Second Sunday of Advent
PARISH PHONE NOS.
Fr. Liam O h-Icí: House: 4871180
Emergency No.: 087 0956190
Parish Centre / Sacristy: 4289768
Ring for bookings : Baptisms & Marriages etc.
WEEKEND MASSES 16TH/17THDECEMBER
The Vigil Mass will be in Ovens Church on Saturday next 16th December at 7pm.
Farran: 9.30am.
Ovens: 11.30am.
WEEKDAY MASSES
Ovens:
9.30am: Mon Weds & Fri.
Farran:
9.30am: Tuesday & Thursday.
ANNIVERSARIES 16TH/17TH DECEMBER
Ovens:
7pm: Ted Buckley, Mylane (1st Anniversary).
11.30am: Con Lynch, Currabeg (1st Anniversary).
Farran:
9.30am: Mary & John McCarthy, Abbey Road.
May they Rest in Peace.
ST. VINCENT DE PAUL-ANNUAL CHURCH GATE COLLECTION REMINDER
The Annual Church Gate Collection takes place at all Masses in the Mid Cork area this weekend, Saturday/Sunday 9th/10th December.
St. Vincent de Paul in the Ovens/Kilmurry area depend on your support in this church gate collection each year.
Your contribution, no matter how small, makes a great difference to the many families who seek help.
Thank you sincerely for your support.
RECONCILIATION SERVICE FOR CHRISTMAS
Sunday next, 17th December.
Church of St. John the Baptist, Ovens.
At 6pm.
SCRIPTURE REFLECTION FOR THE WEEK
God has a Plan for You
“For I know the thoughts I think towards you”, says the Lord, “thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope”.
For Further Reflection
Jeremiah 29:11
ADVENT, WAITING FOR CHRISTMAS
Because Christians have always recognised the importance of waiting and preparation, they intentionally built periods of waiting into the Christian calendar.
This is a way of making room for this important piece of life that the world is so eager to get rid of. It slows us down, reorients us around God and gives us time to reflect, to prepare, to rest.
Advent is one of those seasons of waiting. When we come to Advent we remember the promise that Christ has come and will come again, but we are not ready to jump headlong into celebration.
First, we must prepare.
SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
The four candles of Advent represent the 4 Sundays of Advent and they symbolise Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.
This week we light the second purple candle, symbolising Peace and it is called the Bethlehem Candle.
Advent is a journey towards Bethlehem. May we let ourselves be drawn by the Light of God made man.
The Words of Pope Francis.
This week also we continue to place 7 more symbols on the Jesse Tree, representing stories from the Old Testament: The Coat, The Burning Bush, The Lamb, the Stone Tablets, The Ram’s Horn Trumpet, The Clay Water Pitcher and The Crown.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION PREPARATION 2024
The First Holy Communion children will accompany us at Masses next weekend, 16th/17th December.
7pm Vigil Mass:
Class from Ovens School.
11.30am:
Class from Ovens School.
9.30am Farran:
Class from Scoil Mhuire, Farran.
TAX- BACK SYSTEM
Grateful thanks to all those who are already members of the Tax-Back System.
It is now an ideal time to consider joining the system to help cope with church expenses. Taxpayers who contribute a total of not less than €250 a year (€5 a week) can, at no extra cost to themselves, gain a tax refund to the parish of at least €112.
Your dealings with Revenue are strictly confidential. Combined refunds are lodged to the parish account but no details of names or amounts are given to the parish.
Contact Fr. Liam for further details.
To date this year a total of €7,671.20 has been refunded to the Parish.
Offertory Collection Envelopes:
Parishioners who wish to use the envelopes can now collect a box for 2024 at either Church door.
Members of the Tax-Back System (or those with allocated numbers) can collect their envelopes in the sacristy.
AUTUMN DUES
Sincere thanks to all who have returned the Autumn Dues Envelopes.
Many thanks also to those who distributed them.
ADVENT TALKS
Advent Talks on Tuesdays at 7pm in Saints Peter and Paul’s Church, Cork. Fr. Seán Crowley on December 12th, and Fr. Shinu Angadiyil. on December 19th. Each talk will be followed by 30 mins of silent adoration in front of the Blessed Sacrament exposed on the altar. All are most welcome
WEEKEND MASSES IN OUR FAMILY OF PARISHES
Wallet size cards, detailing weekend Mass times in our Family of Parishes, are available at the doors of both Churches. Please take one.
Thanks to the Parish Assembly for providing these cards.
RECENT BAPTISMS
Tommy Richard Scally, Knockane
Seán Charlie Farrell, Garryhesta
We welcome them to the Parish Family.
BOOK CLUB
The December meeting of the Ovens/Farran Book Club on this Monday, 11th December at 7.30pm in the Parish Centre.
ÁR DTEANGA FHÉIN
Tá Sláinte an Bhradáin Aige
He’s in the best of health. Literally, he has the health of a salmon. Probably because of it’s endurance in returning to spawning grounds, the salmon is associated with robust health.
ÉIRE ÓG CAMOGIE
Minor Premier Championship County Final
Éire Óg V Sarsfields. This Sunday, 10th December. Castle Road at 2pm.
Congratulations to Kieran Mulvaney, Carrigane, who came 3rd in the U14 boy’s race at the UC1 World Cup Cross Country Cycle Race in Dublin recently.