BCL Newsletter Week 49
A heart filled with love has no room for hate.
Second Sunday of Advent
Fr. Eamonn O’Gorman 0872236145
Fr. Pat O’Farrell 0872353520
Fr. Willie Hennessy 087 6737405
Mass in Conahy Church
next Sunday 12th December at 5.00 p.m. for all children and parents of First Holy Communion and Confirmation Candidates 2022
Wednesday 8th Feast of the Immaculate Conception is a Holy Day
Tuesday 7th:
6.30 p.m. Ballyouskill
8.00 p.m. Jenkinstown
Wednesday 8th:
10.30 a.m. Ballyragget
11.30 a.m. Conahy
Anniversaries Occurring at This Time
Fr. John Duggan month’s mind;
Tess Brennan, Ballyouskill;
Kevin O’Shea, Chapel Avenue, 1st anniversary;
Aisling O’Shea, Chapel Avenue;
Michael O’Shea, Castle St;
Ann Ryan, The Green;
Willie and Bridie Holohan, Patrick St.
Mick Bergin, Greenview;
Tommy and Benny White, Lismaine;
Msgr John Phelan, Tullowglass and Diocese of Baker, Oregon, USA;
Maurice Halley, Shangana;
Patrick and Catherine Conway;
Owen McEntee, Conahy
Recently Deceased - Requiescat In Pace
Nuala Kavanagh, Byrnesgrove
Tommy Lawless, Newtown
Advent
As we journey through Advent we join with the different characters who made their individual journey to Bethlehem.
As we read in today’s gospel, “the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness; and he went into all the region about the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Luke 3:2-3). In this short text we find the three steps necessary to transform anybody from lukewarm-ness to enthusiasm in the faith. The three steps are (a) John went into the desert, (b) the word of God came to him, and (c) John left the desert and went about proclaiming the faith. We also must pass through these three stages to arrive at the stage where we begin to live the life of faith with joy.
Stage 1- We go into the desert. The desert is a place of being alone with God. We go into the desert when we take time off our normal job and household occupation to be with God in church, in prayer, in reading the word of God. The desert is the place where we encounter God. We ourselves must take the first step to go into the desert, to reach out to God, to look for God.
Stage 2 – The word of God comes to us. Once we open our hearts to God in the desert, God Himself comes and fills us up. A saint once said that when we take one step to God, God takes two steps to us. At this stage God takes the initiative to come to us, to fill us, to renew us, to transform us, to remould us into God’s image that we are created to be. This is the stage that some people call being born again. When this happens to us we would like to spend the whole day alone with God in church, in prayer, in Bible reading. But like John we must go on to live our lives and carry out our duties in the family and in the society.
Stage 3 – We go about proclaiming the faith. Having experienced the goodness of the Lord in our own lives, our next desire is to share this experience with others. It’s like we are wearing a tee-shirt with the inscription, “Wow, God is great!” People look at us and see the joy and peace and serenity that radiates from us and they would like to be like us. They would like to be our friends. And then we can in turn help them by showing them the pathway to the desert, the place where they, in their turn, will encounter God personally. The experience of God is like the experience of love. You can tell people about it but they will not understand what you are talking about until they themselves experience it.
In the opening prayer for this Mass we said, “Almighty and merciful God may no earthly undertaking hinder those who set out in haste to meet Your Son.” In order for this to happen, we must resolve, in this season of advent, to take the first step, to make room for God, make time for church, for prayer, for hearing the word of God. Blessings on you as you journey in faith, hope and love this Advent season.
Ballyouskill Auction
Ballyouskill Community Hall
Monster Auction
took place on
Sunday
28 November
at 2.00 p.m.
Thanks to one and all who helped, donated, bought tickets and purchased at the auction. Much appreciated!
THANK YOU
Ballyragget National School, Ballyragget
are now accepting applications for enrolment for the 2022-2023 School Year.
Enrolment Packs can be obtained from the school office located in the Junior Building or by contacting the school on 056-8833606.
Packs are also available at Ballyragget Community Playgroup and the Wishing Well Crèche.
To enable the school to meet the Department of Education’s closing date for resource applications for the 2022-2023 School Year it is essential that all enrolment forms be returned to the school office by: Friday 7th January 2022
St. Mary’s Cathedral Monthly Draw 2021 – 2022
Cathedral Draw
beginning
Wednesday evening
29th September 2021
for twelve monthly draws.
Dooley’s Garage, Georges Tree,
John McGrath, News and Chews,
Ms. Sheila Walshe and Sr. Mary Freeman
As you are aware, the St. Mary’s Cathedral Restoration Fund Draw has for the past number of years been a most welcome support of the Cathedral and a great aid in works undertaken therein. As I have noted before, I am taken by its beauty each time I come to celebrate Mass in your fine Cathedral. I want to thank the generosity of all of you in the parishes who do so much each year to support and encourage the draw. This draw in these past six years raised nearly €600,000. If you are in a position to support the draw this year beginning with the first of twelve draws on Wednesday 29th September 2021. Your support, as always, is much appreciated.
Bishop Denis Nulty, Apostolic Administrator, Ossory.
If you have a Safeguarding Concern Contact
The Diocesan Designated Liaison Person:
Ms. Kathleen Sherry 085 8021633 dlp@ossory.ie
Parish Reps:
Ms. Maire Gannon and Mr. Pat O’Neill
Ms. Eileen Gunner and Mr. Sean Malone
