Happy New Year (civil) for 2012
I have to confess that I’m a bit obsessed with the Crib and the Wise Men. In my home, as I was growing up my Dad always said that the Infant Jesus should not go into the Crib until Christmas Eve, AND that the Wise men should arrive on the 6th only. The decorations etc should come down on the 6th and the Crib should stay by it self for at least 6 days. It’s a gentle way of saying that the Nativity is the most important part of Christmas. It does of course require a second trip to the attic!
I’ve been known to raid peoples’ Cribs and remove the Wise men if they’ve arrived ‘early’.
Another tradition that I heard of a few years ago, is to allow the Wise men to travel around the house for the 12 days. They can go up stairs and, in and out of the bedrooms etc etc, this can be done particularly with young children, just before they go to bed.
New Year’s Resolution to Volunteer
The 50th International Eucharistic Congress office is delighted to announce that they have now over 700 registered volunteers from all over Ireland and continue their call for volunteers as more are needed. Recently, the first volunteer induction training sessions were held and there will be more induction training sessions in January. Why not make it your News Years’ resolution to volunteer. Register now and make a difference!
Also there will be an International Theology Symposium on “The Eucharistic Ecclesiology of Communion Fifty Years after Vatican II”. It takes place in St Patrick's College, Maynooth, from 6th until 9th June 2012, the week before the Eucharistic Congress itself, keep that date in your diary.
A particular thanks to all who helped with the Christmas Ceremonies. From stewards to collectors, Ministers of the Word and Ministers of the Eucharist, Flower arrangers to cleaners (They enjoy the title of CC ie Church Cleaner!!) The Altar servers turned up in abundance too. We think that the numbers attending were up this year. A particular thanks to Fr. Alan and the Focolaire group who assisted with the Vigil Mass at 6pm. It certainly was a celebration of the birth of Christ. The Carol singing enhanced all our liturgies. I’m looking forward to seeing all the colouring of the Nativity scene which were given out at Christmas; don’t forget to get them back to before the feast of Epiphany.
Fr. Philip Adm (Wise man??)
Thank you for the Christmas Day Offertory Collection of €3,368 and the Share Collection which amounted to €2,236.
Mathew O’Sullivan was recently baptised in our church.. We welcome him into our Christian community and congratulate their parents.
Congratulations to Cathal O’Connor and Elizabeth Harper Nolan who were married here last Friday.
Milltown Parish Pastoral Council
will have their January meeting on Tuesday, 10th January.
The loss of music at our Saturday evening Mass has been noted by many. With this in mind we are appealing to any parishioner who can play the organ or help in anyway to contact Fr. Philip re the possibility of playing at our evening Masses.
The Parish Baptism Team will meet on next Tuesday night with parents whose children are to be baptised here next weekend.
Milltown Parish / Foroige Youth Club
This club will re-commence in January. New members are welcome. Please leave your name and contact details in the Parish Office if your children would like to join this group.
OCTAVE OF PRAYER FOR CHURCH UNITY 2012
The inaugural gathering of the Dublin Council of Churches Octave of Prayer for Church Unity will take place in Milltown Church at 8pm on Wednesday the 18th of January. The preacher will be the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, Dr. Michael Jackson. Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin will preside. All welcome to attend.
Softlight Photography DSLR Beginners Photography course.
A photography training course will take place in the Parish Pastoral Centre from 10-12 am on Saturday 14th January. This two hour course teaches you the basic principals of SLR photography. This is a hands on course with lots of practical experience. The course costs €45 per person. For further details call 087 6866026 or log onto www.softlight.ie/courses to register.
A copy of the Radharc film on St. Columbanus & Gall is available on loan from the Parish Library.
Feast of the Epiphany
Friday 6th January
Vigil Mass: Thursday 6pm.
Morning Mass; 10am & 11.30am
Evening Mass: 5.30pm
PARISH PASTORAL CENTRE
The Centre will reopen on Tuesday.
Next Friday, January 6th is the First Friday of the month. The 10am Mass on the day will be offered for all who are recently deceased and those whose names are on the Parish Altar list of the dead.
A six week Yoga course will commence in the Parish Pastoral Centre on the 12th Jan,. These hour long classes will start at 9.30am.on Thursday mornings. The course costs €90. For further details contact Orla at 087, 9340839.
Date for your Diary
Please note that the New Year Liturgy Seminar will be on Saturday morning 28th January in Clonliffe College. Details of courses and booking forms will be available in January.
