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Christmas Day
Instead of facing the baby in the crib as a human being this Christmas try to face him as the incomprehensible Being that he is: God. Just three squiggles of ink on paper, ‘God’ is a term that symbolizes the mother of all being, if you’ll pardon the expression. It’s a sign and a sound that links us to that Being yet reveals nothing of him. To relate to him personally we need to see a human face. And what easier face to relate to than that of a baby? No challenge there. But listen to our Second Reading (Heb1:1-16): ‘he (the Son, once the baby Jesus) is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word’. Then go back to the First reading of Advent’s first week: ‘O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence’ (Isa 64:1). No sweet baby’s face there. Now the challenge: how to relate to that awesome God? We need to sense God’s power and majesty, and God’s utter strangeness, to feel the gob-smacking wonder of the Baby’s birth. We can’t comprehend a being without a beginning. It’s so far off our mental radar that we rarely think about it. But how can we mature spiritually if we don’t? So let’s test our feelings towards God who can tear open the heavens and make the mountains quake - and then look in utter disbelief at the Child smiling at us from the crib!
Copyright: Fr Tom Cahill (Intercom) |
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| Daily
Readings
You
can access the daily readings on the
parish website:
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Open Day in St Oliver Plunkett Pre-School Playgroup
Any parent who has a child aged 3 before or on 1st July is invited to attend an Open Day in St Oliver Plunkett Pre-School Playgroup, situated in the grounds of St Oliver Plunkett PS,
on Thursday 7th January 2010 between 10am and 12noon.
Open Day in St Oliver Plunkett Nursery School
If your child is 3 years old or will be turning 3 before 1st July 2010, St Oliver Plunkett Nursery School (opposite Hannahstown Credit Union) would like to invite you to an Open Day
on Wednesday 6th January 2010 from 10am – 12 noon. Application forms are now available from the school.
Open Nights for Primary 7 Pupils
De La Salle College – Open night on Monday 11th 2010 at 7pm.
St Genevieve’s High School – Open Day on Saturday 16th January 2010 at 9.30am.
St Dominic’s High School – Open Day Saturday 9th January 2010 at 9.30am & 1pm.
Christian Brothers’ School – Open night on Thursday 14th January 2010 @ 7pm.
St Louise’s Comprehensive College – Open night on Wednesday 20th January 2010 at 6.30pm.
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St Oliver Plunkett’s Crib
This year there will be a donation box next to the Crib on the altar. All money raised will go to the Maternity Hospital in Bethlehem. It is run by the Order of Malta and is the only place in the area for Muslim and Christian Palestinians to give birth under good medical conditions. Please give generously.
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Down & Connor Directory
The Down & Connor Directory for 2010 is on sale in the sacristy price £3.
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Parish Calendars & Newsletter
Parish Calendars and Newsletter are being distributed to all homes in the parish. |
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World Day of Peace
Friday 1st January 2010 is
World Day of Peace
the Mass that day is at 12 noon.
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Historical Society
The society is meeting on Friday 8th January at 7.30pm
in the Colin Glen Trust.
This month’s topic is
‘The 1979 Secret Cabinet Papers’
guest speaker
Dr Eamon Phoenix
All welcome.
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Feast of the Epiphany
Wednesday 6th January is the feast of the Epiphany
it is a holy day of obligation.
Masses are:
Tuesday vigil 6.30pm
Wednesday: 10am & 12 noon.
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Rathmore Grammar School Reunion 2010
The class of 1978-1985 is having a reunion. If you belonged to this year group please come and meet all your old friends on Friday 9th April 2010 at Belfast Boat/Tennis Club, Stranmillis. All proceeds donated to charity - the Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children. To register online and for further information go to www.rathmorereunion2010.co.uk
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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.
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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.
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Parish Suggestion Box
The Parish Pastoral Council is interested in hearing Parishioners views on any aspect of parish life. Suggestions Boxes and comments slips are now available in both porches for you to let us know of any comments or suggestions you wish to make.
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No parish could survive without people giving their time and talents, so I want to take this opportunity to express sincere thanks to everyone who helped as a volunteer around the church or in the parish community in 2009. This year the Pastoral Council are organising a night out for all volunteers on Friday 5th February to say thank you
for your generous support throughout the year. I pray God’s blessing on you all.
Fr Martin J Magill, Parish Priest.
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Mass Times
Saturday 26th- Vigil Mass 6.30pm. No Confessions
Sunday 27th – 10am & 12noon Mass as usual
Friday 1st January 2010: Mass 12 Noon (World Day of Peace)
Saturday 2nd – 6.30pm vigil
Sunday 3rd – 10am & 12noon
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| Baptisms
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Next baptisms will take place on Sunday 3rd January 2010 at 1.30. The next pre-Baptism instruction will be on Thursday 7th January 2010 at 8pm in the convent.
It is necessary to attend pre-Baptism preparation before asking to have your child baptised. To register for the pre-Baptism preparation please contact the parish office on 90618180, Mon & Wed 2pm-5pm, Tue, Thurs & Fri 10am-2pm.
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Newly Baptised
We welcome into our parish family
Caragh Skillen
Tómas John Stevenson
Grace Maria Taggart
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| We
Loved Them In Life
We offer our prayerful support to the families who died recently:
We
pray for the happy repose of those whose
anniversaries occur around this time:
Thomas Murphy
Brigid, Mary Teresa, Brigid Christina Maughan
Michael & Mary Maguire
Norman Phillips
Paddy & Belle McNeill
Dennis & Martha Beattie
John, Michael, Mary & Laurence McFadden
Elizabeth Duffy
Maurice Palmer
Mary & Michael Maguire
Carmel Halfpenny
Mary Ann McQuade
Elizabeth Mayos |
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| Collections
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The offertory collection
amounted to £1102.06
Thanks to all those who gave to the Parish collections.
Trócaire Global Gifts
Anyone still wishing to buy Trócaire Global Gifts they will be on sale in the parish hall after Mass.
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