BANTRY PARISH NEWSLETTER

The  second Sunday of advent  

                                Sunday 8th december 2013       

Calendar: Mass Times and Intentions :–

Mon. 9^th December: SecondWeek of Advent:.

                     Bantry:                  10am           Nessa McCarthy - Newtown

                     Tues. 10^th December: Second Week of Advent:

                     Bantry:                  10am           Alfie Harrington - Cahernacrin

Wed. 11^th December:  Second Week of Advent:

Bantry:                  10am           Harvey & Adelaide Finnegan – Marino Street

Hospital                 5.30pm       Bridie & Jackie Moloney - Dromclough

Thurs. 12^th December: Second Week of Advent:.

Bantry:                  10am           Mary McGlone – Dromleigh & Nottingham

                                                     & her daughter Mairead McGlone

Friday 13^th December: Second Week of Advent:

                     Bantry:                  10am           Mark Hutchinson - Crossogue

                     Kealkil;                  7.30pm       Donal & Pat McSweeney - Maughnaclea

Sat. 14^th December: Second Week of Advent:

                     Hospital:               10am           Maisie McCarthy – St. Canneras Place – 5^th Anniversary         

                     Bantry:                  6.15pm       Maureen & Jimmy O’Sullivan – Rock Villas

Sun. 15^th December: Third Sunday of Advent

  Bantry:          9am       James & Mary Ellen Wiseman - Dromleigh    

Coomhola:    10am     Peg Murphy – Dromdubh – 1^st Anniversary

Kealkil:           11am    Catherine, John, Dan & Mary O’Rourke - Incharoe

Bantry:           12noon              People of the Parish

The Deep End – The Simple Life

John the Baptist certainly grabs our attention, appearing in the desert in his

garment of camel hair, eating locusts & wild honey. His language can be cryptic-

he addresses the Pharisees & Sadducees as ‘Brood of Vipers’, & speaks of trees

& axes, winnowing fans & wheat. He is  peculiar mixture of signs & messages,

even to the people of the time who were on the lookout for prophetic figures.

Nowadays, John would cut an even more eccentric figure. Sometimes a person’s

lifestyle can offer an even more powerful witness than their words. John’s

basic diet & dress suggest a lifestyle that is at once simple & radical, one which

challenged the norms of the day. It all brings to mind another man who caught

our attention with his simple lifestyle earlier this year. As soon as Pope Francis

was elected, all the talk was of his modest living quarters as Bishop and his

preference for public  this simple lifestyle as Pope. That a senior clergy man

should choose to live a simple & ethical life should hardly come as a shock to the

world. Yet there was a powerful witness to his actions. While we might not be

called to the desert life, we are challenged to examine our values and our

relationship with material things – an apt message as we enter the most

materialistic season of the year. John the Baptist’s message can be summed up by

the first word he speaks: repent. The Greek word for ‘repentance’ is metanoia,

literally a change of heart.                              Triona Doherty

The annual Bantry Carol Service takes place this year on Sunday 22 December at 8pm in St Brendan's Church of Ireland. Please put this date in your diary and join us for this traditional celebration of readings and carols. A wonderful way to begin your Christmas. The choirs of St Finbarr's Church Bantry and Sacred Heart Church Glengarriff will again lead the singing.

“Do this in Memory”

Advent & Preparation for Christmas.

Next Sunday, 15th December,  the 9am Mass at Bantry Church, the 10am Mass at Coomhola & the 11am Mass in Kealkil will involve the young people preparing for First Communion & their parents & guardians

The parish assembly are organising a community choir for Kealkill Church on Christmas Day. Any available Musicians and Singers interested in taking part please contact Margaret on 086-0572473 or Joan on 087 - 9179726. Adults and Children welcome.

Eucharistic Adoration:

Anyone who has time to spend in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on 1^st Fridays from 10.30am to 7pm, please give your name to Mary McCarthy at 027-51534

Training in Coomhola Church:

Ministers of the Word: Tuesday 10^th December at 7.30pm

Penitential Service 

Bantry Church on Tuesday 17^th December at 7.30pm

A number of priests will be available for Confessions.

