Newsletter 2nd February 2025

Reflection for The Presentation of the Lord

The feast of the Presentation of the Lord is celebrated forty days after the feast of Christmas, as it was traditionally understood that Jesus was presented in the Temple forty days after his birth. This day is also known as Candlemas, because candles are blessed on this day to remind us that Jesus is the light of the world and the light of our life. This is in keeping with Simeon’s reference to the child Jesus in the gospel reading as a ‘light to enlighten the pagans and the glory of your people Israel’.
Simeon’s prayer beginning, ‘Now, Master, you can let your servant go in peace’, has become an integral element of the Night Prayer of the Church. Simeon recognized the true identity of the child that the young couple from Nazareth brought into the Temple. He realized who had just entered the Temple, who had entered his life. Looking at this new born child, he could see the ‘salvation’ that God had been preparing for all the nations to see. Simeon recognized that the light of God’s love was shining through the face of this child, a light that would enlighten the pagans and bring glory to Israel.
The gospel reading suggests that Simeon had this level of insight into the child of Joseph and Mary because the Holy Spirit rested on him and he came to the child prompted by the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit who allows us to see Jesus as he really is. Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, says, ‘No one comprehends what is truly God’s except the Spirit of God’ and declares, ‘we have received… the Spirit that is from God, so that we can understand the gifts bestowed on us by God’. We need the Holy Spirit to appreciate the gifts that God has given us, especially God’s greatest gift, his beloved Son, who is with us until the end of time. On this feast, we invite the Holy Spirit to rest upon us afresh, as he rested on Simeon, so that, like him, we may recognize the many ways that the risen Lord enters our lives.
Fr. Martin Hogan

THIS WEEK’S NOTICES

Fr. Mark O’Farrell

In recent weeks, Fr. Mark O’Farrell has taken up a new appointment in the Parish of Kilrossanty. I wish to thank Fr. Mark for his ministry among us, and we wish him well in his new Parish.

Prayer to St. Brigid

Dear St. Brigid, You were a woman of peace.

Our Lady of Lourdes & Anointing of the Sick

Youth Adoration in Holy Cross Church

Holy Cross Church Opening Hours

Holy Cross Church will open at 9.15am Monday to Saturday, and will close at 4pm Mon, Tue, Wed & Friday.
Exposition takes place on Thursdays at 5pm and the church will close immediately afterwards.

An Evening with The Chosen in Tramore Parish – Feb 10th

Tramore Parish invites you to see Jesus through the eyes of those who lived with and knew Him. Come along to watch Season Two of The Chosen series with us at Glór na Mara School, Convent Hill, Tramore beginning with tea & coffee from 7.15 to 9pm on Mondays:10th Feb, 10th March and 14th April. All are welcome.

Change to Parish Office Opening Hours For Next Week

Tuesday to Friday 9.30-1pm. Closed for Bank Holiday

Pope’s Intention for February

For vocations to the priesthood and religious life:
Let us pray that the ecclesial community might welcome the desires and doubts of those young people who feel a call to serve Christ’s mission in the priesthood and religious life.

Lourdes Volunteers Fundraising Concert

A Concert to raise funds for the support of the Volunteer helpers who travel with the Waterford and Lismore Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes.

The following acts will be performing – The Waterford High Hopes Choir, Caroline Reid-O’Brien (Soprano), Linda Gough (Storyteller), Soul-Song Gospel Choir, Paul Farrell (Comedian), a Local Irish Dance Group, Emer McGrath (Soprano) and more.

This will be a free Concert but there will be a collection in support of the Lourdes volunteers during the interval. Dymphna Nugent of WLRFM will act as MC.

Venue – Setu Chapel, College Street Campus, Manor Street, Waterford.
Date and Time – Thursday 20th February 2025 @ 7.30pm

Taize Vigil for Peace

Taize Vigil for Peace led by the Island of Ireland Peace Choir on Friday 7th February at Edmund Rice Chapel, Barrack St., Waterford from 8pm to 9pm. All are very welcome.

Jubilee Prayer

Father in heaven, may the faith you have given us in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother, and the flame of charity enkindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of your kingdom.

May your grace transform us into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel. May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos in the sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth, when, with the powers of Evil vanquished, your glory will shine eternally.

May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for the treasures of heaven.
May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth.
To you our God, eternally blessed, be glory and praise for ever. Amen

Faith@Home Activities for Children.

