KILQUADE PARISH NEWSLETTER Baptism of the Lord 12th January 2020

St. Patrick’s St. Joseph’s St. Anthony’s Holy Spirit Oratory

open our hearts to God’s loving presence and if we lis- ten to the word of God, then our souls will be nourished and live in a healthy state of union with God’s will.

As we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, we have a timely liturgical reminder that we have been baptised into Christ’s death and resurrection. We share in his risen life through baptism and we know that God has made an irreversible commitment to us.

Baptism was given a new meaning by Jesus and all Christians share in that meaning. We have been bap- PRAYER AT THE START OF THE YEAR tised into the Christian faith by water and the Holy Spir- it, and our Christian faith teaches us that sacramental Lord, I sometimes wonder where I’m going baptism is the gateway to the other sacraments. and what is the meaning of my life.

There is powerful symbolism associated with water. It I wonder especially can sustain life and cleanse, by its thirst-quenching and what the new year holds for me. purifying qualities. But it can also destroy that same life through drowning. Thus water has the potential to give Will it bring joy or sorrow, life and to cause death. Too much water is as damag- success or failure, life or death? ing as too little water. But then I remember that you came on earth; The religious symbolism of water in sacramental bap- and that you still travel tism revolves around our dying to alienation from God through the washing away of our sins, and around our the road of life with me. new identity which is flourished and deepened by our And so I say to my soul: sharing in God’s life and by being incorporated into the Body of Christ which is the Church. ‘Go out into the darkness, and put your hand in the hand of The significance of God’s invitation to share in this Christ, your Brother; newness of life offered in baptism is well summarised in the words: ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour that will be better than a light, rests on him’ (Mt 3:17). Throughout our lives, if we and safer than a known path.’

Pastoral Area of Kilquade/ PARISH MASSES

WEEKEND MASS TIMES KILQUADE PARISH: Holy Rosary Church, Greystones Fr. John Daly, P.P.: 086 2365194 Sat 6pm Vigil Email: [email protected] Sun 11:30am Fr. Eamonn Clarke: 01 2876207 Sun 6:30pm Canon Sean Smith: 01 2819253 Holy Spirit Oratory, Newcastle PARISH PASTORAL WORKER: Sat 8pm Vigil Paul Thornton: 0851259753. St. Anthony’s Church, Email: [email protected] Sun 10:30am KILQUADE PARISH OFFICE: St. Joseph’s Church, Mon to Thurs. 11am – 1pm. Tel: 01 2819658. Email: [email protected] Sat 7pm Vigil Website: www.kilquadeparish.ie Sun 8:30am PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL: Sun 11:30am President: Fr. John Daly. St. Kilian’s Church, Blacklion Chair: Rachel Kerrigan. Sun. 10am: CHILD SAFEGUARDING: Frances Stephenson & Máire Ní Shiodhail (contact through parish St. Patrick’s Church, Kilquade office) 12 Noon: GREYSTONES PARISH: Fr. John Daly, P.P.: 086 2365194 NEW CHRISTIANS: We welcome Layla & Sábha and Daniel & Kaiya, who were Email: [email protected] the newest members of our community Fr. Denis Quinn: 01 2877025 through the water of baptism on Sunday 5th January. May they continue to grow in Fr. Gerard Young: 01 2874278 body, mind and Spirit in the years ahead.

WEDDING BELLS: Congratulations to PREPARATION FOR BAPTISM: Shane McGovern & Fionnuala Shields who Our new approach to preparation for the were married in St. Patrick’s Church, Sacrament of Baptism in the pastoral area Kilquade over the Christmas. May the Lord of the parishes of Greystones and deepen their love for one another in the years ahead. Kilquade is well in place. The purpose of the preparation programme is to support REST IN PEACE: Please pray for the parents in reflecting on the significant step repose of the souls of Bill Carthy of they are taking in bringing their child to be Newtownmountkennedy, Jerry Shannon of baptised into the Christian Community. Newtownmountkennedy & Formerly Enquiries to the Office. Ashford, Rita Kilbride (née Kelly) of Kilcoole & Formerly Greystones. Patrick BAPTISM CERT REQUESTS: (Paddy) Condron of Greystones & Due to the new Data Protection Laws, Formerly Newtownmountkennedy for anyone wishing for a copy of a Baptismal whom Requiem Mass was celebrated in Cert will need to bring the Birth Cert of the our parish this past week. We offer our sympathy to their person in question. family and friends. May they rest in peace. Amen.

