What in this week’s newsletter
- Reflection for the Feast of the Holy Family
- The priests of the Parish would like to thank you for your continued support and contribution to the recent Christmas Collection
- The Parish Office will reopen on Monday Jan 5th 2026
- Our beautiful Crib will remain in the Church until the last Sunday in January. Please feel free to visit with your families
Newsletter 28th December 2025
Reflection for Feast of Holy Family
Mother Theresa, the wonderful Mother Theresa, never taught that the family was a place where everyone “loves thy neighbour as thy self.” She was a very down to earth and realistic lady. She would say a family is a place to learn how to love, love the way God loves. He gives us His love so that we might, in turn, reach out to each other with God’s love.
And the first lesson in learning how to love, is learning how to deal with failure, because failure is an integral part of the learning process. In fact, it’s the only way to learn. Those who think they know everything and have never known failure, know nothing, for it is only from out of the pain of failure that we learn the important and deeper lessons of life.
And so God says to us that we owe each other forgiveness. Yes, forgiveness. Jesus came into this world to teach us how to forgive, how to show compassion, how to lift up those who have fallen, and, especially to lift them up at the time of their greatest misfortune and need, remembering always that we too have failed and continue to fail very often.
There is a saying in the Scriptures that the righteous man, the good man, falls seven times a day. God sends His only Son to us, to be with us and stay with us that we might know that God’s forgiveness once given is never taken back. Do not be afraid.
Jesus was rejected by his own, rejected by the religious and secular authorities, and officials of his day, rejected by the Romans, the power elite, rejected by just about everyone, except for a handful of faithful friends, most of whom were poor.
Jesus was mocked by the soldiers, crowned with thorns and nailed to the cross with crowds screaming at him to show himself to be the Messiah.
He was, in fact, bringing healing and salvation not only to them but to the whole world, as he looked up to his Father in heaven and spoke from the midst of his agony these words: ‘Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.’
It is then that Jesus becomes our Messiah, not in some grandiose fashion, or surrounded by angels, but when brought to the edge of despair Jesus holds fast to his love for his Father and his belief in the future generations who will follow and learn how to love as he loves and love one another.
And in the midst of the chaos, Jesus has spoken the words from the cross that are to change the whole world: “Father, forgive them.”
Mother Theresa once said, ‘There is only one failure in life and that is: when we fall, we refuse to get up again.’
Jesus reminds us that we are needy, just like little children. We’re in need of love. We’re in need of people. We’re in need of God most of all, and this is the most wonderful lesson of a wonderful Christmas: God has made his home with us, now and forever.
THIS WEEK’S NOTICES
Thank you
Our Beautiful Crib
A Prayer for the Family
The Parish Office
Pope’s Monthly Intention for January
Let us pray that praying with the Word of God be nourishment for our lives and a source of hope in our communities, helping us to build a more fraternal and missionary Church.
PARISH & DIOCESAN EVENTS:
Fire in the South
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes
If anyone is interested in donating money to offset the total cost of the Tramore Guild of the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes for the sick, they could hand in their donation to either the Sacristy or the Parish office.
Also, if anyone is interested in travelling with the Pilgrimage to Lourdes in 2026 (3-8 June 2026) they could hand their name and phone number to the Office or Sacristy.
Jubilee Year of Hope
For the Jubilee Year of Hope Bishop Cullinan invites the people of the Diocese to visit various pilgrim locations from Ardmore to Mount Melleray, from Lismore to Waterford.“Pilgrim Path Passports” are available in all porches to record people’s personal journeys to special places around the Diocese.
For more information visit: www.waterfordlismore.ie/jubilee2025
DIOCESAN RESOURCES:
Two New Young Saints for the Church
To learn more about St Carlo Acutis and St Pier Giorgio Frassati, check out www.waterfordlismore.ie/youth-ministry
Jubilee Year
A Jubilee Year is celebrated by the Church every 25 years. This Jubilee Year begins on Christmas Eve 2024 and concludes on 6 January 2026.
In the Catholic Church, a Jubilee or Holy Year is a special year of forgiveness and reconciliation, in which people are invited to come back into right relationship with God, with one another, and with all of creation.
For more information please visit www.waterfordlismore.ie/jubilee2025
Diocesan Newsletters
Ascend Youth & Young Adult Ministry
LOCAL EVENTS & RESOURCES:
Tramore Community Care – Meals on Wheels
Urgently needs Kitchen Volunteers for the following periods:
9am – 11am or 11am – 12 noon, Monday to Friday.
Please call to the centre or phone 051-381126 / 089-2050290
Free Senior Citizens Cafe – Revive Cafe
Every Thursday 12.30 – 3pm
Riverstown Community Centre, Tramore, X91 F2AH
Booking advised: Text or call 087 2472005
Little Nellie’s Baby Bank- Volunteers Wanted
Sign up today: Pamela — 085 862 3705
RECENT DEATHS:
Please remember those who died recently: Anthony Richardson
We remember the months mind for: Kay O’Sullivan née Walshe, Carmel O’Regan Crosby née Brophy
We pray for those whose anniversaries occur at this time: Michael Byrne, John Matthews, Billy Power, Nichola Aylward née Hughes (1st Ann), Patrick & Maura Hackett, Richie & Anne Power, Maurice & Peggy Cheasty, Michael Mooney, Paddy O’Brien, Joan Hutchinson, Mary McNally and Michael & Mary Corcoran (Carbally)
Dear 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 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
Prayers for the Holy Souls in Purgatory:
Friday after 10am Mass
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 & 11am 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.
Gospel & Reflection
Take a few minutes to visitn the Gospel and Reflection section on the parish website written each week by Fr. Richard.
www.tramoreparish.ie/category/gospel-reflection/
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 Monday – Friday 9.30am to 1pm. However, opening times may change temporarily, Please check the newsletter for updates.
We strongly recommended, that parishioners continue to sanitize their hands upon entry and leaving the church.
Diocesian News & Information
Please visit the diocesian website to find out what is happening and resources available to you on the website for the Diocese of Waterford & Lismore:
PRIEST ON DUTY – CALL 086-6004384
