Prayer for Pope Benedict XVI

 

PRAYER FOR POPE BENEDICT XVI

AT THE CONCLUSION OF HIS MINISTRY AS

BISHOP OF ROME AND SUPREME PONTIFF

 

 

Almighty ever‐living God,

who has given your faithful servant Benedict

grace to maintain his faith and hope in you

amid the labours of his apostolic ministry;

graciously bestow upon him, we pray,

the consolations of your Holy Spirit

and uphold him in serenity of life.

Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us

St Peter, pray for us

St Paul, pray for us

St Benedict, pray for us

All holy men and women, pray for us

Be not Afraid

Are we not perhaps all afraid in some way? If we let Christ enter fully into our lives, if we open ourselves totally to him, are we not afraid that He might take something away from us? No! If we let Christ into our lives, we lose nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing of what makes life free, beautiful and great…. No! Only in this friendship are the doors of life opened wide. Only in this friendship is the great potential of human existence truly revealed.” (Pope Benedict XVI)

Crann na Nollag

 

 

Crann na Nollag 

         

 

Tá said ann a deir go raibh trí chrann Iasmuigh de dhoras tí na Beithile – crann darach, crann olóige agus crann giúise. Thosaigh an dá chrann mhóra ag maíomh, lá.

‘Mise’, arsa an crann darach ‘sínfidh mé amach mo ghèaga mar scáth nuair a chuirfidh an mháthair an leanbhín sa chliabhán amach faoin aer’.

‘Mise’,  arsa an crann olóige, ‘ligfidh mè do m’ológa titim I dtreo go mbeidh ola aici chun an leanbhín a chuimilt go suaimhneach sásta’.

‘Ó, faire go deo, arsa an crann giúise, ‘ní féidir liomsa faic na ngrást a dhéanamh. Tá mo ghuairí róspíonta agus mo bhuaircíní rógharbh dá lámha boga mine’.

‘Faic fónta go deimhin’ arsa an bheirt eile d’aon gháire.

Leis sin tharla go raibh aingeal ag eitilt thart a chuala an comhrá. Lig sí do réalt beag a bhí ag glioscarnaigh go gléineach titim ar bharr an chrainn ghiúise agus bhuail an leanbhín a bhosa le háthas ag an radharc.

(Caitlín Ní Luasaigh)

Feast of the Immaculate Conception - 8th December

One very important feast in our Church calendar this month is the feast of the Immaculate Conception. But a lot of people misunderstand why we celebrate this day. First of all, what do these words mean? The immaculate also means 'clean' or 'spotless'. Imagine a way a window looks afer you've just cleaned it with wondow cleaner... How the light is able to shine through that window so clearly, as if it were brand new! The word conception means the moment that life begins for a baby inside it's mother's womb, the moment that God puts a soul & breathes life into that tiny body. So putting these words together, another way we can say 'immaculate conception' means 'a clean start to life.' It's importatn to remember that because of original sin, none of hus human beings have a 'clean start' to our lives, because our souls are stained by original sin. The sin of Adam & Eve has been passed down through every generation of the human race, and leaves a stain on our souls until we are baptised. But in the sacrament of baptism, we receive a 'new start' to o ur lives as God's children, and our souls are made squeaky clean by his grace!

 

What's amazing about Mary, though, is that her sould was squeaky clean from the moment her life began in St. Annes womb. Mary never had the original sin that the rest of us had before baptism! God knew from the beginning of time that he wanted her to be the mother of his Son, so he prepared her from the moment of her conception to fulfill this important role in salvation history. He made the window of her soul pure, so tat the Light of the World could shine perfectly unto all, through her. On the feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8th) we honour Mary for her sinlessness and perfrect obedience to the Father.

Advent

I watch for Your Presence

 

As a beacon guides a ship to harbour

Lord, guide my wandering spirit.

Lest I drift away and flounder.

 

Shine the light of Your love

into the darkness that surrounds me,

so I can find my way to you.

 

Lord, I watch for You,

For the light of your presence,

that makes my heart rejoice.

 

May I never falter in keeping vigil,

alert in looking for your help.

 

Yes, Lord, you are my beacon of light.

You are the light of the world. Amen.

 

 

Advent: Time of Watching

'Be still before the Lord, and watch.'

Psalm 37

 

Advent Wreath: Holly, the old pagan symbol for good luck, became the symbol for Christ's crown of thorns and his blood shed for us. By his wounds we are healed. Holly and ivy intertwined symbolise peace in our world and harmony between man and woman.

Cancer Connect Fundraiser

 

 

CANCER CONNECT FUNDRAISING EXHIBITION MATCH :

• ALL IRELAND CHAMPIONS TO HELP IN CANCER CONNECT FUNDRAISER:
• NOV 25TH : 2PM: WOLFE TONE PARK, BANTRY, CO CORK
• CORK SENIOR LADIES V WEST CORK LADIES SELECTION
• CORK LADIES MANAGED BY EAMONN RYAN
• WEST CORK SELECTION MANAGED BY GRAHAM CANTY

---

HALF TIME MASCOTS GAME WITH U10 GIRLS FROM WEST CORK CLUBS - THE FUTURE OF CORK LADIES FOOTBALL: Admission - €5 Children €2

---

WHAT IS CANCER CONNECT?
Cancer Connect is a free, flexible & confidential service to Cork Hospitals from West Cork for people receiving cancer treatments (radiotherapy, chemotherapy, etc). The service runs from Castletownbere through Bantry & Goleen through Skibbereen to various Cork hospitals every day (Monday to Friday) at times to suit passengers

Radiotherapy Service: 2 eight seater vehicles are used to provide the services and both are driven by volunteer drivers. The servive is normally to Cork University Hospital and the hospital has facilitated Cancer Connect passengers with appointment times of between 12noon and 1.30pm approx. thus minimising delays as far as possible.

