Sunday 30^th December – Mass, 11.00am, Glenock 

Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help: 6-7pm in Oratory.  Final night. 

Monday 31^st December – Mass, 12noon, Oratory, Rosary 11.45am

Tuesday 1^st January 2019, Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

 Mass, 12noon, Oratory,  Rosary 11.45am

Wednesday 2^nd Jan – Mass, 7.30pm, Oratory (Anniversary: Joseph McMenamin, RIP)

Thursday 3^rd January – Mass, 7.30pm, Oratory

Adoration from 6.30pm, Confessions from 7.05pm, Rosary, 7.15pm

Friday 4^th January – Mass, 12 noon, Rosary 11.45am, Adoration 12:30-9:00pm 

Saturday 5^th January – Vigil Mass (Epiphany), 6pm, Oratory, Confessions 5.30pm

 

 

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THE FINDING IN THE TEMPLE     GOSPEL OF ST LUKE (2:41-52)

Christmas Day commenced our celebrations of the birth of the Christ-Child, the great and everlasting gift of God to the world.  These days of the Christmas season enable families to come together to renew and celebrate their bonds.  On this first Sunday of Christmas we honour the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.  The word holy essentially means ‘connected to God’.  The Feast of the Holy Family is an appropriate day to look at how our families can make special efforts to deepen the bond with God in the coming year and encourage each other in the faith.  It is important to promote family attendance at Sunday Mass.  And faithfulness to the Rosary ensures that family prayer takes place.  Also valuable are the Angelus, Grace before Meals, and blessing ourselves and family members with Holy Water on leaving the house.  As we reflect on today’s Gospel, the Finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple, we pray for all who are estranged from their families.  We entrust their protection and the protection of all our families to the patronage of the Holy Family of Nazareth, our family of origin.

God our Father, help us to live as the Holy Family, united in respect and love.

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REQUIESCANT IN PACE

Our prayers are asked for the souls of those whose anniversaries occur at this time:

Joseph McMenamin, Brendan Coyle

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Prayer for Families

Lord, You chose to enter the world as a member of a family.  

Take care of all families.

May they be sources of love and security for all family members, 

where each person is valued and all are given a chance to reach their full potential.  

We ask this through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

 

 

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SUNDAY COLLECTION: £1,562.  Donation for Oratory oil tank: £50.  Donation: Glenock £20.  Thank you very much!

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PROJECTS FOR THE WEEK – Four new collection baskets (Glenock).  Restoration of the statues for the Glenock Crib (repaired by Terence McNamee at no cost to the parish).

 

READERS – JANUARY 2019

Vigil: Anne Stewart     Morning: Margaret Kelly

 

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS – JANUARY

Vigil: M. McConomy        Morning: M. Morris

 

RESTORATION OF CHURCH – Next week, the results of the architectural survey of St Eugene's Church will be presented after Mass.  The restoration works will take time but should leave the church in excellent condition for generations to come.  Thank you for your loyalty to our parish church.

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JOB OPPORTUNITY – The Celtic Prayer Garden & Iosas Centre (Derryvane, Muff, Co. Donegal) seeks applications for the post of Marketing & Programme Manager.  Full details of the post on Facebook page – IOSAS Centre & Celtic Prayer Garden.  Email goldenagecentre@hotmail.com or call (00-353) 74 9384 866 for application pack.  Closing date for applications: 5pm on 18th January 2019.

 

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR PEACE is celebrated by the Church on the first of January each year.  It was introduced in 1967 by Pope Paul VI.  We pray for the peace of Christ in our hearts, in our homes, in our country and in the world. 

Our Lady, Queen of Peace, pray for us.

 

WITHOUT CHRISTMAS, Christianity would not have started.  Without Easter, Christianity would not have lasted.

THE SOLEMNITY OF MARY, MOTHER OF GOD is celebrated on the octave (the eighth day) of Christmas, 1st January (Tuesday of this week).  As we continue to praise God and to thank Him for this great gift of the Christ-Child, it is fitting that we celebrate Mary’s central role in the Incarnation.  Mary, the One chosen by God to be Holy Mother of the Christ Child was, from the first instance of Her existence in the womb of Her mother (Anne), by a singular grace, privilege and gift from God, preserved from all stain of original sin, to be the Mother of God.  As children of God, we are privileged to share in that grace.  As this new calendar year begins, let us resolve to make our Holy Mother, Mary, our model in faith.   In this parish, we are honoured to have the Oratory dedicated to Mary Mother of God.    While 1 January is not a Holy Day of Obligation, you are encouraged to attend Mass on this Solemnity.  Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death.  Amen.

 

 

THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD celebrated on 6th January, is a Holy Day of Obligation.  This Christmas, the Feast of the Epiphany falls on a Sunday.  The Masses of next Sunday (Vigil and Morning) will be of the Lord's Epiphany..  O come let us adore Him!

 

 

 

Humour – Seasonal sheep's greeting – Merry Christmas to ewe!