SUNDAY 21st: FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT:

MASS INTENTIONS:.

THIS WEEKEND:

• Sat.  7.30pm:    Paul Brosnan, Main Street.
• Sun 10.00am:   Sean, Maggie & Paddy O’ Callaghan, Taur.
• Sun 11.30am:   Timmy & Peggy Taylor, Lisdangan.

CHRISTMAS DAY: These four masses for Christmas will be offered for the intentions of all parishioners.

ST. STEPHEN’S DAY: 10am mass will be offered for the Advent tree intentions

NEXT WEEKEND:

• Sat.  7.30pm:      Billy O’Connor, Castlecourt.
• Sun 10.00am:     Donal McAuliffe, Taur.
• Sun 11.30am:     Joan & Jack Burke, Charleville Rd

CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES:

* Christmas Eve: Taur @ 6pm.  Newmarket @ 7.30pm.

* Christmas Day:     Taur @10am.  Newmarket @ 11.30am .

CHRISTMAS CONFESSIONS:

* Wednesday 24th:    Newmarket @10.30am & Taur @11.30am.

LAST WEEKEND’S COLLECTION: OFFERTORY: €2,441.00, SHRINES: € 184.00, DIOCESAN FUND : €000.00, SPECIAL COLLECTION: €000.00. Sincere thanks for your generosity.

Baptisms: We welcome into our Christian community, Máire O’Riordan and Danny James Fitzgerald.

Death: We offer our sincere sympathy and prayers to   the family of the late Hannah O’Sullivan, Demense Avenue who died recently. May she rest in peace.

THE ADVENT PRAYER TREE: This Advent & Christmas, the community wish to remember in their prayers those who will not be able to make it home for Christmas . Please write the name of those you would like to be remembered on the cards provided and place on the tree in St. Mary’s Church.

CAROL SERVICE: Will take place in St. Mary’s Church   before mass on Christmas Eve at 7.10pm.

BLESSING OF BABY JESUS: Please bring your Baby Jesus to mass on Christmas Eve for a special blessing.

CHRISTMAS WISHES: Fr. Francis would like to wish you a very happy and peaceful Christmas and to thank you for your kindness, generosity and support since his arrival to the parish in September.

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY: Would like to thank you for your generosity at their recent Christmas collection and throughout 2014 and look forward to your continued support in 2015. Thank you also to those who made private donations , it is very much appreciated. Have a happy, holy and peaceful Christmas.

IRISH CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER: Is available after weekend masses. The 2015 annual subscription is €83.20 or €1.60 weekly.

CHRISTMAS PAGEANT: Will take place on Tuesday, 23rd December at 7.45pm in Holy Cross Church, Charleville. Come and share the magic of the Christmas Christian Story. All welcome

PARISH OFFICE: Please note the parish office will be closed from Wednesday, 24th December to Thursday, 1st      January inclusive. Reopen on Friday, 2nd January.

NEWMARKET JUVENILE GAA: Annual General Meeting: Will take place on Sunday, 11th January in the Clubhouse at 6.30pm. All are welcome to attend.                                                                                                                     A Victory Celebration: Will be held in the Hi-land on Friday, 23rd     January at 7.30pm to mark their fantastic year in 2014.Tickets for this event will be on sale over Christmas from Juvenile Committee Members. Ticket Prices include meal + disco. Adults €10 (hot meal) & Juveniles €7 (finger food). Medal presentations will be made by a special guest on the night to U8/10/12/14/16 & minors. Great night assured. Everyone is welcome.

SHORT BUT SWEET: The priest asked a sign maker in the parish to donate a big sign for the entrance to the church for      Christmas Mass. “Now, do it exactly as I have   written it on this piece of paper,” the priest ordered the man. “And make sure you have it up on time.” Sure enough, as people walked into church for Christmas Mass they found this banner: “Unto us a child is born, ten feet long and three feet wide.”

SOME THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK:

“You will never change your life until you change something you do daily.”  John C. Maxwell

“In an athlete, it is not the legs that go first, it is the enthusiasm that drives the legs.”  Ken Dryden

“If love blinds you from seeing the faults of the one you love, then hatred blinds you from seeing the good things in the one you hate.” Abdul Aziz bin Marquz

“What is a soul? It’s like electricity. We don’t really know what it is, but it’s a force that can light a room.”     Ray Charles

“Faith includes noticing the mess, the emptiness and discomfort, and letting it be there until some light returns.”    Anne Lamott

ONE SENTENCE SERMON: Just remember there is someone out there that is more than happy with less than what you have.

WEBSITE OF THE WEEK: www.saoirsefoundation.com. The Saoirse Foundation’s main goal is to make positive life impacts for children with rare diseases and genetic disorders.

A MOTHER’S PRAYER: God, please bless my children, Care for them as they grow. Fill them with your Spirit to Teach them all you know.Lord, count each hair upon their heads, As they lay down at night, Cover them with loving wing until the morning light. Help me be a mother who is gentle and is kind, Help me give, help me love, bring peace into my mind. Thank you for this family, I love them with all my heart, Watch over them when they are with me, Take care when we’re apart. Lord don’t let them stumble, catch them if they fall, They are precious to me, They are my one and all.