Chemotherapy Service: this is privided every day (Monday to Friday) to the various Cork Hospitals. Similar to the Radiotherapy service it is supported by volunteer drivers who drive their own cars. It is usually provided 'one to one' as the appointments generally tend to take longer and the times of appointments can vary.

Contact: For details of any of the services or on becoming a Voluntary Driver one may contact Cancer Connect at West Cork Rural Transport Office

Tel: 027-52727

MOb: 087-1224404

---

 

Community Notices - Bantry Parish Newsletter

Saturday Confessions:

From the 1^st weekend in December there will be Confessions in Bantry Church at 12.00 noon on Saturday. It might be helpful to anyone in town shopping. The Angelus Bell might remind you. The Confessional in the Hospital Chapel has been removed – anyone can still request the Sacrament in the Sacristy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You are invited to a Service of Healing & Reconciliation at All Saints Church, Drimoleague on Saturday, 1^st December next. (2.00-6.00pm). Conducted by Eddie Stone, a leading Catholic lay evangelist from Emmanuel House of Providence, Confert. He will speak on the importance of Faith for us today.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Reflecting on the Advent Readings: An evening for Ministers of the Word and others.
An opportunity to reflect on the Word of God in Advent. This event is especially suitable for Ministers of the Word, but open to everyone.

Tuesday 20th November – 8.00pm Douglas Parish Centre. Tuesday 27th November – 8.00pm Parish Hall, Clonakilty All Welcome. Organised by the diocesan Scripture group and Liturgy Commission

Please let us know you are coming. Anne Francis 087-228-2134 abfrancis@eircom.net

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BANTRY LADIES FOOTBALL:Best of luck to the Minor ladies in the County Final this weekend (Sunday Nov. 18th) at C.I.T., Bishopstownon, kick off at 12.15pm where they will be playing St. Michaels.

ALL IRELAND CHAMPIONS HELP OUT CANCER CONNECT All Ireland Champions: CORK SENIOR LADIES Vs WEST CORK LADIES SELECTION
in AID OF CANCER CONNECT - A voluntary transport service bringing Cancer patients to Cork for treatment. Sunday November 25th @ 2pm. WOLFE TONE PARK, BANTRY, CO CORK. The West Cork Ladies team will be managed by none other than our own Graham Canty. This promises to be a fun even and it is is a very worthy cause, we ask everyone to come out and support it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mealagh Valley Community Centre

Fund Raising Car Boot Sale & Coffee Afternoon - Sunday 25th November 2.00pm - 5.00pm at the Mealagh Valley Community Centre. Charge €10.00 per car. Must be set up before 2.00pm. Great chance to get rid of unwanted clutter or if you are looking to get a bargain. All proceeds go towards renovation of the Community hall. If it's raining, sale will be held inside.

 

Bingo with a prize fund of £500 will be held at The Community Hall, Ards, Mealagh Valley on Thursday November 22nd. at 8.30P.M.. The usual bus service will run from Bantry. Your support would be greatly appreciated.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

Historical Society: The local Historical Society is privileged to host the inaugural talk given by Ms Julianna O Donoghue – Underwater Archaeologist – and leader of the team of experts who examined the Coconut Wreck, a ship that sank just off the West Cork coast in the 1600’s. This illustrated talk will take place in Christian Fellowship Church on Monday next 19^th November at 8.00pm. Come and get first hand information about the exotic cargo on board this ship which was just recently discovered. Everybody welcome.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Mission Sunday 21st October 2012

The Deep End – ‘For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve’

Today, Mission Sunday, Catholics worldwide are asked to recommit themselves to mission, to the gospel message. Many people think of missionaries as those who travel to so-called developing countries & dedicate their lives to serving the poor and spreading the gospel. Today we pray especially for them but we also recommit ourselves to following the gospel message in prayer, in our daily lives, in our relationships with others and in sharing that message.

We live in an extremely unequal world that is in desperate need of the gospel message of hope, solidarity, peace, love and equality. The Mission month of October reminds us all that we are bearers of that message. We are all called to be missionaries wherever we live; we are all invited to love and serve God by loving and serving others. That’s how we share our faith with the world. The Mission month of October offers everyone the chance to renew their commitment to the Gospel. Can we be missionaries to our own families and to the people around us? That is one of the more challenging tasks in our society today.

 Jane Mellett ( Email janemellett@yahoo.com)

 

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TOGETHER IN FAITH

“There is nothing more beautiful than to be

surprised by the Gospel, by the encounter

with Christ. There is nothing more beautiful

than to know Him and to speak to others of

our friendship with Him

Pope Benedict XV

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

 

Mission

God has created me

to do him some definite service.

He has committed some work to me

which he has not committed to another.

I have my mission:

I may never know it in this life,

but I shall be told it in the next.

(JH Newman)

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Prayer for Motorists

Prayer for Motorists.

Before I take my place

behind the wheel,

I pray, O Sacred Heart,

guide me on my way.

Virgin Mary, Morning Star.

From every danger guide this car.

Thou Dear Lord, who gave it to enjoy,

Grant that its purpose be to save,

and not destroy. Amen.