12th January 2020

The Baptism of the Lord

Weekend Masses
Ovens:
Vigil: 7.30pm.
Sunday: 11.30am.
Farran:
Vigil: 6pm
Sunday: 9.30am.

Weekday Masses
Ovens: 9.30am: Mon Weds & Fri.
Farran: Tues & Thurs.

Parish Phone Nos. (021) 4871180.
Emergency No: 087 0956190
Monsignor Kevin O’Callaghan: (021) 7336053
Parish Centre/Sacristy: (021) 4289768
Ring for bookings: Baptisms & Marriages etc

Parish Office Opening Hours
Tuesday: 6.30pm to 7.30pm
Thursday: 9.30am to 10.30am

SECOND COLLECTION
A Second Collection will be taken up at all Masses next weekend, 18th/19th January. This is the Special Quarterly Collection for the support of the Diocese.

PARISH ASSEMBLY MEETING
The January meeting of the Parish Assembly on this Monday, 13th January at 8pm in the parish centre.

OVENS/FARRAN ACTIVE CIRCLE
Our first meeting of the new season is on this Monday, 13th January at 2.30pm in the Parish Centre. We will have a table quiz & we hope to see as many members as possible present.
The annual Registration Fee of €12 is now due for payment and new members, of course, are very welcome.

TEA DANCE
Sunday next, 19th January, 2.30pm to 5.30pm.
Music: by Kevin & John. Admission: €5.
You are very welcome to join us for a great afternoon of Music & Dance, with the usual refreshments & raffle.

Medjugorje Pilgrimage ex Cork 30th June to 7th July €725 pps (half board in Hotel Leone, 2 mins from Church). Spiritual Director Fr. Pat O’Donoghue. Group Leader: Seán O’Shaughneaay. €200 deposit secures place. Some places still available.
Contact: 086 2959380 or Joe Walsh Tours 01 2410800.

REFLECTION FOR THE FEAST OF THE LORD’S BAPTISM
As we celebrate the Baptism of Christ in the Jordan, let us remember that this is the second epiphany, or manifestation, of the Lord. The past, the present & the future are made manifest in this epiphany..
The most Holy one placed Himself among us, the unclean & sinners. The Son of God freely humbled Himself at the hand of the Baptist. By His baptism in the Jordan, Christ manifests His humility & dedicates Himself to the redemption of man. He takes upon Himself the sins of the whole world & buries them in the waters of the Jordan.

RECENT BAPTISM
Ellie May Ryan, Kilcrea
We congratulate her and her parents & we welcome her to the parish family.

ÉIRE ÓG VICTORY DINNER DANCE
Venue: Oriel House Hotel, Ballincollig.
Time & Date: Saturday, 8th February @ 7pm.
To book a table or buy a ticket contact: Martina 0879506853, Gretchen 0857410079, Con 0862391118 or Jimmy 0872669248.

BLOOD DONOR CLINICS
Ballincollig, GAA Pavilion
Mon/Tues, 13th/14th January, 5pm to 8.30pm.
Ovens, GAA Pavilion
Weds/Thurs, 15th/16th January, 5pm to 8.30pm.

MACROOM CITIZENS INFORMATION CENTRE
Your local Citizens Information Service is looking for volunteers who are available for 6 hours per week to join their team of Information Providers in Macroom.. Ideally they are looking for caring & resourceful people who are comfortable working in an office environment, with good listening, interpersonal communication & IT skills, ideally with some knowledge of public services. Full training will be provided.
If you are interested you should contact Macroom Citizens Information Centre, South Square , Macroom. Tel: 0761078430 or email macroom@citinfo.ie for an application form & further details.

Yoga Beoga
Yoga for kids & teenagers at the Country Wellness Hub Killumney. Starts January 15th 2020 for 6 weeks €50.
Time: 4 to 5pm for 6 to 11 year olds & 5.15 to 6.15pm for 11 to 15year olds. Call Vivian 085 2361317.

This Sunday is the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus by St. John the Baptist, the patron of Ovens Church. It is also, of course, the Feast Day of the Baptism of each of us. It is fitting that we would remember our Baptism at this time, as we would any other anniversary. Remember our parents, sponsors, family, grandparents, where our Baptism took place & the Priest who performed the ceremony.
In the past year, 2019 we had 78 Baptisms in our parish. A Baptism is always a very special occasion & a family spiritual time also. It is important that families are well prepared beforehand. The parish Baptism Teams provide an important pastoral service in our parish. They meet with the parents, who have arranged the Baptism of their child, to make the necessary preparations for the ceremony & the welcome of a new member to the faith community. The meeting itself is also a welcome to families who have recently come to live in the parish. These meetings have been taking place since 2010 & are very well received. They take place, usually once a month, on Saturday morning at 11am in the parish centre. The ceremony is explained, readings & prayers are shared between families & the necessary paper work is completed. Parents, the baby to be baptised & other family members are all very welcome to come to the preparation meetings. It is important that the sponsors chosen are people of Faith & over 16 years of age.
There are two Baptism Preparation Teams in the Parish: Dan Healy & Mary O’Callaghan & Margo Murphy & Cáit & Geraldine McCarthy. They also attend on the day of the Baptism. Thanks to them for their time & dedication.
Please give 4 weeks notice when booking a Baptism.

This Sunday, we have our annual Service of Prayer & Thanksgiving for the 78 babies Baptised in our parish last year. It takes place in St. John the Baptist Church, Ovens at 3pm. We hope to see as many families as possible present for this happy occasion. Light refreshments will be served in the parish centre after the ceremony.