Parish of the Assumption and Sts. Columbanus & Gall, Milltown Road, Dublin 6 D06 NX24

December 12th, 2021

Third Sunday of Advent – Gaudete Sunday

 “If anyone has two tunics he must share with the person who has none “

(Luke 3)

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Parish Contact Details: Fr. Peter Briscoe: 2196600

Parish Office: 2196740

Parish Centre: 2680041

Parish Email Address:

milltownparishcentre@gmail.com

Parish Web Site: www.milltownparish.ie

Registered Charity Number: RCN 20016166

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Thank you for your donations to last week’s Offertory andShare Collections. There are two Tap and Go machines in our church where donations to the Sunday Offertory and Share Collections only and not for donations to the parish can be made. Donations to these collections can also be made online from our Parish Website at: www.milltownparish.ie.

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This Week’s Feast Days

Monday 13th: St. Lucy, virgin and martyr

Tuesday 14th: St. John of the Cross, priest and doctor of the Church

Saturday 18th: St. Finnian, bishop

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This year’s SVP COLLECTION will take place at all Masses this weekend. In previous years, donations to this collection have greatly helped the Society to provide food, heating and educational costs for those in need.

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This Week’s Mass Intentions:

Sat. 6.00pm Mass:

Sun. 10.00 am Mass:

Sun. 11.30 am Mass: Maeve Mc Laughlin – Anniversary

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CHRISTMAS MASS:  In order to manage the limited attendance that is permitted at each Mass we have put in place a plan for TICKET ONLY participation at our Masses on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.Tickets may be collected from the Parish Centre after all our weekend Masses.

Please contact us if you are available to help with the stewarding and sanitising at any of these Masses.

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MASS TIMES

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday 10am.

The Vigil Mass on Saturday – 6pm

Sunday Mass – 10am and 11.30am.

Thursday – A Prayer and Communion Service 10am

All Masses and Prayer Services in Milltown Parish will be available online. 

These can be viewed at:

http://www.mcnmedia.tv/camera/milltown-parish

The church will remain open for private prayer on Monday – Saturday 10.45 to 4.30pm, and on Sunday from 12.30pm – 4.30pm.

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Covid distancing regulations are still in place which means our attendance numbers in the church are still restricted.

Please co- operate with our Stewards.

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BE STILL – DAILY ADVENT REFLECTIONS: The Office for Mission and Ministry are offering daily reflections for the Advent Journey. The theme of these reflections is ‘Be Still’. This is a great opportunity for everyone to take time during advent to be still. The reflections will be posted each morning on the Facebook page for the office of Mission and Ministry. www.facebook.com/officeformissionandministry 

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At our Parish Pastoral Council meeting on Tuesday 7th December the principle item discussed was the Archdioceses of Dublin Building Hope Task Force Report. This report can be found on the Diocesan Website.

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Crosscare really need your help for hundreds of families who struggle to get nourishing food. This year, Crosscare cannot hold their Parish Food Appeal, so they are asking for your financial support.

 Donate on line at www.crosscare.ie or call 01 – 8360011

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WEEKLY QUOTE FROM LAUDATO SI

“The emptier a person’s heart is, the more he or she needs things to buy and consume”

Laudato S i- Chapter 6:204

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Diocesan Synodal Pathway Prayer

 We stand before You, Holy Spirit, as we gather together in Your name.

With You alone to guide us, make Yourself at home in our hearts;

Teach us the way we must go and how we are to pursue it.

We are weak and sinful; do not let us promote disorder.

Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path nor partiality influence our actions.

Let us find in You our unity so that we may journey together to eternal life and not stray from the way of truth and what is right.

All this we ask of You, who are at work in every place and time, in the communion of the Father and the Son, forever and ever.

Amen

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The Legion of Mary has resumed its meetings in Bird Avenue Church, Clonskeagh.    They meet in St. Joseph’s Oratory every Wednesday at 7.30p.m.   New members and visitors are always welcome.  For further information please contact Una 087 2253845 

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Archbishop Dermot Farrell has published a Pastoral Letter on Climate Crisis – ‘The Cry of the Earth – The Cry of the Poor’. Hard copies of this publication are available for sale on the Parish Book Stand. On line copies are on the Diocesan website.  Archbishop Farrell’s introduction to this Pastoral Letter is available on this website.

Remarks by Archbishop Dermot Farrell at the recent launch of the Pastoral Letter, are available on our Parish Website.