‘Let’s Dive In’ Activity Sheet available in the porches
Parents, please take one home for your child/children or Grandparents please feel free to take one for your grandchild or grandchildren.
Further resources for Children on Diocesan website:
Resources | Diocese of Waterford & Lismore (waterfordlismore.ie)

Parish Faith Rep Recruitment 2025

Do you feel called to help young people on their journey of faith?
Join our growing team of Faith Reps across the diocese. We are looking for volunteers to train and be commissioned for two years to support young people in encountering faith in their parish or area, while being supported themselves by the Ascend Diocesan Team for Youth & Young Adult Ministry.
What qualifications are necessary? We are looking for people of faith over the age of 18, who uphold the teachings of the Catholic Church and have a heart for young people, and who are supported by their parish priest. Faith Reps can come from any walk of life or stage of life.
Firstly, speak with your parish priest to express interest, and complete the application form he will give you. More information on the role of a Faith Rep can be found at www.waterfordlismore.ie/parish-faith-reps
Application deadline: Friday 21st February
Information Sessions: Monday 10th February at 7.30pm (St John’s Pastoral Centre, Waterford X91HW9D) and 17th February at 7.30pm (on zoom) – email youthministry@waterfordlismore.ie or contact (085) 8623704 for more information.

Irish Conversation – Tramore’s Ciorcal Cómhra

You are warmly invited to join our Ciorcal Comhrá in Tramore Library on January 23rd!
If you’ve ever wanted to dust off your cúpla focal or improve your Gaeilge in a relaxed and welcoming setting, then Tramore Library is the place to be. Starting again after Christmas, the Ciorcal Comhrá (Conversation Circle) will meet weekly on Thursdays at 7pm, beginning January 23rd. The Ciorcal Comhrá offers a fantastic opportunity to chat in Irish, whether you’re fluent, a beginner, or somewhere in between. All ages and stages are welcome, making it a perfect chance to connect with others, share stories, and enjoy the rich beauty of the Irish language. This informal gathering is a friendly and supportive way to practice speaking Irish, meet new people, and keep our native language alive in the community. There’s no pressure and no tests – just the joy of conversation and a shared love for Gaeilge.
It is saor in aisce and there is a céad míle fáilte roimh gach duine. For more details, please call Tramore Library on (051) 849 594. Go n-éirí go geal libh – agus bígí linn!

Mass Booking

The Mass Book for May will open at the Parish Office on Tuesday 4th February from 9.30am.
Phone bookings will be taken after 10am

Parish Website

You may have noticed, there is an additional page added to our Parish website: “Gospel & Reflection” which features the Sunday Gospel every weekend.
On this page also there is a Reflection on the Gospel each week, written by Fr Richard. www.tramoreparish.ie

School Enrolment

Enrolment forms for September 2025 for Holy Cross N.S., Glór na Mara & Gael Scoil Philib Barún are currently available from the school’s offices.
The closing date for receipt of applications is Friday 28th February.

Pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi for the Jubilee Year

Full details:
https://joewalshtours.ie/tours/pilgrimage-to-assisi-rome-2025-03-30/
Flying on 30th March 2025: 6 nights, €1449 Per Person
Spiritual Director: Fr Michael Toomey

Our Christmas Crib at Holy Cross Church

With the holy season of Christmas now at an end, our beautiful Crib will be removed.. The priceless figures dating back to 1880 will once again be cleaned, covered and stored away in their press, for yet another year.
Roofs, wood logs, stones, scenes of Bethlehem, Herod’s palace, constructed from a drawing, as it was at this period. All of those are reminders to us of Christmas. The simple message of the Birth of Christ once more reached out to the great number of parishioners and visitors, who paid a visit to our Crib during the Christmas Period. We hope all found peace and renewed faith for the coming year.
We thank our Crib team members, men, women and children who gave of their time during the month of December, helping to build the birthplace of our Saviour.

RECENT DEATHS:

Please remember those who died recently, Ronnie Mackessy née Walsh and Eileen (Nellie) Dunne née Gleeson

We remember the months mind for Kathleen Power, Annette Devine née O’Malley, Des Cowman, Kay McCarthy née Banks, Gerry Cronin, Nichola Aylward née Hughes, Joan Lomax née McCarthy, Cepta Morgan and Michael Keoghan

We pray for: Seamus Kiely, Margaret Fitzgerald, Bernadette & Harold Myers, Maura O’Shea, Bridget O’Gorman whose anniversaries occur at this time.

Lord,
We pray for those who mourn, immerse them in your love and lead them through this darkness into your arms and light.
For those who comfort, be in both the words they use and all that’s left unspoken;
Fill each heart with love.