| 25th December 2012 |
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PARISH OF DRUMCREE Mission Statement: Our Parish is a Christ-centred community. In Baptism we are challenged by the Spirit to live and share the Gospel message., Justice Issues and Ecumenism we extend our love and care to all people providing support in renewing and deepening our faith. We value the gifts and talents of each of our Parishioners and invite them to use these in responding to Christ's invitation to all of us to follow Him and Through proclaiming the Gospel message to all, Growth in Faith, Liturgy spread the Good News to the whole world. www.drumcreeparish.com A Blessed and Holy Christmas to All I believe Prayer of Blessing at a Crib God of every nation and people, from the very beginning of creation you have made manifest your love: when our need for a Saviour was great you sent your Son to be born of the Virgin Mary. To our lives he brings joy and peace, justice, mercy and love. Lord, bless all who look upon this manger; may it remind us of the humble birth of Jesus, and raise up our thoughts to him, who is God-with-us and Saviour of all, and who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen Grace at table during Christmas Glory to God in the highest And peace to his people on earth. Lord Jesus, in the peace of this season our spirits rejoice: With the beasts and angels, the shepherds and stars, with Mary and Joseph we sing God's praise. By your coming may the hungry be filled with good things and may our table and home be blessed. Glory to God in the highest, And peace to his people on earth. Blessed are you, Lord God. Through the fruitful virginity of Mary you fulfilled the long expectation of the poor and oppressed. Grant that with the same faith with which Mary awaited the birth of her Son, we may look for him in our brothers and sisters in need. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you And also with you During the Christmas Season exchange peace each morning with those at home A Christmas Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, we thank you for who you are and the gift of your birth that you gave us at Christmas. We thank you for the friendship of our family and friends. We pray that you would watch over and protect our families, friends, neighbours, and loved ones. Please help us to become better individuals and live out your will each day of our lives. We pray for your healing power to enter our lives and that all sickness and disease would be healed. We pray that you would open up our hearts and minds to what your word says about reconciliation and reuniting with our family members and friends. Thank you for the blessings that you have bestowed upon us this year and thank you for going before us and standing in the gap when we needed help. Continue to be there for us because we believe that you are Emmanuel, a name that means—God is with us. We thank you and praise you. Amen. Christmas on RTE 1 Christmas Day - Pope Benedict 11 a.m. Cardinal Brady 12.25 p.m. Christmas Day Mass 11.30 a.m. Samaritans 24/7 - We are here to listen. Do not suffer during this Christmas Season. Please contact us: Phone 02838333555 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Next Bulletin—6th January 2013. Phone Numbers: Fr. O'Dwyer 38350610 Fr. Sheehan 38332218 Parish Mobile - Emergency No. 0784110850 Prayer for those who work on Christmas Day Lord. as I spend today going about my work, help me to put aside any bitterness that I'm not celebrating at home with loved ones. I ask you, Loving Father, to give me a special sense of your presence as I meet people, that I may shed on them the light of the Bethlehem Star, the Spirit of Christmas. Amen. Masses St Stephen's Day -St. Patrick's Church 10 a.m. Thursday 27th - St. Patrick's Church 10 a.m. Friday 28th - St. John the Baptist Church 7 p.m. Saturday 29th - no morning Mass Sunday 30th - Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph St. John the Baptist Church - Saturday 7 p.m. Sunday 8.30 & 11.30 a.m. St. Patrick's - 10 a.m. Monday 31st - St John the Baptist Church 10am - Novena prayers said during this Mass 1st January - Solemnity Mary, Mother of God - St Patrick's Church 12noon. Dates for 2013 Lourdes Triduum 9th/10th/11th February Ash Wednesday 13th February Easter Sunday 31st March Sacrament of Confirmation Saturday 2nd March First Holy Communion: St John the Baptist PS/Bun Scoil Saturday 4th May Ballyoran PS Saturday 11th May Presentation PS Saturday 18th May Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage 12th to 17th May Cemetery Sunday 2nd June Triduum of Prayer 13th/14th/15th June Cultra Trip 23rd June (to be confirmed) Sacrament of Marriage: between two Catholics this is celebrated in the context of Mass. If your proposed spouse is not a Catholic the Sacrament of Marriage can be celebrated with a liturgy without Mass. This can be discussed with the priest celebrant. Sacrament of Baptism: during the Easter Vigil is the most opportune time to be Baptised. In this Parish the Sacrament is usually celebrated at 5pm on Saturdays (at least two weeks notice is requested). As at the Easter Vigil, so that the Christian Community can properly welcome new Christians the Sacrament can also be celebrated during Mass on Sundays or weekdays by arrangement. Sacrament of Anointing; celebrated once a month in this Parish and announced in the Bulletin the previous week. Receiving Holy Communion: during Mass on Sundays and Saturday evening the priest and the Eucharistic Ministers will bring Holy Communion to those who are unable to come to the Altar. A raise of the hand will alert the priest or minister to where someone is sitting. Coeliacs can receive from the chalice at any Mass—please inform the sacristan before Mass—the Novena Mass on Monday evenings has Holy Communion distributed under both species. Reflection And the word was made flesh and lived among us In the ordinary, the Lord was born. A child born for us, a son given to the world; son of Mary, born of the Holy Spirit and within the love of Mary and Joseph. Jesus, like all of us, needed to grow up, in the environment of love. His growth from childhood to adolescence, from adolescence to adulthood took place within the usual human way; learning from experiences, studying his religion, formed like all of us by family and neighbourhood, within the love of Mary and joseph, within a village community and an extended family of cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents. He celebrated his parents' birthdays, he looked after them when they were sick. He went to his gransparents' funerals and later watched at Joseph's death and consoled his widowed mother. A young man growing up and feeling all the joys and struggles of life. He learned about God from the Bible and worshipped every sabbath. God became man in a very human way. Doesn't this enhance our humanity? Doesn't it show the worth and dignity of us all? God really mingled with us in the birth of Jesus. Mingling among us like light and earth mingle to grow the tree, like memory and love mingle to keep friendship alive, like water mingles with wine for drink for our journey, God and humanity one in Jesus Christ. And the word was made flesh and lived among us. GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST AND PEACE TO ALL PEOPLE OF GOOD WILL |