The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity takes place from 18-25 January 2019 on the theme ‘Justice and justice only you shall pursue’.

Resources for this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity were produced by Christians from Indonesia The Christians of Indonesia found that the words of Deuteronomy, ‘Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue…’ (see Deut. 16:18-20) spoke powerfully to their situation.

We all know a good story when we hear it – whether in the spoken word or through music. Bringing the two together is really powerful.

For those who are young at heart and those not so young at heart but recognise a good piece of music, this clip combines great music with an even better story for us to cherish and be happy about.

It is a clever but respectful version of the Bethlehem Story.

So as we approach the end of the Christmas season, take 5 minutes and sit back and enjoy… Bethlehemian Rhapsody! “It’s a Wondrous story, to me!”

Click on the image to begin.

While there is a break for the summer, the gathering will resumes again in September. All welcome!

Why not come along and join in for lunch on the last Wednesday of the month in Kilian House Family Centre.

It is a gathering for a chat and some delicious food.

See photos here.

A Happy and Peaceful New Year to you and your family from

Fr. John Daly

Fr. Denis Quinn

Fr. Gerry Young

Fr. Gerard Tyrrell

Paul Thornton

Parish Pastoral Council & Parish Staff.

From the perspective of a happily unorganised housewife!

She woke, with a sensation of slight panic, to the sound of the morning media announcement of one hundred plus days to Christmas. A mid-September sun, beaming the promise of an unusually balmy day through the drapes, distracted her as she focused on the perceived pressures ahead.

She was approaching her fiftieth year as “facilitator of family festivities” she realised. Another period of frenzied crowds, cleaning, cooking and card writing loomed. Forward planning seemed the solution to this familiar seasonal shock. She would make an immediate and methodical attack on the house.

Later as she dealt impatiently with the duster defying debris in the recesses of a drawer, a crumpled yellowing piece of paper emerged. She read:

NOSTALGIA

There is a loneliness at Christmas time
That old folk often feel
When bells ring out in merry chime
And echo every peal.

As children chatter in delight
And romp and play with toys
A mist or memories mars their sight
And taints with tears their joys.

They listen as the tales are told
And watch the revellers in the snow:
They too, were merry, bright and bold,
And young, yes! years ago.

But now they strive to hide their tears,
Surrendering a sigh
for cherished friends of former years
And Christmasses gone by.

Her brother, blessed with an insight beyond his then sixteen years, penned the poem. Was Christmas less complicated in those days? Soon now the media would run features advocating this or that theme for festive food and colour scheme – the tried and tested traditionalist or the ultra modern minimalist.

She wished for a Christ conscious Christmas and a lived-in loved-in look for the house, with truly memorable memories such as He gave us long ago.

Ditching the duster she calmly went into the garden to enjoy another God given gift, that of the glowing Autumnal sun trusting all would be right on the night.

Written by EMG 2002/Original poem by SFG 1946.

All who live in the house are invited to gather around the crib.

The eldest leading the blessing and the youngest blessing the crib with holy water after the prayer is offered.

Lord, we ask you to bless this crib, which gives us a picture of the truth of your becoming one of us.

May we who look on it learn the lessons of your humility and love, so that we may be filled with your holy light and peace.

May our wills be made strong to glorify you by our lives, so that we may shine as your lights in the world;

through him who lives and reigns with you Father, and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.

Christmas Wishes and Invitation

The Pastoral Team of the Parish, wish all parishioners peace and joy this Christmas and invite you to join in the ceremonies in the Pastoral Area.

Christmas Carol Service

Sunday 16th December at 4pm in Holy Rosary Church.

Pastoral Area Sacrament of Reconciliation

Tuesday 18th December 8pm St Anthony’s Church Kilcoole

Confessions – see individual church noticeboards.

Journey to Bethlehem Carols

Monday 24th December 5.15pm St. Kilian’s Church

Christmas Mass Times

24/25 December 2018

“Immaculate Mary, your praises we sing!”

December 8th is one of our feasts celebrating Mary – the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.

From the beginnings of the Church, spiritual writers and theologians have acknowledged the innocence and holiness of Mary. St. Irenaeus called her the “new Eve.”

Both faced with the pure freedom to accept or reject God, Mary began with work of redemption with her yes to Christ!

The Church began to celebrate the feast of Mary’s conception in the early Middle Ages. In 1854, Pope Pius IX infallibly declared that Mary was free of original sin from the first moment of her conception. On this feast day, we celebrate the beauty and goodness of Our Lady!

Mass will be celebrated on Friday 7th  at 8pm in St. Kilian’s and on Saturday 8th at 10am in Holy Rosary Church.

The first day of Advent heralds the beginning of the Catholic Church’s new year.

Advent (from ‘ad-venire’ in Latin or “to come to”) is the Church season encompassing the four Sundays and weekdays leading up to the celebration of Christmas.

Advent is a time of spiritual preparation for the Lord’s coming at Christmas. Advent also prepares us for the second coming of Christ at the end of time.

Click on an image below to open the window!

An Advent Calendar of prayer

(Images and prayers by kind permission of ‘The Prayer Trust’ www.theprayertrust.org.uk)

See other Seasonal Reflections available on this site

See Colouring Pages for the younger ones and young at heart!

Mass Times

Mass times in the Parish of Holy Rosary and St. Kilian from the first weekend in Advent (Sun 2nd Dec) are as follows:

Saturday Vigil: 6pm – Holy Rosary Church
Sunday: 10.00am -  St. Kilian’s Church
Sunday 11.30am – Holy Rosary Church
Sunday 6.30pm – Holy Rosary Church

Mon – Fri: 10am – Holy Rosary Church

Wed: Liturgy of the Word 10am

Holy Days:
10am – Holy Rosary Church
8pm -  St. Kilian’s Church

Confession: Saturday 5:30 – 6pm – Holy Rosary Church.

Music Ministry

We are blessed with having a large number of people involved in music ministry in our parish.

The music and singing involved in supporting and enhancing the liturgies include but is not limited to the following:

Saturday Vigil: 6pm – Holy Rosary Church

1st and 3rd Weekend: Holy Rosary Choir
2nd and 4th Weekend: St Kilian’s Choir
5th Weekend: Alternates between choirs

Sunday: 10.00am – St. Kilian’s Church

1st Sunday: Family Mass Choir
3rd Sunday: Folk Group
Other Sundays: Quiet or Cantor

Sunday: 11.30am – Holy Rosary Church

1st Sunday: Irish Choir
3rd Sunday : Family Mass Choir
2nd and 4th Sunday: Folk Group
5th Sunday : Alternates between choirs

Sunday: 6.30pm – Holy Rosary Church

To be confirmed

Mon – Fri: 10am – Holy Rosary Church and Wed: Liturgy of the Word 10am

Congregational Singing

Holy Days:
10am – Holy Rosary Church
8pm -  St. Kilian’s Church

Congregational Singing