Author: Brackenstown Parish

FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD 7TH JANUARY 2024 YEAR B

This Saturday 6th January, the Church celebrates Epiphany, the manifestation of Jesus as the Christ. The universality of Christianity is symbolised by the arrival of the magi from the east, who have now taken their place in the crib! The 6th January is also celebrated in Ireland as Nollaig na mBan, while many of our brothers and sisters in the Orthodox churches celebrate Christmas on this date. Sunday 7th January, marks the transition from the celebration of the birth of Jesus to the celebration of his baptism some 30 years later at the hands of John in the River Jordan. Jesus’ baptism marks a fundamental turning point in his life, as he emerges from the obscurity of his domestic life with his parents in Nazareth and begins his public ministry of proclaiming the good news of God’s kingdom and calling disciples, which will take him all around the towns and villages of Galilee. This reminds us that baptism not only marks the beginning of our Christian life but is the foundation of all ministry in the church. As we welcome families who have had a child baptised in our church during the past year at the 11.00am Mass, today’s feast also invites us to explore the significance of our own baptism and to listen anew to God’s call in our lives.
Fr. Richard

Next Sunday, 14th January is Ministry Sunday. Each of our parish ministries and groups is invited to have an information point around the church at the 11.00am Mass, so that parishioners can see what ministries are available in our parish and which ministry or activity they might like to get involved in.

The Hospitality Committee will host tea/coffee in the parish centre after 11:00am next Sunday 14th January. The Hospitality Committee require the assistance of new volunteers. What better way to build up a sense of welcome and community!
Please contact the parish office if you are willing to help out, even occasionally.

Scripture Classes
resume on
Monday 29th January
from 7:30 to 9:00pm
All Welcome!

The Parish Christmas Card, timetable of services and envelope are available for collection on the tables at the entrances to the church. As the cards are no longer being delivered to every home in the parish, we invite parishioners to take one for themselves and for any neighbour who may be glad to get one. Many thanks to parishioners and visitors who have already returned Christmas Offerings, which support the priests of the parish and of the diocese.

SUNDAY MASSES: (Sat Vigil) 6pm; 9am; 11am & 5pm WEEKDAY MASSES: MONDAY to SATURDAY 10:00am
CONFESSIONS: SATURDAY 10:45am to 11:30am in the Sacristy
ADORATION: MON, TUES, THURS & SAT:10:30AM—11:30AM WEDNESDAY: 6pm - 9pm FRIDAY: 3pm—6pm
All our ceremonies are broadcast online at www.brackenstown-parish.com

Next Sunday the 164th Brackenstown Scout Group are organising a car wash day. They will have a stand outside the church after Mass, where parishioners are invited to sign up for a car wash, which will take place outside the scouts den. They are also selling tea/coffee in the den while the car is being washed. The initiative is to help fund their venture camp in Belgium next August.

After school religion classes in preparation for First Communion and Confirmation recommence in the Parish Centre on Tuesday 9th January at 3pm.
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A meeting of the Partnership Pastoral Council takes place in the Pastoral Centre at 7.30pm on Tuesday 9th January.
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A meeting of Parent Volunteers for First Communion to prepare the monthly Grow in Love Mass will take place at 7.30pm in the Pastoral Centre on Tuesday 9th January.
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The monthly meeting of the Parish Pastoral Council will take place at 7.30pm on Wednesday 10th January.
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One-day Retreats for 6th class pupils preparing for Confirmation will take place in the Parish Centre on Tuesday 16th And Wednesday 17th January
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Many thanks to parishioners and visitors who have already returned Christmas Offerings, which support the priests of the parish and of the diocese.
Thanks also to parishioners who have donated Epiphany Gifts. These will be delivered to the Alice Leahy Trust or St. Vincent de Paul in the coming week.

Bethany Bereavement
Support Group
offer a free and confidential telephone support to any bereaved parishioners who wish to avail of it
Brid - 086 6006397
Sunday to Saturday
7th—13th January 2024
Please phone after 6pm.
“Blessed are those who mourn,
for they shall be comforted”

Anam Cara North Dublin, the organisation that supports bereaved parents, is holding a Parent Evening for bereaved parents on Wednesday 17th January at 7:15pm in the Hilton Hotel, Malahide Rd, Northern Cross, Dublin, D17 Y924. This event is free and open to all bereaved parents regardless of the age your child died, the circumstances of their death, or whether their death was recent or not. Please contact us on info@anamcara.ie or 085 2888 888 for any queries.

We ask people attending funerals in the church not to double park along the roads around the church, especially Park Avenue. We ask all those who may be attending a funeral to be conscious of where they are parking, especially if it means possible access for a fire brigade or ambulance would be impeded.

