Second Sunday of Advent

If we reflect on the First Reading in the Mass today, we discover that it presents us with a typical Advent theme. It contains a message of hope for God’s people, Israel, in time of great difficulty. They are in exile in Babylon and things look bad. But God has not abandoned them. He will restore them to the Promised Land, thus showing himself to be the Saviour of his people, who will, then, display their splendour to every nation. In the Gospel, the prophet Isaiah is quoted to the same effect: all humankind will see the salvation of God.

Now it is of interest to notice that in all this and in most of the Old Testament there is no mention of heaven or hell or an afterlife. The salvation of God’s people in the Old Testament is presented in this-worldly terms: return from exile, protection from enemies, making the countryside more hospitable and land more fertile, prosperity, good family loving, long life, etc. The Hebrews had then no concept of an afterlife as we understand it. For them death was the end. Only in the decades before Jesus’ time did a concept of an afterlife emerge. It is then possible to have faith in God and at the same time not believe in an afterlife. It may even be said that such a world view has real advantages.

It makes clear that life on earth is the only one we have. So we have to attend to it seriously and well and do all the good we can in God’s service and that of our neighbour. Also such a worldview avoids the danger of falling into a pie-in-the-sky attitude, where the injustices of this life are compensated for in the next. Rather one is called to serve God and neighbour because that is the right thing to do; it is God’s will. Here one is unlikely to develop a reward-and-punishment understanding of human living

Only in Jesus is the reality of the afterlife fully revealed. There the virtuous life is crowned by sharing in God’s own life in eternity.

Daily Readings

You can access the daily readings on the parish website:

Planning for the Future

Dear Parishioners of St Oliver Plunkett Parish,

I have the pleasure of forwarding a cheque for £267 to your parish priest as the amount due to your parish for contributions received over the last six months to the Diocesan Appeal “Planning for the Future”. In accordance with the terms of the Appeal your parish to date has now received back £7,471. I thank you for your generosity and commitment towards the Appeal.

The Campaign will be closing at 31st December 2009 and final distributions will be made. Many of you will now have honoured the pledges which you made. If perchance you have not received my letter of thanks from the Appeals Office, I would ask you to contact the office on Belfast 028 9075 6565 or Geraldine@planningforthefuture.org

You will be pleased to know that at present 66 of our 88 parishes have exceeded their target and a total amount of £3,546,871 has now been returned to those parishes. Further amounts have been paid to the three specific aims of the appeal:

*Sick and Retired Priests £25,000

*Faith Development £25,000

*St Peter’s Cathedral Restoration £20,000

These payments exceed the original targets of the Campaign with the Sick and Retired Priests Fund receiving £2,525,000, Faith Development Fund receiving £2,525,000 and St Peter’s Cathedral Restoration Fund receiving £2,020,000. The Diocesan-wide Appeal for these very necessary aims was a great act of faith, faith in the generosity of so very many loyal and faithful people.

May God reward you for your generosity and solidarity.

Yours sincerely,

+ Noel Treanor

Bishop of Down & Connor

An Advent Evening of Prayer and Reflection

An Advent Evening of Prayer and Reflection will take place on Wednesday 9th December 2009 at 8pm in the De La Salle Pastoral Centre, 141 Glen Road. Every one is welcome! Tea and coffee afterwards.

BBC Radio 2

The Sunday Half Hour for Christmas will be recorded from St Peter's Cathedral, Belfast on Friday, 11th December at 8pm.  Father Brian D'Arcy will be joined by The Priests; Cappella Caeciliana choir and the BBC Radio 2 Young Choristers of the Year 2009, Laurence Kilsby and Jacquelyne Hill. 

For further information contact Kirsty Wither on 0161 244 3198 or kirsty.wither@bbc.co.uk or www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/shows/static/nonsa

Morning Star House Christmas Appeal

The Morning Star House, a refuge for homeless men have recently launched their Christmas Appeal to help obtain Christmas gifts and clothing. They are looking for donations of: Toiletries, Food Hampers, Book and Men’s Winter Clothing (New) such as, Socks, Underwear, Fleeces, Jeans, Jumpers, Coats, Hats, and Gloves. Monetary Donations would also be greatly appreciated.

All Donations can be left in to Morning Star House, 2-12 Divis Street, Belfast BT12 4AL. Tel. 9033 35000

Viatores Christi:
Bring Your Skills to the Developing World

Since 1960, Viatores Christi responds to people overseas and at home by giving people an opportunity to share their lives and skills with those in need. If you are interested in learning more, please come along to our information and recruitment session in Belfast on Wednesday 9th December at 7.15pm in the Good Shepherd Centre, 511 Ormeau Road, Belfast.

For further information and/or to book your place at this session, contact Colette Rooney at Colette@viatoreschristi.com or tel. 01-8689986 or log on to www.viatoreschristi.com

Parish Radio

If you are interested please phone
028 9061 8590 or 028 9022 0961.

There are two models available which are marked to receive broadcasts from St Oliver Plunkett Church.

Model 1 costs £25 including VAT and batteries (short range). Model 2 costs £60 and is mains powered – no batteries required. This has a longer range and provides better quality which is more suitable for areas where there are electrical power lines nearby.

Apostolic Work Society

We wish to thank sincerely everyone who so generously supported our sale of work last week. We raised £1860. We are very grateful to you.

Parish Sacramental Programme

The Parish Team would like to thank P4 Parents and Children for coming out in such great numbers, the response was tremendous, well done who responded to a Special Invitation to a Time of Prayer and Reflection in the Church, followed by Mass on the following Sunday. We pray that God may continue to touch your lives in a special way for this is evidence of the interest you have in your child and their First Holy Communion.

Sincerely,

Fr Magill and the Parish Team

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Tuesday 8th December is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception it is a holy day of obligation.

Vigil Mass on Monday 7th at 6.30pm.

Masses on Tuesday at 10am and 12noon.

Mass Times