St Fachtna S Newsletter Sunday 4Th of December 2016

St Fachtna’s Newsletter Sunday 4th of December 2016

083 4233598 also 027 60006email:

In an emergency please ring Castletownbere Community Hospital 027 70004

Parish Newsletter on the web at

Gospel. John the Baptist Makes it clear that by the way he lives he points to Jesus. John provides repentance, but Jesus can call on the Holy Spirit. John is humble and deeply respectful of Jesus’ mission as Messiah

Priest on duty this weekend; Cannon Gearoid Walsh 087 6759263

Please remember in your prayers the Soul of Seamus McCabelate of Dublin and Monaghan who died recently, brother in law of Christine O’Neill

Collectors for December: Kevin Harrington and Micheal D O’Sullivan. Thank you

Thank you for your donations to Church Agencies Collection.

Choir Practice Wednesday 7th at 8pm.

Pastoral Council Meeting 5th December at 8pm.

St.Finians Conference St Vincent de Paul Society We will be holding our annual church-gate collection on December 10th and 11th at all Masses in your area.Please support us generously.Without your continued support our work of helping those in need would be impossible.All money collected in your area will be used in your area who need help.Thank you for your continued support.

Sunday 18th of December- Blessing of the Grotto directly after Mass then a Cuppa and scone at the Wild Atlantic Bar. It would be great to see you all there.

On St. Stephens Day 2016, a charity walk will take place in aid of 3 West Cork Cancer Support Charities namely; Bantry Hospice, Cork ARC Cancer Support House and Cancer Connect.

West Cork is in the unique situation where cancer patients have the support of these three charities:

The charity walk will be broken down into 3 categories. Walk A which would be for the more experienced walkers and will take approximately 2 ½ hours to complete. Starting from Trawlebane via Seskin and back into Bantry.

Walk B which is a 5 km walk, will start from Bantry Square, go through Bantry House and out to the Mass Rock in Beach and then back to Bantry.

Walk C will be approx. 2.5 km and will be a “family friendly” walk, which will start at Bantry Square, along the Beicin, through Reenarour East and back into the Centre of Bantry.

Registration for all walks will start from 12 noon at the Bantry Tourist Office with buses going regularly to Trawlebane. All walks will commence at 12.30 pm

Throughout the duration of the walks, historical information of key points will be included.

It is important to ensure that adequate clothing & footwear should be worn.

All walks will end at the Bantry Bay Hotel, where refreshments will be served.

You will probably be aware that we are facing into a referendum on abortion in late 2017 or early Spring 2018;and so in many ways the campaign to convince 51% of the electorate to vote pro-life has already begun.Since October, 2015, the pro-life movement from Wexford to Kerry has been canvassing door-to-door on the issue, andis– despite media impressions to the contrary–receivingawarm pro-life welcome, at themajority of doors. I am writing to you today aboutour voice, as Priests, in this debate.Regularly new information is published on abortion. For example, in the past few months the HSE have officially adopted the pro-life term ‘Life Limiting Conditions’, as opposed to the erroneous term ‘Fatal Foetal Abnormality’, (promoted and still being used by many in the Irish media). As Priests it is helpful for us to keep up to date on such developments so we can engage with our parishioners on, for example, the importance of the proper use of terms in this debate.In fact Life Limiting Conditions (there are only four conditions) is one of the main debates, were parents are faced with the choice of bringing their sick child to full-term or, as the current law stands, to go to England for an abortion. Thankfully, the vast majority of Irish parents choose, in these circumstances, to bring their child to full term, and spend whatever precious time they have with their newborn, (which is sometimes hours, or in many cases years). And so, to keep ourselves up to date, and prepared for the up-coming referendum, there is an information afternoon being organised for Priests in the Southern half of the country: Monday 12thDecember Horse and Jockey Hotel, Tipperary (just off the N8) 2pm-6pm 2pm Opening address:Bishop Phonsie Cullinan, Waterford and Lismore. 2:30 Presentation: Life Limiting Conditions,Niamh UíBhriain,Chair of theLife Institute. 3pm Q@Aion 11th Dec 2016

Child from both schools to help with Christmas Night Mass. School Children to participate in decoration of Jesse Tree.Calling some Trad musicians to play appropriate slow meditative airs/ music.

On behalf of The Irish Blood Transfusion Service Thanks to all who contributed to the running of this Clinic. 138 Donors attended our Blood Donor Clinic in The Maritime Hotel. This generosity and commitment to helping others is very much appreciated. It is a precious gift that brings life & hope to the patients and to their families & friends.

Caha Centre News:

Christmas Fun @ TheCaha Centre: Sunday 4th December. Coffee morning @ 11:00a.m. Carol; singing from local schools @ 11:30a.m. Santa arrives @ 11:45a.m. (Please book for Santa)

The Caha Centre's Tree of remembrance.Bulbs in memory of our loved ones available at the Caha Centre for €5. Mass will be offered on Saturday 7th January at 11am

Bingo- Bingo will change to the earlier time of 8p.m. from Tuesday the 6th December. New members always welcome. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Painting classes - running Tuesday

6th, 13th & 20th December. 7:00-9:00p.m. All materials supplied. €12 for the 3 weeks. Call 027-60909 to book a place.

Lighting the Way is An Information Resource for People Bereaved by Suicide in West Cork. This resource will be launched on Thursday December 8th 12.30am – 2.00pm at The Maritime Hotel, Bantry. A light lunch will be provided and we would be delighted if many members of the public would attend and show their support. Call Rita 02760909 for more information

Last Cooking Demo of 2016 with Jess Mason @ 7:30p.m.in the Caha Centre. Cost €5. Bookings on 027 60909

Up-cycling Craft Workshop with Jess Mason (open to adults and children) -Beautiful and creative Christmas decorations and gifts, Hand crafted and waste free. On Monday 12th December @ 3:15p.m. in the Caha centre, Adrigole.Kindly sponsored by Cork Environmental Forum. Cost contribution: €3 - max family contribution €10. Call 02760909 to book a place. Booking essential. Every welcome

Reflection: God is coming to birth in the “ stable” of your circumstances. This might not be the placeyou would have chosen for him, but it is the place he has chosen for himself, because that is the very place He wants to redeem with his light and his love. Just reflect on what your “stable” means for you. How do you feel about it? Speak with the Lord about your feelings, and allow him to show you how he feels.