THANK YOU FOR LAST WEEK’S COLLECTION: €1135

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SINCERE THANKS and blessings to all involved in whatever capacity in the Christmas Masses across the four churches of the parish. It was quite an undertaking to have celebrations in the four and would have been much harder to do without your kindness and cooperation. Thanks, and blessings also to all groups and individuals who serve the parish. I wish everyone blessings beyond your wildest dreams in 2025 and pray for the emergence of a just and peaceful world where all have enough to eat. This would be a true sign of the Kingdom of God, and we are all missioned to help build it. Pope Francis’ words are well worth remembering in this context: “step out of yourself for someone else, just as God, in Jesus on the Cross, stepped out of Himself for you.”

Thank you very much to you all, dear parishioners and friends, for your support of the parish during the year, and at this time of year for your contribution to the Christmas Dues. As you will know by now, the priest has no access to the weekly collection, which is for the maintenance of the parish. He relies for income primarily on the Christmas, Autumn, November and Easter dues. In these times of drastically reduced numbers of priests available to serve in the North Clare part of our diocese, with further reductions coming as I have already alluded-to, I am glad that it’s a priority for you to maintain the presence of a resident priest in this parish, and not to have it reduced to external cover only.  May I add a further thank-you to those of you who gave me lovely Christmas cards and gifts, along with words of encouragement and gratitude. This means so much.

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NEXT CHLIDRENS’ ROSARY: Corpus Christi Church, Lisdoonvarna, Sunday, January 5^th, 6pm.

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ST. BRECKAN’S GAA CLUB hosted a wonderful family funday on St. Stephen’s Day, featuring some interesting matches between different areas of the parish! Thank you to all involved and for getting us up and out!

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MARY’S MEALS PRAYER: Our Father, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us for the times when we take more of our share of the bread that belongs to all. Let us help you fill the starving with good things, not with scraps from our table. Tech us how to share what is not ours to keep. Clothe us with your love that we may complete each work you created us to do. Place in our hearts your compassion for each starving child and use our little acts of love so that they starve no more. Amen.

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A CHRISTMASPRAYER: Dearest Jesus, on this most special night, when you became one of us, bringing healing and hope, reminding us we’re not alone, my heart is full of gratitude. Thank you, Lord, for the roof over my head, for an abundance of food, and not just at Christmas, for family who love me as I am, for the blessing of friends, for safe and welcoming spaces where I can be myself, for the wonder and joy of children, which refreshes my weary soul. I ask these blessings too for those who do not experience them. Maybe I can be that blessing? Jesus, Prince of Peace, Our Lady, Queen of Peace, melt the hearts of leaders at war. May they find room in the inn of their hearts for one another and make the song of the angels a reality: Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. Amen.

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