Sunday Newsletter

Masses Today

6.30: 6.30 (Vigil): George Herterich, (Anniv).
11.00: Bridget Maloney, (Anniv). Richie Jenkins (Month's Mind) Gerry, Jack & Bridget Ward (Anniv).

As I Was Saying...

Veritas is an agency of the Irish Catholic Bishops. Among other activities, it promotes religious literature and devotional material. In the run-up to Christmas, it decided to get a slice of the 'consumer action': the agency placed a seemingly innocuous radio advertisement for a Christmas Crib with RTE. RTE got back to the good bishops saying, "Drop the word 'crib' or this advert won't pass muster with the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland." The term 'crib' might well be axed under the ban on the advertising of all material 'directed towards religious ends'! The bishops were hopping mad. They issued a statement, which read in part:

Whether it is in the editing of a Veritas advertisement, or a ban on the Nativity play; or, by discontinuing the placement of a crib in a hospital foyer, we are asking Christians to reflect on - and protect - what is the true spirit of Advent and Christmas, namely: a time to reflect on our life journey and to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Saviour. All this is both an affront to Christians and an insult to common sense.

Right now Jews everywhere are celebrating Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights. Each night for eight days they light a candle in memory of the one that stood in the temple in Jerusalem more than 2000 years ago.

The festival commemorates one of the world's first and most fateful 'clashes of civilisations': between ancient Greece and ancient Israel. Israel had been conquered by Greece and the Greeks decided to ban the practice of Judaism. They placed a pagan statue in the temple. Jews fought back, won their freedom, and rededicated the temple. Hanukkah means 'rededication'.

At first, this was seen as a great military victory. But it didn't last for long. Within a century Israel was back again under the yoke of a foreign ruler, this time the Romans. And it was then that people began to realise that the real meaning of Hanukkah wasn't military; it was spiritual. Though they lost their land, Jews didn't lose their faith. Had they done so, not only would there be no Judaism today; there would be no Christianity or Islam either.

The British have been struggling with this multi-cultural question for much longer than ourselves. Only this week, the future of Christianity in Britain was debated in parliament. Ironically, it was a Sikh MP, Parmjit Dhanda, who argued that Britain should celebrate its Christian heritage with pride!

What Hanukkah tells us is that the real victories, the ones that last, are spiritual. But what sustains a nation is its culture and its faith and the way it hands them on across the generations. Lose that, and neither politics nor economics will do as a substitute. Empires have crumbled. In their day they seemed unassailable, but each exists now only in history books and museums. Faith survives; and the only societies that have endured have been held together by a sense of the sacred.

Today Ireland is home to many faiths, but it must not lose its own. This faith inspired our greatest poetry, and some of the finest works of art to be found anywhere in the world, like the Book of Kells. The Crib will still be venerated in Ireland when RTE has long disappeared from the folk memory.

-Dick Lyng

Items of Interest

Confessions for Christmas, 2007

The traditional 'enclosed' Confessions will be heard on the following days and times:

Wednesday 19th: 12.00-12.45; 3.30-5.30.

Thursday 20th: 11.30-12.30; 3.30-5.30.

Friday, 21st: 11.30-1.00; 3.30-5.30.

Saturday, 22nd: 11.30-1.00; 2.30.00-4.00.

Monday, 24th: 11.30-12.30; 2.30-4.00.

 

Penitential Services: Thursday, 20th @ 7.30; Saturday 22nd @ 4.30 & Mon. 24th (Christmas Eve) @ 4.30.

St Nicholas's Feast

We celebrated the Feast of the Patron saint of the city in some style on Thursday night last in St. Nicholas'. Old and young enjoyed themselves. Through a clever use of candlelight, tinsel, and seasonal decor, a wonderful soft Christmas atmosphere was created. Wine and food was served in abundance (and in that order).

Paddy Cunningham, Sally and the kids from St. Nicholas' School, ably assisted by a most exuberant Rector, sang their heads off with lovely hymns and carols. Some guests, like Mark and Jimmy, seized the opportunity for a spot of ecumenical dialogue, while not singing, of course!

And, as you will observe from the picture (in the PDF edition), not all the singing was left to the Cunningham family and the Rector. While the two sopranos, Tess Emerson and Mary Tierney, are obviously enjoying themselves and singing with some gusto, the same can hardly be said for the tenor on the left of the photograph. In fact, closer scrutiny will reveal that his powers of mime are also severely limited! He does seem to be taking the word of 'Silent Night' rather literally!

Apart from the said tenor, a most enjoyable night was had by all. Thanks very much to the people of St. Nicholas' for their wonderful hospitality and generosity. We'll be back!

Christmas Light Celebration

This evening, Sunday December 9th, CONSOLE will hold their annual Christmas Celebration of Light Ceremony in The Augustinian Church here at 4.00 p.m. This ceremony brings family, friends and work colleagues together in solidarity and hope to remember the life of their loved one who has died by suicide. This is an evening of song, music, poetry and reflection including the lighting of candles followed by a minutes silence to commemorate friends and loved ones. You are welcome to bring a framed photo or symbol of your loved one to place on the "Remembrance Table".

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