PARISH NEWSLETTER 22nd December 2019

Wicklow & Rathnew,

Barndarrig, & Kilbride

OUR PARISH LOTTO! Winning numbers for this week are 6, 10, 22, 26

Congratulations to Patricia O’Neill Who won the weekly lotto raffle prize of €25 in the Parish Lotto Next weeks jackpot will be €1,150

Sincere sympathy to the family of -

Dora Gault nee Knowles late1 of Summerhill Mass Intention List

Saturday 21st December 6.00pm Evelyn Mongon - Months mind, Annie (Nancy) O Neill - 1st Anniversary, Beth Gill (A &BR), Liam Heffernan, Pat Byrne, James & Jimmy Murphy, Christine Kearns BR & her son Kevin, Michael & Mary Knowles 7.00pm Mary Jameson - 1st Anniversary, Michael, Esther, Kate & Paul Doyle, Michael & Mary Knowles, Jim & Peg Costello. Deceased Members of the Rafter & Coyle families, Neil & Agnes McGettigan, John-Paul Redmond 7.00pm Mary McGraynor Sunday 22nd December 9.00am Aishling O’Regan, Lily Collard, Leo Devlin & deceased members of the Devlin & Duffy families, Andrew Doyle, Ellie Corrigan, Parents, sister, brothers, relatives & friends of the Marah Family 9.00am 10.00am Thomas & Delia Murphy, Dick Murphy 10.30am 11.30am Mary Jameson, Betty & Patsy Byrne, Jim, Lilly & James Hanlon, Mary, Jimmy & Joseph Crofton, Des Doyle & son Adrian Weekly Daily Masses… Saturday 28th December 6.00pm Monday 23rd December 10.00am Anthony Delaney, Hannah Carton Both 1st Jordan Giannikis Anniversaries, Sean Connolly, John King, Tuesday 24th December Christmas Eve Susan Ward, Terence Mulligan 7.00pm Nancy Ronan, William & Bridget 10.00am Iris Stephens Giffney 5.00pm , 7.00pm (R/N & W/W), 9.00pm 7.00pm Christmas Eve Vigil Masses - No Intentions

Sunday 29th December Wednesday 25th December 10 & 11.30 9.00am Christmas Day - No Intentions 9.00am Chris Crowley Thursday 26th December 10.00am 10.00am Christmas Novena Matthew Murphy - 1st Anniversary, 10.30am Hyacinth Ronan - Months Mind, Ned, Rosanna, 11.30am Philip & Nell Healy, Liam O Meara. John & Eddie Hanlon, Michael Murphy Friday 27th December 10.00am Tim & Josephine Desmond

Mass intentions are subject to change, due to funerals. To book a Mass in Church, please contact the Sacristan after any Mass, to 2book a Mass in Rathnew Church, please contact the Parish Office.Masses in Rathnew are in green type. Masses in BBK are in blue type. RD - are Individual Masses from our Parish Mass Cards List. Gospel reflections for Year C : Luke by Donal Neary S.J. The Call to Joseph In religious terms we would call Joseph a faithful type of guy, observant in religious

thought and practice. The visit from the angel tests his faithfulness to God and to Mary. He doesn’t let them down. He was called to be the carer of Jesus and Mary and to find a new openness to the mystery of God. A temptation of religion is to tie things down too much. The law in Joseph’s time was strict – if a woman was pregnant the man would cancel the betrothal, and she might be stoned to death! Joseph went beyond law to love and the mystery of God’s call. Good religion is open to the mystery of life, however life challenges us and calls us. Some of the most open-minded people I have met have been very religious, and some of the most narrow-minded people have also been religious! Like good and bad medicine, there is good and bad in religion. True religion is open to mystery. We need a church lit with the light of God, as Joseph was. His burden was lifted when he was open to God, to take Mary home as his wife, no matter what others might think This is the annunciation to Joseph – the word of God from the angel to Joseph in a dream. It opened him to a huge new meaning in life. We accept this word as a central part of our lives, and the next time we meet the word, it will be made flesh. Picture your house, and all who live in it. Imagine the light of Christ in each room and on all. Lord, you are the word of God, who is made flesh, have mercy on us. ROSARY ~ Mondays to Fridays at 9.30am in St. Patrick's

ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT ~ Continues on Wednesdays in St. Patrick’s Church 10.30am to 12 noon, usually finishing with Benediction. HOLY HOUR ~ Every Wednesday night from 8pm—9pm

ST PATRICK’S PRAYER MEETING ~ meet in the De La Salle Pastoral Centre every Thursday at 7.30pm All are very welcome to any or all of these events.

