AS I WAS SAYING......
Advent has begun. Christmas is pressing down on us once again. The season means different things to different people. For many, -and this will include the vast majority of children- it is a season of great expectation and great joy. And those expectations will not be disappointed: on Christmas night the Old Reliable will deliver. The joy that greets his boundless generosity on Christmas morning in infectious. He confirms the child-like conviction that this world is a nice place to be after all! "Unless you becomes as little children, you shall not inherit......" That certainly applies to Christmas. The generosity of God gushes through predictable channels too.
Not everyone will view Christmas from this joyful perspective. Parents in particular feel harried and hassled by the prospect. Since the feast has the family as its focal point, the home becomes an area of frenetic activity: decorations and redecorations, last year's fairy lights to be tested, retested, and then discarded; Christmas trees to be secured, visitors to be provided for, cakes to be baked, turkeys to be extracted (!) and prepared, presents to be purchased, cards to be written, and a-thousand-and-one other seasonal chores. It is a truly daunting time, particularly for the principal homekeeper (in less politically correct days, I would have said 'women'!). For others still the feast is a terribly lonely time. This is especially true of those who are poor, or sick, or dying, or for those who live alone. The general euphoric conviviality exposes by contrast their individual loneliness and social isolation. But this is not a simple matter that can be rectified by company. The problem is as complex as the human personality itself. Some of those who live alone are caught in an impossible dilemma: they may not enjoy being alone but they would much prefer that condition to the company of other people.
But the central event we are preparing to celebrate is good news for all: for children, for the emigrant, for the family, for the poor, for the lonely, the sick and the dying. Because the one who opened the door to God for us endured in his own life the whole range of human experiences I have just referred to. Because of Christmas, we are all in this human project together, God and ourselves. He truly is Emmanuel, 'God-with-us.' Celebration and joy becomes us!
-D.L.
A Great Idea From Co. Laois
Four weeks before Christmas, our parish priest asked the matron of Mountmellick Hospital, where there are 170 elderly patients, for the Christian names of patients who would like a gift for Christmas. The patients could also name their gifts.
We erected a 'Giving Tree' in our church - a large branch of a tree, without leaves. With the aid of the boys and girls from the local National School, we wrote each person's name on a small piece of paper and the gift they had requested. To help with the identification we used different colours for each ward.
We hung the pieces of paper from the tree. Some of the children were amused with the variety of requests. One child asked me if Joe wanted Baby Powder -Joe in fact wanted a 'Baby Power'. Another request was for Woodbines, not the climbing variety but the smoking type!
On the first Sunday in Advent we placed our tree in the sanctuary. After Mass one parishioner remarked that there was a 'rush to the bush' to get a tag to bring home, with some people taking a number of tags. After the first weekend, the tree was stripped. In all we got over 200 gifts. Most people were very generous, giving much more than was requested.
The National School Principal accompanied the children who had prepared the giving tree to the hospital. The hospital staff, patients and school children had a great time giving and receiving the presents.
-Elizabeth Rutherford,
Clonaslee, Co. Laois.
CHRISTMAS PROGRAMME: 2001
Holy Hour: (Taped meditative music and Advent readings)
Fridays of Advent: 6.00pm-7.00pm
Saturdays of Advent: 1.00pm-2.00pm
St. Pat's School Children's Christmas Mass:
Saturday, December 15th at 6.30.
ANNUAL MASS OF GIVING:
Sunday, December 16th at 11.00
CONFESSIONS:
Friday, 21st: 11.30-12.30; 3.30-4.30.
Saturday, 22nd: 11.30-1.00; 3.30-5.30.
Monday, 24th: 11.30-1.00; 3.00-4.00.
RECONCILIATION SERVICES: (Amnesty)
Saturday, 22nd, 1.00 & 6.30pm
Monday, 24th: 4.30.
CHRISTMAS MASSES:
12.00 Midnight.
9.00am & 11.00am only.
Wednesday, 26th to Saturday 29th December
One Mass daily: 11.00am
Saturday, December 29th:
6.30pm (Vigil Mass of Sunday)
SUNDAY, 30th:
11.00am & 6.30 only
Monday, December 31st and Tuesday January 1st:
11.00am only.
Normal Programme resumes on Wednesday, January 2nd.
THE ADVENT WREATH
We will light the first candle on the Advent Wreath today. The set of candles consist of three purple, one rose, and one white. Purple is the liturgical colour of the Advent season. It represents Penance, preparing the way. A purple candle is lit on the first, second and fourth Sundays of Advent. The rose candle is lit on the third Sunday (Gaudete, or Rejoicing Sunday). Finally, the white candle is lit on Christmas Day, marking the birth of Christ, the Light of the World.
COLLECT MEMORIAL CARDS
Some people placed Memorial Cards and personal items on the table beside the Crucifix. These have now been collected and placed for safe keeping in the Priory Office. They may be collected from there at your leisure.
Incidentally, lest charges of deforestation be levelled against us by our numerous enemies, the two trees will now serve as the Jesse Tree and the Giving Tree respectively!
NEW VESTMENTS
The 'Embroidery Group' delivered rather handsomely! They completed the chasuble, stole, and large altar covering for Sunday last. Pulpit hanging and other drapes will be in place for Christmas. They worked to a very definite harmonious plan: the elaborate version of Augustinian Crest on the sanctuary floor formed their central motif. The pattern is repeated on the back and front of the chasuble, and on the altar cloth. The stole is embroidered on the top with the Jerusalem Cross, on one side with the Galway crest, and on the other with a replica of one of the ten sanctuary candelabra of the Jewish Temple at Jerusalem. It is a beautiful, thoughtful piece of work.
Thanks to Patricia, Deirdre, Margaret, Betty and Eileen. The patience, planning and talent involved was enormous.