KILQUADE PARISH NEWSLETTER

Sunday 9th December 2018

St. Patrick’s St. Joseph’s St. Anthony’s Carmelite Church Holy Spirit Oratory Kilquade Newtown Newcastle

"Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths." John's call to repentance and the forgiveness of sins happened in a particular time and place. But that does not mean it is limited to first century Palestine! God continues to move in our daily lives. What we hear in today's Gospel - and what we anticipate at Christmas - occurs in our daily lives. God works in concrete ways in time and space. He did that 2,000 years ago, and He contin- ues to do so today! This Sunday, examine your own Christmas prepa- rations. Is there anything you need to repent of be- fore the Christmas season? Are there low points in your life, valleys to "be filled" by the love of God? Are their mountainous obstacles in your spiritual life? How can they be "made low"? Are you making decisions that have moved you away from God? This Advent season is the time for them to "be made straight and ? made smooth." Prepare the way in your heart for Christ today!

"In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cae- sar...and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee...and Lysanias was tetrach of..." Did you need to pinch yourself awake during the first few lines of this Sunday's Gospel? John the Baptist received quite a prelude today as Luke described the religious and political leadership of the time period. Scripture is divinely inspired, and we believe that everything SVP CHRISTMAS APPEAL: that made it into the Bible is there for a reason. The special SVP Christmas appeal will take place in all These lines remind us of an important truth. The Churches THIS WEEKEND. This collection will replace Christmas story isn't a fairy tale or nursery rhyme. the Share Collection on that Saturday and Sunday. It's not a parable we say to give meaning to the Christmas is not the same for everyone and this Annual holiday. At Christmas, God's presence is made Appeal allows us to support families in need in our tangible in a precise moment in time. The birth of parish. This year we will provide help to over 120 Christ is a historical event. As precursor to Jesus' families in our community. Our ability to help families preaching, the ministry of John the Baptist is also a in need depends on your generosity and for this historical event. continued support we thank you. PARISH MASSES 2ND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

WELCOME TO OUR PARISH If you are a new parishioner or just visiting Kilquade you are very welcome and we, the existing community, hope you feel at home. Our parish incorporates the villages of Kilquade, Kilcoole, Newcastle, , Delgany and the surrounding countryside. If you are new to the parish please make yourself known to one of the priests of the parish. Be sure to visit our parish website www.kilquadeparish.ie. KILQUADE PARISH OFFICE: The parish office is situated behind St. Patrick’s church in Kilquade. The parish office is open Monday to Thursday from 10am to 1pm. Our parish secretary Una Kennedy will help you

with any enquiries at 01-2819658

Sat 7pm Vigil: St. Joseph’s: Newtown Sat 8pm Vigil: Holy Spirit Oratory: Newcastle

