PARISH NEWSLETTER Website: www.castlebarparish.ie email: [email protected]

Sunday Mass times Parish Church: 7pm (Sat), 8.30am, 10.30am, 12pm Ballyheane Church: 8pm (Sat) Church: 10am, 11.30am

PRIEST ON CALL: tel 094 9021844

PARISH CHURCH Monday 17th December: 10.00am - Joseph Mulcahy, Foxfield (1st Anv) & dec family. Mary Howley, Spencer Court. John Sullivan, Jim & Peggy Sullivan, Pontoon Road & Dublin. 7.00pm - Tom Courell, Rathbawn Road. Dec Armstrong family, Ballina. Tommy Clarke, Castlehill Park. Patrick Heraty, St. Bridget’s Crescent & dec family, Christy & Margaret Rowland, & dec family. Patrick & Ellen Cunningham, Castlebar, Kathleen & Mark Grimes, & Martin Costello, Castlebar Tuesday 18th December: 10.00am - Raymond Smith, Liverpool. Mass of Thanksgiving. Holy Souls Wednesday 19th December: 8.00am - Private Intention. 10.00am - John & Teresa King, Castlebar & dec King & Murray families. Special Intention. Angela & Pat Daly, Navan. Thursday 20th December: 10.00am - Marjorie Coleman, Sion Hill. (M.M.) Friday 21st December: 8.00am - Michael & Mary Brophy, St Bridget’s Crescent. 10.00am - Bernard & Margaret Lawrence & dec family, Ballina. Kathleen & Walter Cannon, Cloonferth, Ballyheane. Friends of the Care Shop, Market Square. Saturday 22nd December: 10.00am - Siobhan & Danny O’Connell, Co. Meath. Sheila McHale, Kilboyne & dec McHale family. Gregory & Mary McDonnell, Rathbawn Road. John & Agnes Roche, Breaffy Road. Michael & Katie Murphy & son Michael, Newport Road. John Bourke, Curragh. 7.00pm - Alan Carey, 22 Blackfort Manor. (M.M.) Sunday 23rd December: 10.30am - Therese O’Brien, Watersville. (M.M.) BREAFFY CHURCH Mon 17th December: 7.30pm - Mary & Patrick McHugh & dec McHugh & Davis families. Faye Lavin. Wed 19th December: 7.30pm - Thomas & Nora O’Boyle, John & Mary Coyne, John & Marie Mulloy & dec family Fri 21st December: 7.30pm - Jo & Eadhmonn Mac Suibhne & dec family. Sat 22nd December: 10.00am - Private Intention. Sun 23rd December: 10.00am - Mike & Bridie Golden & dec family. 11.30am - Private Intention. BALLYHEANE CHURCH Sat 22nd December: 8.00pm - Tony Denning, Ballyheane. Mary, Tom & Jack McGough, Derrynagooley.

ALTAR SERVERS MINISTERS OF THE WORD: nd rd 6th Class - Sun 23rd 22 /23 December 7.00pm - T. Lennon 8.30am - D 8.30am - J. Kearney 10.30am - A 10.30am - M. English 12.00pm - B 12.00pm - M. Cresham

nd REST IN PEACE ALTAR SOCIETY: 22 December Mary Vahey, Claremorris, mother of Ann O’Neill, S. Hopkins H. Ryder M. Nolan T. O’Shea M. O’Hora A. Irwin Lakeshore Drive and Helen Murphy, Riverdale Court,

sister of Una Ryan, Garryduff Park.

Jethro Murphy, Station Road. DAILY READERS

Mon - A. O’Hara A Display of Catholic Objects and Literature in the Tues - C. Casey th Thurs - B. Watkin Parish Church after 7pm Mass this Sat evening 15 Dec. Fri - U. Ryan Holy Christmas Cards in stock, also St Martin’s, Sacred

Heart Messenger, Irish Catholic, Catholic Voice and

Divine Mercy Newsletter can be ordered.

The Reason For The Season

In his encyclical Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), Pope Francis issues a warning that might resonate with us as we continue our Advent journey. Caught up in consumerism, he says, it is easy for us to forget what is truly important:

‘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.’

In the lead-up to Christmas we often get caught up in a flurry of ‘interests and concerns’. True, much of the joy of Christmas comes from giving to others, but there is so much focus on material goods and spending money that it can be difficult to remember the good news at the heart of the season. It is so easy to become distracted by the bright lights and advertising.

This Sunday is Gaudete Sunday – Gaudete means ‘Rejoice’. It’s the perfect time to recapture some of the ‘quiet joy’ that Pope Francis talks about. ‘The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus,’ he reminds us. It is this personal encounter with Jesus that we celebrate at Christmas, God becoming man, the Good News announced by John the Baptist in today’s Gospel. This is the reason for our joy – the reason for the season!

Tríona Doherty, Intercom.

Christmas Confessions

Parish Church

After all Masses this weekend nd th Sat 22 Dec: 12 noon - 3pm Mon 24 Dec: 12 noon - 3pm

Christmas Mass Times

Parish Church: 6pm, 8pm (Christmas Eve) 8am, 9.30am, 11am, 12.30pm

Breaffy Church: 8pm (Christmas Eve) 10am, 11.30am

Ballyheane Church: 8pm (Christmas Eve)

10.30am

Healing/Anointing Catholic Ministry Service Castlebar Rotary’s Annual Tree of Remembrance Praise and Worship, Healing Prayers, Talks and Adoration To remember a loved one this Christmas, will run until will be held in The Parish Centre, Chapel Street this Sun Sat 22nd Dec on Hopkins Road. All proceeds to local th 16 Dec from 1pm to 5.15pm. charities.

Carol Service St Stephen’s Day - Half Tóchar Walk th Wed 19 Dec at 7.30pm in the Parish Church. All are Departing at 11am from Abbey to welcome. . A backup car will accompany all the

Children’s Liturgy walkers to the end. For more info tel Ballintubber Abbey All children and families are invited to the Children’s Liturgy Office 094 9030934. rd Nativity Story and Family Blessing at 5pm on Sun 23 Dec Castlebar NoName! Club in the Parish Church. Children can come dressed as Mary, The members of Castlebar NoName! Club will be Joseph, Wise Men, Shepherds or Angels. th

singing carols for charity at Supervalu on Sun Dec 16

from 2pm. Christmas Charity Table Quiz Thurs Dec 20th at 9pm in An Sportlann. Entry €10 per Pieta House – Suicide Prevention person/€40 per team. All proceeds to Western Care Volunteers needed for bag packing in Dunnes Stores on Association’s residential and respite service for young Fri 21st Dec. If you can spare an hour or two between adults at Lower Lakelands, Manulla. Tel 087 2093137. 8am and 8pm please tel Frankie at 087-9625288.