SPIRITUAL RESOLUTIONS FOR THE NEW YEARS 2019

• Morning Prayer: Why not join our parish community for Morning Prayer each day (Mon-Sat) at 9.40am.  It only takes 15 minutes!
• Read one spiritual book per month. Check out www.veritas.ie or similar websites for possible suggestions.
• Read one chapter of the Gospels daily. God speaks to us through His Word.
• Commit to praying one of the psalms each day. There are 150 which speak of our every need in prayer.
• Pray the Rosary or even one Decade daily. It only takes seven minutes to pray one decade.
• Volunteer. Is there something you can do in your Parish?  Giving of your time will fill your heart more abundantly and cultivate a deeper sense of gratitude.
• Keep Sunday holy. We all need to rest!  If God rested on the seventh day, and called us to do the same, why not rest in his presence in the Eucharist.  Worship together & pray together!
• Go to confession once a month. Don’t let fear deter you from experiencing God’s love for you through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
• Eucharistic Adoration. Why not spend some time in the presence of Jesus.  Drop in to the John Paul II Chapel on Thursdays from 10.30am-9pm.  Sit in the Lord’s presence, pray for your own needs, those who have asked you to pray for them.
• Sign up to a daily spiritual website: www.wordonfire.org, www.livingspace.sacredspace.ie, www.livingfaith.com to mention a few.
• Download a Catholic app onto your phone. ‘Universalis’, ‘The Pope App’, ‘Truth & Life’, ‘Divine Mercy’, ‘John Paul II’, ‘Rosary’, ‘Confession’, ‘Catholicpedia’ etc.
• Consider joining a Christian Meditation Group.  A group meets each Wednesday in the JPII Chapel or check out Christian Meditation on line.
• Attend a Spiritual Retreat to reconnect with the ourselves and the Lord.
• De-clutter!  Create a space in each day for stillness and silence.
• Begin a daily journal.  Where did God speak to you in the encounters and experiences of each day.
• Tune in to a Catholic TV station once a week.  EWTN – Eternal Word Television Network; Salt and Light TV and Radio Stations; Catholic Life Television.

(Fr. Derek)

We wish all our parishioners every blessing for the New Year!

As we celebrate the season of Christmas, may St. Joseph grant to all of us the ability to dream great things, drawing us closer to what God dreams about us.  As he gazed into the eyes of the Infant Child, may the radiant beams of His holy face captivate us too with renewed hope and confidence in God’s Love – the Word made flesh—who dwells among us.

As we begin a New Year, may Jesus knock gently on your hearts so that the year ahead may be warmed by the tenderness of His Father, who deepens our faith, strengthens our hope and increases our love for Him and one another.

(Fr. Derek)

CHRISTMAS EVE

5pm                          Family Mass                                   Ashbourne

In the interest of everyone’s safety and comfort at this Mass, parents with buggies are asked to store the buggies in the Parish Office where they can be collected after Mass.

The Red Cross will join us for the 5pm Mass to ensure the safety of all joining the parish community on Christmas Eve,

8pm                          Vigil Mass                                   Donaghmore

11pm                        ‘Midnight Mass’                        Ashbourne

This Mass is broadcast live on RTE television and simultaneously on Eurovision.  Please join our parish community as we unite with families across Europe to celebrate the feast of Christmas.

CHRISTMAS DAY

Ashbourne 9am, 10am (Polish), 11am, 12.30pm

Donaghmore 10am

STEPHEN’S DAY

10am Mass   (Please note: church will not open until 9.30am)

                          PENITENTIAL SERVICE

                            Monday 17th December

                                         8pm

                    (Visiting priests in attendance)

                                  CONFESSIONS

                          Saturday 22nd December

                                    10.30am-12.00pm

                        Monday 24th December

                                         10am-11am

In compliance with recent legislation the three Catholic primary schools of Ashbourne-Donaghmore Parish (Gaelscoil na Cille, St. Mary’s N.S. & St. Declan’s N.S.) have revised their enrolment process.

Please note the following amendments:

• The closing date for all three schools for Junior Infant applications for September 2019 will be 12 noon on the 21^st January 2019.  Enrolment applications previously received for Junior Infants September 2019 do not need to be re-submitted.
• As schools have been directed to phase out waiting-lists, all applications previously received for Junior Infants for subsequent years will need to be re-submitted in January of the year of application.
• Applications will only be considered for children who have reached their 4^th birthday on or before the 31^st March 2019.
• In the event that any school is oversubscribed, criteria will be used to prioritise applicants.  Parents/Guardians may consult the revised policies on the relevant school websites for further details.

Priority will no longer be offered to Roman Catholics.

  www.gaelscoilnacille.scoilnet.ie

www.decsash@scoilnet.ie

www.smash.ie

We extend our congratulations to Ashbourne Senior Citizens who celebrate the 40th anniversary of their establishment in our community.  Bishop of Meath, Tom Deenihan joined them this weekend and celebrated Mass in thanksgiving for the contribution the group makes to the lives of so many in our community.  The group meets on weekday mornings in the day centre opposite the Credit Union.  Founding members Evelyn McLoughlin, Mary Flanagan, Éilish Rafferty, and Ann Moore were honoured at the gathering.  The local Girl Guides presented gifts to those gathered and former Commissioner of the Girl Guides, Áine Fitzgerald-O’ Reilly who retired from her position recently after 30 years was also honoured.

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In conjunction with Super Valu, Ashbourne, the Parish launches it’s Christmas Care Appeal this weekend in support of those who live alone or families who find Christmas difficult financially.

If you would like to donate to the Appeal, advise those at the tills that you would like to make a contribution to the Parish Christmas Care Appeal, indicating the monetary value you wish to donate.  This will appear on your till receipt.

Closer to Christmas, monies donated will be apportioned to ‘gift cards’ and distributed to those in need.  This will enable the parish to reach out to more families than in previous years.

The cards can be redeemed for food, household, or solid fuel.  In addition, the card can be used to top up electricity meters and gas meter cards through Super Valu.  The tokens cannot be used for the purchase of alcohol.

Take up the challenge of supporting and sustaining the faith of millions of persecuted and suffering Christians around the world by praying for them on Wednesday, light a red candle in your home, wear something red or check out the work of Aid to the Church in Need: www.acnireland.org/redwednesday/Christians around the world are being persecuted because of their faith.  Will you show your support for the Suffering Church?  The external lighting of our church will turn red on Wednesday 28th November at 5pm in an attempt to shine a light on Christian persecution and highlight the injustices perpetrated against other faith groups.  Christians in many parts of the world suffer: name-calling, harassment, denial of work, homelessness, eviction, physical abuse, kidnap, false imprisonment, torture, discrimination, oppression, violence and murder.  Red is the Christian colour of martyrdom.  Christians are the most persecuted faith group in today’s world and #RedWednesday will honour all Christians who suffer and die for their faithfulness to Christ’s message of peace and love.

Proceeds from the sale of Christmas Cards from the Parish Office support persecuted Christians in the Holy Land.  They are now available from the Parish Office.