NEXT WEEKENDS READINGS - 29TH DECEMBER 2019

First Reading : Ecclesiasticus 3 : 2-6, 12.14 Responsorial Psalm 127 : 1-5 Second Reading : Colossians 3: 12-17 Gospel: Matthew 2: 13-15, 19-23 To reflect on the readings please check catholicireland.net /sacredspace.ie / universalis.com

WEEKLY COLLECTIONS FOR WICKLOW & RATHNEW: Sunday 15th December 2019 1ST COLLECTION / COMMON FUND – pays salaries of Priests of Diocese - €1280.00 2ND COLLECTION / SHARE - goes towards diocesan administration - €985.00 ENVELOPE COLLECTION - goes towards3 maintaining our Parish - €2075.00 Many thanks for your continued support. MINISTERS OF THE EUCHARIST WEEKDAYS CHILD SAFEGUARDING OFFICER If you are unable to cover your weekday Telephone number Mass slot can you please let Aidan know as 087 123 8054 he has a reserve list of Eucharistic Ministers WICKLOW / RATHNEW / that can be called upon. He can be / BRITTAS BAY & KILBRIDE contacted on the sacristy phone at 69031 or on 087 648 1262. Full Church Christmas Schedule is PARISH SHOP now available at the church doors, please take one home with you for Has temporarily closed for some necessary your information. works to the area. Candles and Mass Cards and limited stock will be available in the Sacristy after Masses. PARISH CONTACTS Fr Donal Roche : 0404 67196 CHILD SAFEGUARDING OFFICER Fr Pat O Rourke: 0404 67133 Telephone number Fr Joseph Doran: 0404 48130 /087 228 8579 087 123 8054 Wicklow Sacristy: 0404 69031 WICKLOW / RATHNEW / Parish Office: 0404 61699 BARNDARRIG / BRITTAS BAY & KILBRIDE Email:[email protected] WICKLOW COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS TOGETHER - [email protected] tickets are now on sale at €5 each - limited to Website: www.wicklowparish.ie 80. They are available in Earls, Wings & Track

Opening Times: One. New Venue this year - De La Salle Pasto- ral Centre. Monday: CLOSED ALL DAY Tuesday - Friday : 9.30am - 12.30pm St Patrick's National School Enrolment Days Our first Parish Christmas Raffle has been a great success due to your continual generosity. Tuesday 14th and Wednesday 15th January 2020 from 9:30 - 12:30pm. We are delighted to contribute €4000 towards the maintenance of our church. CHRISTMAS DUES ENVELOPES Our sincere thanks and gratitude to those who are now available at the Church doors. Your organised the sponsoring of prizes, our support as usual is very much appreciated. local sponsors and those further afield, our Raffle ticket sellers over the past month, and A very warm welcome to you for purchasing tickets in such great anyone visiting our Parish at numbers. We are overwhelmed by the great response. the moment, and also to those joining us on our webcam. A list of winners is posted at the church entrance4 and in the newsletter. PARISH MONSTER RAFFLE - WINNERS 1. Trabolgan Family Voucher Shay Hanlon

2. Killarney Park Hotel Voucher Maura Cregg

3. €500 Cash Prize Anne Carney

4. Spa Day in Druid’s Glen Resort Joan McCann

5. 500 Litres of Oil Mary Flynn

6. €100 All for One Voucher Kay Dunne

7. €100 Lidl Voucher Pat Dunne

8. Lunch Voucher: Druid’s Glen Resort Nuala Fox

9. Candle Hamper Maureen Dunne

10. Christmas Food Hamper Colm Finnegan

11. €50 Supervalu Voucher Pat Sherlock

12. €25 Voucher for Jonathan Cakes Mary Egan

13. Pat Sherlock Painting Philip Lee

14. Sandwich Maker Stephanie Byrne

15. Selection of Sunglasses Emma Barry

16. Bottle of Vodka & Whiskey Siobhan Delahunt

17. Next Door Beer Hamper Dermot Collins

18. Light House Tapas for 2 Voucher Maura Cregg

19. €30 Ernie’s Bar Voucher Holly, Cathal & Ciaran Martin

20. 2 Bottles of Wine Ed Horgan 5 21. 2 Bottles of Wine Noreen Mulqueen

Monday night Bingo in the De La Salle Pastoral Centre Wednesday night in St Brigid’s Hall, Rathnew

