Newsletter 22 December 2024

Christmas Message from Fr Richard

A Season and Year of Hope.
Friends, every twenty-five years, the Church declares a year of Jubilee. Pope Francis has designated 2025 as a Jubilee year of HOPE. He has extended an invitation to each of us to be a pilgrim of hope. Hope is a familiar word and a continual emotion. We all hope for so many things in our lives and for our world but often the power to make them happen lies outside us, in the abilities and gift of others.
Christian hope though invites us to look inward and to see ourselves as the source of hope for our families, parish, and world. Christian hope is not an aspiration. It is founded and deeply rooted in our love of God and in our faith. It is the reassurance and promise that God is with us always, faithful to us, and that He is found everywhere in our lives and world.
Christmas brings us face to face with the hope of God’s love and presence made visible in the infant Christ. The child Jesus blesses us as we recall and remember happy days of our childhood or as we anticipate the meeting of family and friends, whom we may not have seen in a long time. But the Lord Jesus also reaches out to us in our sadness because of the empty chair, the loved one no longer with us; those in hospital or nursing homes, or those in other parts of the world. The promised Emmanuel also reflects with us as we contemplate the lives lost, displaced, and forever altered because of war, violence, poverty, and homelessness. In all of our reflections, emotions and experiences, the Lord is there, and He offers us His Hope.
It is my privilege on behalf of Fr. Tadeusz, and our Parish Pastoral Council to extend to you and your families every peace, blessing, and hope for this Christmas and New Year.

We are grateful to all who make life in our Parish vibrant and faithful. We are blessed with many people who share of their time, talent, and gifts to make our parish the wonderful place that it is. Many take an interest in all that is celebrated and organised, and they support us in our endeavours. We are thankful for people’s involvement and support in any way. Everything done and given, makes a big difference.

We thank our Sacristans, Ministers of the Word, Eucharistic Ministers, Choirs, Cantors, Organists and Musicians, Church Carers, Collectors, Counters, Secretaries, Finance & Building Committees, Child Protection Officers, Baptismal Teams, Prayer Groups, Parish & Faith Representatives, Alpha Team, Cemetery/Church Grounds keepers, and Crib design, preparation, and decoration. To them and to all who help in our Parish, we say a big “Thank You.”
May you, and those closest to you be blessed with peace and joy this Christmas, and for the year ahead, may we find a deep source of hope and bring that hope to all who need it.

Fr. Richard

Reflection for the 4th Sunday in advent

Sharing and Celebrating faith

One of Mary’s first recorded journeys was after the announcement to her that she was to be the mother of God. It was a journey of service, a visit to her cousin who needed help. When dealing with such challenges as pregnancy bereavement, redundancy, a son in prison, or a daughter on drugs – we want to talk and we want support.
Mary and Elizabeth had something else to share – their faith. The prayers they said have been said ever since. The stage was small but the audience has been millions ever since. They were not shy about their faith in their God.
In a time like ours we need to externalise our faith – to go to Church, send a card with a Christmas greeting, not just a season’s wish – not to parade, but to make present our faith.
The meaning this week is – Jesus is born, and we celebrate that together, with thanks, music, socialising, prayer and Mass. We need to find God again, and let ourselves be open to him in the deepest areas of life, just like both these women, Mary and Elizabeth, and their spouses Joseph and Zechariah were open to God’s promptings.
Nothing needs to keep us from God or from the crib at Christmas. All are welcome.
The real meaning of Christmas is to meet with God and to help our neighbour.
Come Lord Jesus and bring joy and laughter among us.
Come with the music of eternity and the songs of the earth.
Come among us and make us truly grateful for your birth and your love
Donal Neary.

 

Christmas Arrangements 2024

Holy Cross Church, Tramore
& Our Lady’s Church Carbally

Saturday & Sunday 21/22 December:
Tramore: Mass of Reconciliation at all Masses.

Tuesday 24th December: Christmas Eve
Tramore:
10.00am & Christmas Vigil 7.30pm

Wednesday 25th December: Christmas Day
Tramore: Mass at 8.30am & 11am
Carbally: 11.30am

Thursday 26th St Stephen’s Day
Tramore: Mass 10am

 

Sacred Heart Church Dunhill &
Church of the Immaculate Conception Fenor

Tuesday 24th December: Christmas Eve
Dunhill Masses: 7.30pm Vigil

Wednesday 25th December: Christmas Day
Fenor: Mass at 10am

 

THIS WEEKS NOTICES:

Holy Cross Church Christmas Tree of Remembrance

Again this year we are decorating our Christmas tree in the church with silver Christmas decoration cards.
If you would like a loved one remembered, the name will be added to the card and it will be placed on the tree in their memory.

Please drop in to the Parish office and we will be happy to assist you. Donation for each remembrance card, in aid of Church Restoration Fund.