A Prayer for Our Earth

All powerful God,
you are present in the universe
and in the smallest of your creatures.
You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.
Pour out upon us the power of your love,
that we may protect life and beauty.
Fill us with your peace, so that we may live as brothers and sisters, harming no one.
O God of the poor,
help us to rescue the abandoned
and forgotten of this earth,
so precious in your eyes.
Bring healing to our lives,
that we may protect the world and not prey on it,
that we may sow beauty,
not pollution and destruction.
Touch the hearts
of those who look only for gain
at the expense of the poor and the earth.
Teach us to discover the worth of each thing,
to be filled with awe and contemplation,
to recognize that we are profoundly united
with every creature
as we journey towards your infinite light.
We thank you for being with us each day.
Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle,
for justice, love and peace.

A Prayer for Our Earth was published in Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si’.

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For your information:

 For security reasons we have our CCTV cameras back in action in our parish church.

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ALONE manage a national support line and additional supports for older people who have concerns or are facing difficulties relating to COVID-19.

Professional staff are available to answer queries and give advice and reassurance where necessary.

The support line is open seven days a week, 8am – 8pm, by calling 0818 222

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Copies of our Child Safeguarding Policy Statement are on display in the Church porches and in the Parish Pastoral Centre.

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Please note that there is an automatic switch installed on the side door into the church. To enter or exit the church please always use the silver, square button with the word “Press” on it.

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Prayer for Spiritual Communion

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament.

I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul.

Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally,

Come to me Lord, come at least spiritually into my heart,

and unite my soul completely to You.

Never let me be separated from You.

Amen.

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A Prayer in the Time of the Coronavirus

Almighty and All–loving God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
we pray to you through Christ the Healer
for those who suffer from the Coronavirus Covid–19
in Ireland and across the world.

We pray too for all who reach out to those who mourn the loss
of each and every person who has died as a result of contracting the disease. 

Give wisdom to policymakers,
skill to healthcare professionals and researchers,
comfort to everyone in distress
and a sense of calm to us all in these days of uncertainty and distress.

This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord
who showed compassion to the outcast,
acceptance to the rejected
and love to those to whom no love was shown.

Amen.   

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TOWARDS HEALING is a support service, funded by the Catholic Church for Survivors of Institutional, Clerical and Religious abuse. This service provides Helpline Support and Counselling.

The Freephone number is 1800 303 416 and the website address is: www.towardshealing.ie

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Glenstal Abbey – Stations of the Cross

There is a recording of the Stations of the Cross available on the Glenstall Abbey website. You can access these Stations of the Cross on the video section of the Glenstall Abbey Website https://www.glenstal.com/abbey

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Support Services

Generation Tech

Generation Tech is a free service and is run by volunteers. Volunteer run FREE HELPLINE to help older people in Ireland with tech issues. Our volunteers are tech experts and work in shifts from 8am-8pm Monday to Friday. Support is provided over the phone. If you need help with smartphones, tablets, social media, apps, PCs, printers, etc. CALL US on: 01-9633 288. 

Aware – Support & Self Care Groups

If you, or those with whom you work wish to connect with people in relation to your mental wellbeing, please consider using the Phone In and Zoom Support & Self Care Groups, the Support Line or Support Mail, now and throughout the holiday season. These services provide support, coping skills and information – and most importantly help people who are in distress to know and feel that they are not alone in their experience.  For more information about the groups https://www.aware.ie/support/support-groups/ and all of our services on www.aware.ie

COVID-19 Support Line for Older People

ALONE manage a national support line and additional supports for older people who have concerns or are facing difficulties relating to COVID-19. Professional staff are available to answer queries and give advice and reassurance where necessary.

This support line is open seven days a week, 8am – 8pm, by calling 0818 222 024.

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The Irish Hospice Foundation Bereavement Support Line is 1800 80 70 77 and is open from 10am – 1pm from Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays). If the line is busy when you call, they can call you back if you leave your contact details.

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The Mary Aikenhead Centre in Donnybrook operate a ‘Meals on Wheels Service’ for our area. This service provides a healthy meal delivered direct to elderly and housebound person’s homes five days a week Monday to Friday. If you are an elderly person from this area and would like to avail of this service, please contact the Centre at 01 2698995.

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Marian Pilgrimages have released their pilgrimage schedule for 2021 & 2022 to Lourdes, Medjugorje, Fatima, Italy & Holy Land.  For more information or to register your interest please visit www.marian.ie or ring Marian Pilgrimages on (01) 878 8159.