Newsletter 8th January 2023

Holy Cross Parish Mass Times

Holy Cross Tramore

Saturday 10am &
7.30pm (Vigil)
Sunday
8.30am, 10.30am and
12 noon
Monday – Thursday 10.00am
Friday-7.30am & 10.00am

CONFESSIONS
Saturday 10.30am & 7pm and upon Request

NOVENA OUR LADY
OF PERPETUAL HELP
Mondays after 10am Mass

EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
Thursday after 10am Mass until 5pm
Church closes at 4pm Monday – Wednesday and Friday & 5pm Thursday

Our Lady’s Carbally
Sunday at 11.00am

Church of the Immaculate Conception Fenor
Saturday Vigil at 6pm
Tuesday & Wednesday 9am

Sacred Heart Dunhill
Sunday at 9.30am
Thursday & Friday 9am

 

Holy Cross Church-Live Streaming

Live Streaming Service 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

Tramore Parish Radio Services are broadcast from Holy Cross Church, Tramore at 10.am from Monday to Sat and 10.30am 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.

 

COVID-19

We strongly recommended, that parishioners continue to wear face covering and sanitise their hands upon entry and leaving the church.

Donate Facility

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.

 

PRIEST ON DUTY
086-6004384

 

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

Holy Cross Church closes at 4pm: Monday – Wednesday and Friday & 5pm Thursday

 

Cherished Retreat

Catholic Women’s Ministry Retreat: Glencomeragh House, Kilsheelan: Jan 20th – 22nd 2023. Led by the Dominican Sisters of St Cecilia, (Limerick). Mass, Adoration, rosary, confession, healing service, talks, testimonies, creative workshops, fellowship, tea and chats! Full Board & Accommodation €210 pps. For more info contact Shauna (087) 1378364. To book email info@holyfamilymission.ie

 

Lectio Divina (with the apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus)

Lectio Divina is a time of reading the Sunday gospel, prayer and sharing, followed by conversation over a cuppa. Queries: Sr. Kathryn 087 404 2784. Tuesdays, 2:30-4pm- St. John’s Pastoral Centre or Thursdays, 7:30-9pm Sacred Heart Convent, Cedar Lodge
(Newtown Rd.)

 

“Adore my Son” Night Vigil for Our Lady’s Intentions

Third Monday of Each Month at Glencomeragh House [Rosary 7.30pm, Mass 8pm]. Vigil begins after Holy Mass and ends after 3am Hour of Mercy with prayers of Our Lord’sPassion. For further info: Imelda (085)8509715

 

Men’s Prayer Group

St Saviour’s Church, Bridge Street, Waterford City. Every Wednesday evening, starts at 7pm: Exposition, Benediction, Faith Formation and Group Sharing. Led by the Servant Priests of the Home of the Mother

 

Pope’s monthly intention for January

For educators
We pray that educators may be credible witnesses, teaching fraternity rather than competition and helping the youngest and most vulnerable above all.

 

Irish Conversation – Tramore’s Ciorcal Cómhra

Interested in Irish conversation? Tramore’s Ciorcal Cómhra (Irish conversation group) meets weekly every Thursday, from 7pm to 8pm in Tramore library. The atmosphere is very cordial so whether you would like to have a friendly chat ‘as Gaeilge’ or whether you prefer to listen, the Ciorcal is for you! There is a céad míle fáilte awaiting all of those who come along, at all ages and all levels. For more information, please call Tramore Library on (051) 849 594 or feel free to just turn up.

Go n-eirí go geal leat – agus bí linn!

 

 

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Parish Office

The Parish office is now open to the public with entry restricted. Please knock on the door and we will be happy to help you.

Next week opening times:
Mon – Thurs 9.30am-4pm
Friday 9.30am – 3.30.pm

MASS BOOKING CHANGE

The Mass booking in Holy Cross is taken 3 months in advance.
The Mass book for April is now open at the parish office.
.

Baptism Booking

Please contact the office for further details 051-386477

 

Wedding- Church Booking

Please contact the office 051-386477

 

 

 

Recent Deaths

Please remember those who died recently, Mary Sweeney née Walsh UK/ Monmahogue ,Mary French nee Hannigan Surrey/Tramore, Noel Kavanagh Bayview, Patrick Ryan, Sweetbriar Park , David McGrath Sweetbriar Park & Belmont Park.