COOMHOLA'S CHRISTMAS EVENING

Come along to a  night of Christmas Carol singing with local children, musicians and singers. This  will take place on Friday the 20th December at 7.30pm at Coomhola Church. Organised by representatives of the Childrens Choir. All very Welcome! Admission free but there will be donation boxes and any proceeds from this will go towards local charities. Hope to see ye on the 20th!

Tickets on Sale Now:- Fr. Liam Lawton  “A Celtic Christmas" tour in St Finbarrs Church Bantry on Sunday 15th December at 8pm. Tickets are €20 are on sale now from the Parish Office, De Barra's restaurant, Floury Hands and Quik Pick. Monies raised will go to the church renovation fund

Mealagh  Valley  Community Centre  Members  wish to hold a  Christmas Party  for the  Elderly in our area  on Sunday  December 15th.  from  3.00P.M.  to 6.00P.M..    Of  course  all others are also welcome to come along.   It will cost £5  Per  Person.  Please  book your  place by  December  13th.  by  Calling  Mary  on  086-1035720   or  John on  087-2856973.    People from outside  Mealagh Valley are also  very welcome to attend.

The Bantry Bay Lions, in partnership with the Bantry Business Association, will be hosting Santa's Grotto on Bridge St from 2-5pm on Sunday December 8, 15 and 22. Entrance is 4 euro per child and 10 euro for a family of 3. Price includes a gift and picture with Santa

The Bantry Bay Lions will be holding their Annual Food Appeal at Supervalu in Bantry on Friday and Saturday December 13 and 14 from 9-6pm and Sunday December 15 from 10-2pm. Any non-perishable foodstuffs or money can be contributed. Economic times are continuing to be tough and this year there will be many needy families looking for help from the community. Please donate whatever you can."

Upcoming  Events  at  Mealagh  Valley  Community  Hall  for the coming week  are.....

   Thursday  December   12th. ....  £500    Bingo  Session.     £10  Per  Person to Play.    Starts at 8.30 P.M.. 

Saturday  December 15th.   ,,,,,,    Christmas  45  Progressive   Card Drive.    £15  Per   Person  to Play.   Starts at 9.00 P.M.   Sharp.

 Your  Continued Support is greatly Appreciated.

Race night: Collins Bar Kealkill, Sat 14th December. First race at 9pm. Horses can be bought for €20 in Burkes Gala, Collins or Brown Pub before Tues 10th December. All monies raised will go towards Kealkill community projects: Carriganass Castle Ltd, Parkland Development and Co-op Community Centre. All welcome.

Coomhola School - Nativity play, carol singing and Mass on Tue. 17th Dec. at 10.30 a.m. Parents, past pupils and members of the community are welcome.

Recent Parish Baptisms:

Ella Rose Murnane  (Reenrour East, Bantry)

Leo Noah O’Donnell O’Halloran (Anchor Tavern, Bantry),

Fionn Joseph O’Halloran (Lahadane, Bantry)

Abby Rose Flynn (Lisheens, Kealkil)

We welcome them into our Christian Community

Died Recently

We extend our prayers & sympathy to the family, relatives & friends of

Pat Cronin

(Gurteenroe, Bantry)

May he rest in peace

Offertory Collection: Bantry Church weekend of 30^th Nov/1^st Dec.: €1792. Church Renovation Fund collection will take place on next weeken - Dec.14^th & 15^th .

A morning of coffee, mince pies and chat, and all for a good cause! E Bantry Enterprise Centre was set up to support business and community in the West Cork area. As part of our commitment to the community the centre is holding a charity Coffee and Mince Pie Morning at the Enterprise Centre in Rope Walk on Wednesday 11th December from 11am until 1pm with all proceeds going to The Bantry Hospice Project. Everyone is welcome and don’t forget to bring a friend!

Free Energy Healing Day at the Westlodge Hotel, Bantry on Saturday 14^th December from 11am to 4pm. Open to everyone – especially anyone with health issues. Appointment essential – please contact 087-9446773 or 086-8561243

                                                        

BANTRY PARISH NEWSLETTER

The  Thirty Second Sunday in ordinary time  

                            Sunday 10^th November 2013    

  November is traditionally the month when we remember our loved ones who have died. Parishes all over the country will hold Masses of Remembrance this month. Schools will hold Services of Remembrance where past pupils, staff & parents are prayed for. Inside our churches and prayer rooms, the colour purple is displayed to remember those who have gone before us and outside, the feel of Winter is all around. The trees are almost bare & it gets dark earlier in the afternoon.