elcome! If you are a new to this area or just visiting you are very welcome and we, the existing faith community, hope you feel at home. Our pastoral area incorporates the villages of Kilquade, Kilcoole, Newcastle, Newtownmountkennedy, and the surrounding W countryside in Kilquade Parish and the town of Greystones and the surrounding hinterland in Holy Rosary and St. Kilian’s Parish. If you are new to either parish, please make yourself known to one of the priests of the parish. Be sure to visit our respective parish websites www.kilquadeparish.ie and www.greystonesparish.ie. NEW TRANSPARENCY: Pope Francis has abolished the obligation of secrecy for those who report having been sexually abused by a priest and for those who testify in a Church trial or process having to do with clerical sexual abuse. “The person who files the report, the person who alleg- CHURCH UNITY WEEK: At least once a year, es to have been harmed and the witnesses shall not Christians are reminded of Jesus’ prayer for his disci- be bound by any obligation of silence with regard to ples that “they may be one so that the world may be- matters involving the case,” the Pope ordered in a lieve” (see John 17.21). Christians come together to new Instruction On the Confidentiality of Legal Pro- pray for their unity. Congregations and parishes all ceedings, published last week. over the world exchange preachers or arrange special Victims and witnesses free to discuss the case, the ecumenical celebrations and prayer services. amended law specifies that the still-in-effect obligation Traditionally the week of prayer is celebrated between of Vatican officials to maintain confidentiality “shall not 18–25 January, between the feasts of St Peter and St prevent the fulfilment of the obligations laid down in all Paul. The theme for 2020 is ‘Unusual Kindness’. Hos- places by civil laws, including any reporting obligations, pitality is a much needed virtue in our search for Chris- and the execution of enforceable requests of civil judi- tian unity. It calls us to a greater generosity to those in cial authorities”. need. The people who showed unusual kindness to The new law makes it clear that “anybody who disclos- Paul and his companions did not yet know Christ, and es misconduct or a crime and anybody who is impact- yet it is through their unusual kindness that a divided ed by the misconduct or the crime, and the witnesses, people were drawn closer together. Our own Christian should never be subject to a vow or a promise of si- unity will be discovered not only through showing hos- lence on the fact that they have reported”. pitality to one another, but also through loving encoun- ters with those who do not share our language, culture The new law explicitly states people’s “moral duty” to or faith. cooperate with civil authorities in reporting and investi- gating the crime of abuse. Moreover, there is an obli- CHRISTMAS OFFERING gation not to bind people who disclose misconduct or ENVELOPES: A big thank you crimes by any promise or vow of silence. to all who have returned the Christmas Offering envelopes. If you’ve not had the opportunity and would like to make an offering en- velopes are available at the back of the church. The Christmas Offering goes to help support the priests in the Diocese and the Parish. Thank you for your pray- ers and continued support, especially at this time.