Sun. 8.30am: St. Joseph’s: Newtown Sun. 9.30am: Carmelite Monastery: Delgany Sun. 10.30am: St. Anthony’s: Kilcoole Sun. 11.30am: St. Joseph’s: Newtown Sun. 12 noon: St. Patrick’s: Kilquade PREPARATION FOR BAPTISM: Our new approach to preparation for the Sacrament of Baptism here in the pastoral area of the parishes of Kilquade and Contact Us is now in place. The purpose of the prepara- tion programme is to support parents in reflecting on the Pastoral Area of Kilquade/Greystones significant step they are taking in bring their child to be baptised into the Christian Community. Next preparation KILQUADE PARISH: meeting will take place in St. Kilian’s family Centre, be- Fr. John Daly, P.P.: 086 2365194 side Holy Rosary Church, Greystones Wednesday 19th Email: [email protected] December at 8 p.m. A new element in the programme is Fr. Eamonn Clarke: 01 2876207 the Welcoming Ceremony. This is a way of bringing the celebration of baptism into the community. Within it we Canon Sean Smith: 01 2819253 will introduce the children to the Christian community to PARISH PASTORAL WORKER: which they will belong and become a part of, as they Paul Thornton: 0851259753. grow in their faith. Parents will present their child to the Email: [email protected] community. The child will also be anointed on the heart KILQUADE PARISH OFFICE: at this time. Baptisms take place on different weekends Secretary: Una Kennedy in St. Joseph’s, Newtown, St. Patrick’s, Kilquade and St. Mon - Thurs. 10am – 1pm. Tel: 01 2819658. Anthony’s, Kilcoole. Registration for Baptism and the Email: [email protected] preparation programme is managed by the parish office at 012819658. Website: www.kilquadeparish.ie PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL: HOSPITAL & HOME VISITATION: If you President: Fr. John Daly. know of a parishioner who is sick and would like a visit Chair: Rachel Kerrigan. please don’t hesitate to contact one of the priests or the CHILD SAFEGUARDING: parish office. Frances Stephenson & Máire Ní Shiodhail (contact through parish office) REST IN PEACE: We pray for the repose of the soul GREYSTONES PARISH: of Mary Byrne, Newtownmountkennedy, who died 30th Fr. John Daly, P.P.: 086 2365194 November. Requiem mass was celebrated on Saturday Email: [email protected] 1st December in , . We offer our sym- Fr. Denis Quinn: 01 2877025 pathy to all her family & friends. May she rest in peace. Fr. Gerard Tyrrell: 0872860704 Today we continue the You may or may not have an Advent wreath in your "joyful expectation" of the home, but those flames are rather insignificant to the birth of Christ in history, flame that should be burning in our hearts during this the present, and the fu- season. How are you finding ways to light your fire? ture. Today we hear the How are you preparing the way for Christ to come into words of John the Baptist your life and the lives of those around you in a more calling people of his time profound way? to repentance. Now, this The ritual of an Advent wreath is a good idea for any- baptism that John was one. But don't think that your preparations are done calling people to is not the simply because you have one. You are called to be a same baptism that we flame to others during this season, reminding them of Christians celebrate. How- why we celebrate this time at all. Each person is a can- ever, John's baptism is at the root of our Christian bap- dle to be lit, and you have the gifts, given to you by tism. John's baptism had its roots in the "oblation wash- God, to light them. At Christmas, you want God to look ing" of the Jewish people before undertaking anything at you and see all the light generated by those He lit of great importance. through you. Now is the time. Don't wait until Advent is Christian baptism is a sacrament to wash away original almost over. You might not be able to find your own sin so as to enter sinless into the Christian community. flames if you wait too long. (Tracy Earl Welliver) It is the one sacrament that is celebrated by all Chris- SCRIPTURE READING: Each week we suggest a tians, even those Christians who are not in communion piece of Scripture to use in your prayer. Light a candle with Rome. and read slowly the passage, re-read it a couple of Johns enjoins us to "prepare the way of the Lord." His times and reflect on it and listen to what God is saying call is to be taken in the widest sense. This preparation to you. This week’s passage is Luke: 3:10-18 is a personal preparation, and is also a communal prep- BLESSING YOUR CHRISTMAS aration. We are called to make sure we are ready to TREE: Research into customs of vari- meet the Lord, and this means that we need to make a ous cultures shows that greenery was difference in the world to make it better, to make it more often brought into homes at the time of peaceful, and to make it more just. We are called to pro- the winter solstice. It symbolized life in tect each other's dignity and share of our abundance the midst of death in many cultures. The