 

PRIESTS CHRISTMAS COLLECTION

The annual Christmas collection for the support of the Priests of the Parish will be taken up at all Masses over the Christmas.
We are very grateful for your continued support.

 

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 Office Opening Hours For Next Week

Mon – 9.30am-1pm 
Closed for the Christmas break until January 2nd

We wish you all a very Happy Christmas & Good health in the New Year

 

 

 

 

Mass booking

The Mass book for March 2025 is open at the Parish Office. The next Book to open is for April which will open on the 2nd January

 

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

 

POPES INTENTION FOR DECEMBER

For Pilgrims of Hope
Pope Francis requests this month’s prayers “so that this Jubilee strengthens us in faith, helps us recognize Christ risen in our lives, and transforms us into pilgrims of Christian hope.

 

RADIO MARIA IRELAND Christmas Fundraiser! On Friday 13th December in the The Meadowlands Hotel, Tralee. Doors open at 5:30pm followed by a four-course meal, live music, information about Radio Maria including its mission, vision and how it can help support the faithful in Ireland today. Why not come along and enjoy a great night and help a charity! To book your ticket (€70 per person) go to Eventbrite.ie or to book over the phone or for more information, call the studio on 01 4 123456 or online on www.radiomaria.ie
Radio Maria Ireland is available on digital television via Saorview channel 210, website www.radiomaria.ie, or on the App ‘Radio Maria Ireland’, via Alexa, Facebook and Google and, for those without digital connectivity via landline phone broadcast on 01 437 3277.

RECENT DEATHS:

Please remember those who died recently Patrick (Paddy) Dower, Patricia (Pat) Murphy née O’Rourke, Kathleen Power née Egan

We remember the months mind for Carmel Breen née O’Gorman Kathleen Margaret McLoughlin née Clague

We pray for Margaret & John O’Keeffe & John Jnr, Pascal Cuddihy, Richard Crowley, Mary Butler, Jimmy Crowley, William Dunphy, John Harty Jnr, Toni O’Kelly 1st Ann, John Legg (1st Ann Mary Caulfield, John Matthews, Stan Couch, Mary Kelly Flynn, John & Rita Foley, The Boran family, Tom & Mamie Mackey, Jack Dreelan (1st Ann)Frank Comber, Joan Hutchinson, Catherine & Jack Walsh, Nicholas & Catherine Cheasty
whose  anniversaries occur about 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.

PARISH INFORMATION:

Holy Cross Parish Mass Times & Services

Mass Times:
Saturday 10am & 7.30pm (Vigil)
Sunday 8.30am, 11am
Monday to  Friday 10.00am

Confessions:
Saturday 10.30am & 7pm and upon Request

Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help:
Mondays after 10am Mass

Holy Face Devotion:
Tuesday after 10am Mass

The Divine Mercy Prayer Group:
Wednesday at 3pm.

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament:
Thursday after 10am Mass until 5pm

Church Closing Times:
Church closes at 4pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday and at 5pm Thursday

Our Lady’s Church, Carbally

Mass Times:
Sunday at 11.00am

Church of the Immaculate Conception, Fenor

Mass Times:
Saturday Vigil at 6pm
Tuesday  at 9am.

Sacred Heart Church, Dunhill

Mass Times:
Sunday at 9.30am
Wednesday at 9am

Holy Cross Church-Live Streaming

Live Streaming facility is in operation, where you may join us for Tramore Parish Services online from Holy Cross Church.
Log in to the parish website www.tramoreparish.ie Click on “Live Stream” on the homepage when the services are on.

Tramore Parish Radio

Services are broadcast from Holy Cross Church, Tramore at 10.am from Monday to Sat,7.30pm Sat evening, 8.30am, 10.30am & 12 noon on Sunday on your radio 105.4FM. (It may be tuned in only when service is on.

CCTV/Live Stream

Please be aware that for the protection and security of all, CCTV Cameras are in operation in Holy Cross Church. All Masses are live streamed and broadcast over the internet.

Parish Facebook Page

CLICK HERE to open Facebook Page, where we share Parish information, news, prayers and reflections with you all. You may also access via the link on the very top of the page on the parish website:www.tramoreparish.ie  Please LIKE and SHARE with your family and friends.

Donate Online

We have an online donate facility on our parish website: www.tramoreparish.ie, where you can make your Sunday offering to the parish.

Please quote your envelope number, if applicable, when you make your donation. All contributions are gratefully received, and we thank you in advance for your generosity.

Parish Office Opening Hours

The parish office is usually open from 9am to 4 pm Monday -Thursday & 3.30pm on Friday. However, opening times may change temporarily, Please check the newsletter for updates.

COVID-19

We strongly recommended, that parishioners continue to sanitize their hands upon entry and leaving the church.

PRIEST ON DUTY – CALL 086-6004384