SUNDAY MASS INTENTIONS
Recently Deceased
Carol Connolly
Month’s Mind
Leo Levins
Kathleen Molloy
Anniversaries
Pauline Knight (1A)
Betty Harford (1A)
Bernadette Connolly (2A)
Katherine Mallin (10A)
John McNally (23A)
Sarah & Edward Greene
Joseph Murray
Ian & Bridget Mongan
Laurence & Anne Maughan
Bella & Richard Barnwall
Shane Behan (BR)

10 AM MASSES
Mon	Declan McCarthy (2A) & Dcsd Family Members / Bridget McGuirk (A)
Tues	Paddy Holden (RD) / Michael Hoare (12A)
Wed	Patrick O’Donovan (A) / Maura Walsh (1A)
Thur	John Kissane (A) / Annie & Josephy Byrne (A)
Fri	James Kirwan (A) / Michael Hanrahan (BR)
Sat	James & Kathleen Kiernan (A) / Patrick & Brigid Dempsey (A) / Derek Dalton (1A)

Frank Duff Prayer Meeting
Frank Duff was inspired with a profound insight into the mystery of the Church, the Body of Christ and of the place of Mary in this mystery. In an immense desire to share this insight with others, he founded the Legion of Mary to be a sign of her maternal love for the world. For 102 years, members of the legion have acquired the skills and expertise to attend to the church’s evangelizing work. We welcome this prayer meeting every month to pray for the children in our parish preparing for the sacraments and for their families that they may grow in love for Christ in the Eucharist. We also pray for vocations to the priesthood in the archdiocese.
You too are invited to pray for your intentions through the intercession of Frank Duff on Tuesday, 9th January 8:00pm-9:00pm in Parish Pastoral Centre. The Rosary, a reading and reflection on Sunday’s Gospel and a little background information about Frank Duff will be included.

Announcing Hope in Time of Challenge, a series of talks on the key biblical figures in Advent: Isaiah, John the Baptist and Mary, will be presented by Sr. Therese Fitzgerald (Sisters of Sion) on Wednesdays 6th, 13th and 20th December from 7.00-8.00pm in the Pastoral Centre.

You are invited to pray for your intentions through the intercession of Servant of God, Frank Duff, founder of Legion of Mary on Tuesday, 13th June 8:00pm-9:00pm
in Parish Pastoral Centre. The Rosary, a reading from Sunday’s Gospel and a little background information about Frank Duff will be included.

Legion of Mary Rosary Statue
The statue of Mary, Our Blessed Mother was blessed by Fr Richard at a Mass in October in honour of the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. All are invited to host this statue in your home for a week over the next 12 months. Meditating on the mysteries of Christ’s life in the Rosary enables Mary to train and mold us so that Christ’s divine power reaches us. It is intended to enable us to be fruitful in the mission of the Church. If you would like to foster a ‘genuine school of prayer’ in your home, please book the statue from a member of the Legion of Mary.

A meeting of the Parish Finance Committee
will take place on Monday 10th July at 7.30pm.

RELIGIOUS GOODS
The Legion of Mary attaches great importance to portraying our Catholic faith in a way that pleases the senses and mind aesthetically. They have a wide selection of beautiful religious goods on sale for Baptism. Rosary Beads, Candles, Children’s Books, Statues and Holy Water Fonts are available in Church Porch after weekend Masses. A variety of Catholic Papers & Magazines are available in the bookrack at the back of the Church.

We welcome the children who are preparing for the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Communion and who will join us for Mass at 6pm this Saturday and at 5pm on Sunday.

We congratulate the families of the children who will be welcomed into the community of faith through the sacrament of Baptism on Saturday 30th December at 12 noon

Fr. Michael O Shea, A Rosminian missionary priest has spent a number of years working in Tanzania. He still retains contact with his former parish and continues to try to assist them in whatever way he can. He is trying to raise funds to help pay for an x-ray machine for the local hospital, which is vital to the successful diagnosis and treatment of patients. He will speak after Communion at each of the Masses this Saturday/Sunday and will be grateful for any donations received after Mass.

We are planning an Advent Carol Service for Thursday 14th December involving participation of the Senior, Young Adult and Children’s Choirs.
A short Nativity play will form part of the service. Parents whose children would like to participate in the nativity play in the Carol Service and/or Christmas Eve are invited to contact the parish office.

A new group of Altar Servers, who have been training over the past month, will serve Mass for the first time at 11.00am this First Sunday of Advent.

Candidates and their families preparing for Confirmation will join us for the celebration of Mass this Saturday at 6.00pm and Sunday at 5.00pm.

The Saint Vincent de Paul Monthly Collection is after all Masses this Sunday
2nd & 3rd September

The Hospitality Committee will host tea/coffee in the parish centre after 11.00am Mass on the second Sunday of each month, beginning this Sunday 12th November. The Hospitality Committee would greatly welcome the assistance of new volunteers. Please contact the parish office if you are willing to help out, even occasionally.

Parishes Caring for Creation, the Archdiocese’s Laudato Si’ conference, takes place in the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Blanchardstown, on Friday, November 24. How can parish communities care more deeply for God’s creation? Join us for a day to equip your parish community to walk more gently on the earth. A limited number of places are still available. Contact conference@dublindiocese.ie if interested.

Online Advent Retreat. The Priory Institute is delighted to offer a FREE OF CHARGE online retreat 'Reflecting on the Sunday Gospels of Advent'
Visit our website prioryinstitute.com or click on this link HERE to register/find out more.