Street, Belfast. Womens’ Refuge Rathmines Appeal The Womens’ Refuge, Rathmines have launched a buy a new toy appeal for children, boys & girls aged 0-17, who are current or former residents and for children in the parish area who are less fortunate. Every year they help hundreds of families who find Christmas difficult. New toys can be left into Rathmines Women's Refuge - Lower Rathmines road (directly facing the Church) - 01 4961002 – Please support. Saggart Parish Council Meeting The next meeting of Saggart Parish Pastoral Council will take place on Monday 2nd December at 8.00pm. Any parishioners who wish to bring matters to the attention of the Council should contact one of the priests of the parish or the Parish Office.

The Joy of the Gospel Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Francis Pope Francis has written an exhortation to the Church around the world on the subject of evangelisation. Below the first paragraphs of the exhortation are reproduced: THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ joy is constantly born anew. In this Exhortation I wish to encourage the Christian faithful to embark upon a new chapter of evangelization marked by this joy, while pointing out new paths for the Church’s journey in years to come. A JOY EVER NEW, A JOY WHICH IS SHARED The great danger in today’s world, pervaded as it is by consumerism, is the desolation and anguish born of a complacent yet covetous heart, the feverish pursuit of frivolous pleasures, and a blunted conscience. Whenever our interior life becomes caught up in its own interests and concerns, there is no longer room for others, no place for the poor. God’s voice is no longer heard, the quiet joy of his love is no longer felt, and the desire to do good fades. This is a very real danger for believers too. Many fall prey to it, and end up resentful, angry and listless. That is no way to live a dignified and fulfilled life; it is not God’s will for us, nor is it the life in the Spirit which has its source in the heart of the risen Christ. 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 them; I ask all of you to do this unfailingly each day. No one should think that this invitation is not meant for him or her, since “no one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord”.[1] The Lord does not disappoint those who take this risk; whenever we take a step towards Jesus, we come to realize that he is already there, waiting for us with open arms. Now is the time to say to Jesus: “Lord, I have let myself be deceived; in a thousand ways I have shunned your love, yet here I am once more, to renew my covenant with you. I need you. Save me once again, Lord, take me once more into your redeeming embrace”. How good it feels to come back to him whenever we are lost! Let me say this once more: God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy. Christ, who told us to forgive one another “seventy times seven” (Mt 18:22) has given us his example: he has forgiven us seventy times seven. Time and time again he bears us on his shoulders. No one can strip us of the dignity bestowed upon us by this boundless and unfailing love. With a tenderness which never disappoints, but is always capable of restoring our joy, he makes it possible for us to lift up our heads and to start anew. Let us not flee from the resurrection of Jesus, let us never give up, come what will. May nothing inspire more than his life, which impels us onwards! chapter of evangelization marked by this joy, while pointing out new paths for the Church’s journey in years to come. St. Vincent de Paul Carol Service The St. Vincent de Paul Carol Service takes place in Rathcoole Church on Tuesday 3rd December at 7.30pm. Please bring a new toy for distribution to a needy family at Christmas.