But Jesus reminds us in the Gospel that there is a new world beyond death. In this world of light and life we see God face to face. The world of mourning & separation are no more. This is a world where we will meet each other again and where we will meet Jesus Christ who is Risen.

Jesus encourages us to plug into this world in prayer –  in the Scriptures and in the Mass. Here we call to mind those who have died. We connect with the next world when we pray for all our needs and for the souls of all who have died. I sometimes use the image of the broadband signal for which today we all rely on more & more to connect with our email, the internet, Skype etc. We rely on it more and more to keep us connected but when the signal drops things can slow right down. When we pray and especially when we call to mind our loved ones gone before us, we are guaranteed an ‘always on’ signal because, night or day, Jesus is there waiting for us. And the signal will never drop from his side.

The good news for us is that thanks to our faith in Jesus Christ, handed to us by the very ones we often pray for – our parents, our grandparents, and those gone before us, we are reminded that after our death we will see God face to face.

Calendar: Mass Times and Intentions 

Mon. 11^th  November: 32^nd  week in Ordinary Time:.St. Martin of Tours, 335-97, bishop of Tours, apostle of rural Gaul,

founder of monasteries. Patron of France, soldiers, beggars and inn-keepers.

                     Bantry:                    10am             Dan Sullivan and his son Danny Sullivan - Reendonegan

                    

Tues. 12^th November: 32nd Week in Ordinary Time: St. Josaphat, bishop & martyr.

                     Bantry:                    10am             Jim O’Mahony – Market Street

                                                                         

Wed. 13^th November: 32^nd Week in Ordinary Time:

Bantry:                    10am             Peter & Frances O’Sullivan – Hospital Road

Hospital                   5.30pm         Deceased members of the McGrath Family

                                                     – Church Road & Beach

Thurs. 14^th November: 32^nd Week in Ordinary Time:. St. Laurence O’Toole, bishop,

became a monk & abbott of Glendalough. He died at Eu in Normandy seeking to make

peace between Henry II & the Irish rulers in 1180.

Bantry:                    10am             David O’Driscoll - Letterlickey

                    

Friday 15^th November: 32^nd Week in Ordinary Time: St. Albert the Great. Bishop and

Doctor of the Church. Dominican theologian who taught in Cologne. Called the

‘Universal Teacher’ for the vast range of his interestes. Patron of Scientists.

                     Bantry:                    10am             Ellen O’Driscoll – Monavard & London

                     Kealkil;                    7.30pm         People of the Parish

                                                                          

Sat. 16^th November: 32^nd Week in Ordinary Time:

                     Hospital:                10am             Anna Marie Crowley – The Square, Bantry

                     Bantry:                    6.15pm         Michael Goggin – Barrack Street

Sun. 17^th November: Thirty Third Sunday in  Ordinary Time

                     Bantry:                    9am                Mary Frances McCarthy - Gurteenroe  

                                                                           & Donal McCarthy – Seafield

                     Coomhola:               10am              Sean Healy - Corran

                     Kealkil:                    11am             Mary Creedon - Cappaboy

                     Bantry:                    12noon         People of the Parish                 

Formation for Ministers of the Eucharist and Word   

A Course for all new and existing Lay Readers and Ministers of the Eucharist will be held in the Westlodge Hotel on Monday November 11^th at 7.30pm. All are requested to attend.

There will be a further meeting at the Westlodge Hotel for Eucharistic Ministers on Mon.18^th Nov. at 7.30pm.  Ministers of the Word will meet again on Tues. Nov. 19^th at 7.30pm.                                    

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

Sunday 24^th November

Feast of Christ the King

There will be Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament after 12noon Mass which will conclude with a Holy Hour from 5pm-6pm.

Penintential Service 

Bantry Church on Tuesday 17^th December. 

A number of priests will be available for Confessions.

