Tag: Christmas

Christmas Arrangements 2022

Christmas Arrangements 2022

Fr. Paddy

At a recent meeting of the Pastoral Council, the dates for Masses for the Parish for Christmas Eve (Saturday 24th December) & Christmas Day (Sunday) were finalised.

We are pleased to be able to offer THREE Masses on Christmas Eve
5pm & 6.30pm – in The Church of The Immaculate Conception, Tenure
8pm – in The Church of The Nativity of Our Lady, Fieldstown

Christmas Day Masses are as follows;
9.45am – in The Church of The Nativity of Our Lady, Fieldstown
11.15am – in The Church of The Immaculate Conception, Tenure

Please note that demand is expected to be high, and while there will be NO booking ahead this year, please be aware that Churches may well be more full. Covid precautions (Masks, Hand Sanitising, etc) are encouraged. Please do not attend Mass if you are unwell. All Masses will be broadcast online.

There will be more updates here in the coming weeks about The Advent Mass Themes, as well as Carol Services and other special parish celebrations & events in the run up to Christmas.

Last year, Pope Francis encouraged us all to remember and contemplate that God did not choose to come into the world in grandeur, but as a humble child born into poverty.  Pope Francis said on Dec. 24.

“Brothers and sisters, standing before the crib, we contemplate what is central, beyond all the lights and decorations … We contemplate the child. In his littleness, God is completely present,”

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/249982/pope-francis-christmas-mass-god-comes-into-the-world-in-littleness

One thing we could do is decide to be more ethical in our Gift giving this year.
There are many worthy charities, but CAFOD (The international development charity and official aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales) provides a wide range of special gifts.

Please visit their website for more information.

Even the Pope goes to Confession…

Even the Pope goes to Confession…

Fr. Paddy

Yes, Pope Francis went to Confession, publicly, in St. Peter’s Basilica, after leading a penitential service.

The Holy Father said the Christian way begins with taking a step backward, with removing oneself from the centre to make room for God.

This same criterion, this same outlook, applied to confession, can provoke a revolution in the life of each person: I am no longer at the centre of the sacrament of penance, humiliated with my list of sins — perhaps always the same ones — to be told with difficulty to the priest.

At the centre is the encounter with God who welcomes, embraces, forgives, raises up.

“One does not go to confession,” the Pope explained, “as chastised people who must humble themselves, but as children who run to receive the Father’s embrace.

And the Father lifts us up in every situation, He forgives our every sin. Hear this well: God always forgives! Do you understand? God always forgives!” One is not going to a judge to settle accounts, but “to Jesus who loves me and heals me”.

Confessions for Christmas

Tuesday 21st – 7-8pm, Church of The Immaculate Conception, Tenure

Thursday 23rd – 7-8pm, Church of our Lady of The Nativity, Fieldstown

Friday 24th – 1-2pm, Church of The Immaculate Conception, Tenure

Parish Arrangements for Christmas 2021

Parish Arrangements for Christmas 2021

Fr. Paddy

Update – as of 12.30am Saturday 18th December 2021;

The first two Masses of Christmas Eve – 5pm & 6.30pm Tenure)- are now completely booked out.
Please DO NOT turn up without having booked a ticket. Capacity limits will be in operation.
Nb – There is a waiting list, and we appeal to anyone whose plans have changed to release their tickets back into the system for re-distribution, thank you.

The third Mass (8pm, Fieldstown) is 80% booked (Only 20 tickets remain)

The final Mass for Christmas Eve (9.30pm in Fieldstown) still has 75% Availability

The Christmas Day Mass (9.45am in Fieldstown) is only 12% booked (88 Tickets remaining)

The 11.15am Mass in Tenure on Christmas Day is 42% booked (87 Tickets left)

Post of 11th December 2021

Covid-19 continues to impact on our lives, especially when considering large gatherings. After some reflection, and adhering to Government guidelines, the following times are proposed;

Christmas Eve (Friday 24th) Masses:

The Crib in The Church of The Immaculate Conception, Tenure

Tenure – 5pm & 6.30pm – max 150 at each Mass
Fieldstown – 8pm & 9.30pm – max 100 at each Mass

Christmas Day (Saturday 25th) Masses:

Fieldstown – 9.45am & Tenure – 11.15am

This schedule will facilitate 750 people to attend Mass for Christmas (almost 5 times the number that attend each week currently). While I understand that you may not find the time/Church that you normally attend. Please try to be flexible and you must follow all guidelines.

You must book a FREE ticket to attend.

As with last year, tickets will be available online at Eventbrite and will be released on Wednesday 15th December at 9am. Bookings will close on Tuesday 21st December at midnight.

The Sanctuary of The Church of The Nativity of Our Lady, Fieldstown, Advent 2020

For those without internet access, please contact the Parish Office (Mary/Ann 087 379 1443 or Fr. Paddy 086 880 7470) ONLY on Tuesday 14th December from 2.30 – 5.30pm.

The most important thing is that we continue to do everything we can to keep each other safe over Christmas. Thank you for helping to achieve this. 

May the peace of the Christ-child be in your hearts and homes this Christmas. Happy Christmas!

Update to Christmas Mass Bookings

Update to Christmas Mass Bookings

Fr. Paddy

There has been a huge response to the opportunity to book Mass for Christmas Eve/Day. We understand that already many people have been disappointed that the time they had preferred was already booked out!

As of Saturday 12th December, the following Masses have been fully booked out;
4.30pm Christmas Eve (Tenure)
6pm Christmas Eve (Tenure)
7.30pm Christmas Eve (Fieldstown)

There is still some limited availability in;
9pm Christmas Eve (Tenure)
11.15am Christmas Day (Tenure)

There are plenty of seats available for:
10.30pm Christmas Eve (Fieldstown)
12 Midnight Mass (Fieldstown)
9.45am Christmas Day (Fieldstown)

Remember, if your plans have changed, please return the tickets either via the booking system (Eventbrite) or, inform the Parish Office, so they can be re-allocated.

Also, don’t forget that the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Tenure will have the LIVE streaming service via CHURCH SERVICES and the Church of Our Lady of the Nativity, Fieldstown will use the Parish Facebook Page to stream the Masses from there over Christmas.

Finally, we will have Masses on the following days too;
Saturday 26th @ 6.30pm (Tenure);
Sunday 27th @ 9.45am (Fieldstown) & @11.15am (Tenure);
Tuesday 29th @ 11am (Tenure);
Wednesday 30th @ 11am;
New Year’s Eve @ 11.30pm (Fieldstown);
New Year’s Day @ 11am (Tenure)