Both at 8pm and everyone is very welcome

WICKLOW /RATHNEW /ASHFORD /GLENEALY WICKLOW CANCER SUPPORT BETHANY BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT UNIT 2, FIRST FLOOR, Bethany volunteers are trained to listen with understanding and empathy. Rear of LEONDARD & MULVEY (BUTLERS) PHARMACY, ARE YOU GRIEVING? ABBEY STREET, 0404 32696 OR 086 821 6694 WOULD IT HELP TO TALK? BE LISTENED TO? We are a voluntary group set up to assist those having Open Meeting on Last Tuesday of every month treatment for cancer in every way possible. We also have 8pm in De La Salle Pastoral Centre. various other services available. If you need support, help or Contact details on noticeboard advise please ring us or drop in. You would be very welcome.

SCOIL MHUIRE RÉALT NA MARA BRITTAS BAY Any parents who wish to have a child baptised are asked to attend an introductory meeting before CO. WICKLOW booking a date for the baptism. At this meeting OPEN ENROLMENT DAY you will be given all the necessary information

TH about the Sacrament of Baptism and the FRIDAY 24 JANUARY 2020 commitment required of the parents who request FOR JUNIOR INFANTS STARTING it for their child. The next meeting will be on IN SEPTEMBER 2020 Thursday - 9th January at 8pm PLEASE CONTACT THE SCHOOL ABOUT ENROLLING In the De La Salle Pastoral Centre YOUR CHILD ON Please note change of date 0404 47488 OR Parents will also be expected to attend a EMAIL: [email protected] second meeting in the days leading up to the actual Baptism. To all our wonderful volunteers who have given up so much time at a very busy time of year to prepare all our churches in both parishes. To Flannery’s Funeral Home for sponsoring our Christmas flowers and to McCrea’s Funeral Directors for the lovely Christmas Trees. To the men who erect the cribs and decorate all churches and to all those involved in, or who helped out in anyway with our ceremonies/ services within our churches. Remember

“Volunteers6 are not paid, not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless” Christmas 2019 How is it that when it comes to birthdays, summer holidays or other family events we look forward in anticipation but Christmas, for some reason, always seems to make us look back to times past and think of Christmases long ago? Maybe it’s the music – the carols in church or the soundtrack of Christmas favourites on the radio that makes us think of former times with such nostalgia. They bring us back to some magical time in childhood when all seemed well with the world. And naturally, when measured against that ‘perfect Christmas’ that’s lodged forever in our minds, all our present Christmases are going to seem very poor in comparison. My suggestion for a happy Christmas is to take a realistic approach; live in the present moment, appreciate the people who love and support you and give them the precious gift of time. Lower the expectation of a perfect Christmas and make the most of the blessings of ‘now’. By all means, remember the past and the people who are no longer with us. And treasure the happy memories you have of long ago and former Christmases. But the message of Christmas is about now. The birth of Christ is not just an event in history but a current reminder of the unique dignity of every person, loved by God as we are, despite all our imperfections and flaws. Thanks to all for their dedicated involvement in the parish and for all the acts of kindness and generosity that bring the message of Christmas to life on a daily basis. May you and yours enjoy peace, joy and contentment in this season of goodwill.

Fr Donal

WEEKLY NEWSLETTERS & MISSALETTES Can we please ask parishioners to return the mass leaflets & newsletters to the boxes at the doors if you are not taking them home with you, which of course you are very welcome to do. It makes cleaning up of the Church7 after each Mass much easier ! ACTIVE RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION TUESDAYS 10.45am Coffee morning Pastoral Centre 12noon Line Dancing Pastoral Centre THURSDAYS 2.00pm Indoor Bowling GAA Club Walking Group, Time & Meeting place by arrangement. FRIDAYS 2.00pm Social Dancing Pastoral Centre FRIDAYS 3.00pm Choir Pastoral Centre All Retirees are welcome to our coffee/tea morning every Tuesday in the Pastoral Centre. Outings and cultural trips are organised regularly. Transport to and from the Centre for meetings can be arranged on request. New members are always welcome. More information from 087 982 7703. Follow/like us on our Facebook page - Wicklow Active Retirement Association. The WARA will be closed on 24th & 31st December and will re-open on the 7th January 2020. Wishing all our members a happy and healthy Christmas and new Year. There is always something to suit all tastes so come along any Tuesday You will be given a Cead Mile Failte.

Many thanks to the sponsor of our newsletter

McCrea’s Funeral Home, Road,8 Phone 0404 69000, 24 hours www.mccrea.ie - [email protected]