We remember the months mind for Patricia Kirwan née Fitzgerald, Chris Curran, William (Willie) O’Sullivan, Michael Walsh, Anne Geary née Jacques, Kaye Kennedy, Kathleen Burke, Anne Campbell, Margaret (Peggy) Cheasty 

We pray for Toddy Murray, Pat Mulcahy, Catherine Crowley, Lily MacNamara, John O’Brien, Hannah & Mike O’Shea, Claire Winkle, Breda Power (Summerhill),Patrick & Maura Hackett, Noel Burke, Jim Leech (1st Ann),Seamus O’Shea, William Gleeson whose anniversaries occur about this time.

Lord,

Bless those who mourn, eternal God, with the comfort of your love that they may face each new day with hope and the certainty that nothing can destroy the good that has been given. May their memories become joyful, their days enriched with friendship, and their lives encircled by your love.

 

 

For those who were married recently:

 

David Power & Carrie O’Hanlon

 

We wish them every happiness in their married life together

 

Reflection – The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.

Today we celebrate the feast of the Baptism of the Lord – the last major feast of the Christmas season. His baptism by John is a threshold moment in Jesus’ life. He is leaving behind the security of his ‘hidden’ life in Nazareth and entering the public arena for the first time. So, the liturgy invites us to shift our focus from the baby in the manger to the adult Jesus about to embark on his messianic mission in the service of God’s reign.
Jesus’ first public act is to go to the Jordan river to be baptised by his cousin John, an event recorded by Mark and Luke as well as Matthew. Matthew’s account suggests that John is reluctant to baptise Jesus, saying in words with which we can readily identify, ‘It is I who need baptism from you’ (Mt 2:14). But Jesus insists and is baptised. At this moment the true identity of Jesus as God’s Beloved Son is revealed and he is empowered by the Spirit: ‘As soon as Jesus was baptised, he came up from the water, and suddenly the heavens opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him. And a voice spoke from heaven, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased”’ (Mt 3: 15-16). For Jesus, this event marks the beginning of a journey that will take him from Nazareth to Jerusalem, from the hills of Galilee to the hill of Calvary.
Jesus’ baptism by John, ‘a baptism of repentance’ (Acts 19:4) manifests Jesus’ complete solidarity with sinful humanity. In the words of James Martin SJ, ‘The divine one, is fully immersing himself, literally in this case, in our humanity’. It also confirms Jesus in his messianic mission and indicates the shape that mission will take. He will be the kind of Servant Leader, outlined by Isaiah in our first reading. He will not shout out, ‘or make his voice heard in the streets’ (Is 42: 3), as many political leaders and angry prophets are wont to do. He will be kind and merciful to all who are oppressed and who carry heavy burdens. ‘He will not break the crushed reed, nor quench the wavering flame’ (Is 42:3). But he will be implacable in his pursuit of justice for the poor and exploited: ‘Faithfully he brings true justice; he will neither waver nor be crushed until true justice is established on earth’ (Is 42:4). He will be a compassionate and merciful leader bringing healing and liberation to his people. His mission will be ‘to open the eyes of the blind, to free captives from prison, and those of live in darkness from the dungeon’ (Is 42:7). And he will be a light not just for the people of Israel but for all nations of the world. As St Peter reminded Cornelius and his family in our second reading, ‘Jesus Christ is Lord of all people’ (Acts 10:35).
Recalling the baptism of Jesus and what it meant for him reminds us of our baptism and what it means for us. It reminds us of who we are and to whom we belong. By baptism we become children of God, brothers and sisters of Jesus, members of the Church, and sharers in the threefold office of Jesus: the priestly, prophetic and kingly offices. Hence, by baptism, all who are baptised, not just priests and religious, are called to continue the mission of Jesus of establishing true justice on earth; to become co-creators with God in building his Kingdom of compassion, justice and love; to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. The importance of baptism is highlighted by the renowned biblical scholar, Raymond Brown, when he states that ‘the day when a person is baptised is more important than the day when a person is ordained priest and bishop’.
Today, then, is an appropriate occasion for us to remember the graces we have received in Baptism and renew our Baptismal promises. On the day of our baptism, we were anointed with the oil of Chrism to show that we were consecrated in the image of Jesus, the Father’s Anointed One. The candle, lighted from the Paschal Candle, was a symbol of the light of Faith which our parents and godparents passed on to us. This is, then, a day for us to renew our baptismal promises and to consecrate ourselves anew to the Lord, ‘rejecting Satan and all his empty promises’. Let us ask our Lord to help us to be true disciples of Jesus, faithful to our baptismal commitment. Let us thank him for the privilege of being joined to Jesus’ mission in witnessing to the Gospel by our lives of love, mercy, service and forgiveness.
Fr Michael McCabe, SMA