2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
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
WEEKEND MASSES
Ovens:
Vigil: 7.30pm.
Sunday: 9.30am & 11.30am.
Masses on the Webcam from Ovens Church. churchservices.tv/ovens
WEEKDAY MASSES
Ovens: Monday 7.30pm.
9.30am: Tues to Friday. (Via Webcam)
PARISH OFFICE OPENING HOURS
No Office Hours until further notice.
If you need to make contact for any reason ring 021 4289768 and we will return your call as soon as possible.
SEEING LIFE THROUGH THE GOSPELS
In today’s Gospel, John the Baptist pointed his Disciples towards Jesus as the one they should follow. Today is a day to remember the people in our lives who have pointed us in new and life giving directions. Perhaps this may have involved directing us away from them, for example, leaving our comfort zones and in making changes for the better in our lives.
JANUARY
January is known as “An Mí Fhada”, the long month & so it is. It has, of course, the full compliment of days, 31. But it is also long in the sense that it is mid winter and the days are short and the nights long. But then as we move closer to February 1st, Lá Fhéile Bríde, the days get longer and more light comes. It contains the hope of a new year. Also, as we experience a particularly dark period of the Coronavirus Pandemic and it’s uncertainty, we pray through this prayer, a prayer of hope.
May the beauty of God never cease to surprise us and the presence of God guide us.
May the Word of God enfold us and the Passion of God love us.
May the Wisdom of God instruct s and the call of God invite us.
May the healing of God hold us and the wonder of God humble us.
May the peace of God surround us and the love of God renew us.
May the compassion of God strengthen us and the forgiveness of God reconcile us.
May the mercy of God mould us and the friendship of God bless us.
May the truth of God challenge us.
May we always delight in “God with us”. Amen.
WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHURCH UNITY
The coming week, Monday 18th January to Monday 25th January, The Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, is a week of prayer for Church Unity.
The Church Unity Octave was first observed in January, 1908. Celebrated in the chapel of a small Atonement Franciscan Convent of the Protestant Episcopal Church, on a remote hillside fifty miles from New York City. This new prayer movement caught the imagination of others beyond the Franciscan Friars and Sisters of the Atonement to become an energetic movement that gradually blossomed into a worldwide observance involving many nations and millions of people.
This year the theme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity “Abide in my Love and you shall bear much fruit” (John’s Gospel 15:5-9) was chosen by the Community of Grandchamp, Switzerland. It expresses the Community’s vocation to prayer, reconciliation and unity in the church and the human family. Grandchamp is a monastic community which brings together sisters from different Churches and from different countries. Today the community has fifty sisters, all women from different generations, church traditions, countries and continents. They remain faithful to a life of prayer, life in community and the welcoming of guests. The sisters welcome visitors and volunteers who go the Grandchamp for a time of retreat, silence, healing or in search of meaning.
For the complete programme for the Week of Prayer visit the website of the World Council of Churches: www.oikoumene.org/resources.
Buíochas le Dia, thanks be to God
During the next week, perhaps we should give thanks to God for the unity that already exists in the Church & then pray that God’s followers might get behind the common task we all face to care for nature. And at the same time, protect humankind from self-destruction.
PRAYER
Thrice-Holy God, we thank you for having created and loved us. We thank you for your presence in us and in creation. May we learn to look upon the world as you look upon it, with love. In the hope of this vision, may we be able to work for a world where justice and peace flourish, for the glory of your name. Amen.
PRAYER OF POPE FRANCIS FOR JANUARY
“We are brothers and sisters who pray… Let us pray that the Lord may give us the grace to live in full fellowship with our brothers and sisters of other religions and not fight each other & praying for one another, open ourselves to all”.
STATEMENT FROM BISHOP FINTAN
The Statement of Bishop Fintan Gavin on the publication of the Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes is on the Cork & Ross Diocesan Website.
ÉIRE ÓG, HELPING THE COMMUNITY
In light of the Government decision to move the country back to Level 5, the Club is reactivating our Covid 19 Community Response Team.
If any member of our community requires support during these difficult times, prescriptions and groceries collected, or if we can support you in any way please contact: Club PRO John Hourihan on 086 3178214 and a member of the club will be only too delighted to come to your assistance.
Also if any member of our club wants to volunteer to help out, please contact the above number and your name will be added to our response team.
FRIENDS OF KILCREA
As a thank you to the people of the parish for their support over the years, we would like to give a copy of the book on Kilcrea to anyone who would like one. Some books have already been given out, but there are a few copies still available.
Contact: Oliver O’Callaghan on 021 7331090.
RECENT WEDDINGS
Mary McCarthy, Ballygroman &
Johnny McCarthy, Ballinlough
Married in Ovens Church.
Clare Casey, Abbey Road &
David Coughlan, Crosshaven
Married in Farran Church.
Congratulations.
RECENT DEATH
Billy Pollock, Beverly Court
May he Rest in Peace.