TOWN AREA MASSES & AUTUMN STATIONS—Autumn 2013

Outstanding Station Areas in Kealkil— Mass at Kealkil Church on Thursday 21^st  November at 7.30pm

Ahil, Ards, Breenybeg, Breenymore,  Cahermounteen, Cahermuckee, Cappabui N & S, Cappanaboul, Cousane, Cullinagh, Curryglass, Derryarkane, Derryfada, Dromaneasa, Dromlicacrue, Dromsullivan, Glounycarney, Gortlachra, Inchaclough, Incharoe, Kealkil, Kielnacnappogue, Lisheens, Lacavane, Lahernsheermeen, Leachareigh, Maugha, Maughnaclee,  Moularaha, Moulavanig, Moulakieve, Skehana. Traenmaddree

Mass for TOWN AREAS will be held on Monday, 25th November at Bantry Church at 7.30pm

Mass for outstanding BANTRY STATION AREAS will be held on Tuesday, 26th November at Bantry Church at 7.30pm.

Seskin, Seskin Lw/Caherdaniel West, Dromclough, Glencreagh, Parkanna, Scart, Gortacloona, Ardra South, Baurnagearagh, Reendesert, Dromcaol, Coomanore, Glenbanoo, Esknafeelna, Derrycreha, Ardnatrush Beg, Baurgorm, Milleeney, Ballylickey, Lahern, Gortagaree, Reendonegan, Goreemore, Dromdaniel, Crossoge, Dromloughlin, Dromaclarig, Ardnatrush, Snave, Ardnagashel, Gurteenroe, Ard na Gaoithe, Whiddy, Dromliath, Ardra North, Derrygrenagh South, Cahergullane, Raheen, Caherdaniel, Derrygreanaugh M & E,

Outstanding Station Areas in Coomhola—Mass in Coomhola Church on Wednesday 27^th November at 7.30pm.

Snave, Ardnagashel, Ardnatrush, Dromgarbh, Drograne, Esknafeelna, Derrycreha, Ardnatrush Beag, Ardnacloughy, Corrycomade, Cooryleary, Dromduv, Millbeg, Baurnagearagh, Reendesert, Dromcaol, Cappadayourdil, Coolennlemane, Coorloum, Derryduve, Farrnafadda, Inchinagown, Kealanine, Millbeg, Rangeroo

The Parish dues may be returned on the night

A Community choir is being formed in Bantry people of all ages welcome from (16) upwards. Open Night in The Maritime Hotel on Monday Nov 18th from 7.30pm til 9.00pm. Musical director Katy Salvidge, Baltimore Choirs. Contact Nora Edgeworth 0861948074 or noraedgeworth@gmail.com 

GiveBlood.ie – Blood Donor Clinic

The Maritime Hotel, Bantry.

Thursday 14^th November : 3pm-5pm and 7pm-9pm

Donor Line: 1850 731 137

Offertory Collection: Bantry Church last weekend (including The Feast of All Saints): €2922

Special Collection for Catholic Marriage Support takes place on November 16^th/17^th

Church Renovation Fund Collection will take place on November 23^rd /24^th

Altar Servers

A warm welcome and sincere thanks to our new & existing altar servers (and their parents) in our three Churches for volunteering with us.

We look forward to their years of service here in Bantry Parish

Be Generous with God

A very rich man who had lived a selfish, luxurious life died and went up to heaven, The Lord who loves us all, brought him to Heaven. An angel was sent to show him his house. They passed many lovely mansions and each time the rich man thought: “This must be mine.”

But the angel did not stop and kept leading him on. They passed through the main street and arrived at the outskirts where the houses were very small. Finally they came to a miserable hut. “This is yours” said the angel. “There must be some mistake”, replied the rich man. “No” the angel answered, “there is no mistake. This was the best we could do with the materials you sent up.”

French Grinds for Leaving & Junior Certificate – Special Recession rates. Contact Ann Creedon on 086-3781407

Tickets on Sale Now:- Fr. Liam Lawton  “A Celtic Christmas" tour in St Finbarrs Church Bantry on Sunday 15th December at 8pm. Tickets are €20 are on sale now from the Parish Office, De Barra's restaurant, Floury Hands and Quik Pick. Monies raised will go towards the church renovation fund

Time to Upskill  - Train the Trainer (FETAC Level 6) will be starting late November in Bantry. For more details please contact Siobhan on 065-6825269  /

087-1413630 or email  Siobhan @institutecorporatetraining.com

ALIVE FREE CATHOLIC paper (November edition)  is available at church porches.

Please take one and some for your family and friends.