with others so that each may live a life that is centered Romans were known to deck their on helping others. Prepare the way! homes with evergreens around the be- ginning of a new year. Living trees were also brought into homes during the old Germany feast of Yule, which originally was a two month feast beginning in November. The Yule tree was planted in a tub and brought into the home. But there is no evidence that the Christmas tree is a direct descendent of the Yule tree. Evidence does point to the Paradise tree however. This story goes back to the 11th century religious plays. One of the most popular was the Paradise Play. The play depicted the story of the creation of Adam and Eve, their sin, and their banishment from Paradise. The only prop on the stage was the Paradise tree, a fir tree adorned with apples. The play would end with the prom- ise of the coming Savior and His Incarnation. The peo- LIGHT THE FIRE: I remember growing up in ple had grown so accustomed to the Paradise tree, that Catholic school and having to make paper Advent they began putting their own Paradise tree up in their homes on December 24. Whatever legend you wish to wreaths every single year! The little yellow flames would pass on, remember that Christmas is the time to be cut out and held until each new candle was lit. Great celebrate the birth of Jesus. We are inviting each idea, except for the fact that the chance you could find home to bring the Star or Angel that you place on the flames greatly diminished as each week passed. I the top the Christmas Tree in your home to 10.30am will bet over 50% of the wreaths never received a 4th Mass in Kilcoole next weekend to have them flame! Of course by then, most kids in primary school blessed. Reminding us again of who we welcome had moved on to Christmas. Christmas was not a day. It into our homes this Christmas Day. was an entire experience of holidays from school. LUISNE: Advent Lectio Divina started Tues- day 27th November + following 3 Tuesdays, Time: 10:45 am - 12:00 pm. Each of these four sessions be- fore Christmas will consist of a reading from Scripture, a period of meditation and a sharing on the Scripture. It’s through the Scriptures that we come to know the values by which we, as Christians, are called to live. Partici- pants will discover that the Gospels are as much alive for them today as they were for the early Christians. Do- nations welcome Contacts: [email protected]; 086 051 7575, www.luisne.ie KILCOOLE CAROL SERVICE: Takes place next Tuesday 11th December at 7.30pm in St. Anthony’s WEEKLY REFLECTION church, Kilcoole. This service enables us to take time Hope is the thing with feathers out from all the running around and busy preparations that perches in the soul, so that we can nourish our souls for the celebration of and sings the tune without the words, the coming of the Lord. All welcome. And never stops at all. And sweetest in the gale is heard; TAÍZÉ PRAYER IN And sore must be the storm ADVENT: There will be Taízé that could abash the little bird Prayer service taking place in the that kept so many warm. Carmelite Monastery on each of the I’ve heard it in the chilliest land, Friday’s of Advent at 8pm. The and on the strangest sea; liturgy each week will be aimed at helping us to reflect Yet, never, in extremity, it asked a crumb of me. on and prepare for the feast of the Nativity. All Wel- come. BAPTISM CERT REQUESTS: because of the new Data Protection Laws , anyone wishing to obtain PITCH PERFECT: Pitch Perfect La- a copy of a Baptismal Cert will need to bring in the Birth dies Choir invites you to join them at cert of the person in question. Carols by Candlelight on Sunday 9th of CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE: The Christ- December at 5pm in St. Kilian's Church, mas Mass schedule cards are now in all the Churches. Blacklion. With performances from Dar- Please take one home with you. ragh O'Neill and Pitch Perfect Children's Choir. Tickets HELP IS JUST A PHONE CALL are priced at €10 (under 5's are free). All proceeds will AWAY: ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS: go to St. Vincent de Paul . Meet in the Parish Centre Kil- GREYSTONES CAROL SERVICE: Takes place coole ,Tuesdays 8.30 p.m. WICKLOW SU- next Sunday 16th December at 4pm in Holy Rosary ICIDE SUPPORT, 086 7779868 .ST. VIN- church. This service enables us to take time out from all CENT DE PAUL: Kilquade 01 8550022. the running around and busy preparations so that we Greystones: 089 4292769 AL-ANON: meet at St. Da- can nourish our souls for the coming celebration of the vid's School Greystones, Sundays 8.30 p.m. GAM- coming of the Lord. All welcome. BLERS ANONYMOUS: Details from Pat 01 2874799.

RECONCILIATION SERVICE: will be celebrated in St. Anthony’s in Kilcoole on Tuesday 18th at 8pm for the whole Pastoral Area. This gives each of us a great opportunity to receive God’s forgiveness and heal- ing as we prepare to celebrate his birth at Christmas. All welcome.