A HERMITS LIFE?: For almost 20 years pilgrims of all persuasions have been welcomed to POPE CALLS FOR “SELF-CONTROL”: As the Hermitage Centre from all over the world. In an atmos- political crisis in relations between the United States phere of peace and tranquillity, people from different and Iran continues to escalate, Pope Francis has walks of life come to be renewed in body, mind and called on all parties to exercise “self-control”. soul. Here you will find time to reflect, rest, pray and Pope Francis made no direct reference to the conflict journey inwards. between the US and Iran in his address following yes- Glendalough Hermitage Centre: Would you like terday’s Angelus prayer, but he said: “War brings only the opportunity to experience a hermit way of life that death and destruction. There is a terrible air of tension involves a short stay in the Glendalough Hermitage in parts of the world. I call upon all parties to fan the Centre? Need a day or two or more, of quiet reflection flame of dialogue and self-control – and to banish the and rest? Can you take time out to experience the shadow of enmity.” presence of God in the peace and tranquility of the The Pope then invited all present in St Peter’s Square Valley of Glendalough? Find out more: Web- to pray in silence for this intention. Coincidentally, the site:www.glendaloughhermitage.ie or Email: fail- Pope’s Intention for January is the promotion of world [email protected], or Telephone:087 peace. 9356696 ANAM CARA: , is hold- Harmony with God’s Creation’, en- ing it's monthly Parent Evening on courages us to see that we all have Monday 20th January at 7:20pm in a responsibility to care for the earth, the Parkview Hotel, Newtown- not just for our own future, but for mountkennedy, Co. Wicklow. This the future of every one of God’s event is free and open to all be- creatures. reaved parents regardless of the 1STCOMMUNION PREPA- age your child died, the circum- RATION MASS: Next Sunday’s stances of their death, or whether 11.30am & 6.30pm Mass will be their death was recent or not. celebrated especially for families Please contact us on in- who are preparing a child for 1st Ho- [email protected] or 085 2888 888 ly Communion and will focus on ex- for any queries. plaining the importance of listening to the Word of God at Mass. SOCIAL HOBBY GREYSTONES BRIDGE CEN- TRE CLG Beginners Bridge Clas- & CRAFT: Sun. ses commence Monday 20th Janu- 12st JAN. 2020: ary 2020 at 10.00am (10 weeks for Kilian House Family €120 p.p.) Improvers Bridge Clas- Centre; 3:00 p.m. to ses commence Tuesday 21st Janu- ary 2020 at 10.00am (10 weeks for 5:30 p.m. Learn new crafts and KILQUADE PARISH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: It is good €120 p.p.) For further information make new connections while also pleaseemail:board.greystonesbridg practice for charities to have an having a cuppa . Lots to see and [email protected] learn while meeting with friends. AGM to act as a review of the year and reviewing the annual accounts. HELP IS JUST A PHONE CALL We will be holding the meeting on AWAY: ALCO- Thursday 23rd January at 8pm in HOLICS ANONY- Kilcoole Community Centre. It MOUS: Meet in the will include a presentation of the Parish Centre Kil- parish accounts and a parish review coole ,Tuesdays 8.30 p.m. WICKLOW SUICIDE by the chair of the Parish Council. SUPPORT, 086 7779868 .ST. VIN- WOMAN’S FELLOWSHIP All Welcome. CENT DE PAUL: Kilquade 01 EVENING: @ St. Patricks 8550022. Greystones: 089 4292769 AL-ANON: meet at St. Kilians Fami- Church Greystones, 7pm Jan. 15th ly Centre Sundays 8.00p.m. GAM- 2020 Speaker Dawn McDowell en- BLERS ANONYMOUS: Details from try €10.00, see poster on notice- Pat 01 2874799. board for more details. HOLY ROSARY Catholic Schools Week 2020 will SOUP & SAND- take place this year from Sunday 26 WICHES : 29 January – Sunday 2 February on January 2020 Kilian the theme ‘Catholic Schools: Living House Family Centre; 12:15 p.m. in Harmony with God’s Crea- tion’. During Catholic Schools to 2:00 p.m. Meet your friends for SCRIPTURE READING delicious home-made soup and Week families, parishes and Each week we suggest a piece of sandwiches. Followed by tea/coffee schools, North and South, are invit- Scripture to use in your prayer. ed to participate in a week of cele- and cake. Suggested dona- Light a candle and read slowly the tion, €5.00.All proceeds go to local bration of Catholic schools and on passage, re-read it a couple of charities. Everyone is most wel- their contribution to the common times and reflect on it and listen to come for good food and a friendly good of our society. This year’s what God is saying to you. chat. theme ‘Catholic Schools: Living in This week’s is John 1:29 –34