Sunday Newsletter

Masses Today

6.30: (Vigil): Margaret Conneely, (Anniv).
11.00: John Joyce (Anniv) and Tomas Duffy (Anniv).
6.30: Mary & Margaret Killian, (Anniv).

As I Was Saying...

Christmas as we know it was created by Charles Dickens and his fellow Victorians: at least we owe the trees, the tinsel and the wreaths to them. Just like ourselves, the Victorians were deeply troubled by the erosion of old certainties and their replacement by an ethos of greed and squalor. As a direct reaction to this perceived malaise, the family home was sanctified as the refuge from a threatening public world.

Unfortunately for us, even that refuge is now progressively undermined. Family life is increasingly fractured. Christmas can be an ordeal, particularly for fragmented families. Sometimes children are exchanged between households like the very packages under the tree. Yet, at this time, such families try to put rancour aside. They make every effort to come together for this day at least. This very effort highlights the yearning every human heart has for the togetherness of family life.

Communication has never been easier. But emotional contact grows increasingly more difficult. More and more people are living solitary lives as relationships founder. Most people possess a mobile phone, yet few families will share a meal. Millions tap out daily messages into the electronic ether, but fewer and fewer spend time talking and listening to their loved ones.

Sunday, once a sacred 'visiting day' is now our busiest shopping day. Christianity, Judaism and Islam all set great store by the weekly day of rest; on this one day, people acknowledged that their everyday concerns were not the be-all and end-all. Their horizon was stretched beyond the shopping basket.

Don't be at all surprised if, within the next five years, some major outlets will open for business on Christmas Day. What now seems inevitable is most regrettable. For the whole point of Christmas is that a line is drawn between itself and the world of everyday. For this brief period, the country has a common purpose. Most people will be doing much the same thing at the same time: being woken at four in the morning by hyper-excited children, giving and receiving presents, eating and drinking to excess, dozing in front of the TV in the late afternoon.

This is a day lived out in a bubble, when vanishing values are rediscovered. For an increasing number, the carols and nativity story are their sole yearly contact with Christianity. Even those who profess to have abandoned all pretence to a Christian identity tend to resurrect their social conscience at this time.

Yet it is fashionable to denigrate Christmas. So many dismiss it as a pain-in-the-neck. Yet, in our Irish context, these charges of secularism are over-stated. Christmas does still have a profoundly religious meaning. Irish people are still overwhelmingly Christian. What the English poet John Betjeman dismissed as the 'tissued fripperies' of Christmas are in fact, in a Christian context, the signs and tokens of love. The joy and privilege of giving should not be lightly dismissed.

It is that positive aspect of the Christmas festival that we strive to recapture today with our Christmas 'Mass of Giving'. Thanks to all of you generous people who made this possible.

-Dick Lyng

Items of Interest

Christmas Dues

The Christmas Dues envelopes (in an empty condition) will land on your doorsteps on Wednesday next, just in time to hit your conscience and your pocket (in that order!). Establish it in a place of honour on the mantle piece for two days only. Accord it the respect it deserves for that time. If it hasn't worked its charm on you by then, alas it never will! You are beyond reach, impervious, unassailable, cursed with a heart of granite, making Scrooge appear as a profligate philanthropist.

On the other hand, should you decide to put your Jews Envelope to the uses for which God originally intended it, just slip a few crisp notes into it; seal it with adhesive tape, the strength and quantity of which should be commensurate with the strength and quantity of the contents! When travelling to the church with your loving burden, please make sure you are accompanied. We can't be too careful these days!

Hand it over cheerfully at the Priory Office, or to the person who approaches you in Church with the collection basket. There is no need to reveal to the collector the actual contents of the envelope. Such loose talk could well be misunderstood as an unseemly boast. Attempt to force a smile throughout this painful extraction. But try not to smile too broadly for fear of giving the (obviously wrong!) impression that you have pulled a fast one on the PP! The balance is a very delicate one. Yet it is said that some people have achieved it.

Remember at all times that your true reward will be at another time and in another place (neither of which will be of your choosing, unfortunately). It is believed in many presbyteries (especially in France) that St. Peter, in his capacity as Celestial Bouncer, is ably assisted by the saintly John Vianney, the Patron Saint of Parish Priests. Like most parish priests, he suffered greatly at the hands of his parishioners. You will notice that the Saint bears in his left hand a long list. This contains the names of all those who defaulted on the Christmas Dues. And that is why St. Peter finds his assistance invaluable. They do things well in France. Let those who have ears to hear, listen!

THE CHILDREN'S NATIVITY MASS:

The children's Nativity Play will be presented at the 11.00 Mass on Sunday next, December 23rd. This is usually one of the more enjoyable of our Christmas Liturgies. Pat Lally, ably assisted by Feena Cunnane, is organising and directing this theatrical experience. Lots of time and work has been invested! Pat and her auxiliaries had a long rehearsal yesterday (Saturday) in preparation. She will need the children to remain back for about 30 minutes after the 11.00 Mass today for 'fine-tuning' purposes. This play will function as the Liturgy of the Word. (No formal readings or readers required.)

Santa Claus will visit the Augustinian Priory after that Mass on the 23rd. If your child comes to the 11.00 Mass regularly, please inform Santa today! This is your last chance. He is leaving home tomorrow morning early!

Christmas Programme, 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.

CHRISTMAS MASSES:

12.00 Midnight.
11.00am Christmas morning.

Priory Office will remain closed from Christmas Day until Thursday, January 3rd. During that time, there will be one weekday Mass only - 11.00am.

Our normal programme will resume on Thursday, January 4th.

Singers Required

As you will observe from our Christmas Programme above, we now have three 'Amnesty' Sessions in preparation for Christmas. These Liturgies are really well attended and we should be be giving them the attention they deserve. Music and hymns are of course essential. We have always had some music, but we do need to beef up what we have. We are looking for new singers and musicians. We will take names of volunteers after the Masses this weekend and then perhaps we could come to the Church for a practice tomorrow (Monday) at 7.00.

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